Bhakti Vikasa Swami's Blog, page 360
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]
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[B]When:[/B] 16 Nov 11[BR]
[B]Language:[/B] English
[CUT]
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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]
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[B]When:[/B] 15 Nov 11[BR]
[B]Language:[/B] English
[CUT]
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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?
well-rounded point of view
Amogha: Usually in modern education they have the idea called "well-rounded
point of view." They want to take some from here, from there, from that one
and that one, that one, and then think about them all, and come up with a
conclusion. So he is thinking it doesn't fit with their pattern of
reasoning, how we take from one source and get the proper conclusion. They
think they have to get from many sources and compare.
Prabhupada: How… I can reply that if you want to know who is your father,
then you will have to take the knowledge from many sources, by votes, that
who is your father?
Dr. Copeland: (laughing) It's not the same thing.
Prabhupada: Now he says, "not the same." You cannot offer reason. You have
to take from one source, from the mother. That's all. You cannot take votes,
"Can you say who is my father?" He will say this… He'll say, "He is your
father." No, it is not the way. The way is to take the information from the
right source, not take the votes of rascals and fools. That is not the way.
One source. Even from scientific point of view, mathematics, "two plus two
equal to four," you have to take from one source. Any mathematician will say
like that. Nobody will say, "No, two plus two equal to five." "No, two plus
two equal to three." Nobody will say. "Two plus two equal to four," everyone
will say. This is not the way of securing knowledge, from here, there…
Caitanya Mahaprabhu did not approve. And our Krsna, He said, imam rajarsayo
viduh, evam parampara-praptam [Bg. 4.2]. That is the recommendation. And
because that source is now missing, therefore it is lost. This process of
knowledge, that we take knowledge from anyone and everyone, his opinion,
what is that?
Not that everyone is in knowledge, but everyone can give his opinion. That
is a different thing.
Dr. Copeland: That was my point, only that. Everybody should have an
opinion.
Prabhupada: Everyone has got his opinion, that is different thing. But not
that everyone has got the knowledge.
Dr. Copeland: Well, that's why we come to you, for knowledge.
Prabhupada: Yes, yes.
Dr. Copeland: But I come to you for knowledge, and then I go to other people
for knowledge too.
Prabhupada: That you go, but if you want real, right knowledge, then you
must approach the man who knows right, not that you find out anyone and
everyone and find out.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Room Conversation with Dr. Copeland, Professor of
Modern Indian History — May 20, 1975, Melbourne
point of view." They want to take some from here, from there, from that one
and that one, that one, and then think about them all, and come up with a
conclusion. So he is thinking it doesn't fit with their pattern of
reasoning, how we take from one source and get the proper conclusion. They
think they have to get from many sources and compare.
Prabhupada: How… I can reply that if you want to know who is your father,
then you will have to take the knowledge from many sources, by votes, that
who is your father?
Dr. Copeland: (laughing) It's not the same thing.
Prabhupada: Now he says, "not the same." You cannot offer reason. You have
to take from one source, from the mother. That's all. You cannot take votes,
"Can you say who is my father?" He will say this… He'll say, "He is your
father." No, it is not the way. The way is to take the information from the
right source, not take the votes of rascals and fools. That is not the way.
One source. Even from scientific point of view, mathematics, "two plus two
equal to four," you have to take from one source. Any mathematician will say
like that. Nobody will say, "No, two plus two equal to five." "No, two plus
two equal to three." Nobody will say. "Two plus two equal to four," everyone
will say. This is not the way of securing knowledge, from here, there…
Caitanya Mahaprabhu did not approve. And our Krsna, He said, imam rajarsayo
viduh, evam parampara-praptam [Bg. 4.2]. That is the recommendation. And
because that source is now missing, therefore it is lost. This process of
knowledge, that we take knowledge from anyone and everyone, his opinion,
what is that?
Not that everyone is in knowledge, but everyone can give his opinion. That
is a different thing.
Dr. Copeland: That was my point, only that. Everybody should have an
opinion.
Prabhupada: Everyone has got his opinion, that is different thing. But not
that everyone has got the knowledge.
Dr. Copeland: Well, that's why we come to you, for knowledge.
Prabhupada: Yes, yes.
Dr. Copeland: But I come to you for knowledge, and then I go to other people
for knowledge too.
Prabhupada: That you go, but if you want real, right knowledge, then you
must approach the man who knows right, not that you find out anyone and
everyone and find out.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Room Conversation with Dr. Copeland, Professor of
Modern Indian History — May 20, 1975, Melbourne
January 28, 2012
seeing by the light of the sun
Seeing in the darkness is not seeing. But seeing by the light of the sun
means to see the sun and everything else which was unseen in the darkness.
That is the way of devotional service.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => SB 1.8.43
means to see the sun and everything else which was unseen in the darkness.
That is the way of devotional service.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => SB 1.8.43
January 27, 2012
Only a brahmacari can understand Gita-govinda
One Sanskrit student asked, "How can a brahmacari be expected to understand
the Gita-govinda, since it deals in so many intricacies of man-woman
relationships and love affairs?"
Srila Prabhupada replied, "Only a brahmacari can understand Gita-govinda,
because it is not about mundane sexuality. It is the highest spiritual
technology of Radha and Krsna."
From Srila Prabhupada-lila, SPL 7-3: A Visit to Boston, 1968, by SDG
the Gita-govinda, since it deals in so many intricacies of man-woman
relationships and love affairs?"
Srila Prabhupada replied, "Only a brahmacari can understand Gita-govinda,
because it is not about mundane sexuality. It is the highest spiritual
technology of Radha and Krsna."
From Srila Prabhupada-lila, SPL 7-3: A Visit to Boston, 1968, by SDG
