from lecture SB 3.7.10 Admit You’re A Servant Of Krsna By Hearing Submissively

•dream world.
some people are living a dream but they want to have a better dream. They’re having a nightmare but they want to have a nice dream but the ancient Vedic texts say we should wake up from our dream and experience real awake blissful life.

•faulty shelter
if we don’t hear about the nice shelter of krsna, if we don’t have a type of faith okitties in the krsnas divine shelter we must take shelter of police, fences, seat belts helmets etc but as long as we put our faith, dependence or trust in these temporary and limited shelters krsna will not reveal himself to us. Just like if I don’t trust you to tell you some inner thing then you probably won’t reveal your self to me either.

today’s class
• Once upon a time only 150 years ago we’d just go to the well and collect the water but now were predicting a war on water and the water from the tap is questionable whether it’s even pure water because it’s got oestrogen from all the contraceptive pills ppl take that goes back into water and which is what was used by hitler to dumb ppl down.

•We used to just through some seeds in the ground and grow some veges and grains but now we forgot that art and science because were too busy trying to manipulate our remotes to Change the channel on the tv.

•We used to just breath but now in some parts of the world at certain times of the day we have to buy some air if we want to breath. So only if your very rich can you breath.

We used to just go to the beach to be refreshed, bathe and have fun with friends, now we go to the movies and watch a 4d film that squirts water at you so you actually feel like your at the beach and of course we gotta pay for that to.
Anger is an advanced stage of frustration and the root of this frustration is that were trying to be god but were not and we we gate the fact that were not god and any one who doesn’t realise your god is a rascal and any one who helps us be god or acknowledges our self acclaimed godhood is very nice.
•Attachment to result and the desire to enjoy ones activities makes its extremely hard just to
Listen
You so agitated thinking about your plans that you don’t live in the moment rather you live in an wishful future.

Mucukunda das

"People work very hard to get the best deal for the best TV in order to watch TV commercials about how to get the best deal for the best TV." – Prahladananda Swami

a quote from a class at 26 2nd Ave excerpted by Atma-Nivedana Das

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 08, 2011

Travel Journal#7.17: Leipzig Ratha-yatra, Radhastami, Berlin Harinamas, Ukraine Festival

Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 7, No. 17
By Krishna-kripa das
(September 2011, part one)
Leipzig Ratha-yatra, Radhastami, Berlin Harinamas, Ukraine Festival
(Sent from Tallahassee, Florida, on November 10, 2011)

Prahladananda Swami:

Maya makes our life seem very difficult, and we seem to have so many problems. Prahlada Maharaja says that there is only one problem, the uncontrolled mind. The mind is also very simple. It is either hankering or lamenting. If we stop focusing on this hankering and lamentation, we can absorb ourselves in the holy name and become happy.

One who is aware that the only shelter is Krishna, can perfect his life.

Kunti did not stay to Krishna, “Every day I chanted my rounds. Every day I followed the rules and regulations. Why are all these things happening to me?” Rather she prayed, “Please give me more troubles for in these troubles I am remembering You.”

People can challenge, “You are crazy because you are depending on Krishna.” And we can challenge back, “You are crazy because you are depending on Maya.”

If we pray to the Supreme Soul, please wake us up at 3:00 a.m., we will find the Supreme Soul is the greatest alarm clock. He can wake the sun up every morning, even if he is tired, and so he can certainly wake us up.

Everything is an instrument of Krishna.

If I understand I am a servant of Krishna, if I pray to Him, I will understand what to do.

Lord Caitanya wanted us to preach to the conditioned souls. Most of our friends and relatives are conditioned souls, so we can have kirtana morning and evening together and discuss Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam with them, and in this way please the Lord.

Giving Srila Prabhupada’s books is the best thing we can do for anyone’s spiritual life.

It is easy to be a pure devotee when everything is going all right. But if someone kicks you in the chest while you are sleeping, it would be difficult not to get angry.

By diksa one becomes gradually disinterested in material enjoyment and gradually attached to spiritual life.

Satisfaction of the self-realized devotee is the secret of success in Krishna consciousness.

By chanting we get the strength to follow the principles.

We are discontinuing the use of of the address http://www.PrahladanandaSwami.net which after December will expire. 

There were two addresses to this one website and now it will only be one. 

from Prabhupada Smaranam, manuscript:

“I remember Prahladananda Swami’s three tips on chanting: (1) Hear the syllables carefully; (2) Have faith you are reciprocating with the Divine Couple; and (3) enjoy the chanting.”

From Krishna-kripa Das’ Blog

Tamal Krishna Goswami: “Just like we can see, one devotee from our society, you know him, Prahladananda Swami. Always blissful. He is always blissful. Why? Because he is always absorbed in remembering the pastimes of Krishna. That’s his sadhana. He has that technique. He memorizes pastimes of Krishna constantly and so he is blissful wherever he goes. Heaven or hell is the same for him. He doesn’t care. That’s a good example. (Srimad Bhagavatam class, Amsterdam October 1990)

Q.

Can you help me to understand this sentence from BG 10.9

In the preliminary stage of devotional service they relish the transcendental pleasure from the service itself, and in the mature stage they are actually situated in love of God. Once situated in that transcendental position, they can relish the highest perfection which is exhibited by the Lord in His abode.

A.

     In the beginning of devotional service there is the purification of
the heart this brings one from the mood of ignorance to passion to goodness.
Gradually, the devotee is freed from sinful reactions and develops godly
qualities which give him satisfaction.

    At the higher stages of devotional service, when one is constantly
under the protection of the internal energy of the Lord, the devotee
experiences transcendental pleasure that is only understand by the liberated
souls situated on the transcendental platform.

I hope you are well.
Your well-wisher,
Prahladananda Swami

Q.

In the Bhagavad Gita Srila Prabhupada purport for 16.16 states.

The demoniac man knows no limit to his desire to acquire money. That is unlimited. He thinks only of how much assessment he has just now and schemes to engage that stock of wealth further and further. For that reason, he does not hesitate to act in any sinful way and so deals in the black market for illegal gratification.

and in the purport it is stated 16.1-3

Saucam means cleanliness, not only in mind and body but in one’s dealings also. It is especially meant for the mercantile people, who should not deal in the black market.

however it is stated in 18.48

Similarly, a merchant, however pious he may be, must sometimes hide his profit to stay in business, or he may sometimes have to do business on the black market. These things are necessary; one cannot avoid them. Similarly, even though a man is a sudra serving a bad master, he has to carry out the order of the master, even though it should not be done. Despite these flaws, one should continue to carry out his prescribed duties, for they are born out of his own nature.

Could you help me to understand the apparent difference between the purport for 18.48 and the purports from Chapter 16 describing a demon and a devotee?  Also can you help me to understand this section of the Bhagavad Gita  (18.41-48)?  In the class that I was giving on these verses I was trying to express why a devotee should not work serving meat.  Yet I have heard that one devotee has told other devotees that the cows in America were all animal slaughters in their previous lives and therefore it is somehow not so bad to be involved serving meat.  My attempt to express that point was to say that everyone has a right to perform their duties per their varna but they must be trained as to what are the do’s and don’t for that varna.  Not that “I have a job and therefore it is my varna and whatever it is, it is fine, just see BG 18.48″

A.

One may be forced out of necessity and circumstances to do something
forbidden.  This does not mean that there will be no reaction for such
activities.  Still, as Srila Prabhupada says one should continue to carry
out his prescribed duties.

Killing any living entity or being involved in such slaughter by working
in a restaurant which is serving meat involves sinful activities and sinful
reactions.  It does not matter why the animal has been slaughter, anyone
involve in such activities will still get reactions.

I hope you are well.
Your well-wisher,
Prahladananda Swami

I showered up (there is a fair bit of dust up there, tucked on top of those awnings) and came back for HH Prahladananda Swami’s class.  He was telling lovely stories of the Prabhupada days and book distribution.  One time he mentioned was when Srila Prabhupada sent him to open a center.  He arrived and found he was living in a park, with a sannyasi and his servant.  All the sannyasi would give them to eat was two chapatis (and some apple chutney).  They would cook chapatis all day and distribute them to hippies and then be rewarded at the end with only two.  Finally he was asked to join the Radha Damodara party instead and had to leave this other arrangement.  He made his way, with no money, to the town that the party was located.  He had no idea where they were and had to search them out.  Finally, when he found them, they gave him some prasadam.  He was a little confused when they gave him six chapatis and instructed him to eat them all, as he was conditioned to think that everyone in ISKCON must only be eating two chapatis (with some apple chutney).  Naturally he ate all the chapatis up, hungry from travelling and felt the mercy from Krsna in a new fashion.

From Leading To Gaura Purnima and Sankirtana Saturday by MESSAGES FROM MADD MONK

from this lecture - Book Distribution Lecture – BG 18.68-69 – Not Krishna’s Vacation, No He Comes To Enlighten 3-18-2011

Maharaja continued: "When I first started distributing books in 1968, we didn’t have any techniques, so we would just pray to Krsna. People would come out of nowhere and give donations, and we would give them books.

"Once I was distributing in Dallas, which is a very difficult place to distribute in. On this day I didn’t want to go out; my mind was giving me so much trouble because I was going out by myself. But I forced myself to go out. When I got to the spot, everyone seemed like they had come from Vaikuntha. I didn’t know what had happened. It was such a pleasant experience. Not only did they look like they came from Vaikuntha, but they acted like it. Practically everyone I approached took a BTG and gave a donation. I could understand that it was a reciprocation from Krsna because I had surrendered to going out even though I didn’t want to. Krsna was showing me that He was pleased by some determination despite my mind giving me so much trouble. So we have to somehow engage in this activity that is so pleasing to Krsna even though our mind may not be interested."

from www.bdsnews.net

Now that we have gone through the principles we might ask, “Is there only one type of institution that can teach these principles?” If we look at the school where Krishna and Balaram attended, it was an asrama school. They were away from the village. Do you remember what they learnt from their asrama school? Sixty four arts! Anybody can name some of them? The art of playing on an x-shaped drum, like Lord Siva’s drum! The art of knowing what is in your hand that you can’t see. [Member of audience, HH Prahladananda Swami responded with these two] He has the whole Krishna book memorized. [Reference to HH Prahladananda Swami.]

We were once in Russia. At our preaching program we were all taking prasadam. Prahladananda Swami said, “Would you like to hear Krishna book?” I thought he was going to pull out a book. He started reciting the whole chapter.

February 28th, 2011
Topic: Dhruva Maharaja Goes Back To Godhead
SB 4. 12. 23
Speaker: HG Urmila Mataji

ISKCON Mayapur

to read the whole transcription of Mother Urmila’s lecture see here.

Four dedicated devotees took the vow of sannyasa—renounced, traveling celibate monks—in 2010, bringing the number of ISKCON sannyasis up to eighty-four.

Devamrita Dasa, Makhanlal Dasa, and Siddharta Dasa, all based in India, became Bhakti Rasamrita Swami, Bhakti Madhurya Govinda Swami and Sidharta Swami, while Nitai Chaitanya Goswami, based in Russia, became Nitai Chaitanya Goswami.

They follow Yadunandana Dasa, principal of Bhaktivedanta College in Radhadesh, Belgium, and Bhakti Vinoda Swami from India, who both took sannyasa in 2009.

Sannyasa Minister Prahladananda Swami, who has been a sannyasi for twenty-eight years, says that each of the new sannyasis were especially qualified candidates.

“Bhakti Rasamrita Swami is a detached and learned devotee who has been engaged in serious preaching and service over many years, and Siddharta Swami is a serious devotee who has done pioneering and preaching work in India,” he explains. “Meanwhile, Nitai Caitanya Swami is a compassionate devotee who is traveling extensively in Russia and helping to organize the preaching there, and Bhakti Madhurya Govinda Swami is a very senior Srila Prabhupada disciple who has been dedicated through his devotional life to preaching and is serving currently in India.”

Recently, one of the four new sannyasis, Bhakti Rasamrita Swami, spoke to ISKCON News about the experience of receiving sannyasa initiation and what it’s like to be a sannyasi.

The Mumbai-born former ISKCON Vrindavana temple president was a rare exception to the several year waiting process the GBC Sannyasa Ministry currently imposes, applying for sannyasa in October 2009 and being awarded it in March 2010 due to strong endorsements from many senior devotees around the world.

“I was given sannyasa initiation by my guru Radhanath Swami on March 24th 2010—Lord Rama’s Appearance Day—at the Sri Sri Radha-Gopinatha Mandir in Chowpatty, Mumbai,” he says. “I was blessed to have over a thousand devotees from various places present at the ceremony, including several senior devotees.”

He explains that he first went to take the customary bath at the holy Banganga pond near Chowpatty, where, it is said, Lord Rama once drew the holy waters of the Ganga by shooting an arrow into the earth.

“Then I returned to the temple, where Bhakti Vidya Purna Swami, who later performed the fire sacrifice, prepared me for the ceremony,” says the former Devamrita Dasa. “I went into a room to change into my sannyasa robes, and when I returned, Radhanath Swami whispered the sacred sannyasa mantra into my ear, before announcing, “Your name will now be Bhakti Rasamrita Swami.”

Currently based in Belgaum in Karnataka State, India, where he oversees a temple and a farm project, Bhakti Rasamrita Swami says he took sannyasa to facilitate his preaching, and because he was urged to do so by several senior devotees.

He obviously understands the increased spiritual responsibilities of sannyasa, as well as the expectations of perfection that can come with the post. But he remains humble and no frills. After all, sannyasis are just people too—people who have taken on a lot of responsibility and an increased dedication to the spiritual path—but people nonetheless.

“There is more respect, and there are very high expectations from devotees,” he says of being a sannyasi. “It’s difficult to satisfy the demands of the devotee community. I’m trying to do my best with that. Apart from that, life remains much the same as before.”

Most challenging for Bhakti Rasamrita Swami is trying to fulfill the requests of devotees all over the world to visit and preach in their area, on top of his existing responsibilities. Apart from overseeing his farm project in Belgaum, he spends a lot of his time giving classes and meeting with devotees, helps with the development of communities and brahmachari ashrams, and has initiated a project to help ISKCON temples in India become eco-friendly. He is also working on a two-year course for new brahmacaris (celibate students)—which can be adapted to suit the needs of other devotees. And he’s developing new materials to be used in outreach efforts.

So life is busy. And maintaining good health amidst so much activity and traveling can be difficult.

“But there have been many positive experiences since taking sannyasa too,” he says, “Especially pertaining to increased opportunities for preaching, as well as reciprocation from devotees.”

Considering the high amount of stress and the stellar expectations inflicted on sannyasis, it’s important that sannyasa candidates are extremely qualified and genuinely dedicated to the service of the Lord for this post highly respected in Vaishnava culture. Since in the past, many devotees who have accepted the role of sannyasa have had difficulty maintaining their vows—creating controversy and scandal—ISKCON responded by developing a system that better ensures the maturity and qualification of candidates.

“Our assessment of a sannyasa candidate is an elaborate process that has become more rounded with various evaluations—personal, as well as from peers, subordinates and superiors,” says Sannyasa Minister Prahladananda Swami.

New candidates are sysemtatically assessed by the GBC Ministry for Sannyasa Services every year at the GBC General Meeting in Mayapur, and recommendations are given to the GBC Body.

Every candidate must have a sponsor, usually a senior devotee in their location. The sponsor must hand in an initial report of the candidate’s qualifications according to the GBC Rules of Order, "The Qualifications for Sannyasa."

The candidates must then fill in a thorough application form which includes age, marital status, a devotional career resume, a letter explaining their reasons for wanting to take sannyasa, information about any criminal record, and information about their opinions on certain controversial subjects.

It is held in high importance that sannyasa be taken responsibly. For instance, if a candidate was previously married, they must provide legal separation or divorce papers, explain how their former wife and children are currently maintained, and even include a written statement by their wife that she is in agreement that her former husband is taking sannyasa.

They must also sign an oath of loyalty to ISKCON, and give names of ten senior devotees who will vouch for their qualification to accept sannyasa and five others whom they can trust to act as their mentors.

They must also pass scriptural tests—passing the Bhakti Sastri exam is a minimum qualification for sannyasa application.

After all this, if the candidate is accepted, they don’t take sannyasa immediately, but go on a waiting list according to their age—at forty-five, the wait is three years, at forty, it’s four years, and at thirty-five, five years.

Once they do take sannyasa, their sponsor must send in annual reports on them, as well as making sure that any discrepancies on their conduct, behavior or attitude are rectified. Each year, the new sannyasis themselves must also submit reports on their preaching, devotional practices, and finances.

All this ensures that the sannyasa ashram is protected and thrives within ISKCON. And Prahladananda Swami feels that this is a very important thing.

“Good sannyasis give our society good examples of dedicated and detached service to Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s sankirtan movement,” he says.
And so as we go forward into 2011, we welcome these four new sannyasis, and future qualified renunciants approved by the GBC.
Meanwhile, the sannyasis themselves keep their sights trained on the essence of their new post.

“I just hope that I continue to be a humble instrument of this mission for the pleasure of the Lord, our disciplic succession, and all the Vaishnavas,” says Bhakti Rasamrita Swami.

Thursday 31st, January 2009.
I awoke. It was the final day of the year so there was some means to celebrate, at least sentimentally. Prahladananda Swami gave a brilliant class. It was so witty and impacting that, at the end, everyone was speechless. The sweetness only continued when, after class, Mahavana gave me some honey coconut balls (one of my favourite).

Travel Journal#6.12a: Brahmacari Convention

Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 6, No.12a
By Krishna-kripa das
(June 2010, part two, section one)

Brahmacari Convention

(Sent from Opatija, Croatia, on July 27, 2010)

Prahladananda Swami:

At one point, I realized that the purpose of life was to come to higher stage of awareness.

I would go three times a week to argue with the devotees because I was convinced that hatha-yoga was the way to attain perfection.

Some of my friends joined Srila Prabhupada in 1966 when they heard about it in the Village Voice, but I never took it seriously.

The Buffalo temple was in an abandoned railway shack. In the beginning they did not have Bhagavad-gita but just a copy of the translation of Radhakrishnan’s verse 2.13. So three times a week I heard Bhurijana Prabhu explain about how we are not the body. I wondered if this was all there was to the philosophy. Then one day, I heard I was not the body, and I thought, “How profound! I am not this body!”

Once a friend and I were chanting on a bus, and we noticed everyone on the bus became friendly. We saw my friend’s family and they were arguing when we arrived, but when we chanted they became friendly. I thought, “This chanting is very powerful.” Worrying about what would happen if I stopped chanting, I decided to join the temple.

We just have to listen with perfect attention to attain perfection. That is the essence. Nothing else is required.

To chant with attention, we have to be absorbed in the holy name. Our conviction should carry our intelligence.

I asked Srila Prabhupada if it was alright when I am chanting to remember Krishna book. He replied, “No, you should just chant and hear the holy name. If remembrance of Krishna comes that is nice, but we should not try to artificially remember Krishna while we are chanting.”

Our problem is we think we are great, and the holy name is just some sound vibration.

Krishna may be there, but whether our heart is open to receive Him is another thing.

I can say from my experience that if you chant and hear the holy names, considering they are identical with the Lord, everything will gradually develop.

We cannot break into the spiritual world by our meditation: “Krishna may want me or not, but I am coming.”

Krishna is there. We are just trying to adjust our consciousness so we perceive Him. Just as radio waves are everywhere, but with a radio we can perceive them.

Kamsa was so much absorbed in thinking of the Lord that once when his wives approached him. He raised his sword, and angrily shouted, “Krishna and Balarama, You are dead!” They said, “We are not Krishna and Balarama, we are your wives!”

Our first business is to cry out to Krishna, but not in a complaining mood. We chant in a happy mood, but it is not possible to be completely happy in the material world. Try to get a sense of Krishna’s presence as you chant, and the more Krishna reveals Himself, the more you become happy feeling His presence.

Q: When you chant Hare Krishna, where does the sound come?

A: It comes from Krishna. Krishna is descending.

As long as we desire according to the modes, our consciousness is materially affected, but when we constantly desire according to Krishna, the spiritual master, and the succession of spiritual teachers, we become more conscious of Krishna.

Once I went with Srila Prabhupada to a monastery of monks who meditated on the holy name. Srila Prabhupada gave a lecture on the importance of hearing and chanting the holy name. He did not stress meditation.

At nistha, Krishna’s form spontaneously appears while we chant and is not seen as different from the holy name.

Having a little reverence for the holy name is nice. It is not that reverence is only for those Vaikuntha-vasis, the rejects from Goloka Vrndavana.

When the inspiration for sadhana comes from anything other than a natural attraction to service, it is vaidhi-bhakti.

Causes of deviation [numbered entries in the outline below] and what we can do about them [lettered entries below the numbers]:

1. Seeing women as sense objects.

a. being respectful

b. seeing them as matajis [mothers]

c. understanding we are not enjoyers, Krishna is the enjoyer

d. seeing their beauty as part of Krishna

2. Not making time for sadhana.

a. write down a daily schedule

b. have a devotee check in with you weekly.

3. Not having the desire for spiritual life.

a. associating with those who have a desire.

b. praying for the desire

c. reflection and introspection.

4. Not serious about spiritual life.

a. introspect

5. Lacking knowledge.

a. reading books

b. studying

c. congregational chanting

d. take bhakti-sastri course

e. engaging in the nine items of bhakti

6. No conducive environment.

7. Commit offenses.

a. serving devotees

b. chant

c. care and attention

d. get feedback from seniors

e. ask for feedback.

f . cultivate friendship with other devotees

8. Previous attachments.

a. chant more and more attentively

9. Thinking that you are doing things perfectly.

10. Bad association.

11. Over eating.

I joined the movement in 1968, and the first thing we called that ladies was gopis. Later we addressed them as mataji as Srila Prabhupada recommended and did himself.

Prahladananda Swami:

In one sampradaya they consult the horoscopes at the age of five and determine whether or not the brahmacari will take sannyasa in that life. Often they take sannyasa at the age of eight, and thus theirsannyasa rods are very short. Interestingly enough they have had only one or two cases of fall down in 800 years.

Q: (by Prahladananda Swami): You are a brahmacari guru and sometimes young women want initiation, with less than uttama-bhaktiaspirations. What do you do?

A: (by Krishna Ksetra Prabhu:)This is certainly true. There are even those disciples who announce their intention to marry me, which makes it difficult for them to understand it will not happen and for them to accept me as a guru instead of a husband. If I were a marriage arranger, I could do that service for them, but it is not my nature, so I advise them to find agrhastha to help them find a suitable husband.

Prahladananda Swami:

We have tendencies toward brahmacarya or grhastha life, but beyond that, there is the power of the holy name. If we take shelter of the holy name, whatever asrama one is in, one will be a brahmacari,and if one does not take shelter of the holy name, whatever asramaone is in, one will not be a brahmacari.

—–

sri-narada uvaca

brahmacari guru-kule

vasan danto guror hitam

acaran dasavan nico

gurau sudridha-sauhridah

“Narada Muni said: A student should practice completely controlling his senses. He should be submissive and should have an attitude of firm friendship for the spiritual master. With a great vow, the brahmacari should live at the gurukula, only for the benefit of the guru.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.12.1)

the above excerpts from Krishna-kripa das journal can be read in its entirety on Krishnamonk.blogspot.com

with excerpts from

Bhakti Rasamrita Swami (on devotee relationships)

Bhakti Vijnana Swami (on the subtle body)

Krishna Ksetra Prabhu (on peace of mind)

Bhakti Caru Swami (on just offering this life to Krishna)

Prahladananda Swami (realizations)

Candramauli Swami (on association with women)

Jayadvaita Swami (questions and answers)

Panel Discussion on the Brahmacari Asrama

(With Prahladananda Swami, Yadunandana Swami, Bhakti Rasamrita Swami, Krishna Ksetra Prabhu, and Kripa Moya Prabhu)

Also posted on Brahmacarya.info

On Rama Navami, March 24, 2010, His Holiness Radhanath Swami
awarded sannyasa to HG Devamrita Prabhu.

There are four new ISKCON sannyasis this year:

Devamrita dasa: Bhakti Rasamrita Swami
Nitai Caitanya dasa: Nitai Caitanya Goswami
Makhanlal dasa: Bhakti Madhurya Govinda Swami
Siddharta dasa: Siddharta Swami

     We wish them all success in their preaching and their new ashrama.

Your servant,
Prahladananda Swami

Born from an idea by ISKCON guru Prahladananda Swami, the Convention aims to provide likeminded association and inspiration for brahmacharis, who were once the heart of spiritual life in temples, but are now few and far between.

From Dandavats.com

This year’s seminars:

Loving Relationships by H. H. Bhakti Rasamrita Swami

Going Deeper in Sadhana by H. H. Prahladananda Swami

Developing Intelligence in Spiritual Life by H. H. Bhakti Vijnana Goswami

Shanti, Shanti, Shanti by H. G. Krsna Ksetra Prabhu

Dealings with Women by H. H. Candramauli Swami

Anything Goes: Questions and Answers with H. H. Jayadvaita Swami

Considering Future Options by H. H. Yadunandana Swami (with panelists Krsna Ksetra Prabhu, H. G. Kripamoya Prabhu, and Bhakti Rasamrta Swami)

H. H. Bhakti Charu Swami gave a talk: “Just Give this One Life to Krishna”

H. H. Janananda Goswami helped inspire and facilitated the convention.

Lecture – SB 4.26.25 The Allegory Of The Planets 2010-03-17

Travel Journal#6.9b: Belgium and Holland

Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 6, No. 9b
By Krishna-kripa das
(May 2010, part one, section two)
Belgium and Holland

(Sent from Munich, Germany, on June 1, 2010)

Insights from Lectures

Prahladananda Swami:  SB 04.27.27_Old Age Modern Choice_2010-05-01

“Here we find a glorification of old age. This is rare. Why is this? It is an impetus for spiritual life.

Some say reason comes with old age, but for some, old age comes by itself.

As new devotees we thought we were transcendental, so we did not worry what we ate or how much we ate. Then at age forty, we realized the importance of our body, and we started taking care of our health, and for some, it became a fulltime service.

On the way back from a doctor’s appointment, Srila Prabhupada saw a movie theatre with a film entitled, “Is There Sex After Death?” Srila Prabhupada spoke about it in his morning class. “Tell them they do not have to worry. There is sex in 8,400,000 species of life. If they know that, they would not have to worry.”

Researchers fed rats a breakfast cereal to test its nutrition value. The rats, however, ate the box and not the cereal.

People are eating, sleeping, mating, and defending, and in the past, they were eating, sleeping, mating, and defending, and I can predict, as an ISKCON astrologer, that in five billion years, people will be eating, sleeping, mating, and defending.

Srila Prabhupada said, “Do you see that tree?” I said, “Yes.” Srila Prabhupada replied, “Do you see the bird in the tree?” I didn’t, but I took his word for it. He then continued, “The bird knows tomorrow there will be worms to eat, and he has his female bird, so he has no anxiety. He knows everything will be taken care of. Why then are you in anxiety?”

Old age makes us more serious.

Srila Prabhupada said that there is a television in our heart whereby we can see the activities of the spiritual world. But unfortunately it is broken. Our movement is a transcendental TV repair movement.

Q (by Sacinandana Swami): I am intrigued by how Srila Prabhupada says the bird was carefree. I find as I age, I have more anxiety. Tell me about how the devotee is free from anxiety.

A: We are confident that we are going back to Godhead, so for us there is no anxiety. Without that transcendental realization, we can try to be peaceful, but that will not be substantial.”

Lilasuka Prabhu:

Hearing from Srila Prabhupada personally, Prahladananda Swami realized that what Srila Prabhupada spoke and what he wrote in his books is the same.

taken from Krishnamonk.blogspot.com

The following is an email message Balarama Prabhu received from His Holiness Prahladananda Swami regarding Maharaja’s reading program. Balarama Prabhu’s message is quoted by “>”.

================================================

Dear Balaram dasa,
Please accept my greetings and the blessings of Lord Sri Krishna. All
glories to Srila Prabhupada!

> Maharaja, I was emailing you regarding your reading program ,how you study
> Srila Prabhuapada’s books.How many hours a day do you study? How many of
> Prabhupadas books do you study in a year? etc. I am seeking Any
> information that will help me.

Thank you for your letter. My daily reading program is:

10 verses from the Bhagavada Gita. Sanskrit, translation, purport.
Reciting 1 chapter from the BG by memory.
1 chapter from the Nectar of Devotional
10 verses from the SB
1 chapter of the Krishna Book
25 verses from the Caitanya Caritamrta.

> I do not recall if you were mentioning it in one of your classes or if one
> of your disciple’s told me. I would really like to memorize krishna lila
> ,stories in general.So I was just seeking some advice,how to,some tips?

Practice regularly memorizing Krishna lila and review constantly what you
have memorized.

> Also a devotee was saying that reading keeps us philosophically fit in
> krishna consciousness ,why is this important? why is it important to read
> and deeply study Srila Prabhupada’s book’s? Also how do I get a deep
> attraction and taste for reading?

We are trying to see reality through the eyes of the scriptures so we
may perform pure devotional service in Krishna consciousness.

As we become purified, gradually taste and attraction will develop.
When that taste and attraction has not fully developed, we can read and
study to strengthen our intelligence and further our conviction and
practical service to our spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, and Lord
Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s mission.

Hope all is well.

Yours in the service of Srila Prabhupada,
Prahladananda Swami

In a similar letter written to me Maharaja had stated

>.. what is the sequence that a
> devotee should read Srila Prabhupada’s books?  And if you don’t mind, what
> is your reading schedule? Thank you very much.

Generally we start with Bhagavad-gita, then NOD, then Srimad
Bhagavatam, then CC.

My reading schedule:
10 verses from Bhagavad-gita–Translation, Sanskrit, purport
Reciting one chapter of Bhagavad-gita from memory (sanskrit and English)
1 chapter NOD
10 verses SB
1 Chapter Krsna Book
25 verses from CC

+other books if I have time

Hope all is well
Your well-wisher,
Prahladananda Swami

Upon arriving in Melbourne, I went to the New Nandagram farm about 2 hours away and give a yoga seminar with lectures on Krishna consciousness to about 15-20 people.  As Kali-yuga progresses, we can only expect people to become more and more receptive to Krishna consciousness.

Tommorrow, I go to Sydney and to the project at Govinda Valley where I will give lectures to the devotees and teach them some yoga.  This year I passed my certification test for Iyengar yoga.

Yours in the service of Srila Prabhupada,

Prahladananda Swami

Thursday 31st, January 2009.
I awoke. It was the final day of the year so there was some means to celebrate, at least sentimentally. Prahladananda Swami gave a brilliant class. It was so witty and impacting that, at the end, everyone was speechless. The sweetness only continued when, after class, Mahavana gave me some honey coconut balls (one of my favourite)….

to read more click here

I’m preparing for the GBC meetings in Mayapur which go from February 6-17. Eleven devotees sent me requests to become candidates for sannyasa and this alone requires time to go through the procedures so that their candidacy can be reviewed by the Sannyasa Standing Committee in Mayapur.

Plus, as the Chairman of the GBC Appointment Committee and the Guru Services Committee, I have enough service in preparing for the meetings, what to speak during the meetings.

# – Prahladananda Swami –