Venue: Dubai
Dated: 2008
There are lots of Jagannath temples in Damodara desh. The place we are staying, there is also Jagannatha Baladev Subhadra. Here also Jagannatha, lots of Jagannathas. In Dubai, streets are quiet wide, no overhead wires. For holding ratha yatra, these streets are pretty ideal. In India, the roads are narrow, there overheads wires all over. Devotees have to, you have seen them how they do? When that day will be coming when we’ll have a grand ratha yatra here in Dubai? Haribol!!

One day that will happen, maybe within our lifetime or soon after, 50 years. Sounds difficult and even there is impossibility. That day I was thinking, having Jagannatha temple indoor. 15, 20 years ago if we were to hear that in 2008, the country called Damodar desh, hundreds and hundreds of devotees, followers of Caitanya Mahaprabhu and hundreds of homes with deities of Jagannatha and Gaura Nitai. Who could have believed such thing? Forget it, not possible, in Dubai Middle East? Something that we thought would not happen, not possible. Here we are seeing that dream coming true or impossibility becoming possible. So likewise this 40 or 50 years ago, the whole world or well in India or Bengal, they were wondering when the prediction of Caitanya Mahaprabhu going to come true? Is it going to come true? Caitanya Mahaprabhu predicted,

‘prithivite ache yata nagaradi grama
sarvatra pracara haibe mora nama’

Caitanya Mahaprabhu predicted ‘prithivi’, what is prithivi? Whole planet, ‘prithivite ache yata’, as many nagars and grams, towns and villages are there on this planet. In those many villages, in those many towns “haibe mora nama”- My name would be chanted, this was prediction. This 50 years ago devotees were wondering, is this ever going to happen? Or the prithvi that Caitanya Mahaprabhu refered to, is that just India or is that just Bengal or Orissa or just Radha kunda or just may be Manipur? There was some chanting of the holy name was going on.

In 1965, Srila Prabhupada took that journey. It took him 30 days he traveled by boat Jaladuta. Devaduta was travelling by Jaladuta. Beautiful name of that boat, Jaladuta, Duta means messenger, so there was messenger travelling on that boat, Devaduta, Caitanya duta. He could only travel by cargo ship that time. Now we want to go to the West, travel to the West we do not consider that as an option. We just fly, cross the oceans, one ocean or seven oceans we land. But Srila Prabhupada had to undertake that kind of journey and he landed in New York. From the boat he just climbed down, there was no one to receive him. Srila Prabhupada writes in his Jaladuta diary, Prabhupada’s diary called Jaladuta diary. Well, he did not know where to turn, right or left. Once he was in New York off the boat or down the stairs, there was no one to receive him, no hotel booking and no one to pick him up.

So we say, he was by himself. We also say he was penniless; he had only 5 dollars worth 40 rupees only. Then Prabhupada started chanting, “Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare”. He did not have microphone. He did not have anybody to play drum for him. He would be literally on the footpath and chanting. Only passers by people on the footpath, of course Americans. They would listen and of course everyone get attracted. There was a magnetic, something magnetic would get them, so they had to stop. The holy name was the Lord Himself and stopping them. Of course the personality of Prabhupada, the way he had dressed that was also very much different from American national dress. So they were stopping and hearing. Prabhupada would speak. Sometimes people would ask and Prabhupada would show, ‘this is Krsna, this is God, Supreme Personality of Godhead.’ ‘If He is God, what is the girl doing there?’ (Laughter) So much ignorance. The world is full of ignorance. Americans had no clue that if this is Krsna and next to Him has to be who? Srimati Radharani. Not only Radharani but Simati Radharani. And if that is Rama then next to Him? Sri Sita devi. And if that is Narayana then next to Him? Sri Lakshmi devi. It is such a common knowledge. Even children know this in India. Even that much was not known to these ignorant Americans. So those were the good old days, in abroad days. Under those circumstances, Srila Prabhupada inaugurated his Hare Krsna movement. Then he will be sometimes sitting in the park on the bench. One day someone sitting next to him and some dialogues begun. Srila Prabhupada is by himself but he is talking about the temples around the world and Krsna consciousness around the world. And he was explaining to that gentleman that he was talking to.

The International Society for Krsna Consciousness was limited just to him, just the one person, founder. He was not even registered by the time he was talking. So that was 42, 43 years ago. Very soon Hare Krsna movement was founded in New York. And Srila Prabhupada had invitation to go to San Francisco. Srila Prabhupada took flight and he was landing in San Francisco. He looked through the window of the aircraft of that airline. To him all those buildings, tall sky scrapers, they look like a match box one on the other; Prabhupada describes. That was the first flight Prabhupada ever took in his life. He was 70 years old and New York to San Francisco in 1965 at the age of 70. That was the first time Prabhupada had flown, taken flight. Already he had some followers that invited him to come to San Francisco and hold festivals. Some kind, big name from the hippie era, San Francisco was the capital of hippies. One of the leaders of the hippie kingdom, they were attracted to Prabhupada, to his singing.

So during that visit, as Srila prabhupada stayed in San Francisco and Jagannatha ratha yatra festival was held. We were talking of Jaganntah ratha yatra in Dubai. The first ever ratha yatra in Western world took place, that was in San Francisco in 1966. There were 10,000 Americans attended that ratha yatra in the Golden Gate park, famous park. When I heard those numbers, I was thinking maybe they are just talking, maybe little, someone just making numbers. But very recently, I saw the footage of Yadubara Prabhu, Prabhupada disciple. He has made almost a movie, the footage is available now on ISKCON Cinema. You have seen? I saw the footage and I was amazed. I had been hearing, seeing is believing and when I saw the crowds, I was amazed to see the number of Americans attending that 1966 ratha yatra. It was so successful. Prabhupada was so much pleased. You can imagine the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada for the successful completion of Jagannatha ratha yatra in San Francisco. That was not even regular ratha, chariot; flat bed truck. And the deities were made by one of his followers called Syamasundar. Malati is his wife and they have a daughter called Sarasvati. Prabhupada asked him to make the deities. How should they look like Prabhupada? Asked Syamasundar.

And Prabhupada gave them small doll sized deities. Where did Prabhupada find those deities? In fact, Malati, wife of Syamasundar as she was doing her shopping in one of the Hyper bazaars, I just read Hyper bazaar. I read Super bazaar, today I read Hyper bazaar. So one of those Hyper, Super, super duper bazaars that Malati was doing shopping one day and she found little strange looking dolls. Along with her shopping she also bought that doll back home or back to the small Hare Krsna center. Srila Prabhupada found the doll which Malati’s daughter Sarasvati was playing with that. Srila Prabhupada saw that strange looking doll, for him the doll was not strange at all. And he immediately said, ‘bring that, bring that here. Where did you find it?’ He inquired from Malati and she gave the whole explanation. Prabhupada said. ‘ go back, if you look just around where you found this deity doll, there should be two more similar kind of strange looking.’ And Malati ran back to the store and was surprised to find two more of those dolls. She returned and now there were three of them. Srila Prabhupada placed them on the desk in front of him And Srila Prabhupada was moved, he was in prayerful mood as he was looking at these dolls with devotion. Everyone was surprised and was wondering what is so special about these dolls, strange looking dolls. Then Srila Prabhupada for the first time, he explained Lord Jagannatha. Jagannatha Baladev Subhadra ki jay!! He explained Jagannatha Puri and Jagannatha Baladev Subhadra deities.

So when Syamasundar had to make deities, Srila Prabhupada said, ‘ you make deities looking just like these.’ He gave that as a model of deities after these small Jagannatha Baladev Subhadra. And then that ratha yatra was held and big turnout. Srila Prabhupada said that San Francisco will be known as New Jagannatha Puri. Haribol!! He named that town as this town or little state has been named Damodar by Jayapataka Maharaj. So Srila Prabhupada said, ‘this new city will be New Jagannatha Puri.’ The grand ratha yatra festival had became talk of the town. Gradually now they are holding ratha yatra every year, year after year. The Mayor of the town San Francisco, he declared, ‘the day Hare Krsna will hold ratha yatra, that day will be the Jagannatha Ratha Yatra Day.’ Haribol!!

He made that as a big declaration. Whenever there is ratha yatra that is Ratha Yatra Day in San Fancisco. So the deities are there in San Francisco, the tall deities. They are not the original deities.

Till September 1965, the chanting of the holy name was happening mostly maybe few people somewhere in the Western world were chanting hidingly or they worshipped their Lords also hidingly, in a closet they worshipped. But soon the Hare Krsna chanting was happening on the streets of major cities of America. People were taking note and they soon of course reach straight over to Europe and European countries and to South Africa, Africa and countries, even East Africa also, Canada. Prabhupada went to Japan side and finally returned to India also. That’s where we met him in 1971.

When Prabhupada went he saw the Western world and he conquered the Western. He went, saw and conquered. Who said that? Alexander and then he was also loosing all those. He was not good as maintenance. He is known for conquering and loosing his kingdom. So Prabhupada was going, seeing and conquering those countries. When he took birth he was just a baby, it was predicted, this child is not an ordinary one. He will establish 108 temples. So Prabhupada did that, more than 108 temples he established within his lifetime. He made Hare Krsna movement popular, Hare Krsna people. In Tokyo Hare Krsna, San Francisco Hare Krsna, London Hare Krsna, everywhere the chanting and dancing parties everywhere within very short span.

So as we took that point earlier, the world was wondering, is this holy name, could it be spread all over the planet? All over the world? Or it will be limited to Bengal, Orissa, Radha Kunda or Manipur, just few of those places in India. Srila Prabhpada- empowered Acharya- Senapati bhakta we call, chief in commander of the Sankirtan army, he went to New York. Why New York? Because that was capital of the age of Kali, is New York (Laughter) Maya’s kingdom, Kali’s kingdom and its capital.

That commander in chief, he headed for that capital. He wanted to conquer that capital. He goes there and there has to be some weapons. So what weapon? Hari nama, Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. The Hari nama was exploding on the streets of New York entering in the hearts of the people Americans, explosion. As a result all the ignorance were getting destroyed, smashed. Also Prabhupada came up with the bullets. What are the bullets? Gulab jamun (Laughter).

All this the language of the army, he was the commander in chief; also the books are time bombs. (Laughter) It may take little time but literally they will explode and will revolutionize, revolution in consciousness. That is terms Prabhupada also used this term, revolution in consciousness. This revolution, French revolution and his revolution and that revolution. Russians have their revolution in 1900, lasted for some 80 years only and then collapsed. Then Prabhupada came up with the revolution.

Revolution, dissolution, no solution. (Laughter) Prabhupada said in his purport and no solution. Prabhupada gave a solution also, by revolutionizing consciousness, humanity change, change of heart, change of consciousness. He changed something. If you change one thing in a person’s life and then everything else changes. What is that you would like to change? Change that person, if you change one thing and everything else changes. What is that? His consciousness. You change the consciousness and everything else, all the external features also, the form will change. So from substance to the form, substantial change and the root level, changing at the root level. Thinking, thought level, consciousness level, soul level go deeper. When Prabhupada had temples opened, he had temples commanders also, bullets, bombs and revolution.

Srila Prabhupada did go to Iran, atleast once, maybe more than once, is that Middle East he came that close and was heading towards. And then one of his disciples, he translated Bhagavad gita in Arabic language. In Iran devotees would preach from Bhagavad gita. They would begin their discourse saying, ‘allah uvaca’ (Laughter), nothing wrong.

‘bhagavan aisvaryasya samagrasya viryasya
yasasah Sriyah jnana-vairagyasyos caiva’ (Visnu purana 6.5.47)

Bhagavan is ‘sad aisvarya purna’ full of six opulence’s. One of the six opulence’s is strength, His greatness. So Allah means God is great. Who could deny? If you want to say God is great in just one word, one name, Allah is that name. God is great, so that is fine.

So prior to 1965, the world was wondering, when is the holy name going to spread all over the world? It was spreading all over the world but had not reached the Middle East countries. Devotees are coming through, while coming from Europe sometimes devotees would drive from London to Mayapur, to Vrindavana. They would come for the festivals from these countries Tribhuvanath Prabhu my Godbrother.

So Prabhupada time, my godbrothers and godsisters, Yamuna was one of those very daring souls that pass through Middle east countries. There are some photographs of devotees, some war and some explosions, bombs and they were risking their lives. They took sometimes but finally Krsna consciousness is here in this part of the world taking deeper roots. And if has reached your hearts, if it is deeper rooted in your hearts, then it cannot be uprooted. If it is just something external at tilak level ‘nake tilak galaya mala’, and then ultimately you are ‘kalir chela’. This is very cheap, these symptoms, these external features. Of course they are deeper meaning and that’s part of Krsna consciousness. But sometimes they are just there but nothing within, nothing deeper. That is not the case here.

You have taken to Krsna consciousness very seriously, your homes are temples. Ghar ek mandir hai, har ek ghar mandir hai. We used to hear “dil ek mandir hai but now ghar ek mandir hai”. So we are very pleased that you have taken to Krsna consciousness seriously and practicing it. Some people in India say, “Oh, you know I am pretty regular going to the temple. I am regular, every Janmasthami. (Laughter) And the Rama navmi also, every Rama navmi”. Pretty regular, that’s also regular right? Once a year, that’s regular. You are more regular than ever before whether you are in India or not that regular. Not only you go, once a week you may go to the satsang program. There are so many weekly home programs. And then of course your home every day, you are attending to the Lord and making offerings offer obeisances and chanting and hearing.

You know how much regular it has to be? The sastras say, ‘anuksann, sann’ moment and the next moment also. sann and anuksann, ‘anu’ means to follow. One sann anuksann, then next sann, next asnn and then next and then next. ‘abhiksnasah’ continual, ‘srnvanti gayanti grnanty abhiksnasah’ (S.B 1.8.36), means nirantar, all the time. ‘satatam’ the way the word sounds, satatam, there is no space in this word ‘satatam’. ‘satatam’ means constantly, satatya . English word does not sound like that, constantly is not satatam, see the difference. ‘tesam satata yuktanam’, the 10th chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, the Lord says, ‘tesam satata yuktanam bhajatam priti-purvakam’ (B.G 10.10). Those who worship Me serve Me satatam.

So once a year, that is also regular but every moment is also being regular. Once a week is also regular (Laughter). Once a day is also regular. So carry on practicing and spreading, preserving, propagating Krsna consciousness. This is the best gift that you could give it to anybody. Charity begins at home. You could give it to the family members and you could give it to your neighbors and give it to others. There was a time that Indians; they would go away from India to the West. Also maybe to get away from God. God has caught up with them. They went to the West, God has followed or Srila Prabhupada came with the God. Many wise Indians are accepting God, not just any God from the 33 crores Gods. But now you also know who is God and who is Supreme Personality of Godhead also. That discrimination, that understanding was not there before. Now Srila Prabhupada, pure devotee on behalf of Krsna and previous acharyas, he is making very very clear, crystal clear in his books who is God. I am not God, you are not God.

There is also trouble like that. I could make you God. You just have to get mantra, I will give you mantra. They sell mantras and some fools buy mantras thinking that they will end up becoming God. So many misleading statements, confusion, misunderstanding, speculating, impersonalism and lots of more. Srila Prabhupada made it very very clear and he made it available. It is available here now. As a result you have best of the whole world. You have some opulence of the West and you have culture and religion of the East. Chant Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare and take Krsna prasad. You have Bhagavad Gita also As It Is? Do not keep it as it is (Laughter). I have Bhagavad Gita and I keep it as it is. So don’t do that. Take it out, read. We’ll be meeting few more times in next few days if we have time.

I’ll stop here. Thank you for inviting us. It is an opportunity in great numbers present, houseful. Hare Krsna.

Hari bol!!

“Om Namo Bhagvate Vasudevaya”

So today is very last, this is very last day of the whole session (laughter) time for celebration, finally. You’re happy that you have learned a lot or happy that you’ve finished? Studies never finish I was talking the other day it’s a long life long process, ever learning remain students for rest of your life, keep learning. What is the topic? Surrender. What is the big topic? What is the subject that you study? Or we all study? What is the subject or object of our knowledge? Krishna.

So much to know, every time you know you become joyful properly situated ‘Sthitosmi gata sandeh’ (B.G 18.73) this goes on every day, every day you know more sthitosmi, sthitah-asmi properly situated more properly situated grounded, otherwise ‘kamala-dala-jala jivana talamala’ (Laughter) can’t settle may be tilting, collapsing, sinking, terminating but with the knowledge hearing which is bhakti yoga a person is svarupena, finally ‘sva-rupena vyavasthitih’. Svarup, sva- our, own rupa our own form in relationship with the Lord not that we separately situate ourselves. We situate ourselves at the lotus feet of the Lord. ‘dhuli-sadrisham vichintaya-sthitah, tava pada-pankaja-sthita’ sthiosmi-situated where? At the lotus feet. And acting not just sitting situated sitting acting kayena- acting with the body, manasa-with the mind, budhya-with the intelligence. kevalya indriyerapi- even all the senses are active engaged employed in the service of the Lord. “Yoginah karma kuruvanti” – yogi’s act this is how they become Bhakti yogis. One kind of Yogi’s they are jnani’s, so they attain only shanta-rasa, they are Jnani Bhaktas and they attain shanti, peace.

“The Gopis are never peaceful” (laughter).

Always running where is Krishna where is Krishna? When I am going to see Him? Where I am going to get flowers for Him on the banks of Kusum sarovar. When we meet Him? Is someone going to interrupt our meeting? Or is Madhumangal going to be coming? O! I got rid of Madhu, O! I got rid of Madhu.

You know that pastime at Premasarovar, Madhumangal comes with a stick for bumble bee that was disturbing Kishor-Kishori. He thought why is this bumble bee bothering the divine couple? So he came with a stick and droves it away. And while it was going away, O! I got rid of Madhu I got rid of Madhu. Then Radharani jumps into conclusion that he got rid of my Madhusudan. Finally we had met finally we had met and this rascal Madhumangal he got rid of my Madhusudan. She jumps to that conclusion and she is feeling all vacant without Madhusudan and She is into tears. Krishna was next to Her and He was like I am here I am here, He makes attempt, she was gone no external consciousness she was deep within. So He could not convince that He was next to Her. Seeing Radharani in that sorry state of existence Krishna, He was influenced He was overwhelmed and He was into tears seeing Radharani’s state of mind and the separation. And Radha’s tears and Krishna’s tears they were flowing down they were mixing and flowing and they were filling up a lake. Filling up a whole lake with tears of Radha and Krishna. So that lake is still there today in between Barsana and Nandgaon. That lake is called Prema sarovar. So the Gopis life is not that peaceful.

So Bhakti yogis are busy engaging their body, mind, intelligence, sense whatever else is in their possession. So ‘tvadiya vastu govinda tubhyam- eva samarpaye’, this is the attitude, we are talking of attitude or person in knowledge he comes to conclusion that ‘Tvadiya vastu Govinda’ Hey! Govind all these vastu all these things in my possession are yours. Hence what do I do? I offer them back to You. Engage them in your service. Oh! Then I become free become liberated. Otherwise it’s just big burden. Some people don’t mind that burden they go on increasing burden.

Srila Prabhupada once told humorous story of an old lady carrying a big bundle of stick. Wind coming blew away her bundle of sticks. Started telling ‘Please Please God wherever you are please appear here. When God appeared, ‘Yes lady what could I do for you? Please help. Don’t you see this bundle of stick this is mine I had collected them. Please help so God was helping kept the bundle on head, lady was in business and Bye!..(Laughter).
The Karmis or others may not offer everything to the Lord. They may need help just to increase their burden. Karma, karma is performed by karmis and Karmis are into furtive activities furtive results. So there is karma mishra and jnana mishra. The knowledgeable person as we heard this morning Kapil dev instructs his mother he performed devotional service, surrender everything unto the Lord it is His.

“Appropriate attitude of a preacher in reference to Nectar of Devotion”

Here is the attitude, the author of Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, Srila Rupa Gosvami, very humbly submits that he is just trying to spread Krishna consciousness all over the world, although he humbly thinks himself unfit for this work. So we are Rupanugas, anuga means one who goes after Acharyas, go and then anu behind you go then you become Prabhupadanuga –Rupanuga- Acharyanuga.

So we know what the goal is ‘bhaktya mam abhijanati yavan yas casmi tattvata?’ (B.G 18.55) to know tattvatah. Lord is stressing herein verse 55 ‘tato mam tattvato jnatva’ one who knows Me tattvatah is very important to know tattva, siddhanta, philosophy or things as they are, then that person will enter ‘visate tad-anantaram’. “sarva-karmany api sada kurvano mad-vyapasrayah mat-prasadad avapnoti sasvatam padam avyayam” (B.G 18.56). So then that person will attain final destination eternal destination that’s Lord’s abode. ‘cetasa sarva-karmani’ (B.G 18.57) so with all intelligence full Krishna Consciousness you render all services ‘sarva-karmani sannyasya’, sannyasya giving up whatever is false.

‘buddhi-yogam upasritya mac-cittah satatam bhava” (B.G 18.57)

‘mac-cittah’ means Krishna consciousness in your chetana there is Krishna mac-cittah. I am in your consciousness you become like that 24 hours a day Prabhupada is translating ‘mac-cittah sarva-durgani mat-prasadat tarisyasi’(B.G 18.58) . So by Lord’s grace ‘mat-prasadat sarva-durgani’ durga, ga means going and du means dushkar very difficult to go or cross over transcend. So ‘mat-prasadat’–by my mercy you will be able to overcome. ‘atha cet tvam ahankaran na srosyasi vinanksyasi’ but you don’t listen to me because of your pride this is like towards the end, Krishna has been talking for past 40 minutes few more minutes to go before He would conclude His conversation then He says because of false ego if you don’t listen to Me then you will be lost.
‘yad ahankaram asritya na yotsya iti manyase’(B.G 18.59) I will not fight because if your false pride if you would take that stand I will not fight then by my nature you will have to be engaged in warfare and whole purport and nice things explained. Everyone has a propensity he is a kshatriya so fighting is natural for him. So if he doesn’t fight for Krishna doesn’t use his propensity for Krishna then he will use it for something else he will kill some sparrows some birds. It is in the blood in the system if he doesn’t do for Krishna then ‘isvarah sarva-bhutanam hrd-dese arjuna tisthati’ (B.G 18.61) very nice verse “bhramayan sarva-bhutani yantrarudhani mayaya” isvarah although isvarah parmeshwar Himself is talking so Krishna is talking as if you know He is Isvarah. Isvarah sarva-bhutanam, isvarah stays in the heart of all the living entity. He doesn’t say I reside elsewhere off course He had said that ‘aham sarvasya prabhavo mattah sarvam pravartate’.

“aham isvarah sarva-bhutanam hrd-dese”- desh also means country isvarah stays in a country called heart ‘hrd-dese’ this is a desh there is a one nationality one country called hridaya heart and isvarah, isvara resides there. Sarva-bhutanam and only yantra mentioned by Lord in Bhagvat Gita is body is yantra and soul is riding on that yantra and yantra is made up of maya and wandering around and isvarah is also next to him.

‘tat-prasadat param santim sthanam prapsyasi sasvatam’ (B.G 18.62) So shanti sthanam the abode of peace is Lord is achieved as one surrenders unto Him. Now He says I am going to tell you ‘guhyad guhya-taram maya’ I have explained confidential or even more confidential knowledge unto you. You should contemplate ‘vimrsyaitad asesena’ take your time deliberate upon all that I have said to you and then ‘yathecchasi tatha kuru’. Yes I know you have minute independence I am not going to force you, you have independence so fight -not fight it is up to you. That minute independence so Lord is giving there’s a scope to exercise that.

‘man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru’ (B.G 18.65) now this is called guhyatamam this statement ‘sarva-guhyatamam bhuyah srnu me paramam vacah’ (18.64) Now I have spoken something guhya confidential I say something guhyatar- something more confidential but now I am going to talk guhyatamam the most confidential. And what is that most confidential thing? ‘man mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru mam evais?yasi satyamte pratijane priyo si me’ come to me and man-mana four times here. Lord says, you do four things but every time He says His name is attached, man mana your mind fixed upon Me. ‘Man mana bhava mad bhakto’ take notes of this mad bhakta, man mana mad bhakta become My devotee. Mad-yaji when it comes to offering offer worship, worship Me. Mam namaskuru and obeisance’s also unto Me.

So there is no room for speculation it’s very clear person who is standing before Arjun just remember Me. Become My devotee, worship Me and your obeisance’s unto Me. And if you did so then? Mam evaisyasi, you will achieve Me. And this is the truth and I promise and I well because I love you I like you Arjun. So you come back to me, I would like you to come back to Me. And for sure you will come back I promise this so as we said we can put ourselves in the shoes or in position of Arjun and Lord is talking to us. You will you will come to Me ‘mam evaisyasi satyam’ there was no need for Lord to say I am speaking the truth because all that Lord speaks is only truth and nothing else but the truth.

Trisatyam Lord is described by those demigods when Lord was appearing in Mathura those prayers. And then now “sarva dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja” so give up Christianity give up Islam is it saying that? Yes or no? Give up or not give up? Give up Christianity? No could it refer is it possible? They did not even exist. Buddhism is 2500 years old. Krishna did not say but well it’s a big subject matter.

(Devotee asking question) well quickly in the first chapter Arjuna is concerned about different dharmas. Jaati dharma this dharma that dharma and whole first chapter Arjuna is talking about different obligations towards society towards that. So Krishna is -give up that all those dharma’s because those dharmas were keeping Arjuna from battling or fighting those things were coming in the way of executing the will of the Lord, which is devotional service of the Lord. So give up all those dharma’s then He had said when appears ‘dharma samsthapanarthaya’ Lord had just said I appear to establish dharma and next thing He says give up varieties of dharma. So there is some distinction Lord appears to establish the principles of dharma but there are some principles which are to be given up or secondary but then dharma is mentioned OK give up all the varieties of religion then what do I do?. ‘mam ekam saranam vraja’ that is dharma ‘mam ekam saranam vraj’ that is dharma. And everything else that comes in between stops you from surrendering unto Krishna including demigod worship, karmakanda, jnanakanda, this kanda that kandakevala vishera bhand they are part of the shastras then finally there was Gita and Bhagvat we were hearing this morning.

“So Bhagvatam has made easy only Bhakti no other thing”

So goal is to come to the level of bhakti. Bhakta performs bhakti and achieves Bhagavan so that’s the dharma of the soul. The soul is bhakta he performs bhakti devotional service and achieves bhagavan is Supreme Personality of Godhead. So everything extra and all that neeti and morality and this obligation that obligation that has to be given up. Jnana mishra and karma mishra bhakti.

“anyabhilasita-sunyam jnana-karmady-anavrtam anukulyena krsnanu-silanam bhaktir uttama”.
“na dhanam na janam na sundarim kavitam va jagad-isha kamaye mama janmani janmanishvare bhavatad bhaktir ahaituki tvayi”.

So this verse is also talking ‘na dhanam na janam na sundari’ this is no karma I don’t want to be karmi enjoy life this aspect that aspect and life and perform this yagya and get a beautiful wife and beauty or elevation to higher planets. I am not into that na dhanam this karma and karmi results of karma furtive activities which is part of dharma which is part of the sashtra, compete package it is there is listed. And then ‘mama janmani janmanishvare’ no karma no jnana ‘mama janmani janmanishvare’ I don’t want liberation either. I don’t want to be karmi furtive worker no karma no jnana and result of it liberation. Janmani janmani, I am willing to take birth I don’t mind taking birth but in each birth I would aspire for one thing and that is ‘bhaktir ahaituki tvayi’. Aspire for bhakti what kind of bhakti ahaituki tvayi no no motivation no ya it’s causeless devotional service.

So this dhanam janam this karma and this to mukti this is a part of a complete package of dharma. So some of these things are to be given up and that is ‘sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam’. So with this we will have to look at Quran as we look at Puran also. Some other things from puran are to be given up to go higher or to achieve the final destination Golok or Krishna’s lotus feet. So likewise we have to give up, Quran for sure they do stress on one, no demigods the cleansing is done some kind of ‘sarva dharman paritayajya’ and that aspect the demigod they did the marjanam, even at the time of Mohammad when he appeared they were worshipping some kind of 600 demigods they still have the list of 600. So they stress one of course impersonal for sure, they just have wall and they offer obeisances, there is no altar or no form.

‘mam janmani janmani ishware’ – I don’t want liberation, I am ready to take birth after birth, I don’t aspire to become liberated merge in Brahman, which is result of jnana, the jnanis are they have Brahman realization, merging into Brahman. Don’t mind taking birth but in each birth devotional service. Ok so this topic is big topic ‘sarva dharman parityajya’ this is the crux of the matter, in fact if this could be understood we should be understanding this thoroughly well this is like the essence. We should clear on what is Lord is talking about ‘Mam Ekam Saranam Vraja’.

Sometimes there is comment about this vraja, vraja means to go, vraj also means Brajmandal you go to Brajamandal. You take shelter of Braj and go to Braj. Give up all mundane material world just go to Braj, go to Vrindavan or go to Mayapur same. This Braj is equal to Mayapur and Braj non different. Love thy Lord with all their heart with all their strength. This is Bible, talking about love but then they also talk of, oh! Lord give us our daily bread. And Prabhupada said this is ofcourse that could be like “arto jijnasur artharthi jnani ca bharatarsabha” (B.G 7.16) 4 kinds of people come to me, those who are in need of artha some economic development.

So Srila Prabhupada was one time few of us were there in Mumbai and just before we were to leave for preaching he was explaining the difference that they pay to Lord O! God to give us or daily bread not pure. He appreciated at least they are approaching God but then he cited the example of Yashoda. Yashoda feeds bread and butter to the Lord. If He doesn’t come on time then she goes with a stick (laughter). Bread is ready butter is ready, instead you asking or begging give us daily bread, give us bread and butter. Here devotees says God eat bread butter.

So they are some seeds you will find in Quran and bible. Even 99 names of Allah are mentioned in Quran. That’s why when they chant on beads their beads have 99 beads not 108 because 99 names. But ‘namaste saraswati deve gaura-vani-pracharine nirvishesha-shunyavadi pashchatya-desha-tarine ‘. So trouble is with Hinduism included and Buddhism for sure and this Islam and Christianity this is all impersonalize voidism the karmi the karma you will find some karma in Puran and Quran as well. Jnana you will find there as well furtive activities. So in that sense this is to be given up, if the Hinduism is to be given up. I mean the essence of Hinduism is Krishna Consciousness. Whatever is not a substantial there is something secondary or something so those things are to be given up. And then you get something in return and that is ‘mam eka’, ekam-we. And we were hearing this morning they are so many incarnations of the Lord so Bhagavan but svayam Bhagavan is “ete camsa-kala? pumsah k?snas tu bhagavan svayam” (S.B 1.3.28). So there is difference between Bhagavan and svayam Bhagavan. So here svayam Bhagavan is ekam.

“Have you seen our Krishna?”

Krishna took temporarily form of Narayan and stepped in front of them and Namo Narayana they offer their obeisance and inquired, have you seen Krishna? And then this so called Narayan heard this enquiry, “have you seen our Krishna?” This Narayana could not maintain His position (laughter). So Gopis kind of dragged Krishna from Narayana He was just playing doing little drama in humors ways, He added some hands here and there. He had hidden his flute but when heard their enquiry, “have you seen our Krishna?” Krishna ‘mam ekam’ their Krishna had to appear and His hands were dropped off. Krishna takes His flute and played the flute. So ‘mam ekam’ and then ok He did not make any progress.

And then after that ‘mam ekam sharanam’ yesterday we were dealing with Krishna don’t preach to those who are not austere and at least four conditions were mentioned. Those who are not into devotional service, those who are not bhaktas, those who are envious to them do not preach. And then, but He says those who preach they become very dear to Me. And Oh! Dhananjay you have heard this with attentive mind. He is again enquiring Arjun all that I am talking now have you heard did you hear with attention? You are with Me? You are focused? He is enquiring like that. We also have to see whether we were focused. So is your ignorance and illusion now dispelled? And this will happen only when hearing was with attention, focused. Result of such hearing oral reception receiving Krishna through ears. Seeing Lord also with the help of ears, we don’t see much with eyes, see with the ears. So have you done this? In response to that Arjun says yes yes, I did it. And as a result now “nas?o mohah” we talked yesterday or day before about that but we have been talking “O! Infallible one, my illusion is now gone, I have regained my memory by your mercy this has happened”. And I am now firm and free from doubt and I am prepared to act according to your instructions and dialogue ends there.

So there is no need whole talk started in the middle of the battle early morning hours on Moksada Ekadasi day at sun rise time Krishna had to talk army ready to go conch shells are being blown. And then Krishna had to get into this conversation because Arjun Dhanurdhar he is dharurdhar but not ready to fight. But now he is ready to fight so no need to talk further so Krishna stops.

As soon as Arjun yes ‘karisye vacanam tava’ then everything has stopped. So officially the dialogue the samvad ends here between Krishna and Arjun and you could count sometimes someone has counted Dhritarashtra speaks once only and Sanjay spoke so many verses Arjun I think some 70 or verses are somebody saying 80? So sounds 70-80 I forgot the exact numbers so there is number like that and then Krishna has spoken over 600 verses and then Sanjay is another dialogue going on his dialogue ended Kurukshetra dialogue has come to an end but Hastinapur continue. So this Sanjay uvaca is talking in Hastinapur and ‘roma-harshanam’. And what is happening to him as he was hearing? The hair standing on end as I have heard this conversation then he says I was able to hear this conversation “vyasa-prasadac chrutavan” (B.G 18.75) you should take note of this Sanjay says I was able to hear because of the mercy of Srila Vyasadev because Srila Vyasadev gave that extra ordinary power to see and hear this was given to Sanjay.
He was ready to give it to Dhritarashtra himself but Dhritarashtra declined, no no if I see now I’ll be seeing distraction of my sons only. So better I remain blind then Vyasadev had given special vision power, doordarshan television to Sanjay and this is ‘vyasa prasadaC’ I was able to hear directly ‘yogesvarat k?snat’ directly from Krishna I have heard and as I keep hearing this samvad ‘adbhut samvad drishyami’ I am becoming very joyous, Jolly happy. I take great pleasure and punah punah again and again as I remember also remember that “rupam adbhutam’ hari’s form. He is coming to my mind. And vismayah wonderful “hr?yami ca puna? puna?” and I am enjoying. So these are the reactions responses of Sanjay who also was a witness to this conversation he was directly hearing and relating that with Dhritarashtra.

In the beginning Dhritarashtra enquired “Kim kurvat sanjay” First verse chapter one text one ‘O! Sanjay please tell me please tell me’. What did they do? So what did they do? Means who is winning who is losing the battle? So this is beauty of Bhagvat Gita the circle is getting completed. The note on the note that Bhagvat Gita started now it is ending on that note. And Sanjay is reply to Dhritarashtra he says wherever or you wanted to know Kim kurvat what is happening at the battle and I must tell this to you. And wherever this Yogesvar Krishna and this partha this dhanurdhatra there you will see 4 things ‘tatra srir vijayo bhutir dhruva nitir matir mama’ (B.G 18.78). As far as my mati goes my intelligence functions as far as I know the shastras and have done experience I must tell you this that who is going to be victorious who will win in the battle? Because battle is just now starting but he is ready to give the conclusion from his experience.

“Their victory is guaranteed”

Although this battle is going be won by? Arjun party. “Pandavas vijayastu pandu-putranam yesham pakshe janardana”. Vijayastu pandu putranam. So Pandu putra’s vijay is guaranteed. Sons of Pandu will be victorious why? Esham pakshe janardhana, Janardhana is on their side, so their victory is guaranteed. So this is wise man like Sanjay could from their experience their realization they could draw conclusion like this. And the first word of Bhagvat Gita is? “Dharma” last word is “mama” so this Bhagvat Gita is mama dharma my dharma. This is Krishna’s my dharma. I have given this dharma. My dharma is Bhagvat Gita. Laws of the Lord, dharma is laws of the Lord. Laws are given by Me in Bhagvat Gita from “dharma to mama”. First word Dharma last word Mama in between it is dharma mama dharma.
So “6 items of Surrender” someone could write 6 items of surrender? Who knows what are they one by one? Ok

5) Self surrender -full surrender, ‘atma nikshep’ OK what is atma nikshep? Fully surrender as per His wishes you act.

6) And on the top of that we have to be humble, is that difficult? How big is the soul? Not big. By nature we are humble by nature we are humble but we take false position being centre of the universe.

Question: Is there difference between to maintain and protect?

One is maintain and one is protect are part of this, there is difference subtle difference.
Question: All these are symptoms of Surrender and one of the items there is surrender so what is the difference?
Answer: Fully surrender it says, yes Bali Maharaj surrendered everything surrendered everything other things are different from that being humble is also surrender. When the thief surrenders to the police, he agrees to surrender I am going to surrender my gun, I am going to surrender my stealing robbing tendencies and you just order me I will act as per your wishes and we’ll listen to you. So we are also some kind of culprits like that disobeying the laws of the Lord disobedient stubborn what not. So we want to surrender, our wealth also everything.

‘tvadiya vastu govindam tubhyameva samarpaye’ –all belongs to You, lets offer back to You. Take humble position means also we are surrendering that ignorance taking a false position of being somebody “ishvaro aham” as soon as you become humble then ishvaro aham that bhava you have surrendered that bhava that attitude or false pride you are renouncing you are giving up kicking it is unfavorable also. You may say whatever is unfavorable you reject so this Ishwar bhava is unfavorable you also give that out. As you give it up you become humble is also sign of surrender. They are interrelated as they explained like that and the result ‘mam ekam sharanam vraj’ kind of surrender. “Sarvadharman paritagya” give up varities of religion or so called religion or secondary principle of religion give up.

So that is also giving up “anukulyasya sankalpah pratikulyasya varjanam” whatever is ‘pratikul’- against contrary ‘varjanam’- give up. So I think we have as I said we have a limit I think we have to now move on to the next topic. Of you doesn’t mind ok what is the next one?

“Substantiate the importance of surrender to Krishna through the bonafied Spiritual Master, coming in disciplic succession appropriate reference to the shastras”

The forth topic is “Substantiate the importance of surrender to Krishna as ultimate conclusion of Bhagvat Gita”
With reference to some other Bhakti shastras importance of surrender to Krishna has ultimate conclusion of Bhagvat Gita. This is the conclusion of Bhagvat Gita. What is the conclusion of Bhagvat Gita? lot of time you say what ‘sarva dharman paritayjya’ the importance of surrender what is the importance of surrender? ‘ mam ekam sharnam vraja’- Surrender unto Krishna.

Is it important? How? Why? Freedom through Surrender in this material. ‘mam eva ye prapadyante mayam etam taranti te’ again to me only ‘mam eva prapadhyante’- those who surrender unto Me only what happens? ‘taranti te’- they are liberated. Any other thoughts? Let us surrender this life anyway we have to surrender so why not surrender, begin surrendering get used to this surrender and then attain perfection. At the end will be forced to surrender whether you want to or not to you will be forced. So why not be wise and voluntarily surrender.
(Question by devotee) Surrendering unto Him “jnanavan mam prapadyate” more you know Lord more you will surrender unto Him, there is a connection. ‘jnanavan’ –one who is knowledgeable you will surrender unto Lord those who do not surrender what is their position?

“ye sastra-vidhim utsrjya vartate kama-karatah
na sa siddhim avapnoti na sukham na param gatim” (B.G 16.23)

(Question by devotee, Maharaj says Haribol!! Quite powerful logical). Even Demigod big big Demigods are surrendering unto the Lord. Bramha with the tears in his eyes prays to the Lord and he had committed some offence and he had comeback. Like that Indra also come to surrender he came with Surabhi Cow, he came to Godrum dvip. Bramha had come to Antardvip performing austerities then he was given this Haridas Thakur Bramha is Haridas Thakur position incarnation. So Demigods take the dust of Krishnas feet on the head, while Krishna who is around in the forest of Vrindavan taking care of the cows bare foot Krishna goes barefoot serving cows playing with his friends. The Lakshmi and the Demigod they seek the dust of Krishna’s feet take that on their head. In that kind of Krishna is nice wonderful Krishna He is serving cows, He is playing with His friends. Yashoda could chastise Him, knowing that kind of Krishna lot of people don’t know that Krishna, Vrindavan Krishna. Ok so it was nice being with you, talking to you.

Thank you.
Lokanath Swami Maharaj Ki Jai!!

“putrams ca sisyams ca nrpo gurur va

mal – loka – kamo mad  anugraharthah

ittham vimnyur anusisyad ataj-janam

nayojayet – karmasu karma- mudhan

kam yojayan manujo rtham labeha

nipatayan nasta-drsam hi garte”

Venue: Los Angeles, Date – 2009 June 07, S.B 5.5.15

This morning we will read from S.B canto 5th, chapter 5th, and text no.15

TRANSLATION: If one is serious about going back home, back to Godhead, he must consider the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead the summum bonum and chief aim of life. If he is a father instructing his sons, a spiritual master instructing his disciples, or a king instructing his citizens, he must instruct them as I have advised. Without being angry, he should continue giving instructions, even if his disciple, son or citizen is sometimes unable to follow his order. Ignorant people who engage in pious and impious activities should be engaged in devotional service by all means. They should always avoid fruitive activity. If one puts into the bondage of karmic activity his disciple, son or citizen who is bereft of transcendental vision, how will one profit? It is like leading a blind man to a dark well and causing him to fall in.

PURPORT: It is stated in Bhagavad-gita (3.26): “na buddhi –bhedam janayed ajnanam karma-sanginam, josayet sarva-karmani vidvan yuktah samacaran”

“Let not the wise disrupt the minds of the ignorant who are attached to fruitive action. They should be encouraged not to refrain from work, but to work in the spirit of devotion.”

“Lord Rsabhadeva’s teaching to His sons” is the chapter and he has taught lot of things so for, beginning form the very 1st verse of this chapter  “nayam deho deha-bhajam nrloke” (S.B 5.5.1) very 1st statement of Rsabhadev someone said this was most quoted verse by Srila Prabhupada. “janma karma cha me divyam” this is one of the most quoted verse, no this one but where the teaching of Rsabhadev begins, Rsabhadev uvaca, Srila Prabhupada quotes this verse again and again and again to his disciple. This is what Rsabhadev was expecting that spiritual masters would do such things, or whether they are spiritual masters “gurur va” not only guru but “gurur va” and someone else and guru or this why is or “narpo gurur va”. Whether nrpa the king is instructing putrans citizen are like his putras children, so nrpa is giving instructions “manyor sisyat”.

So Rsabhadev is giving a guideline here “etham” all that I have spoken thus far,  all the teaching that I have shared with you my dear sons, he is addressing his sons infact 100 of them but could Lord be limited to just 100 sons. He could have unlimited sons or we could say in fact everyone is his son in that setting or in that context as history goes he had 100 sons. But we are all his sons whether we are disciple whether we are citizen whether are we children whatever, fathers, mothers, daughters, neighbors, friends everybody, everybody is son of the Lord.

But all the sons, all those entities are not sitting there only 100 of them are sitting. But he says but these teaching are for everybody. So in future when spiritual masters would get on the mike they had to teach like this, I have just taught you my dear sons. So they should be teaching and that way let Krishna speak for himself you shut up, you don’t talk let Krishna speak let Rsabhadev speak for himself. So he had already spoken and but he was addressing 100 sons only what about his rest of the sons they should also get the message the instructions and that job is done not by spiritual master only, it is also duty of  the king, will be instructing his citizens. And the fathers would instruct their children and that way everyone in the audience everyone is covered, you know someone is suppose to be instructing them and at different level of their elevation in their age as they grow they go through phases or ashrams. There is someone “gurur na sasyat, svajano na sasyat pita mata na sasyat”you should not become guru “guru na sasyat” or that person is not a guru or that person is not svajan, Oh! These are my people svajana. You are claiming them to be yours but then you have obligations toward them. Pita Oh! I am a father Oh! That’s fine but you should be doing something as a father. Oh! I am a mother that’s good so you have to something as father, mother, Svajana and the guru. Also they have to do?  “na mocha yet sampat mrutyum’”.

Your disciple, your citizen, your child and you have to make sure he doesn’t take birth again. You be last father and mother of your child. He had so many fathers and mothers he had enough of it, so you be the last father, last mother and to do that you have to repeat these instruction of Rsabhadev to your children, to your disciples, to your neighbors, to your friends, you repeat say these teachings of Rsabhadev share with them, so that ‘na mocha yet sampat mrutyum’ mrtyum “ mrtyu you have to save them from mrtyu, you have to save them from death, birth and death if you don’t do then what kind of spiritual master are you, what kind of svajan  or what kind of mata , pita you are not that you may be clever I am it’s my role I am father, mother you are not unless you stop  the cycle that person dependent upon you cycle is not stopped. So Rsabhadev says “etham” thus for etham I have given some teachings and they should be shared, repeated, explained “pari prasnena sevaya” (B.G.4.34) could be there “tad viddhi pranipatena pari prasnena sevaya”. So “asisyat” this should be instructed, this should be shared, this teaching of mine should be shared. “vemanur”  Srila Prabhupada is translating “your disciples, your sons may take little extra time or something, don’t get angry “vemanyur” have some patience without getting angry you should share these instructions of mine with putran with  the children, if you are father or for someone like Sri Rama all the citizen were like His children. He looked after all the citizen as if they were part of his family; they were his children that are Raja and Praja. Praja is that of Raja, Praja you are born of, you are child of Raja, the King, all the citizens they are children of the king, he is the father, father figure. So he looks after, he takes care materially; spiritually of all the citizens this is how he manages his kingdom. So whether you are father, mother or whether you are ‘nrpa’ king then putran all your citizen, all your children or “gurur va” or if you are spiritual master, then you have sisyan disciples, they all should be instructed, etham the way I have done Rsabhadev says.

And “mal lok kamat mat anugrahat”, so instructions should benefit the children’s, sons or citizens or disciples in what way? They should be taught about arouse the desire of “mat loka” my loka,  goloka, my loka that’s my lok mat loka, Goloka “Goloka eva nevasate akhelat ma bhuta” you tell them about my loka and they should have desire “kama” mat loka kama. They should be making “going back to home” Back to Godhead as a goal of their lives. “mad anugrahata” and to give my anugraha, my benediction, my blessing- anugraha, anugrahitosmi – I am great to you sir, anugraha – benediction, special blessings vara, vara varadane, varadraj- Lord is known as Varadraj. In South India there is a deity called Varadraj not only vara, varada one who gives the benediction, special anugraha – varada. But that deity is called as Varadraj; like rajvidya – raja king of all the deities, those who give benediction. And I was there during Padayatra I was praying for benediction “Give me some service my dear Lord” my God brother, God sister are doing so much I am not doing enough give me benediction. I asked for little more knowing that He is Varadraj and offered prayers like that and Lord gave me so much service that I had to go back and enough (laughter). I had this realization it’s not a story telling I remember one time I was praying to the deity and then thing changed, so he proved I am Varadraj. I am varadraj, king of benedictory anugraha. “anugraharthah”

So whatever instruction the gurus are giving, the king gives or parents are giving the goal is “mat lok kama” “going back to home” we are going some devotees sing also, they don’t only say “going back to godhead” but they sing we are going back to home back to godhead …………..ting ting ting (Maharaja Singing) (laughter).

There is a big boat and Srila Prabhupada is the captain, join in inviting everyone please come (Maharaj laughs). So that is one part that “anusishyat” instructions should be given the way, I have given the instruction or teachings. And who gives instruction? And unto whom they are given? That is one part and the goal of those instructions is going back to home and my “mad  anugraharthah” and that is Rsabhadev, that is Supreme Personality of Godhead in that advent, incarnation mat-mat-mat “man-mana bhava mat bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru” (B.G.9.34) four times Lord says – remember, He does not only say remember, become devotee, worship, offer obeisance’s. He doesn’t say only that much but every time He is asking us to do 4 things but every time He says do this for me. “man – mana mat-bhakto”, you are mine give it to me, remember me, mat bhakto – become my devotee, mad –yaji you want to worship, worship me,  mam namaskuru and if you are thinking of offering obeisance’s, unto me you offer obeisance’s. not living any scope any room for any speculation or any, that could be anybody, everybody I am worshiping, I am offering obeisance’s, I am remembering, but Lord says it’s me, it’s me, it’s me four times it’s me remember me – the speaker of Bhagvat gita. And here the speaker of these teachings Rsabhadev is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. So room for no interpretation is required, you do this for me. “mat loka” there were so many lokas; this world is full of lokas, swarga loka and this loka, 14 planetary systems filled with loka.

“mal – loka – kamo mad  anugraharthah” Lord is asking two things should be done, in nut shell two things and He has put himself there “my abode” and “my anugraha” mad  anugraha, artha the goal should be mad  anugraha- my benediction, it’s me, without no false ego, it’s He, it’s Him. “atat jnana mudham” that is the second part. So this party is “atat jnana” or “atat jya” and it’s the plural of that, tat means that, there are 3 words small small 3 words here, atat, jya, a means no, tat-that, jya means knowledge. Those who do not have knowledge of that who is that? That is Lord, someone brought the harmonium here that said “hare om tat sat”. So that “om tat sat” is Krishna one who has written this instead of writing “Hare Krishna” he has written “Hare om tat sat”. So that Krishna is tat. Tat-that when you say that, it’s understood that means, who is that this refers to always throughout the scriptures when it comes tat, tat is that end that is Supreme Personality of Godhead. And mayavadi would like to say oh! tattvam asi, tattvam asi, this is not I am but you are.

Instruction in the Upanisads to the disciples are like that its dialogue between Guru and disciple. So one Guru says in one of the Upanisads “tattvam asi”, tat-that, tvam-you, asi-are, you are that, you are that, you are that, tattvam asi. So that is Sankaracharya and he, it is in sastras in Upanishads and he thrives of this “tattvam asi” “aham brahmasmi”. The 4 Upanisads have 4 maha vakyas and he makes that as basis of his misleading statements for which purpose he had appeared it was empowered.

“kalu brahman rupina” I will appear oh! My Devi Parvarti in kaliyug I will appear as brahman rupina, and mayavad asat sastram, I will promote this mayavad which is asat sastram. Asat -no sat, it is sastram but asat sastram, before even his advent he is declaring what I am going to be talking is all asat sastram, mayavadam asat sastram and this will be cover up for Buddhism, this is part of the statement, cover up for Buddhism, only distance little bit from Buddhism; not go all the way.

So Buddha said zero and Sankaracharya, said not zero, one and then followed by Sankaracharya all the 4 vaishnav acharya appeared and they say specially Madhvacharya Aye! Two not zero, not one- two, then appeared Caitanya Mahaprabhu “you have given to much stress on this two-two… …no no they are two but they are one simultaneously. This two was stressed so much that relationship between the two loving dealings, affections, they were kind of minimized because they wanted to get rid of this, so much emphasize, communism, then capitalism, then the other extreme, they had to bring the other extreme then the communism, that also does not work. So again zero, our vaishnav acharya are fighting against, well  Sankaracharya already fought against zero and he published one. The vaishnav acharyas had to fight now against that one, establish two because they stressed too much on this two, two. The Caitanya Mahaprabhu had to come and do little refinement, little adjustment no, no not only two but they are also one “Achintyabhedabhed tatva” and that’s it no one else is going to come now to do any evolution or innovations or adjustments all done now this is set for next forever. So this tat is ‘attaya’ those who do not know tat that, that is Lord, “nayojayet – karmasu karma- mudhan”

So do not engage them in “na yojayat” do not engage them “karmasu” in karma, this is karma, karma jnana karmakand, jnankand. So do not engage them in ………….activities the karmas. He is karmi we say he is karmi means he is a fruitive worker, he does karma and when there is fruit of that karma, he likes to gobble it up, he likes to enjoy fruit of his own labor. “karmany evadhi karaste ma phalesu kadacana” (B.G.2.47) Krishna said in Bhagvad gita another famous verse if any verse they know it’s this one “karmanu evadhikarasta” in fact the first part not even the second part “karmany evadhikaras te” yes we have right to do our duty the whole Hinduism is based on this. Oh! What is that, Krishna says “karmany evadhikaras te” and they become jubilant and they run. Whole impetus, it gives them boast all the activities “Krishna has stamped” “karmany evadhikaras te”. But they forget “ma phalesu kadacana” hye! Hands off you do activity but when there is a fruit don’t touch it.  “ma phalesu” “karmany evadhikarste ma phalesu” you have right to do your duty so that adhikar is also part of second part of Krishnas statement “ma phalesu kadachana” “ma adikaraha phalesu kadachana”  you have no adhikar, you have no right to go for the fruit of that oh! That’s for me “ma phalesu” do not “ma phalesu kadachana” “ma karma –phala hetur bhur” there are 3 ma’s there. One, two and three don’t s in the verse. You do this, you do your duty ok first thing is the fruit, it’s not for you “ma phalesu kadachana”  “ma karma –phala hetur bhur” do not think you are the cause of the duty do not think I am the doer.

“ma karma –phala hetur bhur” and then “ma te sango stv karmani” so person may say ok I have no fruit for me ok,  I can go for it, but at least some name, fame you know, I did it could I at least get the name. No fruit but at least I should get the credit for doing it. No, No “ma karma –phala hetur bhur” but then why should I work, no fruit, not even name then I will not do the duty. Lord says do not get attached to not doing the duty. “ma sangastu akarmani” ma=do not, sangas=attachment,  akarmani. So that means Lord is making the circle complete by saying “karmany evadhi karaste” you just do you part ok, you just do your part and others 3 don’t do this, don’t do this, don’t do this, do not become oh! Why should I do, I would become renounced.

No you don’t do that keep doing “karmany evadhi karaste”” so that other parts missing links are there everything one goes for just “karmany evadhi karaste” they just hear the half truth and they run. Distribute books I was told and Prabhupada said distribute books, he also wanted to say something more How to distribute? And the devotees ran out of the door, distribute books. But you read my books also read my books; I have complain the only complain about my disciple what is the complaint? They do not read my books. So distribute books yes that part we were into it, but then read my books that is also there. So we kind of hear half truth and go for it. So have patience and hear the whole thing hear the truth and then act. So Rsabhadev is talking ‘ataj-janam’. So those who don’t have knowledge of that, that is Supreme Lord meaning all this ‘matlok kama’ all this kind of jnana – knowledge, direction, instructions. “na yojayati” please don’t engage them in karmasu, karma mudhan. They are already karma mudha, they are bewildered, they are illusioned so do not engage, do not talk of the karma kand sections of karma, fruitive activities. And third part is benefit and what is the lost? If you engage them then there would be big loss, they would be lost in fact “garte” in a hole in a well.

“kam yojayan manujo rtham labeha” The manujas  born from Manu manujas – the human beings and if they are engaged yojayat, they are engaged in that karma furtive activities then artham what is the benefit “artham labeha kam” what benefit is there? In fact there is no benefit its only loss, what is the loss? “nipatayan nasta – drsam hi garte” fall down go deeper “nasta-drsam” they will be destroyed, finished and “gate” as they will go deeper into material existence. So we have become human being very fortunate but if you get into dark regions. So the solution is already there. Srila Prabhupada is quoting yet another statement of the Lord from Bhagavad-Gita. “josayet” this verse of Bhagavatam says “yojayet” Bhagavad-Gita.    “josayet” – dovetail, engage-dovetail, “Josayet sarva – karmani vidvan yuktah samacaran” (BG 3.26)

“ataj-janam” those who are ignorant of this ultimate reality or absolute truth that Supreme Personality of Godhead those who do not know “ajnanam karma- sanginam” same parties, karmis mentioned here. So Krishna says in Bhagavat –gita “ajnanam” here He says “ataj-janam” “ajnanam karma – sanginam”  “na buddhi bhudam janayed”. The wise do not disrupt the minds of ignorant who are attached to the fruitive actions. Then what are they supposed to be doing? Or what do they do? They should encourage not to refrain from work but work in spirit of devotion and that is devotional service. And that is this mal-loka-kamo” going back to home. “ mad- anugra- harthah” the benediction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead not just benediction of  some Demigods that is result of karma may be elevation to the higher planetary System or not just getting into merging into Brahamanda. But go forward, more forward, upward, so to be action less is not possible.

Krishna says that not even for a movement one could be free from action. “na sanam api” So active you must remain, one may be engaged now in some fruitive activities. So let them be active but somehow engage them in activity of devotional service. So that is what Srila Prabhupada has done by giving us this International society for Krishna Consciousness which is full of devotional activities, all varieties wide spectrum. So you may not be fully and quickly understand everything but just do it. If you are into just doing it, just do the devotional service (Laughs) and that’s the mantra just do it, do not even think just do it. If that is your philosophy just do it, just take Prasad doesn’t hurt just eat, the cookies, just raise your hands, oh! What for! Just raise the hand. Say Hare Krishna. What is this Hare Krishna? Doesn’t matter say Hare Krishna (laughs) Devotee laughing?

So with this karma kanda, jnana kanda goal is “vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyo” (B.G.15.15) I am to be known. But then this karma kanda this is very slow taking stair case, gradually who knows when, you are going to be going higher, when reaching destination. But if you perform some devotional service you go throw the lift. So knowingly unknowingly you perform devotional service, devotional activity. That person in New York in the early days he came with a toilet paper (laughs) he couldn’t think of anything else to go to swamiji, so he bought it on the way toilet paper and swami ji accepted happily. So that was his participation in International Society for Krishna Consciousness (laughs). He contributed toilet paper.

So in any way I could be hooked, just the touch with the Holy Name or sankirtan party. Do we not hear, I saw a sankirtan party down town, I did not understand but I stood there. And as they stand and hear passing by the Holy name is touching their heart and soul and something clicks and it sits there for some time. It seems nothing happened but them one fine morning there is a push go this way, so that way and then one would join that boat; we are going back to home.

People taking part in ratha yatra, there is only a core group that has come to take part in ratha yatra but so many others, they were not there for ratha yatra. They just turn around and there is Jagganath, they turn around and there is cookie in their hand. What answer? Eat it, eat Prasad, hears the Holy name on the Venis beach he did not go to Vrindavan, Mayapur, he did not come to temple here but temple goes, Lord goes to them. When you are little sick you go to the doctor but when you are too much sick then doctor goes to the patient isn’t it? When you are little sick you personally go to the doctor but it you are more sick then doctor has to come to the patient. There is so much sickness, sick people so they don’t come they can’t come to the temple which is like a hospital and Lord and there devotees are like the doctors. Sometimes these doctors go to the patients, go to the patients go door to door knocking is anyone sick here (laughs) or they just go to those coming in contact and then ratha yatra like festival, people are exposed, devotees go, out and distribute books in the middle of the crowed they stand and they are making it available, here are the tablets, here is the dose “gita” “Bhagavatam” here is prasadam – govindas, here is music.

Devotees in Paris they have a metro yoga, our devotee program in Paris they have a metro yoga. The metro the trains that goes round and round, devotees jump on that metro and began chanting. And then they stop and they talk of this is a “relief program” for stress and strain this is relief program. How did you feel? How did you feel? I felt great then they more chant more, stop and talk, they hand out some invitations. In once a year the people are invited for the music festival, attractive music festival. So they handout thousand invitations, some 100 people, 150 people come and there is a music festival “Hare Krishna music”, they will talk and Prasad. So this yoga works, metro yoga is working, they are in business it’s going on. So devotes so many outlets or inlets are there through which they could come in and they don’t have to stop doing what they are doing but add Krishna and whole devotional service and carry on move on and on. Ok I will stop here.

Hare Krishna!

Question 1 : – When we are coming to the temple we take are shop forward but there is always danger of two step backward if you are associating with karmis. So I wanted if you could give some encouragement devotee are working the outside world how to avoid the two steps backward?

Answer: – But they could also step forward and be right there, others may be little slower. So whenever they thinking of going forward they will not take one, then two steps small small steps they will jump right in also. And some those who go away, not active sometime then they come back and when do they begin, here they  had left off, in few days they are on the microphone giving Bhagavatam class (laughs) they are talking Bhagvad geeta and you know it’s all there. We should certainly not like to see setbacks, we used to be worried about this Prabhupada was still with us and those day we talk of gloop, we don’t use that word so much now may be there is less glooping (laughs) or there are less to gloop, we don’t use that word so much now may be there is less glooping (laughs) or there are less to gloop, there were so many there, so there was morning glooping, some were glooping in the afternoon (laughs) during the night (laughs) numbers were bigger  so the frequency of glooping was may be. So approach in Prabhupada and his point encouraging point was “they will come back” then he would add “in this life or the next” “they will come back”.

So that was kind of relief to hear from Srila Prabhupada that they are lost forever but they would be ours very soon one of these days one of these months or as they get older they will have second thoughts and they will reveal situation and this one going that one leaving departing this makes also one think of one’s situation. So again as it is advised here in this verse and that particular Bhagavad –gita verse quoting from 3rd chapter. Not to disturb somehow engage them encourage them in devotional activities, keep them linked, this program I think its reaching setbacks can’t come to the temple. Ok so you could use your internet open your computer and take darshan of Rukmini Dwarkadhish or see the greetings, great the Lord and meet the speakers of Bhagavatam at your home. But then one should not get attached. Oh! God is everywhere or at home also I am taking darshan and that like. But it’s some kind of means provided to you to make easier that is not the standard practice, its meant for you to step forward go forward, go to the Lord come take darshan and chant and dance in association of devotees, physical association, personal association, face to face. There is some kind of impersonal could they ask questions? We should have program to reach out those prabhus, just now again there is a talk going on reuniting Prabhupada family, reaching out Prabhupads disciples where ever they may be and encourage them; remind them, so like that.

Question 2:- Arjuna is a military man and we know military man means that he kills, Prabhupada gives example of a soldier on battle field, but when you come back and kill you go to jail. I am just kind of wondering if you could say something about in reference to how Arjuna could think like this that I am killing for Krishna, I seems to be a pretty happy kind of thing to do. And other thing is what is our duty as a devotee in Krishna consciousness, what are we our be Brahmans, vaisyas or kshtriyas or sudras in order to understand how to give everything to Krishna you need to be satisfied, properly, satisfied in your life and if you know that then it seems you could give that fruit to Krishna. But if there is some confusion what you are? You don’t know how to properly act so these are confusing kind of things for a conditional soul?

Answer: – I am not Arjuna (laugh) only Arjuna could do even Arjuna was not ready; Arjuna had thoughts like you have in the beginning. He was concerned about so many things what about this drama? What about? Arjuna has come up with a small list in the 1st chapter of Bhagavad-gita, all his concerns to which Krishna address in the 18th chapter  “sarva darman parityajya” (S.B 18.66) Arjuna asking what about this dharma?  and Krishna says don’t worry “mam ekam saranam vraja aham tvam sarva papebhyo moksayis yami ma sucah” I will take care of the rest.

So all those were very extra ordinary circumstance where these instructions are given to Arjuna and he is instructed to get up fight.  And well if they are killed grandfather has to say from his experience in the Bhagavatam that all those who were killed went back home they were all liberated. Because the killing took place in the presence of the Lord, in fact Arjuna was only seeing the back of the Lord while others were seeing the face of the Lord; they were even more fortunate position then Arjuna. So as they were face to face with the Lord. Lord killed this is the time. When Sri Rama hides behind the tree and killed Bali. So that Sugriva could join, Sugriva and  Sri Rama together. Sugriva was also in trouble his wife also was in cuscody of Bali. Lord Ram and Sugriva were in similar situation. Ones wife with Ravana and ones wife with Bali . So when Rama killed get rid of this Bali. So Bali first of all thought this is not fair you are hiding you wanted to kill me or fight, you could have come face to face, what is this act? Then Lord proposed oh! I could save you, you could take your arrow, and then Bali was thinking no! no! don’t do this don’t do this opportunity like this to be killed by you, as I see you face to face, I may not get this opportunity again. Do not take that arrow out let be in there, let me die in your presence.

So some may or may not know benefits of being killed by the Lord or being killed in the presence of the Lord. So it was very extra ordinary situation in which context Arjuna was asked to do killing. The society is like a body, when the body is sick doctors comes and he does the operation for which he is not punished, there is no penalty in fact we say thank you doctor, for tearing in body apart and stiching again we thank him.

So Lord had to do that kind of operation, “paritranaya sadhunam vinasaya ca duskrutam” (BG4.8) He has made his vision very clear by this statement “I come to kill the miscreants or anyone who takes part or becomes party to the miscreants I kill them”.  But at the same time He does something “aho bakiyam” Lord is known for that, Uddhav was amazed that magnanimity of the Lord oh! That baki putra had come with intension “jigansaya api” she had intension of killing the Lord but see Lord elevated her and gave her the position of mother in this own abode. So something’s are kind of inconceivable. But we couldn’t do it you know, the army officer order shot, kill then it is done and you get award, reward for doing that but privately if you pick your gun and begin then you will be hanged or you will be punished. This is one part and the other part is who are we? And we should be situated properly before we could do something or perform devotional service. Which Varna, which ashram do we belong to; things are not very clear in this age of Kali (laughs).

It’s not a normal time again because we said that was extra ordinary time, that battle field was very extra ordinary situation,  same time this age of kali is also pretty extra ordinary it’s not a normal time. And Prabhupada says each age like a one season, four ages – four seasons. So this season is age of Kali is pretty dark and gloomy. We can’t even see who is who, it’s dark. And this darkness is because of mode of ignorance “aham ajana jam tamaha” tama the darkness is because ajnana – ignorance, mode of ignorance. So who is who? Who are you? Who am I? It’s very difficult. “Kalau nasta drasham esham” Bhagvatam in the very beginning says, people have lost the eye sight they are not able to see. Ok then I will shade some light; I will provide the light of Bhagavatam. “adhuna purana arka uditaha” Lord says “I will as Bhagavatam”, so that people could again see things as they are.

So it’s kind of we don’t know, there is whole mix up, you know. It’s kind of more distinct in the past this person is governed by ignorance, ok put him in this box called sudra box. This person is predominant in mode of goodness, ok he is Brahman. And between these two there is Ksatriya, he still has goodness but passion also. Then you go to sudra very little goodness, lots of passion but ignorance also.

So Lord says in Bhagavad-Gita there is rivalry these 3 modes of material nature kind of battling and fighting and one who comes victorious defeating the other two. Then after sometimes other two are there every dog has its day (laughs). So other modes of material nature they come at the top and sometimes you are in goodness, lot of time you are in passion and lot of time you are in ignorance.

So it’s very difficult to say if goodness then you have to be always in goodness. But that’s not the case ignorance is dominating in this age of kali.

So Bhagvatam says “kalau sattvam haram pumsam” sattavam – goodness is stolen by this age of kali. So goodness is gone and what is left is little bit of passion and lot of ignorance. And so we come from that stock, we walk out of that dark regions and then we try to find out who am I? So we are just told “jiver swarupa hoya Krishner nitya das” you are servant of Krishna.  We kind of start there and the goal is to become vaishnav. Whether we are Brahmans or sudras this that there is not much time life is short and there is “miles to go before you sleep” “miles to go before you sleep woods are lovely, dark and sleep” you heard that before.

So so many things are attracting,  distracting. So this not the time exactly to go step by step, this varna that ashram. “Hye! You disciples are in early twenties and you have given them sannyasa order of life”. One press reported questioned how come at the age of 75 onwards, he had studied somewhere at the age of 75 you take sannyasa. He was objecting young people, young disciples you have already made them into sannayasi so they are young reporter is saying not old. So who dies? Those who are old they die. They are young, old people die so Srila was questioning oh! They are young and I am old, but if there any guaranty of them not dying before I do. You say that they are young, old people die, but they could also die, there is no guaranty this is not Ramraja. In kingdom of Ram there was no such a thing that the parents, father performing the funeral ceremony of his sons. If this happened they would run to ring the bell and the king has to answer. Hey! What is my son had to die. Could any one complaint like this these days? People teenage and in twenties and thirties they are dying.

So anyways so Prabhupada was trying to impress upon, there is no time for going systematically from this to that to that Varna, ashram. So we just make the best use of the bad bargain. Get out of here, come out clean vaishnavas. So as much as possible try to follow Varna, ashram Prabhupada did talk of forming economy based on land and the cow administration. Ya! You are all ksatriya but you are also Brahmin and you are also Vaisya so like that as vaishnavas we play different roles. And sometime we act in this capacity or that capacity. But do it again ‘the goal is to work for the pleasure of the Lord. And so this is done as aradhana unto the Lord; for the pleasure of the Lord this varnashram it’s linked with the Lord.

So that aim in mind we Ksatriya or Brahamin or Vaisya or Sudra for the pleasure of Lord we act.

Haribol…………!

His Holiness Loknath Maharaj Ki Jai…………………!

Venue: Guayana, Guayana katha, 2006, June 29. Parikshit Maharaja Ki Jai!! Hastinapur ki Jai!

So as now king Parikshit was ruling of kingdom, one day as he was on a tour, going around checking out, how is everything working? Then he noticed, hey! What’s going on here, at a distance he saw, someone Oh! He looks like a king, look he has a dress and crown, he has sword also, but what is he doing with the sword? There is a cow near him, he is trying to hurt the cow, he is the trying to kill the cow, No! King Parikshit was very furious; he rushed to the spot towards that place. He jumped down on him own chariot, he took his own sword and King Parikshit was ready to slaughter that so called king.

He was not a real one but fake king he only looked like a king, he was only dressed like a king that was the Age of Kali, the kali had appeared disguised as a King only to kill the religion, symbol of religion that’s cow. But then this kali disguised as a king, he begged for pardon, begged for forgiveness. Please! Please! Spare my Lord, spare my life oh! Lord. No king Parikshit was still very angry ready to kill, but he kept appealing “forgiving is considered superior to killing, the act of forgiving somebody”. So King Parikshit decided to forgive ok you may go. But where could I go? wherever  I go, it’s your rule, you are going to follow me, you are  going to be chasing after me, please give me some place,  some corner in your kingdom where I could stay as  I am, the bad character as I am, the age of kali as I am.

Ok you could stay in four places, King Parikshit gave 4 places for this age of Kali to reside in. oh!  What are those 4 places? King Parikshit said “dyutam-panam striyah-suna yatradharmas catur-vidhaha” (S.B 1.17.38)

The 4 places of irreligion, where irreligion is practiced, such 4 places you could reside- what are those places? “dyutam”  Where there is a gambling, places of gambling is one place for you. “panam” please ! Tell me what is the other place? Yes, places where there drinking and smoking and chewing tobacco all the intoxication goes on that is also designated place for you. But you said 4 places, what is the third place? Third place is place where there is illicit sex. Sex outside marriage or even exercise sex in the marriage that is also the place. Places of prostitution, cinemas and these television which is all sex and violence business, you could stay in Hollywood you could stay Bollywood. Ya! these are your places. Ok that’s third and  fourth one is place of meat eating, where  there is slaughter, animal killing, meat eating, fish eating, egg eating that is also location for you to reside. So kali had these 4 places “dyutam” because in this list in Bhagavat “Dyutam” – gambling is mentioned 1st, usually we say the other way round and then finally he was given one more place also, oh! Any other place you could think of? Yes! Yes! I could think of one more place. And King Parikshit said whether is gold, the black marketing unnecessary   accumulation at the cost of others that is also your location.

So these places where given by King Parikshit to the age of Kali 5000 years ago and Kali had kind of hard time finding such places in those days. But gradually, gradually kali has worked very very hard and  has expanded his networking day and night, you  learn lesson from kali, he is very hard working determined to expand his empire and after 5000 years, he had hard time finding places of Meat eating, Gambling, Intoxication , illicit sex and now what has happened? Where are those places , where there is no meat eating? Where is that place- no illicit sex! Where is that place? Where is that country? Where there is no intoxication where is that place where there is no gambling? It’s all over everywhere this way the irreligion has been propagated spread all over the world.

As one eats meat he become merciless, this 4 sinful activities correspond to 4 pillars, 4 supports of the religion, 4 principal and positive principals of religion, correspond with the four sinful activities. The Meat eating has connection with the “Daya” “Daya dharma ka mula hai”. “Ahinsa parmo dharma” the nonviolence is supreme religion, Buddha appeared and he declared this.  So with meat eating all mercy is finished, no more compassion. With intoxication no more tapasya, no more austerities. Daya is the 1st principal, mercy is the 1^st, then tapasya – an austerity is number 2.

With illicit sex no more “suci” no more purity which is 3rd principal of religion and gambling smashes all the truth, no more truth (satya) ‘daya, tapasya, suci-pavitrata and satya’. These are 4 pillars of dharma. These are 4 pillars of dharma, they are being weakened and destroyed by this 4 sinful activities of these age of kali.

And to conclude we could only say what is the solution “harer nama harer nama harer nameva  kevaluam! Kalu nasteva nasteva nasteva  gatir anytha” . Chanting of the holy name, chanting of the holy name, chanting of the holy name, chanting and hearing of the holy katha.  “Sarvanam kirtanam” chanting the glories, spreading the  glories of the Lord all over is the only solution “the only way you could defeat the age of kali, only way you could drive away  this kali from your home, from your life , from your country is  to chant out loud “Hare Krishna Hare krishna, krishna krishna Hare Hare, Hare Ram Hare Ram, Ram Ram Hare Hare” and hold Bhagavat katha preferably  “nityam bhagavat sevaya” and  eat Krsna Prasad and  be in company of devotee of Shri Krsna  and in this  way there will be “param vijayate sri Krsna sankirtanam” there will be victory.

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu sankirtanam army could be victories. So with this aim in mind aim of defeating this age of kali, kali’s forces are to be defeated. This is the purpose of the foundation of International Society for Krishna Consciousness.

Hari Haribol………..Haribol and right behind is Sri Krsna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.  And you could see the success that Hare Krsna movement is having all over the planet. Srila Prabhupada introduced these 4 principals, how many of you are ready to follow?  Prabhupada asked in New York, after he was only few months in New York in 1965 and he had some followers, they were coming to 26 Second Avenue in Manhatan, Prabhupada had his store front preaching centre.  How many of you are ready to follow 4 regulative principles?  Please raise your hands and so many were ready. American boys and girls were ready to take vows yes from this day no more meat, fish, eggs. From this day onwards no more intoxication, from today no more illicit sex and no more gambling. Americans were taking these vows and following them strictly.  And then Prabhupada moved to another country into another, into another and he came to Venezuela also traveling, travelling 14 times around the world and this elderly saintly gentleman, sadhu jetage parivrajachari he travelled 14 times around the world and during his travel he came close to this country and that was Venezuela . Where ever he went wonderful response he met persons who were willing to follow four regular principles. And it is possible to follow 4 regulative principles with the help of chanting of Hare Krsna those who chant “Hare Krishna Hare krishna, krishna krishna Hare Hare, Hare Ram Hare Ram, Ram Ram Hare Hare” and recite Bhagavat gita and Bhagavatam, maintain the company of devotees of Shri Krsna and take Krsna prasad becomes easy to follow these principles. So for past 40 years now this endeavour is on, there are all ready over 500 ISKCON temples, farms and communities and 100s & 1000s of followers of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu following these 4 regular principles chanting Hare Krishna and they are happy. So we invite everybody to join this effort for the welfare of humanity at large. There is no other way, there is no other way, there is no other way.

Nitai Guar Premanande ……………Hari Haribol.

In remote corners of Vrndavana, Pilgrims find little known places of Krsna’s  pastimes and get a clearer view Into their own hearts.

THE VRAJA Mandala Parikrama* is a walking pilgrimage throughout the land of Vraja, or Mathura, the district in North India where Lord Krsna appeared five thousand years ago. Devotees walk the entire parikrama path, stopping at the places where Krsna performed His pastimes. Vraja Mandala Parikrama can be considered pada-sevanam (serving Sri Krsna’s lotus feet), one of the nine forms of devotional service.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu

Within Mathura, the Yamuna River and the twelve forests of Vrndavana form the stage for the divine play of Radha and Krsna’s transcendental pastimes. Lord Krsna presides over the seven forests on the Yamuna’s western bank: Madhuvan, Talavan, Kumudavan, Bahulavan, Vrndavana, Kamyavan, Khadiravan. And Lord Balarama rules the five forests decorating the eastern bank: Bhadravan, Bhandiravan, Bilvavan, Lohavan, and Mahavan. These twelve beautiful forests are the most important places of pilgrimage.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself, set an example by touring Vrndavana’s twelve forests. While Lord Caitanya was performing the parikrama, the residents said:

Who says He is a sannyasi? He is Krsna Himself appearing in this dress and form. Just see the proof. Different birds are all coming for His darsana [audience]. The cuckoos and parrots are happily addressing Him as Krsna, and the peacocks are dancing in jubilation. See the wonderful blooming of the trees! O brother, just see the creepers showering flowers on this person, who is disguised as a sannyasi. The deer are coming near Him and staring undivertedly towards His face. All the cows are coming running from all sides with raised tails, and they also look at His face. By the tears of ecstasy falling from the eyes of these creatures, we can understand that they are meeting Him after a long period of time.

From the book Mathura Mandala Parikrama, based on Srila Narahari Cakravarti Thakura’s Bhakti Ratnakara

The six Gosvamis and other associates of Lord Caitanya, as well as thousands of faithful in His line (Gaudiya Vaisnavas) throughout the centuries, have enthusiastically executed Vraja Mandala Parikrama, a blissful form of devotional service. In October 1932, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, the spiritual master of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, led a group of more than a thousand disciples and other pilgrims on a month-long parikrama of the sacred places of Vrndavana. It was one of the largest parikramas ever seen in Vrndavana. Srila Prabhupada, then a married man living in Allahabad, traveled to Vrndavana intent on seeing Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati and hoping to join the parikrama party.

“I was not initiated at the time of the parikrama,” Srila Prabhupada recalled, “but I had very good admiration for these Gaudiya Math people. They were very kind to me, so I thought, ‘What are these people doing in this parikrama? Let me go.’ So I met them at Kosi.”

Today dozens of groups of devotees from different parts of India still perform the padayatra (walking festival) of Vraja Mandala to see and hear about the places of Krsna’s pastimes. Every year during the month of Kartika (Oct.-Nov.), Krsna devotees taste the ecstasy of circumambulating Sri Vrndavana Dhama. Besides being a wonderful way to see and serve Sri Krsna’s transcendental land, Vraja Mandala Parikrama purifies one’s consciousness.

Srila Rupa Gosvami has described Vraja: “I remember the Lord standing by the banks of the Yamuna River, so beautiful amid the kadamba trees, where many birds are chirping in the gardens. And these impressions are always giving me transcendental realization of beauty and bliss.” Even non-devotees can feel the bliss described by Rupa Gosvami. The places in the eighty-four-square-mile district of Mathura and Vrndavana are so beautifully situated on the banks of the river Yamuna that anyone who goes there will never want to return to this material world.

Simple, Sacred Life

We rise before the sun and walk through hills and valleys, traveling deep into Vrndavana. Little remote villages dot our path. Village life is simple and austere, but the villagers are warm and generous. Whenever we stop they offer us fresh water, buttermilk, and steaming hot whole-wheat rotis (chapatis, or flatbreads).

As we cross cultivated fields, a team of oxen and a straw-laden donkey amble past rice paddies ornate with exotic birds. The sounds of the cuckoo bird, the mourning dove, and the Hare Krsna maha-mantra mingle together. Some devotees keep to the back of the kirtana party, silently chanting japa on their beads. The morning is calm, and the soft sandy path is gentle on our feet.

As we enter Madhuban, children bounce beside us, their eyes twinkling with glee. The kirtana reverberates off the mud walls and through the narrow lanes. The village brahmana greets us, a wise old man with happy eyes and stubbly beard. He sprinkles holy water on us. The cow-dung homes smell fresh and clean. In a spotless courtyard, children carrying bows and arrows imitate Sita, Rama, Laksmana, and Hanuman. Villagers invite us into their homes for something to eat or drink.

While some devotees rest or read, others venture farther into the village to get a closer look at the life of the local residents (Vrajabasis). Some devotees take a refreshing bath in a pond, while others wash their laundry. Clustered around the village water pump, we watch the children dexterously fill their waterpots. It is a crowded scene. Suddenly, a teenage boy and his mother approach the well. The boy pushes his way through the crowd and takes hold of the pump handle. We think he’s angry that we’re using “his” pump. But with an infectious smile, he begins to pump water for everyone.

Time to Think

Most devotees who visit Vrndavana never experience Vraja like this. One devotee comments, “If you don’t walk, you miss ninety per cent of Vraja.” Normally in Vrndavana we tend to feel like transcendental tourists, catching buses to the holy places. But to see Vraja on foot allows one more time to think and to find one’s real identity.

We visit Talavan forest, where Lord Balarama killed Dhenukasura. In the village of Etarsi, we visit the temple where breathtakingly beautiful deities of Balarama and His eternal consort, Revati, reside. A tala tree stands just inside the temple compound.

It is traditional to perform parikrama barefoot, and we try our best to follow the example of the saintly persons who have walked before us. Sometimes small thorns prick our feet, and we try to remember the austerities of Dhruva Maharaja, compared to which ours are insignificant. Vraja Mandala Parikrama strips one of all pretensions. We may have a big position in this world, but the thorns don’t discriminate.

Before it gets too hot, we climb to the summit of Kedarnath Mountain. A stone staircase etched into the mountainside leads us up 270 steps to a temple of Lord Siva. The temple is a natural cave, its overhang resembling the hoods of a multi-hooded snake. From atop the hill, we view the unique panoramic scene of the Vraja plains, stretched for about twenty kilometers all around us. As our gaze wanders out over the expanse of sacred land, we meditate on and hear about Krsna’s Vrndavana pastimes.

Krsna’s Footprints

In the early afternoon we take to tarred road on a seemingly endless walk to Caran Pahari. Here, Krsna would play His flute and melt the rocks with a touching melody. The rocks captured Krsna’s footprints. We eagerly rush to see them and smear on our heads the dust from these fivethousand-year-old footprints. We pray that our stone like hearts may also melt in response to Krsna’s call.

Where Krsna played His water sports and submerge ourselves in the Yamuna River, where He performed unlimited pastimes. We feel like we are following Him around Vraja. If we stay on His trail, we’ll turn the last corner of material attachment and catch up with Him. On parikrama we get a glimpse of the mood of separation from Krsna as we wander through the forests of Vrndavana. Parikrama instills appreciation for devotional sentiments even within the heart of a neophyte devotee.

Finally we see the city of Mathura rise from the plains of Vraja like an ancient medieval kingdom. We’ve made it! One hundred sixty-eight miles in thirty days. A tremendous feeling of accomplishment and exhilaration rises in our hearts. Our Vraja Mandala Parikrama is almost over, and our walk on the path back to Godhead has shortened.

A tall bridge leads us across the Yamuna back to Mathura. The kirtana resounds through the crowded back streets of the city. We take our final bath at Vishram Ghat. Vraja Mandala Parikrama is a perfect test for one’s spiritual health. In the pure atmosphere of the Lord’s land, our impurities stand out clearly, like black spots on a white sheet. Out here we see how far we have come in spiritual life and how far we have to go. Yet, this is encouraging; it increases our desire for purification, so that one day we may become qualified to reside eternally in Vrndavana. Lokanath Swami is the director of ISKCON Padayatras (“walking pilgrimages”) worldwide and the author of the recently published book Kumbha: The Festival of Immortality. He has been coordinating Vraja Mandala Parikrama since 1987.

Replica of the Spiritual World

IN THE SPIRITUAL world of Vrndavana the buildings are made of touchstone, the cows are known as surabhi cows, givers of abundant milk, and the trees are known as wish-fulfilling trees, for they yield whatever one desires. In Vrndavana Krsna herds the surabhi cows, and He is worshipped by hundreds and thousands of gopis, cowherd girls, who are all goddesses of fortune. When Krsna descends to the material world, this same Vrndavana descends just as an entourage accompanies an important personage. Because when Krsna comes His land also comes, Vrnda-vana is not considered to exist in the material world. Therefore devotees take shelter of the Vrndavana in India, for it is considered to be a replica of the original Vrndavana. Introduction to Teachings of Lord Caitanya, by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Instructions from Sage Narada

Narada Says to Dhruva: “My dear boy, I therefore wish all good fortune for you. You should go to the bank of the Yamuna, where there is a virtuous forest named Madhuvana, and there be purified. Just by going there, one draws nearer to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who always lives there.” Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.8.42

Acquiring Spiritual Flavors In Vrndavana

SRILA BHAKTISIDDHANTA Sarasvati Thakura states that the business of the tongue is to gratify itself with the varieties of flavor, but by wandering in the twelve holy forests of Vraja-mandala (Vrndavana), one can be freed from the twelve flavors of material sense gratification. The five principal divisions of material relationships are neutral admiration, servitude, friendship, parental affection, and conjugal love; the seven subordinate features of material relationships are material humor, astonishment, chivalry, compassion, anger, dread, and ghastliness. Originally, these twelve rasas, or flavors of relationships, are exchanged between the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the living entity in the spiritual world; and by wandering in the twelve forests of Vrndavana one can respiritualize the twelve flavors of personal existence. Thus one will become a liberated soul, free from all material desires. If one artificially tries to give up sense gratification, especially that of the tongue, the attempt will fail, and in fact one’s desire for sense gratification will increase as a result of artificial deprivation. Only by experiencing real, spiritual pleasure in relationship with Krsna can one give up material desires.

SRILA PRABHUPADA appeared in this world just a day after the celebration of Lord Krsna’s appearance day. We followers of Srila Prabhupada’s see this as a sign of his intimate relationship with the Lord. The Vedic literature teaches us that because a spiritual master such as Srila Prabhupada is the Lord’s most confidential servant, we must honor him as much as we honor the Supreme Lord Himself. We are therefore honoring Srila Prabhupada throughout his Centennial Year and especially on the 100th anniversary of his appearance day.

Srila Prabhupada often said, “I am not God, and you are not God, but we are eternal servants of God.” Although we are all servants of God, most of us have forgotten our positions. Prabhupada, however, was a self-realized servant of the Lord, as we can understand by examining the selfless work he performed on behalf of the Lord.

In Bhagavad-gita (4.8) Lord Krsna says, “To deliver the pious and to annihilate the miscreants, as well as to reestablish the principles of religion, I Myself appear, millennium after millennium.” Srila Prabhupada writes in his purport to this verse that the Lord sometimes comes to earth Himself and sometimes sends His empowered representatives to carry out His mission. Let us briefly consider Srila Prabhupada’s contributions to the Lord’s mission on the earth.

To Deliver the Pious

To shelter pious and sincere souls, Srila Prabhupada founded the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. The Society’s schools, farms, and temples are spiritual oases that give relief to faithful devotees in the desert of material existence. And the different aspects of the Society such as Deity worship, Food for Life, congregational chanting, and spiritual festivals are meant to revive the devotion of pious souls and prepare them to return to the spiritual kingdom of the Lord.

To Annihilate the Miscreants

Following in the footsteps of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Srila Prabhupada worked to curb down the demoniac tendencies of the people of this age. Prabhupada spoke out strongly against anything or anyone opposed to Krsna consciousness. His words were razor sharp, his books bombs smashing illusion. His Bhaktivedanta purports will continue to devastate atheistic opponents for thousands of years to come.

To Reestablish the Principles of Religion

Real religion is one: to serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Srila Prabhupada translated bhakti not just as “devotion” but as “devotional service,” to emphasize that devotional service is the eternal occupation of all living entities.

Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu introduced the main process of devotional service for the present age: the chanting of the holy names of the Lord. Lord Caitanya spread the holy names within India. And Srila Prabhupada said that Lord Caitanya had left to the International Society for Krishna Consciousness the job of spreading the holy names to the rest of the world. When Prabhupada first came to America, he chanted by himself in New York City. Later, he encouraged his disciples to chant and dance through the streets of cities all over the world.

In early July forty devotees attended a two-day conference on social development within ISKCON. The conference, held at Radhadesh, ISKCON’s center in Septon-Durbuy, Belgium, was the third in a series of conferences meant to develop recommendations to the GBC (ISKCON’s governing body) concerning ISKCON’s social structure. The discussions at Radhadesh centered mostly on the importance of the grhastha asrama, or married life in Krsna consciousness.

Silver Anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s Moscow Visit

Guests from Europe and America joined nearly one thousand devotees from all over the Commonwealth of Independent States for the twenty-fifth anniversary of Krsna consciousness in Russia. The event took place in Moscow on July 14. Syamasundara Dasa, who had accompanied Srila Prabhupada on his visit to Moscow in 1971, guided a tour of the places they had stayed at or visited. Special guests were Professor C. G. Kotovski, whom Srila Prabhupada had met during his visit, and Ananta Santi Dasa, Srila Prabhupada’s only disciple in Russia. The event coincided with the arrival in Moscow of Padayatra Europe—a group of devotees completing a 10,000-km walk from Belfast.

ISKCON Incorporation Day

On August 7 devotees gathered in temples worldwide to remember the early days of ISKCON and review its purposes, as given by Srila Prabhupada when he incorporated the Society in 1966. Devotees discussed the successes and failures of their respective centers and made plans for improvement. In many places devotees passed out pamphlets explaining the Society’s goals, purposes, and history.

Other Centennial News

TV Series on Srila Prabhupada

In India, a weekly television series about Srila Prabhupada is now on the air, in Hindi. The series is called “Abhay Charan—The Life and Teachings of Srila Prabhupada.” Doordarshan, Indian national TV, broadcast the first episode on September 7, the day after Srila Prabhupada’s appearance. The series is scheduled to run for at least 104 weeks. Producer: Bhakti Caru Swami.

Street Named After Srila Prabhupada

Bhaktivedanta Swami Circle is the new name for the street in front of ISKCON’s temple in Durban, South Africa. The city renamed it in honor of Srila Prabhupada.

New Books about Srila Prabhupada

The Centennial Year has inspired many devotees to publish their memories and realizations of Srila Prabhupada. Many books about Prabhupada are already available, and more are expected before the end of the year. Here is a list of books we know about: Published *

Acarya—Portraits of Srila Prabhupada, by Sesa Dasa

The Jaladuta Diary, by The Bhaktivedanta Archives

Journey to the Pacific Rim, by Bali Mardana Dasa

My Glorious Master, by Bhurijana Dasa

Srila Prabhupada and His Disciples in Germany, by Vedavyasa Dasa

One Hundred Prabhupada Poems, by Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami

Prabhupada Sayings, by Aditya Dasi

Srila Prabhupada At Radha Damodara, by Mahanidhi Swami

Srila Prabhupada’s Visit to Malaysia, by Janananda Dasa

A Transcendental Diary, Vols. 1-3, by Hari Sauri Dasa (more volumes to come)