Bhakti Vikasa Swami's Blog, page 351
March 24, 2012
a little bit of a pure thing
…our policy should be to only publish our Krishna Consciousness articles
in various forms. We are not concerned with any other movement save and
except Krishna Consciousness in its pure form. In India it is said that a
little bit of a pure thing is much better than huge volumes of impure,
adulterated things. So please try to follow this policy and publish in BTG
only pure Krishna Conscious articles.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Letter to: Brahmananda — Hamburg 27 August, 1969
in various forms. We are not concerned with any other movement save and
except Krishna Consciousness in its pure form. In India it is said that a
little bit of a pure thing is much better than huge volumes of impure,
adulterated things. So please try to follow this policy and publish in BTG
only pure Krishna Conscious articles.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Letter to: Brahmananda — Hamburg 27 August, 1969
March 23, 2012
face to face with a sadhu
[The Supreme Personality of Godhead said:]
When one is face to face with the sun, there is no longer darkness for one's
eyes. Similarly, when one is face to face with a sadhu, a devotee, who is
fully determined and surrendered to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one
will no longer be subject to material bondage.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => SB 10.10.41
When one is face to face with the sun, there is no longer darkness for one's
eyes. Similarly, when one is face to face with a sadhu, a devotee, who is
fully determined and surrendered to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one
will no longer be subject to material bondage.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => SB 10.10.41
March 22, 2012
Are All the Cultures of the World One Continuous Error?
Question:
In some of Prabhupada's books, as well as in books by other devotees, it is sometimes implied that at one time Vedic culture was global culture and not just limited to India. Is this true? My second question is, are we to understand that the development of all the other cultures of the world going back to ancient times are only deviations from Vedic culture and therefore have no value in themselves? Lastly, when Lord Chaitanya's prophecy of Krsna consciousness spreading across the world becomes a reality, does this mean that culture in all parts of the world will be the same? It's difficult for me to think that the entire history of the West going back to the Greeks and Egyptians, as well as other non-Vedic cultures like that of the Chinese, is all one continuous error. Is that actually the correct way to think of it?
Download Is All the Cultures of the World One Continuous Era?
In some of Prabhupada's books, as well as in books by other devotees, it is sometimes implied that at one time Vedic culture was global culture and not just limited to India. Is this true? My second question is, are we to understand that the development of all the other cultures of the world going back to ancient times are only deviations from Vedic culture and therefore have no value in themselves? Lastly, when Lord Chaitanya's prophecy of Krsna consciousness spreading across the world becomes a reality, does this mean that culture in all parts of the world will be the same? It's difficult for me to think that the entire history of the West going back to the Greeks and Egyptians, as well as other non-Vedic cultures like that of the Chinese, is all one continuous error. Is that actually the correct way to think of it?
Download Is All the Cultures of the World One Continuous Era?
Rasa-lila: not for public discussion
These rascals, they do not know what is Krsna. They think Krsna is ordinary
man. "Why He is engaging Arjuna in the fighting? Why He is dancing with
others' daughter and girls? These are immoral things." Therefore this rasa
dance should not be discussed among the fools and rascals. They'll
misunderstand. Although the professional reciters, they take part, whenever
they speak of Bhagavata, they immediately jump over the rasa dance. That is
not to be done. Caitanya Mahaprabhu never indulged in such thing. For mass
of people He engaged Himself in sankirtana. And when Krsna's dealing with
the gopis were discussed, He was discussing amongst three selected devotees:
Ramananda Raya, Svarupa Damodara and Sikhi Mahati. He had thousands and
thousands of devotees, but He never discussed Krsna's rasa-lila in the mass
of people, never did it. Therefore it is restricted. Because they will
misunderstand. These rascals, they do not know what is Krsna, and they will
misunderstand. They will be polluted. Of course, not polluted. Because after
all, they will hear about Krsna. But they may misunderstand. That is against
their making progress to the spiritual life.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 1.44 — London, July 31, 1973
man. "Why He is engaging Arjuna in the fighting? Why He is dancing with
others' daughter and girls? These are immoral things." Therefore this rasa
dance should not be discussed among the fools and rascals. They'll
misunderstand. Although the professional reciters, they take part, whenever
they speak of Bhagavata, they immediately jump over the rasa dance. That is
not to be done. Caitanya Mahaprabhu never indulged in such thing. For mass
of people He engaged Himself in sankirtana. And when Krsna's dealing with
the gopis were discussed, He was discussing amongst three selected devotees:
Ramananda Raya, Svarupa Damodara and Sikhi Mahati. He had thousands and
thousands of devotees, but He never discussed Krsna's rasa-lila in the mass
of people, never did it. Therefore it is restricted. Because they will
misunderstand. These rascals, they do not know what is Krsna, and they will
misunderstand. They will be polluted. Of course, not polluted. Because after
all, they will hear about Krsna. But they may misunderstand. That is against
their making progress to the spiritual life.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 1.44 — London, July 31, 1973
March 21, 2012
Whatever Happens, Chant Hare Krishna
[B]Where:[/B] Avadi, Tamil Nadu, India[BR]
[B]When:[/B] 19 Dec 11[BR]
[B]Scripture:[/B] BG 2.40[BR]
[B]Language:[/B] English with Tamil translation
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[B]When:[/B] 19 Dec 11[BR]
[B]Scripture:[/B] BG 2.40[BR]
[B]Language:[/B] English with Tamil translation
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The meaning of an apparently useless offering
Actually, no one can give anything to the Supreme Personality of Godhead,
for He is full in everything. Sometimes we see a devotee offering Ganges
water to the Ganges. After taking his bath in the Ganges, a devotee takes a
palmful of water and offers it back to the Ganges. Actually, when one takes
a palmful of water from the Ganges, the Ganges does not lose anything, and
similarly if a devotee offers a palmful of water to the Ganges, the Ganges
does not increase in any way. But by such an offering, the devotee becomes
celebrated as a devotee of mother Ganges. Similarly, when we offer anything
with devotion and faith, what we offer does not belong to us, nor does it
enrich the opulence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. But if one offers
whatever he has in his possession, he becomes a recognized devotee.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => SB 8.20.21
for He is full in everything. Sometimes we see a devotee offering Ganges
water to the Ganges. After taking his bath in the Ganges, a devotee takes a
palmful of water and offers it back to the Ganges. Actually, when one takes
a palmful of water from the Ganges, the Ganges does not lose anything, and
similarly if a devotee offers a palmful of water to the Ganges, the Ganges
does not increase in any way. But by such an offering, the devotee becomes
celebrated as a devotee of mother Ganges. Similarly, when we offer anything
with devotion and faith, what we offer does not belong to us, nor does it
enrich the opulence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. But if one offers
whatever he has in his possession, he becomes a recognized devotee.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => SB 8.20.21
March 20, 2012
Well-educated godless demons
If one is actually educated in Vedic knowledge, is famous for performing
prescribed activities and has been born in a great aristocratic family, why
should he be called a demon? The answer is that one may be highly educated
and may have been born in an aristocratic family, but if he is godless, if
he does not listen to the instructions of God, then he is a demon. There are
many examples in history of men like Hiranyakasipu, Ravana and Kamsa who
were well educated, who were born in aristocratic families and who were very
powerful and chivalrous in fighting, but who, because of deriding the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, were called Raksasas, or demons. One may be
very well educated, but if he has no sense of Krsna consciousness, no
obedience to the Supreme Lord, he is a demon. That is described by the Lord
Himself in Bhagavad-gita (7.15):
na mam duskrtino mudhah
prapadyante naradhamah
mayayapahrta-jnana
asuram bhavam asritah
"Those miscreants who are grossly foolish, lowest among mankind, whose
knowledge is stolen by illusion, and who partake of the atheistic nature of
demons, do not surrender unto Me." Asuram bhavam refers to not accepting the
existence of God or the transcendental instructions of the Personality of
Godhead. Bhagavad-gita clearly consists of transcendental instructions
imparted directly by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. But asuras, instead
of accepting these instructions directly, make commentaries according to
their own whimsical ways and mislead everyone, without profit even for
themselves. One should therefore be very careful of demoniac, godless
persons. According to the words of Lord Krsna, even if a godless demon is
very well educated, he must be considered a mudha, naradhama and
mayayapahrta jnana.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => SB 8.7.3
prescribed activities and has been born in a great aristocratic family, why
should he be called a demon? The answer is that one may be highly educated
and may have been born in an aristocratic family, but if he is godless, if
he does not listen to the instructions of God, then he is a demon. There are
many examples in history of men like Hiranyakasipu, Ravana and Kamsa who
were well educated, who were born in aristocratic families and who were very
powerful and chivalrous in fighting, but who, because of deriding the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, were called Raksasas, or demons. One may be
very well educated, but if he has no sense of Krsna consciousness, no
obedience to the Supreme Lord, he is a demon. That is described by the Lord
Himself in Bhagavad-gita (7.15):
na mam duskrtino mudhah
prapadyante naradhamah
mayayapahrta-jnana
asuram bhavam asritah
"Those miscreants who are grossly foolish, lowest among mankind, whose
knowledge is stolen by illusion, and who partake of the atheistic nature of
demons, do not surrender unto Me." Asuram bhavam refers to not accepting the
existence of God or the transcendental instructions of the Personality of
Godhead. Bhagavad-gita clearly consists of transcendental instructions
imparted directly by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. But asuras, instead
of accepting these instructions directly, make commentaries according to
their own whimsical ways and mislead everyone, without profit even for
themselves. One should therefore be very careful of demoniac, godless
persons. According to the words of Lord Krsna, even if a godless demon is
very well educated, he must be considered a mudha, naradhama and
mayayapahrta jnana.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => SB 8.7.3
March 19, 2012
use your American and European brains to increase
Do not hesitate to use your American and European brains to increase, that
is Krishna's special gift to you, now use it. Any activity which will please
Krishna should be accepted favorably, this is our guiding principle. Now
apply it in this way, by doing everything and anything for spreading this
Krishna Conscious literature, and this is really pleasing to Krishna, know
it for certain.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Letter to: Kirtiraja — Vrindaban 27 November, 1971
is Krishna's special gift to you, now use it. Any activity which will please
Krishna should be accepted favorably, this is our guiding principle. Now
apply it in this way, by doing everything and anything for spreading this
Krishna Conscious literature, and this is really pleasing to Krishna, know
it for certain.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Letter to: Kirtiraja — Vrindaban 27 November, 1971
March 18, 2012
Get real ananda with Krsna
When you join with Krsna in His rasa dance as gopis, or as cowherds boy,
play with Him, or become His father and mother, Yasoda, Nanda Maharaja,
Yasoda-rani, or become servant, or even become like water Yamuna, or land in
Vrndavana and trees or fruits or flowers, any way, or cows and calves, join
with Krsna, then you get ananda, real ananda. Anandamayo 'bhyasat
(Vedanta-sutra 1.1.12). Sac-cid-ananda-vigraha [Bs. 5.1]. That is the
description in all Bhagavatam, how Krsna's associates are enjoying life.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 1.23 — London, July 19, 1973
play with Him, or become His father and mother, Yasoda, Nanda Maharaja,
Yasoda-rani, or become servant, or even become like water Yamuna, or land in
Vrndavana and trees or fruits or flowers, any way, or cows and calves, join
with Krsna, then you get ananda, real ananda. Anandamayo 'bhyasat
(Vedanta-sutra 1.1.12). Sac-cid-ananda-vigraha [Bs. 5.1]. That is the
description in all Bhagavatam, how Krsna's associates are enjoying life.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 1.23 — London, July 19, 1973
March 17, 2012
Fearing for Krishna
[B]Where:[/B] Dallas, Texas, USA[BR]
[B]When:[/B] 8 June 2011 [BR]
[B]Scripture:[/B] 10.6.2-3[BR]
[B]Language:[/B] English[BR]
[VIDEO: http://blip.tv/play/h%2BBmgu_9EAA.html, http://blip.tv/file/get/BVKSMedia-SB1...]
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[B]When:[/B] 8 June 2011 [BR]
[B]Scripture:[/B] 10.6.2-3[BR]
[B]Language:[/B] English[BR]
[VIDEO: http://blip.tv/play/h%2BBmgu_9EAA.html, http://blip.tv/file/get/BVKSMedia-SB1...]
[CUT]
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