24TH AUGUST

CELEBRATING LORD’S APPEARANCE.

Krishnay vasudevay devkinandanay ca nandgopkumaray govinday namo namah .

I wish all of you, all those who are listening to me or watching me, I wish all of you a very happy Janmashtami! As this is the happiest day of the kalpa, in fact so very rare is Krishna’s appearance, yes Krishna’s appearance is very rare. Although He has said ‘sambhavami yuge yuge’ in each yuga there is avtar and Krishna appears in some form or the other but Krishna Himself, Bhagwan Himself appears only once in one day of Brahma, of one kalpa which is thousand cycles of chaturyuga and then Krishna makes His own appearance so, others are avatars and Krishna is avtari so that avtari Shri Krishna appears today.

If we do a calculation five thousand three hundred & forty-three years ago on this day and that day was wednesday, when Shri Krishna appeared in Mathura at midnight. He made His appearance and Shri Krishna Janmashtami is the anniversary celebration of the most auspicious appearance of Lord Shri Krishna.

Happy birthday to You Lord Shri Krishna!

By doing so we will never take birth again but we had taken birth, so please do not forget us. We fallen souls we decendent and we are trying to reach You. As You are very very kind, You are appearing so that we do not have to take birth or we don’t have to appear in another species or human form again.

Janma karma ca me divyam evam yo vetti tattvatah tyaktva deham punar janma naiti maneti (BG 4.9)

He explained this to Arjuna. So if you celebrate Lord’s birthday, appearance with understanding of the Lord who He is and how is our relationship with Him, by doing so, by celebrating appearance like that, He has declared a reward and a reward is ‘tyaktva deham punar janma’ no more birth, no more death for those who celebrate Lord Shri Krishna appearance into this material world .

Hare Krishna!

I was thinking fifty or fifty-one years ago while Srila Prabhupada was on the way to America possibly his ‘Jaldoot’ boat was in Atlantic Ocean and then it appeared Janmashtami celebration. Srila Prabhupada had Janmashtami festival right on Jaldoot boat. There the crew, captain had joined and Prabhupada had great celebration of Krishna’s appearance so that was possibly only one celebration outside India or overseas that he was celebrating.

Now fifty years later today I am very proud to say this, share this that today International society for Krishna consciousness will celebrate Lord Krishna’s birthday Krishna Janmashtami mahotsav in 150 countries around the world. Shri Krishna Janmashtami mahotsav ki Jai!! .So let us join the vigilant around the world in making the celebration the very grand birthday party on the planet . Lord Shri Krishna’s appearance day by remembering Him, remember remember remember again by chanting the holy name.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare

To remember Sri Krishna with the help of reading of Krsna book, book written by Srila Prabhupada. It was named after Krishna, Krsna book, is nothing but the summary study of tenth canto of Srimad Bhagavatam and in old days I remember all day there used to be reading, recitation of Krsna book in our Hare Krishna temples. We used to take turn. In Noida today and they also started this morning from Krsna book.

How Nand Maharaj celebrated the first birthday of Shri Krishna, which was not held on Janmashtami but held on the following day and it was held, sponsored, organized by Nand Maharaj. so that festival, of first Krishna Janmashtami festival became known as Nandotsav. A grand festival that took place in Gokul so, following in the footsteps of Nand Maharaj, following the footsteps of great acharyas, and especially following the footsteps of His divine grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, let us celebrate Lord Krishna’s birthday by remembering Him, by chanting, by grand arrangements, by feasting after midnight. Hari Hari! Lord Krishna has kindly appeared in the form of His archa vigraha and He appears in Gokul in the form. Deity form is appearing, or has appeared all over the planet so that in Shri Krishna’s archa vigraha form we could celebrate His birthday in so many varieties of ways.

We held this festival in Grand ways or in fact Janmashtami celebrated by ISKCON devotees is most popular in India. Most popular celebration of Janmashtami is ISKCON Janmashtami . We are here, we are specialized in Krishna, we are for Krishna, we understand Krishna. If anybody understands, Gaundiya vaishnava understand Shri Krishna. The members of the Hare Krishna movement understand Krishna as He is. As knowledge that has been revealed onto us by Lord’s pure devotee. Srila Prabhupada and he even gave us Bhagwad Gita which Bhagwatd Gita , ‘Bhagwat Gita as it is’ , So there also Krishna appeared in the form of Bhagwad Gita on Gita jayanti day and He is also among us, with us . Prabhupada gave us the message of Gita in the purest form. So,we are indebted to his divine grace Srila Prabhupada for giving us Krishna, in the form of His holy name, giving us Krishna in the form of Bhagavatam, in the form of Bhagwad Gita.

So in this way the Lord made His appearance and on Janmashtami He gave, He has lot many gifts for His appearance and those are available to us. So, today is Krishna’s birthday & we should be bringing gifts, making offering , we should do, we must do but at the same time we are also receiving gifts from Krishna on His birthday and of course what will be the better gift then receiving Krishna Himself, take Me. He offers Himself to us to each one of us in so many forms, in the form of holy name, in the form of Bhagwad Gita, in the form of Bhagavatam including also the prasadam form. Prasadam is also non different from Him so there we receive all these gifts, keep receiving all the time today and every day and make our life krishnaised as we receive his gift we will become Krishna conscious krishnaised and ultimately that would be the best of all the gifts that we will be allowed entrance to His kingdom .

Mameti, so Arjuna pritijano priyoasi Mai .

Those who accept Krishna’s love, serve Krishna, remember Krishna all the time and propagate Krishna consciousness for them what Krishna has guaranteed?

mameti that person will come back to Me pritijano I take, allow this is My benediction priyoasi Mai and I take this love I guarantee that you would come back to Me. He said this to Arjuna but it wasn’t just Arjuna who is dear to Lord. All of us, each one of us are very very dear to Lord otherwise why would He bother to come?

To appear in this world of suffering. Because He loves us, Lord loves all of us. So the Lord kindly made His appearance on this day so that one of the day at the end of this life we would go back to Him. Now He is missing us. So, He appeared was looking for us and His merciful glance fell upon us and this is reviving our dormant love for Him and that will result in our returning to Him, where He resides.

So, once again I wish you a very very happy Shri Krishna Janmashtami. So, celebrate Shri Krishna Janmastami and be happy!!

Hare Krishna!

18TH AUGUST

HARINAAM CAN DELIVER WORST OF SINNERS!

We welcome and appreciate your participation in chanting.Hari,Harinaam Prabhu ki! Lord, Lord is Harinaam,Lord becomes Harinaam,Lord is non different from Harinaam. Lord kindly makes himself available in the form of Holyname. Specially to people in this age of Kali.I was hearing someone like Ajamil, & Jagai and Madai uddhaar lila,as it is described in Chaitanya Bhagawat Madhya lila. But Jagai and Madai uddhaar lila that is glories of the Holyname. What could Holyname do to you, to us otherwise the sinners of this world. Jagai-Madai were too sinful,very sinful or leaders of the sinners. So Holyname even freed them of sinful activities or thoughts.They became free from thoughts of sinning. Hari! Hari! Lord has exhibited the power of the Holyname, mercy of the Holyname, through this Jagai-Madai udhar Lila. As we hear and read that pastime,We have also hope. If Jagai-Madai could be then there is every hope for me also.Hari! Hari! So Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu instructed Haridas Thakur,Naam Acharya Haridas Thakur and Nityananda Prabhu. To go everywhere, to go door to door.There are so many instructions, Jare dakho tare kaho krishna upadesh It was given specifically to Haridas Thakur and Nityananda Prabhu And they were going around roaming around as Gurus.

Nityananda Prabhu is Adi Guru he is Balaram. And Naam Acharya Shrila Haridas Thakur is Lord Brahma,Brahma is also acharya. Whom Brahma Madhav Gaudiya Sampradaya Belongs to. Prabhus, Nityananda Prabhu and Naam Acharya Haridas Thakur Prabhu and they started going around Amar agyay Kariya . Chaitanya Mahaprabhu says, pratigarya gaya Amar agyay prachar So Haridas Thakur and Nityananda Prabhu They decided to preach to Jagai and Madai. They were thinking that if Jagai and Madai like sinners or leading sinners,they could become free from sinning business,if they could be liberated then our Mahaprabhu’s name will spread, his glories will spread as Namo Mahavadanyaya. Lord would realize what is this Chaitanya being Mahavadanyaya his being Magnanimous,what is his Magnanimity? Have No limit . When Jagai-Madai like sinners when they received the Magnanimous kindness. That Magnanimity reached Jagai and Madai. Also Haridas Thakur they both are thinking like that. So they made the target Jagai and Madai was their Target. And As we know of ,the way the pastime unfolds. They saw them at the Market place. They were dropped off or the drinks were filling their hands, the bottle or claypots filled wine.As Haridas Thakur, Nityananda Prabhu were appealing them to chant, Please chant,please, but they were not receptive.They Started screaming and calling bad names and they started attacking Haridas Thakur and Nityananda Prabhu. So scary dangerous personalities that made Nityananda Prabhu and Haridas Thakur to get scared and they started running away trying to escape. So Jagai and Madai were Chasing after Nityananda Prabhu and Haridas Thakur.

So they barely managed to save their life. And then they came back and asked that we go Everyday preaching doing this Jare dekho tare kaho krishna upadesh, and you come back and do the reporting to me. So that day Haridas Thakur and Nityananda Prabhu,had nothing glorious and encouraging to report. So after Chaitanya Mahaprabhu heard that. You Go back you continue your preaching and if someone opposies you or even try to hurt you,I will take care of that, I will appear with my Sudarshan Cakra. So, Haridas Thakur and Nityananda Prabhu again went back and again there were those two prabhus Jagai and Madai,they are in the middle of their act of drinking and, yeah they were all intoxicated. So again the attempt was made by Haridas Thakur and Nityananda Prabhu because the Madai he threw Claypot which was filled with wine, throw at Nityananda Prabhu, it hit,the forehead of Lord and he was wounded and bleeding. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is knower of everything,he came to know what just now happened. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu had come on the scene. And he is invoking chakra! Chakra! Sudarshan chakra! And the chakra appeared. Lord could not stand, could not tolerate offences against the vaishnavas. The Lord was there to kill,crush,cut that attacker into pieces. Nityananda prabhu and he was kind of justifying and preaching to Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu No! No! This is the age of Kali Lord You cannot use, this weapon Sudarshan Cakra, then what weapon to be used? ,The Holy Name is the weapon.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

This is the weapon other weapons they only kill the body but that is not sufficient killing the body,this demonic mentality has to be killed.Sinful thoughts and desires have to be killed eradicated then only that person can be fully benefitted. So then Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu withdrew that weapon Sudarshan Cakra and here when Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was ready to kill one of those two sinners,that strictly went over Nityananda prabhu with that clay pot that was Madai. So when Madai saw the Holyname was also working acting exhibiting its power. Holyname was being chanted at the same time. The kindness of the Lord,both the Lords specifically Nityananda Prabhu’s kindness or anybody who witnessed what jagai and Madai were witnessing. Especially Madai was witnessing being the attacker. When he saw Nityananda Prabhu bleeding, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu would attack him and he saw how kind was Nityananda Prabhu that
transformed Madai also,Both jagai and Madai fell flat at the lotus feet of Gauranga ,Nityananda ,Naam Acharya Shrila Haridas Thakur, they beg for forgiveness and took a vow that from this day onwards we will also chant

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

And from this day onwards we will stop all the sins they were doing, not only drunkard , no intoxication from this day, they were also meat eaters,fish eaters or all sorts of eating,they were doing from this day we will stop this. They were women hunters,no more illicit sex we will indulge in and they were gamblers, we stop gambling from today. So they agreed to follow these regulative principles and of course chant regularly and we would be serving Vaishnavas. So they said, they took vows and started doing all that they had said,they will do. And there was an evolution in their consciousness and they became the greatest of all vaishnavas. Always Chanting no more sinning and always chanting and always serving Vaishnavas also. They built the ghat,invested all the funds that they had accumulated that. That ghat is known as Jagai-Madai ghat spiritual names Jagadananda and Madhavananda. This is not far from yogpeeth, this is not fully visible for man but right now the location is known. The pilgrims coming to the banks of Ganga were coming,to their ghat,JagaiThe ghat is not far from Yogapith,it’s not fully visible unmanifest by now,but the location is known.

So lots of pilgrims coming,on the banks of Ganga coming to their ghat, Jagai-Madai were receiving them, touching their feets offering obeisances and serving in all possible ways always. All those pilgrims,all those vaishnavas. So dena hina yatha chelo harinaam uthahilo tara sakshi jagai Madai. Dina hina the poor fallen sinful Jagai and Madai or sinful people could be liberated by the holy name, there is the proof, it’s the proof,tara sakshi Jagai-Madai, Jagai and Madai are the witness,are the example of this fact that ,dena hina yatha chilo harinaam,that sinful people could be freed from sinning and sinful mentality just by becoming pure devotees of the Lord just by chanting the holy names of the Lord so there is every hope like Jagai-Madai. it’s possible! you& me can be transformed by chanting the holy names of the Lord so keep chanting.

Hare Krishna.

15th August 2019

CAST OFF THE ASS LIKE MENTALITY

For you this is not Japa time, but you could also be chanting all the time. What did Mahaprabhu say? – namnamkari bahuda nija sarva shaktis tatra arpita niyamita smaranen kalaha. So there is no hard and fast rule about chanting. Here I am talking to you, sitting with several devotees. We are in Alachua. New Ramanreti, Krishna-Balaram temple, America. We did a little Japa with the devotees assembled here and while talking to you all on this conference, some are also around me here. So there is no hard and fast rule with regard to the time, but of course we have been emphasising and reminding all you chanters that the best time for chanting is Brahma muhurta.

The morning of the day is the time in the mode of goodness. Day time is passion. Rajo Guna becomes prominent and night time is supposed to be reserved for ignorance. Like this, the day is divided into three parts and the three modes are dominant in each one of those. So we should attempt with all effort to chant. Get up and the first thing you do is chanting. I know you all are busy people. My advice is that you should consider that the day has only 22 hours for you. You could stay busy for 22 hours in different things and devotional services or family obligations also, which
is part of your Varnasrama responsibilities. To take care of those you have 22 hours, but the other 2 hours they don't exist for doing anything else but chanting of maha-mantra. You could divide your day like that in two parts, two hours for chanting and 22 hours for more chanting and more serving, hearing and taking care of other different obligations. Here in Alachua we celebrated Balaram Purnima yesterday. I think in India , you are celebrating that today.

We spend the day remembering Balarama, chanting and hearing his glories. Also chanting

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare

Lots of Hare Krishna and some more chanting also. Balaram also did many things. He is Adiguru, the first spiritual master. When we chant Hare Krishna the next part is Hare Rama. Prabhupada would say that this 'Hare Rama Hare Rama' also refers to Balarama. In India people are interested to know about this Hare Rama that we chant. Whether it is Jay Sri Rama or what? Prabhupada would say , “Yes, and 'Hare Rama Hare Rama' refers to Balarama. Technically we know this Hare Rama is Krsna, but then Krsna is Balarama and Balarama is Krsna. They are non-different.
Balarama is as good as Krsna. He is almost Krsna. Srila Prabhupada said that, and we also said yesterday, He is almost there. He is there. He is Krsna. So chanters of the maha-mantra of course remember Balarama while chanting 'Hare Rama Hare Rama' part. Balarama from the name itself is Bala and Rama. We get strength, spiritual strength from Balarama.

nayam-atma  bala-hinena  labhyo

na  =  not;ayam  =  this; atma  =  Paramatma; bala-hinena  =  by  the  weak  ( in  spirit );
labhyah  =  is  attained (MUNDAKOPANISHAD : CHAPTER-3. SECTION-2. MANTRAM-4)

It says na ayam atma – atma can be realized, but the soul can't be realized, become God realized, Krsna realized , without strength. na bala hinena – you are devoid of Bala – strength. na labhyo – you can't attain self realization, Krsna realization. So we need this Bala,strength to realize the lord.

That strength comes from Balarama. He is also Adiguru. It comes from Balarama and then through our spiritual master it reaches us. So we get spiritual strength from Balarama. Rama means pleasure,joy.

ramati ramayati ca iti ramah

Rama is that personality who is joyful in nature. He enjoys-: ramati ramayati ca, ca means. ' and' He becomes the cause of others’ pleasure.

ha ha prabhu nityananda, premananda sukhi
kripabalokana koro ami boro duhkhi

The famous prayer statement, says, ha ha prabhu nityananda, premananda sukhi. You seem to be sukhi, happy and full of premananda. So whether Nityananda or Balarama is premananda sukhi. is same. Balarama hai Nitai. Balarama has become joyful. But then the song says, look at me, poor me. I am miserable. – boro dukhi. That's not fair. You are sukhi and I am dukhi. So do something for me too Nityananda Prabhuji. We also say this to Balarama by addressing Him as You are premanande sukhi. When we sing this song,our mind says me too! I would like to be Happy. Some Prema for me also. That is what Balarama has ramati ramayati ca. He enjoys Himself and He becomes the cause of others enjoyment. So

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare

We chant Hare Krishna mahamantra and in the prayer unto Krishna and Balarama so that we could be happy, and there is no other way to become Happy.

harer namaiva kevalam

Yesterday as we were celebrating Appearance Day of Balarama, we gave initiation to some souls. They heard, Jiva Jago Jiva jago Gauracand bole. We gave him the name Gauracand. Please wake up. Gauranga Mahaprabhu is calling. He has been calling. He is calling all the time. We don't listen, or we listen and not listen. Even if we listen we don’t pay attention really and think of something else. Yesterday we woke up two souls They really heard the wake up call. Gauranga is calling Jiva Jago Jiva jago. They were initiated. One became Gauracand – Sakshi Gopal Prabhu's elder son is not very old. He is only thirteen years old. He broke all the records. He broke or I broke the record by initiating such a young man – only thirteen years old. He has become my youngest disciple and then he was appreciated by devotees assembled here. Temple president , Mukhya mataji was appreciating them. That of course is about whether we also woke up . Other one is twenty-two, took some extra time and she became Rasanandi Radha, from Guyana. She is
not born here. Her parents are from Guyana. She is Dharmaraj Prabhu's daughter. She also took initiation. Initiation means initiated . So the other mataji was appreciating that these two souls have taken this commitment of chanting the prescribed number of rounds. They are exemplary. The whole Gurukul was also here. Friends also from their age groups. They were associating. Hardik Patel who chants regularly on this conference has travelled a long distance driving for eight hours. to catch up with us. Vidya is from Mauritius. She also is here. She didn't drive, but she flew long distance to join us. She was also a witness of yesterday's initiation. Two of them took initiation,
which is an example for others. So think about it and take to the chanting seriously. Quality wise seriously and quantity wise sixteen rounds minimum of all rounds. Not that I chanted four rounds seriously , I have taken it seriously. I have chanted four rounds seriously or eight rounds seriously.

No! No! Minimum sixteen rounds at that time of the day.
Chanting seriously means you are taking care of yourself. You have understood yourself. The spirit soul is being yourself which you had been neglecting for a long, long time. So this Jiva Jago is wake up soul. We don't say wake up body. Time to go to work. Even after telling them , as Bhaktivinoda Thakura has given the wake up call. He says Jiva Jago Jiva jago Gauracand bole. This wake up call is for Gauracanda. If we are serious in taking care of ourselves – self is not the body, but the soul. We feed the soul by chanting Hare Krishna Hare Krishna. We are connecting the soul. Make sure that we feed it properly. Make sure we trying to feed the soul, but are we feeding it properly. The soul is consuming, or swallowing it.

We are chanting, but we are not listening. We are chanting, but our mind is really not into chanting. Mind is off. We are doing our rounds. Round after round, one round done, second round and in between the mind makes so many rounds around the world. We have to do this thing, fixing our mind on chanting Bringing the mind back from the senses and
making sure you are hearing and then thinking and remembering the Lord. Remembering Lord's form, qualities abode and like that. When the mother has to feed the child , some children don’t even open their mouth. He is pretending to open, but the jaws are still tight. We have seen this. Then the mother somehow feeds the child, distracts the child from the task of opening the mouth and somehow with the spoon holding in between the lips tries to make the space. Then she has to make sure that food reaches the mouth. There are many mothers here who will agree. So many babies you have seen. Even if the food is in the mouth the child doesn't swallow it. She still keeps working on the child. The baby
has to swallow it. And when it is in stomach, it also has to be assimilated. Once it is digested then it becomes part of your system and that is what gives you strength, energy. Then you could function in your lively way. So for this process of chanting and hearing, our mind is always a stumbling block. The mind comes in the way like that child's body comes in the way. Child's lips, teeth come in the way. Child's mouth also may come in a way. Child's food in the mouth and he is holding it and it is not going down to the stomach. Likewise Mind is 'anti', Your enemy.

atmaiva hy atmano bandhur
atmaiva ripur atmanah

The Lord has explained this in the sixth chapter of Bhagavad-Gita where he is talking about astanga yoga. It applies to us. Krsna says your mind can act like your enemy, it can also act like your friend, so make your mind friend.

uddhared atmanatmanam
natmanam avasadayet
atmaiva hy atmano bandhur
atmaiva ripur atmanah (BG 6.5)

Lord's advice is uddhared atmanatmanam. Throughout this particular statement the Lord is only saying atma, atma, atma, that each of these atma refers to the soul, refers to intelligence also as atma, refers to the mind also as atma.

atmaiva hy atmano bandhur- atma is friend of atma. Here first atma is atma, spirit soul. atmaiva hy atmano bandhur. This atma – mind could be the friend of the soul, or atmaiva ripur atmanah – the mind which is atma could be the enemy of atma – soul. So one Atma is atma and other atma which Krsna talks about is the mind . Intelligence is also atma. One atma should lift the other atma. So this atma – soul should be lifted. Uddhared – uddhar karo, lift! uddhared atmanatmanam- You lift the soul(atma) with the other atma, that is the mind and intelligence. With the help of the mind
which is governed by divine intelligence, you lift the soul. The soul has to be lifted and the soul has to be liberated. The soul could be lifted by the controlled, purified mind with intelligence. What governs or controls the mind is intelligence. So the three atmas are:

soul -atma
mind – atma
intelligence – atma

Above all, there is Paramatma. Lord says,” I give atma, I give intelligence. dadami buddhi-yogam tam (BG 10.10). I give intelligence. Lord gives intelligence. With the help of that divine intelligence we can control our otherwise uncontrollable mind. Mind is soul.

Mana eva manushyanam karanam bandha mokshayoho

When the mind acts like your enemy then bandhan, bondage, you are conditioned. And when the mind acts as our friend then our soul becomes free from bondage. Mind is the cause of bondage and liberation.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare.

So while we say that to chant successfully is a job of an intelligent person. Buddhiman person could chant attentively, properly, purely and fiercly . So ye buddhu ka kama nahi hai. Ek hota hai buddhu. and the other is buddhiman. That's why Balarama killed the ass demon. Dhenukasur. Otherwise the ass is known to be dull headed and that is why he works so very hard. Although the grass is everywhere and it doesn't require much labor to get the grass, he feels he must work very hard, carry a big load of my boss, government or company for which I am working, to get the grass. This is one mentality of the ass. Working hard mentality. Balarama killed the ass demon. He is Adi-guru. This is the Guru's business on behalf of Balarama, the ass that is hiding within us because of which we have developed ass like mentality has to be killed. The ass works very hard that's one thing, but the ass is also attached to sex life. He always runs after the she ass or the he donkey runs after the she donkey. Our Deenabandhu Prabhu , ISKCON panda from Krishna Balaram temple Vrindavan describes this Dhenukasur past time. He describes it in a very interesting way. How the ass is running after the she ass and she ass may give the he ass a kick on his face, but he ass doesn't go away. He persists and tries again. Another attempt to enjoy and another kick. Kick after kick just to enjoy the sex pleasure. Ass is also known for working hard and sex life. So Krsna could have killed that ass, but he let Balarama kill him to set an example for all the guru's, that you have to also get rid of the ass like mentality.

We were talking of chanting as being the job of buddhiman and not buddhu. As long as we stay or maintain the ass like mentality, then we can't progress. We will be going the wrong way and that leads to bondage. We have to become intelligent. To whom does Lord gives intelligence? He doesn't distribute it like free cookies. He says I give such intelligence :

esam satata-yuktanam
bhajatam priti-purvakam
dadami buddhi-yogam tam
yena mam upayanti te

To those who are constantly devoted and worship Me with love, I give the understanding by
which they can come to Me. (BG 10.10)

Those who are endeavouring to serve the Lord, they want to serve Lord, satata-yuktanam and priti- purvakam. They want to develop love for the Lord. You want to serve, with love and devotion . The Bible says, ' Love thy Lord with all thy strength'. Krsna also said, 'Love thy Lord with all thy strength.' in sadhana bhakti, devotional service, chanting is the primary principal. This is devotional service. Those who are serving the Lord like that, to them the Lord gives intelligence. We did some service and the Lord gave some intelligence. Then he served more. By seeing that service , the Lord gave more intelligence and like that. So part of that service is the chanting service specially in this age of Kali. There is no other way . The goal is – yena mam upayanti te. They will come back to Me. Come back to Godhead where Krsna and Balarama are performing the pastimes eternally. Here we do sadhana bhakti in this world and then when we become perfect, eligible, then we return to the place from where we have come.

14TH AUGUST 2019

HARINAMA – ONLY REMEDY OF BHAVROG.

I am still in New Vrindavan and the network is quite unstable here. Still we are trying so that you can all listen to the Japa-talk and there should not be any difficulties. Lots of devotees and disciples , followers and friends have come to New Vrindavan and there is a festival over here.

I was studying Srila Rupa Goswami's Upadesamrta ( Nectar of Instruction) in my free time. I was studying the seventh sloka of Nectar of Instruction. This sloka got my attention. I thought it to be relevant to the chanting that we do on this conference. It is very instructive for the chanting of the holy name. Prabhupada quoted this particular instruction of Srila Rupa Goswami again and again. Many, many times he told us about this or reminded his followers about this instruction. I just want to share that with you. I will read the Sanskrit part and then try to explain it.

syāt kṛṣṇa-nāma-caritādi-sitāpy avidyā-
pittopatapta-rasanasya na rocikā nu
kintv ādarād anudinaṁ khalu saiva juṣṭā
svādvī kramād bhavati tad-gada-mūla-hantrī

Here Srila Rupa Goswami is instructing that certainly beginning with Krsna's name , then it comes his caritra, His past times etc. It is very juicy. The holy name is very, very sweet. I was trying to say that one who is afflicted with the disease of jaundice , then sweet sugar candy does not taste at all sweet to that person. Candy is sweet, but the eater of the sweet candy who is afflicted with the disease , goes to the doctor. The doctor diagnoses the jaundice and the prescription is to eat sugar candy. He had tried sugar candy and it did not taste very sweet. But the doctor says
sugar candy is the only cure for your jaundice. So here in this sloka, he is instructing that the holy name is the only medicine for the bhavarog, with which we have been contaminated. The sweet holy name doesn't initially taste sweet for the beginner. So one may feel, ‘How could I experience the sweetness of the holy name? Then acarya's and spiritual masters and Rupa Goswami Prabhupada here say – na rocikā nu – you are not tasting the sweetness of the holy name, but that holy name is the cure for the diseased, contaminated condition in which we are.

Chanting is that cure. harer nama eva kevalam. There is no other way. Doctor tells the jaundiced patient , there is no other cure other then this sugar candy. You have to eat sugar candy.

The chanter of the holy name is not interested. He has no ruci. Caitanya Mahaprabhu also says – na anuragaha – He has no attraction for the chanting. But the prescription is you have to chant. You have to keep chanting. Going back to that example of jaundice and prescription of sugar candy. When the jaundiced patient

eats sugar candy, this candy cures the jaundice and as he gets cured more and more, then he begins tasting the original sweetness of sugar candy. When he is fully cured of disease, “Give me more! More sugar candy!” He was not willing to eat sugar candy as it was bitter, but he was told that this is the only cure, so he goes on. Then he gets cured and starts asking for more and more. So likewise Rupa Goswami says ādarād anudinaṁ carefully and anudinaṁ. Over again and again , day after day , round after round he could say dose after dose. Sixteen rounds after sixteen rounds some day or in few days. saiva juṣṭā svādvī kramād bhavati You will begin tasting. You develop ruci, liking , attraction , taste for the holy name.

By this time tad-gada-mūla-hantrī there is a destruction of the disease which is Bhavarog, or Hritrog or Kama-rog, lust. Such diseased conditions of the contaminated consciousness could be cured or purified by mula hantri by chanting
the holy name of the Lord.

You could read instruction number seven from Upadeshamrta. The verse and translation of the purport , then you will have a better and clearer understanding of this instruction. Have you heard everything? It's the seventh verse from the Nectar of Instruction. So keep chanting and one day you will reach that point where you will have so much attraction for the holy name that you don't want to stop. This is guaranteed by our acarya Srila Rupa Goswami.

JAPA-TALK 13th AUGUST 2019

ASTAVIKAR MANIFESTS IN OFFENSELESS CHANTING.

This japa session is happening at Param Dham Prabhu and Jamuna mataji’s house, their son Chaitanya and daughter Lavanya are also here. I am in Washington DC, capital town of America. Today there are many things we can discuss. Washington DC is the capital of America and here in the ISKCON temple along with the other deities there is Rama Laksman Sita Hanuman also. Like the way the Lord rules here, in England’s capital London also there is Rama Laksman Sita Hanuman. Even in Delhi, the Indian capital there is Rama Darbar. All these places have been made into His Kingdom by Lord Sri Rama. So the rulers in these cities could rule the way Rama ruled Ayodhya. All these rulers could take some lessons from Sri Rama, follow in the footsteps of Sri Rama while ruling these countries the way Lord Rama ruled the whole world from Ayodhya in an unbiased way. All these places have become Rama’s kingdom.

I want to discuss something that came to my mind just now. All of you are able to hear my chanting but I could not hear you chanting. This is not good. I also wish to hear your chanting. The most important thing is that while we are chanting as Prabhupada would say ,'The tongue must vibrate'. Here where I am staying, in Param Dham Prabhu’s house there is a sign board and it is written , – 'Good vibes only' so ‘the tongue must vibrate' specially during chanting. Vibrate the tongue with the holy name , so that we could hear our own chanting. If that doesn't happen, then we may end up hearing some other sounds of the material world. Or we may just listen to our mind and the
mind is contemplating on something. We may be listening to that. In order to keep all other sounds out of the way we have to mind to chant. Our chanting, our vibes should be wider than other vices, sound vibrations in the air. While chanting japa our tongue should vibrate. If you hear a recording of Srila Prabhupad chanting, it is quite clear and loud.

While I was honouring my lunch prasada. I was hearing Caitanya-caritamrta Adi lila 7th chapter. I was hearing while honouring prasada and I could also say something about hearing while honouring prasada. In good old days in our brahmacari asrama before going to bed we would have a glass of milk. We had the milk in a big bucket in the centre and we all brahmacaris would sit around it. We would fill our glasses with milk and drink. It was not that we only had one glass. Some devotees had more than one glass. Among those devotees there would be one devotee who read from Krishna book. Every one had to shut up. Just drink the milk and listen and we had to hear that while drinking milk. While drinking milk we drank the nectarian pastimes of Lord Krsna from Krishna book. We were trained like that. To hear while eating. You can also practice the same, while having prasada you can hear. Here the benefit is twofold. One we are benefitted by eating prasada , Krsna is entering into you through your mouth, and by hearing, through your ears. So you are being bombarded by Krsna. You may like to do it as it is the best practice.

I want to say something very quickly because the session is supposed to be very short. While I was listening to Caitanya-caritamrta I heard the glories of the holy name from Mahaprabhu Himself, from His lotus lips. That time Caitanya Mahaprabhu was in Varanasi. Varanasi is the seat of the Mayavadis sanyasis who were impersonalists. There was a lot of criticism going on about Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He was criticized for chanting and dancing all over Varanasi and having followers follow Him sentimentally. Being a Sannyasi He should be grave, but He was laughing and dancing and what not. This is not apt for a Sannyasi. On top of all that he does not study Vedanta. But we study the vedanta. vedanta kare na pathan Mayavadi's are very proud of their study of Vedanta. This criticism was heard by a Maharastrian Brahmin. He could not tolerate this gossip which had become the talk of the town. He went to Caitanya Mahaprabhu and said that he could not tolerate this anymore and had to be stopped. He appealed to Mahaprabhu to meet these sannyasis and explain the truth. Caitanya Mahaprabhu was not interested in meeting the sannyasis. He was trying to avoid these impersonalist mayavadis. He did not want to meet them. mayavad bhasya sunile hail sarvanash But finally as the Maharashtrian Brahmin was insisting and pleading and begging finally Mahaprabhu agreed. The Maharashtrian Brahmin became the host for the meeting of all the sannyasis including Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

Caitanya Mahaprabhu arrived and as he entered the arena he sat where everyone washed their feet. This was noticed by Prakashanda Sarasvati, the leader and spiritual master of all other sannyasis. He had around 7000 disciples. He went to the place where Caitanya Mahaprabhu sat and asked Him, to please get up and sit with him in his place. Mahaprabhu then went and sat with him in his place. After both of them took their respective seats, their discussion started. He accused Caitanya Mahaprabhu of sentimental dancing and chanting and not studying Vedanta in this land of Varanasi. ‘This is not proper. Now you should take lessons from the Vedantist and stop this sentimental chanting. Why are you doing this?’

On hearing this from Prakashanada Sarasvati Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu said. ‘ You know why I am doing this? My Guru Maharaja Isvara Puri has asked me to do this. Guru mor murkh Delhi karil shasan . He said, ‘You are a fool, so I am instructing You. You can’t study Vedanta. So follow what I say. You just chant the Hare Krishna Mahamantra and sing the holy names.’

‘I am following what my Guru Maharaja said and he also said:

harer naam harer naam harer naam evakevalam kalau nastyeva nastyeva nastyeva gatir anyatha

Only the holy name, only the holy name , only the holy name is required for all the living entities. And he explained the meaning and importance of this mantra to Prakasananda Sarasvati. There is no other way, there is no other way, there is no other way to realise Krsna in this kaliyuga. Not by knowledge, not by karma, not by yoga can you attain God. In this age of Kali the holy name is the only path.That’s why I took up this chanting . As I started chanting, changes started happening in Me and I was a changed man. It transformed Me. People started calling Me a madman, pagala
baba. Once this happened I again went to my Guru Maharaja and asked him, – ‘kiba mantra dila Goswami kiba tar bal japite japite mantra karil pagal What kind of mantra have you given me Guru Maharaja? There is so much power in this holy name . By chanting I am becoming mad .

The moment I started chanting i became a madman. I started trembling. Sometimes I laugh and sometimes I cry. Sometimes I become stunned and sometimes I roll on the ground. After hearing this my Guru Maharaja said, ‘Wise man! Good boy! This is a good thing. You are intelligent. You are not a bad Man, but a good Man. Others may say that You are a fool, but You are not a fool. You are doing it very well.’ This is what Caitanya Mahaprabhu said to Prakasanada Sarasvati. Good vibes only! ‘He was really pleased and appreciating what had happened to Me as a result of chanting the Hare Krishna mahamantra. And then he also quoted the verse, I think canto 7 chapter 2 text 40

mahāprabhoḥ kīrtana-nṛtya-gīta-
vāditra-madyan-manaso rasena
romāñca-kampāśru-taraṅga-bhājo
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam

This is a Gurvastakam verse of Srila Vishwanath Chakravarty Thakura. Viswanatha Chakravarty Thakura is describing the symptoms of one who does kirtana like Mahaprabhu has tears rolling down one’s cheeks and transformations become clearly visible. All those astavikar , eight different manifestations become clearly visible.My Guru Maharaja said that this is perfect. This is natural. This is what happens to one who chants Hare Krishna. Isvara Puri also quoted Srimad-
Bhagavatam canto 7, chapter 2 text 14. Especially and this only happens to one who does attentive chanting without any offence and chants constantly.

All of you can read Caitanya-caritamrta Adi lila chapter seven , where this debate between Caitanya Mahaprabhu and
Prakasananda Sarasvati is being discussed. There is lot more about enlightening dialogue which continued which you should read and study. It will inspire you to chant offencelessly. Lets stop here.

Hare Krishna!

12th August 2019

DEVOTEES ARE REAL DECORATION 

I am chanting with you from New Vrindavan, America. I also have some of the devotees from Canada. They have come from Canada to New Vrindavan. Also there are devotees from Los Angeles like Vrndavana Lila Mataji, Ramchandra Prabhuji from New Jersey, Antaryami Krishna Prabhuji from Boston and all the way from Tirupati, Venkatachalpati Prabhuji and devotees from South India. We have Daksina mataji from New Vrindavan and Rupamati mataji who is an architect and engineer.

There was a good number yesterday and today morning also. They don't want to leave New Vrindavan but stay on here.  Today is Ekadasi here in America, so we decided to chant with you. I am sure this is Dvadasi for you. You just got up, had mangala aarti and started chanting. In New Vrindavan it is Sandhya aarti.

We will chant and talk and then get a little rest. That is the kind of situation for  devotees.  East and West, North and South. Somewhere it's day and at another place night. Somewhere devotees are just getting up and at another
place they are getting ready to sleep. That's why Srila Prabhupada had once said,  'In ISKCON’s empire the sun never sets. It's always shining in whichever part there is in ISKCON’s empire'. He talked about this in 1977
Kumbha-mela. 

The British were very proud that the ‘sun never sets in the British empire' Their colonised empire had spread all over the planet, so they would say that the 'sun never sets in the British empire’. Prabhupada would say, ‘But
the sun never rises in England.’ It is always foggy and cloudy and they never get to see the sun. The sun is not visible in England. But in case of ISKCON, it is everywhere. It never sets in ISKCON empire. 

This is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's empire and Prabhupada’s empire as Prabhupada is the commander in chief of Caitanya Mahaprabhu's sankirtana movement.

An important thing about chanting is that we should always be planning to improve our chanting.  I was in Richmond at Divyanama  Prabhu's home. He showed me the Japa meditation corner. We also installed Haridas Thakur's murti, which he had managed to get from somewhere. Someone donated to him the murti of Namacarya. He wanted me to install the murti in that meditation hall of his house and that is where he was planning to continue his  chanting in presence of Haridas Thakur. I noticed that he didn't have Tulasi in that room. So he was going to add Tulasi also and chant in the presence of Tulasi and Namacarya Haridas Thakur. Of course he had other photographs also of Srila Prabhupada, his Guru Maharaja, Aindra Prabhu, who was an inspiration for many devotees for chanting and singing. It was a nice set up. Very inspirational to chant japa. You could also make sure you have an appropriate place for your chanting.

This morning at Radha Vrindavanchandra temple, in New Vrindaban, the director of the project, one who was making all the announcements read some quotations from Srila Prabhupada’s Namamrta. That was a very good practice. Just before the devotees’ chanting session in the temple, they read a few paragraphs, few quotes from Srila Prabhupada’s Namamrta. You chanters also try to get hold of this book of Sri- Namamrta. It's a compilation from Srila Prabhupada’s books, purports, conversations, morning walks, wherever Prabhupada talked about chanting or even singing. All those quotes have been collected in this book. It is a very good collection, very inspirational. You could also read that, before you begin chanting your japa and then chant. 

 Then again this morning during Bhagavatam class,I gave Caitanya – caritamrita class. Caitanya Mahaprabhu was touring Vrindavan and we mentioned and reminded the audience that towards the end of Mahaprabhu's touring, Caitanya Mahaprabhu spent time at Akrura ghata. One day He went over to Imalitala on the banks of Yamuna and He was chanting. Caitanya Mahaprabhu was doing his nama japa underneath that tamarind tree on the banks of Yamuna. 

We humorously said that Caitanya Mahaprabhu was chanting offenselessly. There is no need to mention this because Caitanya Mahaprabhu only chanted offenselessly. His chanting was never ever

offensive chanting. He would get absorbed in chanting. There would be full concentration on the chanting and as a result of such chanting of 'Hare Krishna Hare Krishna' Caitanya Mahaprabhu became Krishna conscious. 

In this case Radharani was the one who was chanting. Caitanya Mahaprabhu is in the mood of Radhabhav. He has become a devotee. He has become Bhaktarupa or he is in Bhaktarupa. He has become Radharani. As a result of that chanting, that morning Caitanya Mahaprabhu's whole complexion changed. He literally became Krishna conscious. Literally or
spiritually became Krishna conscious. His complexion no more remained Gauranga or Gaursundara, but He became Syamsundara with a bluish complexion He attained Ghaniva syam. 

This is one incident which explains how the chanting of Hare Krishna could transform you. That happened to Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He was no more golden in complexion but He had a Syamsundara bluish complexion. Of course He is the Lord and we can't expect our body to become Syamsundara like His. But different transformations are expected as are explained in the Nectar of Devotion- trembling of body or rolling on the ground, tears rolling down etc. So that day Caitanya Mahaprabhu exhibited the symptom of a change in complexion or symptom of pure chanting, chanting with devotion and emotions, feelings.

After today's morning class, we discussed Caitanya Mahaprabhu's Vrindavan tour. He did Vraja Mandala parikrama of Vrindavan. So after we finished our prasada we went on a tour of new Vrindavan, following in the footsteps of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Of course we were not in the Vrindavan but we were in New Vrindavan. There are several forests here and we went on a tour with my dear godbrother, good old friend Varasana Swami Maharaja who became the guide. I was also a guide and a large number of disciples, friends followers over a hundred we went on a Parikrama of new Vrindavan.

Our first stop was a Palace of Gold. We took the tour and sat down and we talked and listened to Barasana Swami Maharaja speaking and sharing all realisations and history of the Palace of Gold. We heard that Prabhupada had visited the place once. Even though  the Palace of Gold was  not completed then you  could see the photograph. Both Barasana Maharaja, and I were in the photo there. Although we have less time left, I will share one thing, that Maharaja talked to us about this morning. I forget the year when Prabhupada took a tour of the Palace of Gold which was under construction. Devotees were doing a guided tour and those who were responsible for completing the construction of the palace they told to Prabhupada, ‘Prabhupada, we are going to have a lot of jewels and chandeliers. We are going to decorate this place truly with lots of gold. It will be much more decorated. It is unfinished now'. In response to that Prabhupada said, ‘My disciples, the devotees of this temple would be the jewels. They would be the real decorations.' It means that Prabhupada was more pleased not only with decorating the temple with jewels, but he was
more interested in giving value to the devotees. Devotees are more important and valuable. They are the real decoration. Everybody would agree. Maharaja also said that this is Maha Bhagavat Srila Prabhupada’s mission. This is how Prabhupada was thinking. He wasn't thinking that my residence, my palace would be decorated or studded with gems or jewels, but my real decorations are the devotees. They are the jewels. We should also be thinking that way. If we can't manage to build the temple we should be making the devotees as decorations, the jewels and not just
building the building. Devotees should be highlighted. The number should increase. They should be taken care of then the temple would shine.

One final item that we did in New Vrindavan Parikrama. Our final stop was on the banks of Radha-kund and Syama-kunda. Here in New Vrindavan they managed to get some Radha-kunda water and they mixed it with waters here. So this is non-different from Radha-kunda in Vrindavan. 

There is a temple of Radha-Gopinath which is under construction on the banks of Radha-kunda here in New Vrindavan. There are nice shady trees and also a Vrinda Devi temple on the banks of Radha-kunda. Among the shady  trees we talked and talked about Hari Katha. Maharaja spoke about the glories of Radha-kunda. The whole pastimes of how Radha-kunda and
Syama-kunda came into existence. There was Kundeswar Mahadev also. The dome is not finished yet as they need some more funds. Radha- Gopinath temple can also be seen. 

Keep chanting. Make sure that you chant in your chanting time. It is 9.45 pm here so good night, shubharatri to you all. India's good morning is good night here.
 
Hare Krishna! 
Have a good day!

10th August 2019

Kirtan means glory

kirti means glory. So, glories of maya are chanted day and night in commercial. Maya’s glories are broadcasted. Maya’s kirtan are on all the time. So, Sukadev Goswami says, ‘kirtana eva krsna sya,’ also meaning that the demigods considered their names equal to three worlds, independent on name of the Lord is an offence. So, Sukadev Goswami empahsised the best quality or guna in this age of Kali is kirtan only and kirtan only of Krishna. Bhagavatam chants the glories of Krishna, Bhagavan’s glories are chanted and it becomes Bhagavat, Krishna related. mukta sanga param vrajet – by chanting the holy names, Krishna’s names, mukta sangah, we become free from attachment for infinity.

There’s no sanga.’astanga tyagat ei vaishnav acar’. Vaisnava is seen or vaisnava is known for giving up, denouncing or renouncing the poor association, worldly association, by chanting the holy names of the Lord and we become attached to Krishna, we become attached to the chanting of the holy names of the Lord and the devotees. Devotees are also Lord’s in some form, they are parts and parcels of the Lord and devotees are very dear to the Lord. So, you develop attachment to the devotees. By chanting Hare Krishna, we become mukta person, all that is false, all that is Maya, all that is symbolic; we become free from the concepts and theology and faith.

‘sarva dharman parityaja’ – You give up all varieties of so-called religions.

‘param vrajet ‘, that person transcends and he goes beyond this material existence. It’s not that the Vaikuntha vimaan come and he boards on and goes back to Vaikuntha. He has become jivan mukta. While he is still around, he is not bound anymore. He is jivena mukta. Like the lotus is in the mud but it cannot be muddied by the mud. He is transcendental touched but is not touched, he is not influenced by the things around him. ‘mam ekam sharanam vraj’, all varieties of religion are not very easy to understand. “sarva dharman, mam eka sharanam”, surrender unto Me only. So, chanting of the holy names of the Lord is surrendering unto the Lord.

nama ashraya kari jatan tumi takah apana kaje,

taking shelter of the holy name. While chanting our japa we are taking shelter of the holy name. The more attentive chanting you do is indication you are more surrender unto the holy name. If our chanting is offence less then we are surrendered more unto the holy name of the Lord. So, ‘mam ekam sharanam vraj’ is same as a nama ashraya. The chanting of the holy name is equal to taking shelter to the Lord, or surrendering unto the Lord

Here He says, mam ekam sharanam vraj aham tvam sarva papebhyo. aham, also; tvam, yours; papebhyo, not one, two, but all the sins that you have committed. Meaning, the reactions or the resulted actions of the sinful activities. moksyayisyhmi, Lord will free you from all the sins, sinful activities and from all the reactions and results and sufferings of the sins.

Ultimately, we fully surrender unto the Lord, unto the holy name of the Lord then we become truly free from, papa chi vasana, the thoughts of committing sins, concepts, ideas of committing sins. There’re various ideas for us to boost these inspiration or dictation, these vasanas, these desires, and then we commit the sins, and then there are reactions dictated by the kama vasana; there are inspirations and desires to commit sins, sinful activity dictated by kaam vasana. Then the reactions of sinful activities become the cause and effect. Sinful activities cause sufferings.

So, when Lord is talking here, mam ekam sharanam vraj, I will make you free from the sin. That means you have received full benediction of the Lord, then no more desires to commit sin. You will not commit sin and there will be no reaction to any sinful activity. And ma sucah, do not fear, there is no reason. Do not doubt, go ahead, surrender unto Me. I am here, come here, my dear, do not fear, I’m right here, ma sucah. ma means do not. So, the Lord, originally, who is the creator of all problems are there, He created problems, we can’t blame the Lord because it’s all our fault. We embraced the world of problems and we turned against the Lord with our back to Him and we came to this world with bhoga van cha with vasana, with the desire to enjoy. As soon as there is bhoga van cha, the desire to enjoy, immediately nikita starts. Maya dragged us then Maya started handling us. We made bad use of the independence that we had. We chose this world of problems. So, we cannot blame the Lord, but we could rectify the fault by giving up this mentality to enjoy independently, give the spirit this bhoga mentality. Instead, you could go for yoga, yogi bhava, advised and instructed Arjuna you become a yogi, yogi bhava. So, we could say japa yogi bhava and Maya says bhogi bhava.

Hare Krishna

9th August 2019

Hare Krishna

We have 170 participants.

Hari Hari!

I was chanting my japa during morning hours, here, in Richmond, Dwarka. When I got up, it was very cool. It’s very quiet and peaceful. This place is countryside. We must see the forest sometime. So, this is a good time and good place to chant. Then I thought why chant alone, I remembered. Whenever I chant these days, I remember the other chanters. They send communications. And many of you have joined – there are 175 chanters. My idea was to catch new chanters, new participants and we have some success by communicating and getting them to join the chanting session. But not many as I aspire, desire or expect. I don’t know why. I thought devotees in America would chant on east coast.

Right now, chanting is Ram Chandra prabhu who wrote and he said they have to go to work, now. They should chant and go to work. Either they are going to work or they are or we are too busy to chant.

Hari, Hari. Gaura Premanande, Hari, Hari bol!

Chanting should be the centre of our whole life. Chanting should be at the prime time. Not that prime time for maya and some other time for Krsna. There are 24 hours in a day. So, 2 hours, more or less, we should spare for chanting our japa, meditating, communicating with the Lord, your dialogue for the Lord, your time with the Lord, your appointment with the Lord, for 2 hours. You should consider 22 hours to do other things and only 2 hours for chanting and many more hours for Krishna, to do other spiritual activities – hearing, chanting, reading, studying, honouring prasadam, association of the devotees, preparing for Janmastami festival or distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books;

yāre dekha, tāre kaha kṛṣṇa’-upadeśa.

So, what I am trying to say is 2 hours for Krishna and 22 hours for maya. Out of those 22 hours, lot of hours should be given to Krsna. Our goal is 24 hours for Krishna. Srila Prabhupada has given us that as our goal, our standard to follow. This is the chanting time or the chanting session, this is japa talk, so, I am talking in favour of chanting, that is favourable to chanting. The policy also should be chant while chanting. Do other things while doing other things. While doing other things also we can chant – hata may kama mukha me nama. While cooking also you can chant. While driving also, as Dinanukampa mataji chant or hears us chanting while driving. But the 2 hours of japa time can be exclusive, can be dedicated to chanting, hearing, remembering. So, you may think, even I may say “Oh, I have so many problems so I can’t chant. I have no time to chant as I have to solve those problems.” That is not the way to solve the problems. Solution to all of our problems is Krishna, Krishna consciousness. Bhagavatam is solution. Chanting Hare Krishna is solution to all our problems. So, when you are not taking to this solution, you take to other speculated ways of solving problems which you do something else of Krishna consciousness to solve the problems. I will not chant and I will solve my problem. I will not hear Bhagavatam or I will not study Bhagavad Gita and I will solve my problems. I have no time to celebrate Janmastami because I must solve my problems. We have to be convinced that problems are caused by this deceptive age, the age of Kali. Being in this world is a problem. Turning us against Krishna, our back towards the Lord and face towards maya, that is the problem.

kalir doso nidhi rajan asti ekho mahan gunah – so many defects, in this age of Kali, so many flaws, so many shortcomings. This age of Kali is full of defects, full of bad qualities. But then there is one good quality. In the Bhagavatam, SukadevGoswami says that on behalf of the Lord, he knows what our problem is. The Lord is the creator of the problems and He is also the creator of all the solutions. If anybody knows what the solution is, that is the Lord. So, on behalf of the Lord, the maha bhagawat, Sukadev Goswami – who is, originally, the parrot of Radharani, Suka the parrot – had appeared into this world to chant the glories Radharani and Krishna.

sukha mukhad amritam – he is relishing amritas, sharing amritas of Bhagavatam that were spoken on behalf of the Lord Krishna. If we drink the nectar of Bhagavatam, then no more leaving in ignorance. We become deathless, birthless, diseaseless and ageless. Life becomes free – life minus death, minus birth. And we become amar, we become eternal. Eternally, devoted in service of the Lord.

As we talk of problems, I say the problem is we do not know what the problem is. The real problem is not knowing. We become knowledgeable when we know what the problem is. The whole world is talking of problems but they have not realised Krishna.

janma mrutyu jara vyadhi duhkha-dosanudarsanam , the lord wants to enlighten the whole world. The Lord is wants the whole world to know what the problem is and according to Lord, death, birth, disease, old age are the problems.

The whole world is talking of problem, So many problems, secondary or tertiary problem, world related problems. In Bhagavatam, Sukadev Goswami says kalir dosha nidhi rajan. This age of Kali is a special age for the world as it passes through this period called the Kali yuga. Srila Prabhupada called this a season. So, Kali yuga is one kind of a season. Dwapar yuga is another season and Treta yuga and Satya yuga are another seasons. So, this season Kali has lots of problems related with birth, death, old age and diseases. In Srimad Bhagavatam, Sukadev Goswami says ekho mahan gunah. There is one good quality, the best quality. In Kali Yuga is kirtana eva krsna sya mukta sanga param vrajet. Harer namaiva, eva – nama only. This Sukadev Goswami has said kirtana eva – only by kirtan, only. And then he had not just talked to the readers or audiences or listeners to do kirtan of anybody and everybody, no. He specified, kirtana eva krsna sya, kirtana only of Krishna, otherwise it will not work. Maya’s kirtan is going on through the karmic radio. Kirtan means glories. Kirti is glory. So, glories of maya chanted day and night.

To be continued

8th August 2019

Srila Prabhupada is our senapati bhakta

Hare Krishna

I am in Richmond at Divyanam Prabhu’s residence. He has invited all the congregational ISKCON regional devotees, so it is a busy schedule.

When I arrived here, some devotees were thanking me for coming. My response was, “We thank the Lord, and specially we thank Srila Prabhupada for coming to America. Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu had sent Srila Prabhupada to bless America. Here he founded the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. My coming here and meeting the congregation is also Srila Prabhupada’s blessing. He is the cause of our meeting and he is the one we should thank.”

And here we share another meeting. When Prabhupada arrived for the first time from India, there was no one to receive him. I see some of the garlands and the kirtana party, but none of that existed when Prabhupada had arrived. Prabhupada has written in his diaries now known as the Jaladuta Diaries from India to Boston and then, finally to New York. Now, we are giving greetings, garlands and a kirtana and mrdanga party. This is Srila Prabhupada’s Sankirtana sena and he is the commander in chief of the Sankirtana army.

Yesterday, I saw the founded International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Of course, Krsna is always everywhere and in America also before Prabhupada’s arrival, but He was not visible and He was not accessible or approachable. His stories here, His presence, His lilas, in America are all in the Krsna book and Srila Prabhupada made Krsna visible and available all over America and all over the the world.

Now, everywhere we go, we have Krsna bhaktas, Krsna temples, Ratha-yatra festivals, and we are all getting ready for Sri Krsna Janmastami and nagar Sankirtana is taking place all over the planet, Hare Krishna devotees are chanting with drums and kartals, which was only in Mayapur, Navadipa. In Manipur also. It was mostly in Hindi, and only in India. But now, by Srila Prabhupada’s mercy, it is all over the world. Srila Prabhupada is the ambassador of the Holy name.

As the devotees started chanting Hare Krishna on the streets and everywhere, by seeing those Hare Krishna devotees chanting here, there and everywhere, people started calling us, “Oh, these are the Hare Krishna people! Look! These are Hare Krishna people.” These were Srila Prabhupada’s followers. Now, they are Gaura bhakta vrndas, Krsna bhaktas and are known as Hare Krishna people chanting Hare Krishna. Prabhupada’s chanting made everyone happy.

George Harrison was a big Beatles singer, and he took to chanting. He recorded an album and that album was sold all over the planet. It has been experienced that at times even before Prabhupada’s arrival Prabhupada’s followers in some country, in some town had already heard

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

from George Harrison’s album. It became a hit making Hare Krishna chanting popular. As Srila Prabhupada empowered, instructed and guided his Hare Krishna Consciousness movement making it available here and there Krsna is becoming accessible, available to all.

Books by Srila Prabhupada – Gita, Bhagawat, Caitanya-caritamrta , Upanishads and other scriptures are being distributed. Prabhupada had instructed his followers, like Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur had instructed Srila Prabhupada. He had instructed Abhaya, to propagate Krishna Consciousness in the Western world in English. Srila Prabhupada personally brought Bhagavatam with him. He is personally, bhagawatamah bhagawat, the person bhagawat, and he has also carried his Srimad-Bhagawatam. Then he instructed his followers, “Now, you print my books. Translate it in English, French and you distribute it in as many languages as possible”. Prabhupada had his books translated and printed in English and now we have to expand that. His instruction was, “You print. Translate and print my books, in as many languages as possible.” So, his followers did just that.

For years, BBT, Bhaktivedhanta Book Trust had held a conference, and during the presentation BBT presenters revealed the secret. One blink means that one book by Srila Prabhupada has been distributed somewhere. Another blink, another book. Each blink, a book of Srila Prabhupada is being distributed. At BBT every second Srila Prabhupada’s books were being made available.

The Deities, Krishna, Radha Krishna, Sita Rama, Gaura Nitai, Jagannatha Baladeva Subhadra, Nrsimhadev – having installed Them meant Krsna is here. Right here, right now.

Hare Krishna

5th August 2019

Harer Namaiva Kevalam

I meant to chant and record this for you so that you know we chanted here, for tomorrow morning’s chanting time in India. But then I decided to let the world know that I’m chanting right now, right here in Los Angeles on Sunday the fourth of August. Today is also ratha yatra. As the world wants to chant, many of you have joined.

As a result, I’m seeing new faces. Normally Indian time is not convenient for them to chant. So for these devotees this will be more convenient. I see Gauranga in London chanting, and others are chanting. So, here’s what we will do; Everyday, I chant as per my convenience during my world tour. We will let you know, possibly in advance. If not, when I’m about to begin chanting, we will notify you and if it is convenient for you, you can also chant with us, with me. Devotees could chant some more rounds and then hear the japa talk after they have chanted their rounds. And then again , this recording will be made available at 05:30 or by 6 in the morning. 6 to 7 in the morning is fine.

I think it’s clear what I’m trying to communicate to all of you, the chanters, especially those who would be on this conference and the translator who would do this during my travels in the West. I think it would be best to talk in English for others to benefit. It can also be translated. What I’m speaking is not exactly japa talk so my words of inspiration for you all today is to keep chanting.

There will be lots of Kirtana during Jagannatha Ratha-yatra. The one thing I was thinking that you should take note of is that we do kirtana in the morning, during the day and in the evening. There is a kirtana mela and we do kirtana. In Ratha-yatra we do kirtana. There is Sankirtana. We do kirtana and that must be done, but we also have to chant our 16 rounds and many more rounds. I chant for hours during kirtana or kirtana melas or other kirtanas. I never think, “Oh, I have done my chanting, I have done my duty, I have done my part, I have done singing and chanting of Hare Krishna and that’s it,” That is not the case. Besides the few times that I have mentioned in the past, I have never missed chanting my daily prescribed number of rounds. Of course, I chant more than my prescribed rounds. On top of all the kirtana I have always chanted my rounds. I do kirtana with mrdanga, kartal or harmonium, singing, dancing but I also chant my japa.

harer namaiva kevalam is the principal – chanting of the Lord’s name is the only way and there is no other way, no other way, no other way. Chanting is the only way. This has to be understood and then one may think, “Why do Ratha-yatra? Why do Deity worship? Why do pada sevanam, arcanam, vandanam, dasayam, sakhyam, atmanivedanam? Why do other processes?

Only harer namaiva kevalam.The deeper meaning of this harer namaiva kevalam has been explained by Jiva Goswami. The meaning is that the other processes also have to be followed – arcanam and vandanam,dasayam, sakhyam, atmanivedanam. But all the processes should be accompanied by the chanting of the holy names of the Lord.

Ratha-yatra is arcanam. The Deities are taken on a procession. They circumambulate the temple in many, many places. This happens especially with the small utsava vigraha Deities. Utsava means festival. They are taken on a procession in Tirupati and many other places, in ISKCON also. In Mayapur, every Saturday, there is what they call an elephant procession. Radha Madhava ride on the back of the elephant and They go on the procession. That is arcanam. During Jagannatha Ratha-yatra, the Lord goes on a big tour. He travels a long distance riding on the chariot. That arcanam, that Ratha-yatra is complete when it is accompanied by the chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare Hare Rāma Hare Rāma Rāma Rāma Hare Hare. So, that is harer namaiva kevalam. Harinama has to be there, especially with Deity worship.

Deity worship with Harinama or singing the glories of the Lord is a ritual, but the Gaudiya Vaisnavas have to understand this harer namaiva kevalam principle. Along with arcanam, Deity worship, Ratha-yatra is part of arcanam. It’s worshipping of Jaganntha by bringing Them on a tour in a town, where He is going from Dwaraka to Vrndavana. Devotees are bringing Him to Vrndavana. That procession is accompanied by the chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare Hare Rāma Hare Rāma Rāma Rāma Hare Hare. No process that we follow or conduct is complete without chanting of Hare Krishna. Hare Krishna has to be there.

By the chanting of Hare Krishna along with the other devotional services, sravanam kirtanam, sravanam is one bhakti and kirtanam is another bhakti, smaranam is another bhakti. Like that there are 6 more bhaktis or processes of devotional service. Specially, in this age of Kali, we chant while following other processes and then that process becomes complete. In the sense it becomes free from flaw or defect. We may be doing something wrong, something incorrectly. That wrong is done right or is rectified and the rectification takes place as we chant Hare krsna. It is bound to have some flaws and some defects by following other processes. So, there is a statement of the Siddhanta and we want to bring your attention to that Siddhanta, The 8th canto 23rd chapter is the Vamana Dev episode. That had compound by Vaman Dev. He also wrote about circumstances in history where the performances of yajna is happening at the bank of Narmada. So, there these statements were declared.

8th canto 23rd chapter :

sarvam karoti nishchidram nama sankirtanam tava

Oh Lord, when Your names are chanted or the Hare Krishna mantra is chanted and some other mantras glorifying the Lord are also chanted, nama sankirtanam tava so they do sarvam karoti nishchidram . There are some kind of chidra, flaws , defects , loopholes and some shortcomings, following the process. That’s compensated, rectified by chanting the holy name of the Lord, nama sankirtanam tava. That kind of flaws or defects, and possibly there could be many, this is the age of “kalir dosh nidhir rajan” – this age of is full of faults, “dosh nidhir.” So, some of the dosh here is “mantra taha, tantra taha, desh kalah vastuh taha.” Here some items are mentioned. Mantra taha – maybe you are not chanting the right mantra or you are chanting the right mantra but you are chanting it incorrectly or you are not pronouncing it properly. Tantra taha – are the techniques while performing different devotional services or arcana, with so many rules, do’s and don’ts. There is a whole tantra sastra. Techniques which have some flaw or defect in following the process. Desh kalah – may be the place or your location is wrong when you are doing such and such devotional activity. Desh Kalah – maybe the time is wrong. It is not the right muhurta or when we calculated maybe the calculation was wrong, or you did not even calculate and you are dong something. So, dosha kalah vastu kalah .

Vastuh taha – maybe items could be wrong – no pure ghee. They use dalda and a lot of things or ingredients could be faulty. So, vastu taha – all kind of vastu, all items, objects, materials, or samagri that are being used for yajna or Deity worship or this or that could be wrong. So, these are the chidra. karoti nishchidra – these faults, these shortcomings and mantra chanting or following the process or techniques, or the timing is wrong, the place is wrong, the items are faulty or they are contaminated. This is in the age of Kali and this can happen and we still have to achieve the goal.

And this can be the quote. We chant the holy names of the Lord

Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare Hare Rāma Hare Rāma Rāma Rāma Hare Hare

If this is done and as we hear from Sukadev Goswami kalir dosh nidhir rajan asti eka mahan gunah. This age of Kali has all faults, all defects, all loopholes, but there is one good thing, one good and powerful thing and that is the nama sankirtana. kalir dosh nidhir rajan asti eka mahan gunah. By chanting the holy names of the Lord, we get mukti. We become free from the bonds, flaws, attachment and whatever difficulties are there. We overcome or rectify these by chanting the holy names of the Lord. We all definitely bow down to the harer namaiva kevalam. Harinama has to be there – wherever we are and whatever we are doing before undertaking any activity or service. Hanth me kama , mukha me nama- You are doing different things with your hands, with your feet, with your mind, with other articles or with other people, there has to be mukha me nama, chanting has to be there. Then everything is fine and everything would be aligned, adjusted, rectified and we will achieve the desired result or goal. And do everything for the Lord and perform devotional service unto the Supreme Krsna, the Supreme Godhead.