Bhakti Vikasa Swami's Blog, page 358
February 2, 2012
Vyasa-puja Festival 2012 @ Rameswaram — Memoir
Celebrations of 55th Vyasa-puja festival of His Holiness Bhakti Vikasa Maharaj organized at holy dhama, Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, India.
Drama
Kirtan
Misc
Nagar Sankirtan
Pada-puja and Bhoga Offerings
Prasadam
Rangoli and Decoration
VP offerings
Book Stall
Diksa Ceremony
Drama
32 Photos
Kirtan
102 Photos
Misc
32 Photos
Nagar Sankirtan
18 Photos
Pada-puja and Bhoga Offerings
53 Photos
Prasadam
10 Photos
Rangoli and Decoration
49 Photos
VP offerings
17 Photos
Book Stall
20 Photos
Diksa Ceremony
5 Photos
Vyasa-puja Festival 2012 @ Ramesvaram — Memoir
Drama
32 Photos
Kirtan
35 Photos
Misc
32 Photos
Nagar Sankirtan
18 Photos
Pada-puja and Bhoga Offerings
59 Photos
Prasadam
10 Photos
Rangoli and Decoration
69 Photos
VP offerings
17 Photos
Book Stall
20 Photos
Diksa Ceremony
5 Photos
Srila Prabhupada's commentary and Ramanujacarya's: parallel
(For Ramanujacarya's disappearance anniversary)
Dr. Patel: Sir, I read your commentary on Bhagavad-gita and Ramanujacarya's.
They are absolutely parallel.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Dr. Patel: I think you have taken out of it… (laughter)
Prabhupada: How can I…
Dr. Patel: I am just joking.
Prabhupada: No, no. Our process is to take from the acaryas. We are not
manufacturing. We are not so fools and rascals that we have to manufacture.
We have to take the remnants of foodstuff given by the acarya and explain in
the modern way so that people may… That is our business.
(Morning Walk — November 3, 1975, Bombay)
Dr. Patel: Sir, I read your commentary on Bhagavad-gita and Ramanujacarya's.
They are absolutely parallel.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Dr. Patel: I think you have taken out of it… (laughter)
Prabhupada: How can I…
Dr. Patel: I am just joking.
Prabhupada: No, no. Our process is to take from the acaryas. We are not
manufacturing. We are not so fools and rascals that we have to manufacture.
We have to take the remnants of foodstuff given by the acarya and explain in
the modern way so that people may… That is our business.
(Morning Walk — November 3, 1975, Bombay)
February 1, 2012
Utility is the Principle
[B]Where:[/B] Bhimavaram, AP, India[BR]
[B]When:[/B] 16 Nov 11[BR]
[B]Language:[/B] English
[CUT]
Download Utility is the Principle
[B]When:[/B] 16 Nov 11[BR]
[B]Language:[/B] English
[CUT]
Download Utility is the Principle
Learning to Produce Films for Preaching…
Question:
I have a doubt about usage of making films in Krishna conscious preaching. I have a desire to become a nice filmmaker and make some good films to entertain and enlighten people. But after knowing philosophy of Krishna consciousness, I am in a great confusion of how to live my rest of life. So can you please kindly clear my doubt.
Can a devotee learn to produce films or animation techniques and try to preach through media by making films like Ramayana, Mahabharata etc.
in large scale productions, making nice devotional documentaries, biographies of elevated devotees? or doing such thing is just sense gratification for achieving my personal goal?
Download Learning to Produce Films for Preaching...
I have a doubt about usage of making films in Krishna conscious preaching. I have a desire to become a nice filmmaker and make some good films to entertain and enlighten people. But after knowing philosophy of Krishna consciousness, I am in a great confusion of how to live my rest of life. So can you please kindly clear my doubt.
Can a devotee learn to produce films or animation techniques and try to preach through media by making films like Ramayana, Mahabharata etc.
in large scale productions, making nice devotional documentaries, biographies of elevated devotees? or doing such thing is just sense gratification for achieving my personal goal?
Download Learning to Produce Films for Preaching...
Re Madhvacarya
In the forest when the foxes and jackals and wolves howl it can be very
daunting. They howl at various pitches with all their energy seemingly
competing for prominence amongst each other. Amid all the screeching and
screaming and squeaking and squawking in the forest, when the simplest roar
of the lion pervades, announcing its own might, dragging the hearts of the
wolves and others down to their knees in utter disappointment, the truth
becomes obvious. What to speak when the lion actually roars intently. The
words of Sri Madhva are such. Anyone opposed is bound to be disappointed
like the wolves and others.
Adapted from an analogy given by Sri Trivikrama Pandita in his Vayu stuti,
shloka 31.
daunting. They howl at various pitches with all their energy seemingly
competing for prominence amongst each other. Amid all the screeching and
screaming and squeaking and squawking in the forest, when the simplest roar
of the lion pervades, announcing its own might, dragging the hearts of the
wolves and others down to their knees in utter disappointment, the truth
becomes obvious. What to speak when the lion actually roars intently. The
words of Sri Madhva are such. Anyone opposed is bound to be disappointed
like the wolves and others.
Adapted from an analogy given by Sri Trivikrama Pandita in his Vayu stuti,
shloka 31.
January 31, 2012
Preaching is the Essence
[B]Where:[/B] Bhimavaram, AP, India[BR]
[B]When:[/B] 15 Nov 11[BR]
[B]Language:[/B] English
[CUT]
Download Preaching is the Essence
[B]When:[/B] 15 Nov 11[BR]
[B]Language:[/B] English
[CUT]
Download Preaching is the Essence
January 30, 2012
Bhisma's disappearance
(30 January is Bhismastami, the anniversary of Bhisma's passing away.)
Bhismadeva, when he was lying on his arrow bed before passing away, Lord
Krishna, accompanied with the Pandavas, came to see him. Ordinarily,
Bhismadeva was worshipper of Lord Visnu, but he knew also that Krishna is
the same Lord Visnu. When Krishna came to see Bhismadeva on his death bed,
Bhismadeva remembered Krishna in His fighting feature at the battlefield of
Kuruksetra. Bhismadeva wanted to see Krishna angry, he knew that Krishna was
very kind upon him, but to make a front he displayed a chivalrous mood,
pretending to kill Arjuna, although he knew it very well that no power in
the world could kill Arjuna while he was shielded by Krishna Himself as his
charioteer. Yet he tried to agitate the mind of Krishna, but Arjuna he
almost killed. Actually, Krishna thought it that Bhismadeva was to see Him
in His angry mood and supposed to be broken in His promise, to fulfill the
desire of Bhismadeva. He got down from the chariot and took a wheel of the
chariot, going forward as if to kill Bhismadeva. Bhismadeva, as soon as
found Krishna in that angry mood, he gave up his fighting weapons and
prepared himself for being killed by Krishna. This attitude of Krishna
pleased Bhismadeva very much, and at the time of his death he recalled back
the angry feature of Krishna. He was a military man so he was pleased to see
Krishna in military spirit, as much as the Gopis wanted to see Krishna as
the most beautiful lover. There is no difference between the attitude of the
gopis and Bhismadeva in the matter of exchanging transcendental mellows
between God and His devotee. Krishna can be loved in any feature and because
he is absolute there is no difference to love Krishna as a military man or
as a simple Gopi.
During the day the two sides would battle, and at night they would visit one
another's camps, just like friends, talking and eating together. Bhisma was
accused of not trying hard enough to kill the Pandavas, due to affection for
them. So, he said, tomorrow I will kill all five brothers, and these five
special arrows I shall kill them with. For safekeeping Bhismadeva gave the
five arrows to Duryodhana, who had accused Bhisma of too much affection for
the Pandavas. Formerly, Duryodhana had made promise to Arjuna that he could
someday ask for some favor, so Krishna, knowing all these things, sent
Arjuna to Duryodhana for asking favor of giving the arrows to Arjuna. So as
the promise was made, Duryodhana gave Arjuna the arrows, that night. Next
day, Bhisma knew it was Krishna who arranged all this, and so he told
Duryodhana, today it will be either Arjuna or I, but one of us will die. And
so he fought very hard to kill Arjuna, but with Krishna as Protector, no one
in world could kill Arjuna. Krishna's body was pierced, here and there, all
over as you like. As military man, Bhisma had no right to shoot the chariot
driver, but he knew Krishna's body is not material, and will not be harmed,
so he took pleasure in piercing the body of the Lord. Bhismadeva became so
pierced with arrows that he laid down and with the arrows all standing on
end, all over stuck through his body. Yes, Lord Brahma and Lord Siva came
and were there in the sky with many demigods, and throwing flowers.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Letter to: Jadurani — San Francisco 29 December,
1967
Bhismadeva, when he was lying on his arrow bed before passing away, Lord
Krishna, accompanied with the Pandavas, came to see him. Ordinarily,
Bhismadeva was worshipper of Lord Visnu, but he knew also that Krishna is
the same Lord Visnu. When Krishna came to see Bhismadeva on his death bed,
Bhismadeva remembered Krishna in His fighting feature at the battlefield of
Kuruksetra. Bhismadeva wanted to see Krishna angry, he knew that Krishna was
very kind upon him, but to make a front he displayed a chivalrous mood,
pretending to kill Arjuna, although he knew it very well that no power in
the world could kill Arjuna while he was shielded by Krishna Himself as his
charioteer. Yet he tried to agitate the mind of Krishna, but Arjuna he
almost killed. Actually, Krishna thought it that Bhismadeva was to see Him
in His angry mood and supposed to be broken in His promise, to fulfill the
desire of Bhismadeva. He got down from the chariot and took a wheel of the
chariot, going forward as if to kill Bhismadeva. Bhismadeva, as soon as
found Krishna in that angry mood, he gave up his fighting weapons and
prepared himself for being killed by Krishna. This attitude of Krishna
pleased Bhismadeva very much, and at the time of his death he recalled back
the angry feature of Krishna. He was a military man so he was pleased to see
Krishna in military spirit, as much as the Gopis wanted to see Krishna as
the most beautiful lover. There is no difference between the attitude of the
gopis and Bhismadeva in the matter of exchanging transcendental mellows
between God and His devotee. Krishna can be loved in any feature and because
he is absolute there is no difference to love Krishna as a military man or
as a simple Gopi.
During the day the two sides would battle, and at night they would visit one
another's camps, just like friends, talking and eating together. Bhisma was
accused of not trying hard enough to kill the Pandavas, due to affection for
them. So, he said, tomorrow I will kill all five brothers, and these five
special arrows I shall kill them with. For safekeeping Bhismadeva gave the
five arrows to Duryodhana, who had accused Bhisma of too much affection for
the Pandavas. Formerly, Duryodhana had made promise to Arjuna that he could
someday ask for some favor, so Krishna, knowing all these things, sent
Arjuna to Duryodhana for asking favor of giving the arrows to Arjuna. So as
the promise was made, Duryodhana gave Arjuna the arrows, that night. Next
day, Bhisma knew it was Krishna who arranged all this, and so he told
Duryodhana, today it will be either Arjuna or I, but one of us will die. And
so he fought very hard to kill Arjuna, but with Krishna as Protector, no one
in world could kill Arjuna. Krishna's body was pierced, here and there, all
over as you like. As military man, Bhisma had no right to shoot the chariot
driver, but he knew Krishna's body is not material, and will not be harmed,
so he took pleasure in piercing the body of the Lord. Bhismadeva became so
pierced with arrows that he laid down and with the arrows all standing on
end, all over stuck through his body. Yes, Lord Brahma and Lord Siva came
and were there in the sky with many demigods, and throwing flowers.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Letter to: Jadurani — San Francisco 29 December,
1967
How every son should think
When He [Caitanya Mahaprabhu] took sannyasa and the mother came… Advaita
Prabhu arranged to see for the last time her son. Because a sannyasi is no
more coming home. So at that time, mother became overwhelmed: "Such
beautiful body. He has nice hair. Now it is shaven." So she became very much
overwhelmed and was crying. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu immediately fell down on
her lotus feet and He said, "My dear mother, this body is yours. My dear
mother, this body is yours. This body should have been engaged for your
service, but some way or other, I mistake, I have taken this sannyasi.
Kindly excuse Me." Caitanya Mahaprabhu said that "This body belongs to you.
This is your body." Every son should think like that. This is Vedic culture.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 1.36 — London, July 26, 1973
Prabhu arranged to see for the last time her son. Because a sannyasi is no
more coming home. So at that time, mother became overwhelmed: "Such
beautiful body. He has nice hair. Now it is shaven." So she became very much
overwhelmed and was crying. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu immediately fell down on
her lotus feet and He said, "My dear mother, this body is yours. My dear
mother, this body is yours. This body should have been engaged for your
service, but some way or other, I mistake, I have taken this sannyasi.
Kindly excuse Me." Caitanya Mahaprabhu said that "This body belongs to you.
This is your body." Every son should think like that. This is Vedic culture.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 1.36 — London, July 26, 1973
January 29, 2012
Is Srila Prabhupada Infallible?
Question:
Almost every follower of Srila Prabhupada accepts his statements as infallible like Vedic injunctions. However, we find grammatical and sometimes, even factual errors in his presentations (e.g. in a lecture, he says that Maharaj Dasaratha had two wives). Indeed there are plenty of errors in the original manuscripts of his books. Many of his conclusions on specialized fields are not in line with those of the experts. Since we accept him as a perfect authority on pure devotional service as well as on other ordinary subjects (like cooking, health, Sanskrit, psychology, anatomy, politics, economics, etc.), how can we resolve this apparent contradiction?
Download Is Srila Prabhupada Infallible?
Almost every follower of Srila Prabhupada accepts his statements as infallible like Vedic injunctions. However, we find grammatical and sometimes, even factual errors in his presentations (e.g. in a lecture, he says that Maharaj Dasaratha had two wives). Indeed there are plenty of errors in the original manuscripts of his books. Many of his conclusions on specialized fields are not in line with those of the experts. Since we accept him as a perfect authority on pure devotional service as well as on other ordinary subjects (like cooking, health, Sanskrit, psychology, anatomy, politics, economics, etc.), how can we resolve this apparent contradiction?
Download Is Srila Prabhupada Infallible?
