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Practicing Krishna Consciousness At Home by Padmapani das Posted January 26, 2008
The first and foremost principle of Krishna Consciousness is chanting the Hare Krishna mantra: "Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare"
This mantra is a prayer to the Supreme Lord which means: "O energy of the
Lord (Hare), O all-attractive Lord Krishna, O Supreme Enjoyer (Rama), please
engage me in Your service."
"To prosecute Krishna Consciousness there is no limitation, no material impediment can stop progress of Krishna Consciousness. That is the symptom of spiritual life. Spiritual life doesn't depend on material conditions.
"We have got many instances from the history of devotee's life as Prahlada
Maharaja. He was a small school boy, his father and teachers were all
against God Consciousness. Still he flourished and converted all his class
fellows to be Krishna Conscious in spite of severe trials experimented on
his personal body.
(Srila Prabhupada letter, February 13, 1968) On another occasion, Prabhupada wrote to a young student who was having health problems, and who couldn't attend the official temple programs established by Srila Prabhupada in one of his nearby asramas: "It does not matter that you do not live within our temple, since you say your health does not permit. But you can make your home a temple for Krishna. "First thing is that you should try to follow strictly our regulative principles -- no meat, fish or eggs; no intoxicants, including coffee, tea and cigarettes; no illicit sex; and no gambling. Try also to chant as many times as possible the Hare Krishna mantra on japa beads. You may keep a picture of Lord Krishna in your house and after cooking you may learn to offer the foodstuffs to the picture of Krishna."
(Srila Prabhupada letter, January 27, 1973)
For example, during a lecture at Harvard University in 1969, Srila Prabhupada explained: "You can chant anyway, anywhere. Whether you are in the college, whether you're on the street, whether you are sleeping, lying, or whatever, you can chant. Because God has given you this tongue and you can chant. "Don't think that Krishna is for the Indian or for the Hindus. No. Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna. This Krishna is for everyone. For the human being, for the animals -- everyone. So if you think that Krishna is belonging to some particular country or religion, then you can chant your own way. If in your religion, in your scripture, there is any God's name, you can chant that also. Our only propaganda is that you increase your love of God. And the simple process is to chant this Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. There is no charge for it. There is no loss on your part. There is no inconvenience on your part. At any moment, at any place. There is no restriction. So why don't you take advantage of this great boon to the human society? "In whatever position you are, either you are a student or a lawyer or something else, you can chant Hare Krishna and realize yourself. We don't recommend that you change your position. That is not our recommendation. But if you can be fully devoted in Krishna consciousness, that is very nice." (Srila Prabhupada lecture at Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, December 24, 1969) As a personal example, I can relate a small story in this regard. As a teenager, I was attending an alternative High School in Winnipeg, Canada. At the time, there was no temple in that particular city, but I had heard about "Hare Krishna" through the poetry of Allen Ginsberg (Indian Journals), via the Magical Mystery Tour album by The Beatles, through the Broadway Musical Hair, and by reading about the movement in Rolling Stone magazine and through some Back to Godhead magazines which I had purchased at a local head shop. I was fascinated, but there was no one around who could explain or elucidate upon the subject matter in person. So I started to correspond with the secretary of Krishna Consciousness in Los Angeles. He very kindly took me under his wing, sent me some chanting (japa) beads, a few altar photos and various instructions on how to offer my food and practice Krishna Consciousness at home while I completed my studies at High School. I humbly set up a makeshift altar in my room and regularly offered some food and water to a picture of Lord Krishna -- including acorns, flowers, twigs, leaves and even stones! Eventually I purchased a copy of the early edition of Bhagavad-gita As It Is, and proudly took it to school every day, which soon became my personal Bible (replacing my tattered copies of The Dhammapada and The Egyptian Book of the Dead). In fact, it caught the attention of my High School principal, who requested that I take a walk with him and explain just what in the world I was getting myself into! It seemed pretty weird to him, to say the least. But his interest was piqued, and so began my first awkward and simple preaching attempts. In the beginning he challenged me: "Why not chant 'Coca-cola, Coca cola...' instead of 'Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna...'" Surely the results would be the same he surmised. But I had read some of Srila Prabhupada's books beforehand and therefore came prepared. l replied that in fact the mantra or chanting had to be strictly authorized by Vedic authorities handed down in disciplic sucession from time immemorial to a pure devotee of Krishna. The Vedic mantras were strictly authorized -- like the mailbox on the street which was authorized by the government. It's not that one can just post letters in any old box, but they had to be placed there by the postal system, otherwise the letters would never get to their respective destinatons. Despite my bumbling efforts at explaining the basics of Krishna Conscious philosophy, he seemed rather convinced and requested that I write some essays on the topic. Luckily, my principal was a little impressed to the point where he even tried chanting Hare Krishna himself, and soon granted me permission to leave High School early, so that I could strike out and look for a Hare Krishna temple, since he agreed that it was my true calling in life. Years later, I learned that my favorable principal had died prematurely, but at least I was gratified to know that he had chanted the holy names of Krishna and had graciously sent me on my way to begin a new life of Krishna Consciousness. Additionally, just after leaving High School, word got around town that I was going to join Srila Prabhupada's movement, and lo and behold, my best friend's father (a lawyer) called me on the telephone and said that he needed to see me urgently. I agreed, and he came to my door in haste. "Here," he said, "please take this. I want you to have it because I believe in what you're doing." He handed me a crumpled fifty dollar bill -- a whole lot in those days. Sadly, I heard just a short while later that he had committed suicide. But somehow or other, he gave a donation towards Krishna's service before he departed from this world. The point of relating these stories about my humble beginnings in Krishna Consciousness is to share my tiny experience that once having begun the process of devotional service, Krishna will reciprocate and help clear away the obstacles to one's spiritual progress. So I heartily recommend to all sincere aspirants to begin your Krishna Consciousness without delay. You can start by setting up your own altar with a few pictures of Srila Prabhupada, Lord Caitanya, and Sri Sri Radha-Krishna. Chant Hare Krishna sincerely and regularly, and everything else will follow. Included below are photos of my own simple altar which has accompanied me around the world for more than 30 years. (By Krishna's causeless mercy, Srila Prabhupada's murti at the top of this page also graces my altar.) As I've resided in a number of countries in which there are no temples, this humble altar has been my refuge and protection not only in regular life, but also in some very dangerous situations. Srila Prabhupada has stated: "Anyone can adopt this simple method. There is no expenditure, there is no tax, nor is there any need to build a very big church or temple. Anyone, anywhere, can sit down on the road or beneath a tree and chant the Hare Krishna mantra and worship God." (Srila Prabhupada lecture, London's Conway Hall, November, 1969) So this is how it all began for me. After first hearing the chanting of Hare Krishna from Allen Ginsberg, I would go down to the local river bank every day during lunch break at school and sit beneath a tree and chant the holy names of Krishna. Later, when I purchased the Radha Krishna Temple Album when it first came out on L.P. format (long before CD's and the Internet), I connected with Srila Prabhupada through the chanting of his sincere disciples and the beautiful photo of Prabhupada on the back cover. From then on, I was hooked. Srila Prabhupada changed my life for the better forever -- and he can do the same for you too.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
At Work by Bhaktin Kathe Posted August 13, 2007
Oh, the inner smile All living entities have eternal relationship with Krishna. Krishna (paramatma) is present in everyone's heart and is our best friend, guru, maintainer and protector. All living entities are seeking Him who is so close to us. This manifest in various faiths, religions etc. It is our prime duty and goal to seek or redevelop relationship with paramatma. When we look inwards and seek Him, hear Him or talk with Him, He responds. Everyone has full opportunity to redevelop relationship with paramatma. Our relationship with Krishna is personal and is independent of others. We cannot blame our failure to come closer to Him on others. So, the examples cited by Bhaktin Sara cannot blame temples. Temple is a place where like-minded people can come together and help each other in advancing in bhakti. But if temple does not provide that opportunity, then we should strive our best to come closer to paramatma who is within us. Our relationship with paramatma is not dependent on temples, external rituals or even external consciousness. It is our internal consciousness. For example, a person may be engaged in jap, puja, kirtan etc. He might be even living in the temple. But if his mind is not focussed upon Krishna but thinking of material things, then his activities are failure as stated in following verse.
Sa mohah sa ca vibhramah Yan-muhurtam ksanam vapi Vasudevam na cintayet If even for a moment remembrance of Vasudeva is missed, that is the greatest loss, that is the greatest illusion, and this is the greatest anamoly. (Vishnu Purana) On the contrary, a person who might not be coming to temple or living in temple is a great devotee if he spends most of his time remembering Krishna. Krishna as paramatma will guide him and bring him to continuous remembrance of Krishna in due course of time or births.
yo mam smarati nityasah tasyaham sulabhah partha nitya-yuktasya yoginah For one who always remembers Me without deviation, I am easy to obtain, O son of Prtha, because of his constant engagement in devotional service. (BG 8.14) Padma Purana tells us how to decide what is right or wrong in following verse:
Vismartavyo na jatucit Sarve vidhi nisedhah syur Etayor eva kinkarah Vishnu should always be remembered and never forgotten at any moment. All the rules (actions to be performed) and prohibitions (actions not to be performed) should be the servants of these two principles. (Padma Purana) Bhaktin Sara >>>> I am wondering where to invite new people who want to learn about Krishna in a safe, slow, organic, westernized way - who are not ready for temple life - like a kindergarten classroom where all are welcome to learn the basics, and grow and make mistakes. Any ideas? My suggestion is that our main and prime goal should be to first increase our own remembrance of Krishna as stated in above verse from Padma Purana. We should observe our mind and focus it on Krishna and let go negative thoughts. We should start slowly. For example, first try to remember Krishna while doing easy activities like brushing, taking shower, before going to sleep, before starting driving, before eating etc. Then, try to increase that remembrance more and more. Also, remember Him while doing japa. While we are trying our best to increase our remembrance by constantly observing mind, we should provide others opportunity to remember. For example, one can invite friends to ecstatic kirtans in temple and teach them how to participate in them i.e. do kirtan with remembrance. Help them to start some japa for few minutes with remembrance. Once they take few simple steps towards Krishna, then Krishna will help them as He loves them most. Also, we can ourselves act as guide to others if we are trying our best to remember Krishna as much as we can. If Bhaktin Sara is serious, then she is better teacher than temples because it is very hard to find devotees in temples who truly engage their mind upon Krishna. Generally, they do devotional ritual external but their mind is engrossed on something else than Krishna. So, if you are truly concerned about others, then focus your mind upon Krishna and guide others.
-Gaurav Mittal
The jewel of the Brahmins Nimai Pandit. Brought the Lord's name to all who could hear Renewing their faith abandoning fear. Like fire devouring the wood of a tree The holy name rose giving Vaishnavas ecstacy. As astute scholars with dust in the hearts Saw their dry tree of knowledge break into parts. You came to deliver the most fallen souls Giving Your mercy for free. All are entitled to pure KrsnaPrema With only desire the fee. The method was simple, as still it is Just chant the Lord's name and he who gives, This treasure to others transcends all time, For he has thus rendered a service sublime. Advaita Acharya prayed for You to descend, Because His heart was full of grief. The ways of the world for You to amend. The people had given up their belief. The time had arrived, when You heard His call But as You were ready to go, The love You saw glowing in someone else That's what You wanted to know. You were enchanted by a goddess supreme A love like Her's You'd never seen And when its sweetness entered Your heart Was the secret reason You had to depart. Wishing to know the glory of Her love The qualities in You She savors The happiness She feels from Your love You desired these intimate flavors. You shared this sweet rasa with only a few Though it couldn't stay tightly covered But just as the thorns a camel does chew Tasting his blood and relishing too With no adikar the fools never knew How this most precious love is discovered I am standing in back of a line of great saints Called the disciplic succession This has all been passed down and handed to me And that's how I've taken possession. My guru bestowed his mercy upon me To hear this most confidential truth And Lord Sri Caitanya delivers the fallen
Of this I am living proof.
(sung to the tune Jingle bells)
Krsna bells Krsna bells, Krsna all the way
"My dear Narada
Dearest Prabhupada
The moment you arrived
Now the point is clear
- by Mrgaksi Devi Dasi (my Mata) Kindly pray that on this day of Srila Prabhupada's disappearance the urgent need for us to reach out to each other and to keep sacred the love which Srila Prabhupada shared with all of us will bring us together and give us ever greater solace and hope in our lives. Thank you Srila Prabhupada, Jaya Srila Prabhupada!
- your tiny servant As followers of Srila Prabhupada we all know his prescription to chant a minimum daily quota of 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna mahamantra. This is the minimum standard that he set for his followers and which all ISKCON devotees accept. This standard is actually based on the traditional Gaudiya Vaisnava minimum standard set by Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Of course, that standard is 100,000 names of Krishna daily, roughly equivalent to 64 rounds of Hare Krishna japa, according to Bhaktivinoda Thakura and other acaryas. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta, echoing Lord Caitanya, considered those who could not adhere to this minimum standard to be fallen. ISKCON being a preaching movement and its members largely coming from western backgrounds meant that devotees found it difficult to adopt the traditional minimum standard of 64 rounds when Srila Prabhupada requested his disciples to do so. Therefore out of his causeless mercy Srila Prabhupada reduced the minimum number to a mere 16. The purpose of this essay is not to disparage that decision but instead is meant to enliven those who wish to increase their attachment for the holy names by, on an individual basis, going beyond the minimum standard. "Purity is the force," as Srila Prabhupada taught us. The more we chant the more we purify ourselves. The more pure we are the more effective our preaching will be, and the more any material problems and attachments will disappear. We believe that as more and more devotees increase their chanting, without neglecting other devotional duties, the result will be a stronger and purer ISKCON. Especially, if the leaders take this to heart, we may witness tremendous changes in our preaching efforts. We know of at least one sannyasi that is very supportive of increasing our chanting. He regularly holds japa retreats where he encourages his disciples to chant 64 rounds during special periods as a way to deepen their relationship with Krishna. ISKCON will certainly benefit from such initiatives. After all, as Bhaktivinoda Thakura teaches us, "Name is the means, Name is the end." Nevertheless, a doubt usually arises in the minds of many devotees: Is fixing the minimum number of rounds one chants beyond 16 going against Srila Prabhupada's instructions? Let us read and reflect upon Srila Bhaktisiddhanta's and Srila Prabhupada's words. ***Beginning of Quote*** Sri Caitanya-bhagavata, Antya Khanda 9.121
prabhu bale jana lakshesvara bali kare Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said: "Do you know who is a laksesvara? He is someone who chants one laksa or 100,000 holy names everyday." Purport by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada:
sri gaurasundera balibena jini pratidina laksha-nama grahana karibena, tanharai grihe bhagavan sevita hana Sri Gaurasundera spoke as follows, "The Supreme Personality of Godhead accepts service only in the home of those who chant one hundred thousand names daily."
bhagavan tanharai nikate bhoga-dravyadi grahana karena The Lord accepts foodstuffs and other ingredients only from such personalities.
jini laksha-nama grahana karena na, tahara nikate haite bhagavan naivedya svikara-dvara seva-saubhagya pradana karena na Those who don't chant 100,000 names daily are never awarded the great fortune of rendering service to the Lord by offering Him naivedya (bhoga). This is because the Lord never accepts their offerings.
bhagavad-bhakta matrei pratyaha laksha-nama grahana karibena natuva vividha visaye asakta haiya bhagavad-seva karite asamartha haibena The Lord continued, "Those who consider themselves devotees of the Lord must compulsorily chant 100,000 names of Krishna everyday otherwise they will gradually but surely become attached to varieties of sense-objects and thus become incapable to rendering any kind of service to the Lord."
tajjanyai sri caitanyadevera asrita sakalai nyuna kalpe laksha-nama grahana kariya thakena. natuva gaurasunderera udeshya pradatta naivedya tini grahana karibena na. Therefore all the devotees who have taken shelter of Lord Chaitanyadeva perform the chanting of a minimum of 100,000 names of Krishna daily as their first and primary duty. Because they know that if they don't do so then Lord Gaurasundera will never accept the very bhoga (naivedya) which they cook for Him daily. ***End of Quote*** ***Beginning of Quote*** Sri Caitanya-bhagavata, Antya Khanda 9.122
se janera nama ami bali lakshesvara Lord Gauranga continued, "I call such a person a laksheshvara. I only accept meals in such a person's house. I never go anywhere else." Purport by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada:
sri caitanya bhaktagana abhaktera sahita sambhashana karena na. jini bhaktivyatita karma, jnana o anyabhilashara kathaya pradatta tahara sahita bandhutva karibe na. The devotees of Lord Sri Caitanya never talk with such non-devotees. They never do friendship with those who are engaged in the cultivation of karma, jnana or other desires which are devoid of bhakti.
pratyah laksha-nama grahana na karile patita vyaktiganera visaya-bhoga Those who don't accept this vow of chanting 100,000 names daily, fall down even more although they were fallen in the first place. Thus their propensity for enjoying the senses and sense-objects continually and steadily increases and ultimately they are not able to render any kind of service even to the most merciful Lord Gaurasundera.
lakshesvara vyatita gaura-bhaktira adarsa gaudiyajana kehai svikara karena na This is the precise reason why the real Gaudiya-bhaktas do not accept any other ideal in Gaura-bhakti except the process of chanting 100,000 names of the mahamantra daily.
adhapatita va adhapete gana eka-matra bhajana-sabda-vacya sri-nama-bhajane vimukhata-vasata laksha-nama grahana karibara parivarte anya bhajanera chalana korena, taddvara tahadera kona mangala haya na. Those spiritual aspirants who are already fallen or will fall down from spiritual life in the future are averse to this sole means of deliverance called nama-bhajana, which is the worship of the sound incarnation of God in the form of chanting 100,000 names of the Holy Names daily. Coming under the sway of their averseness to chant laksha-nama daily, they duplicitously invent other means of devotional service to justify their not chanting 100,000 names daily but it is to be clearly understood that by this action they will not achieve anything auspicious in their spiritual life. ***End of Quote*** ***Beginning of Quote*** Instruction of Caitanya Mahaprabhu in Caitanya-bhagavata, Madhya Khanda 23.77
prabhu bole kahilan ei maha-mantra Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "Please hear this Hare Krishna mahamantra. Everyone please chant this mahamantra daily in nirbandha. Then you will surely achieve all perfection." (Note: This is the meaning of 'nirbandha' applied to the mahamantra by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura in Hari-nama-cintamani.)
caribara mala phirile eka grantha haya. eka grantha niyama kariya kramasah 4 malas (rounds) is equal to 1 grantha 16 granthas is equal to 1 nirbandha 1 nirbandha of the mahamantra is equal to 100,000 names of the Lord (Note: 16 granthas is equal to 64 rounds of the mahamantra.) ***End of Quote*** Now, you may ask, but Srila Prabhupada instructed us to only chant 16 rounds. Why should we change that standard? Actually, we are not asking to change the institutional standard from 16 to 64 rounds. Our suggestion is simply that, on an individual basis, devotees should consider increasing their minimum daily vow of 16 to a higher number of rounds. At the very least we can avoid criticizing or belittling those who are attached to chanting more than 16 rounds. In fact, it is inspiring and refreshing to know that there are some devotees in ISKCON already chanting at least 64 rounds daily. The following quotes from Srila Prabhupada seem to fully support our position of raising the minimum of rounds from 16 to 64 on a voluntary basis. ***Beginning of Quote*** Morning Walk, May 14, 1975, Perth: Devotee (1): Srila Prabhupada, how can the position be reconciled if in Krishna consciousness one of the two, the husband or the wife, wants to enjoy sense gratification, but the other does not? Should there be separation then? Prabhupada: No... They should be trained up. Sense enjoyment means not advanced in Krishna consciousness. As soon as one is advancing in Krishna consciousness, his sense enjoyment spirit will be reduced. That is the test. Bhaktih pareshanubhavo viraktir anyatra ca [SB 11.2.42]. The test is, how you are advancing in Krishna consciousness is the proportionate diminishing of sense enjoyment. That is the test. Just like cure of the disease means diminishing the fever, temperature. This is the test. Devotee (1): What if that (material) fever is not being diminished? Prabhupada: Then he should try to chant Hare Krishna mantra, instead of sixteen rounds, sixty-four rounds. That is the way. Sixteen rounds is the minimum. Otherwise Haridasa Thakura was 300,000. So you have to increase. That is the only remedy. If one has got determination, he will make progress without any trouble. That determination is very difficult, that determination, "I must be Krishna conscious fully." That determination. Dridha-vratah. ***End of Quote*** Srila Prabhupada kindly left us the "only remedy" to reduce the spirit of sense enjoyment, which is the cause of falldowns and other problems. He says that we must have determination and increase the number of rounds to 64 daily to be able to lower the fever of lust and cure the material disease, the worst enemies in the development of our devotional service. ***Beginning of Quote*** Letter to: Indira (Iris Mendoza), Ekayani (Esther Mendoza), San Francisco, 17 December, 1967 I am very glad to learn you are chanting 48 rounds. Actually it is all right that one should chant 64 rounds, even 16 rounds, so if one is able to chant more than 16 rounds up to 64, it is very good. You fix up your rounds. Try to increase it but never decrease it. ***End of Quote*** Srila Prabhupada is encouraging his disciples to chant more rounds. However, it should be done wisely and seriously. The key is that once you resolve to fix the number of rounds you must never decrease it. ***Beginning of Quote*** Letter to: Hamsaduta, Hawaii, 23 March, 1969 Yes, it is very good if you can chant 64 rounds; this is very nice if you can do it. ***End of Quote*** Srila Prabhupada again approves of chanting more rounds provided that the devotee can do it. Notice the conditional statement: If you can chant 64 rounds, then it is very good. If you cannot, then we cannot conclude anything from this statement: it might or might not be good. But the point is that if one can do it, then that would be "very nice" in the eyes of Srila Prabhupada. ***Beginning of Quote*** Letter to: Bhaktijana, Los Angeles, 12/2/1968: I shall advise you again to chant always, increasing the counting, namely, 16 rounds is generally prescribed, but for the time being you can stop all other activities and increase the chanting to 64 rounds. ***End of Quote*** ***Beginning of Quote*** Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.24.70 purport: That is the instruction given by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu in His Shikshashtaka 3. Kirtaniyah sada harih: [Cc. Adi 17.31 ] "The holy name of the Lord should be chanted twenty-four hours daily." Therefore in this Krishna consciousness movement we request the devotees to chant at least sixteen rounds on their beads daily. Actually one has to chant twenty-four hours daily, just like Thakura Haridasa, who was chanting the Hare Krishna mantra three hundred thousand times daily. Indeed, he had no other business. ***End of Quote*** Notice that Srila Prabhupada says to chant at least 16 rounds. He has no objection to raising the minimum, as will be further shown by the following quotes. ***Beginning of Quote*** Sri Caitanya-caritamrita Antya-lila 3.137 purport: Surrender is the ultimate instruction of the Bhagavad-gita, but for one who cannot surrender to the lotus feet of Krishna, it is better to chant the Hare Krishna mantra constantly, under the instruction of Haridasa Thakura. In our Krishna consciousness movement we are teaching our followers to chant the Hare Krishna mantra continuously on beads. Even those who are not accustomed to this practice are advised to chant at least sixteen rounds on their beads so that they may be trained.[...] Sada means "always." Haridasa Thakura says, nirantara nama lao: "Chant the Hare Krishna mantra without stopping." [...] One's real duty is to surrender to the lotus feet of Krishna, but if one is unable to do so, he should adopt this process, as introduced by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His most confidential servant, Namacarya Srila Haridasa Thakura. This is the way to achieve success in Krishna consciousness. ***End of Quote*** ***Beginning of Quote*** The Nectar of Devotion, Vrindavana, 20/10/1972: Just like we have asked our students to finish sixteen rounds chanting minimum. Sixteen rounds is nothing. In Vrindavana there are many devotees, they chant 120 rounds. Like that. So sixteen rounds is the minimum. Because I know in the Western countries it is difficult job to finish 64 rounds or 120 rounds, like that. Minimum sixteen rounds. That must be finished. ***End of Quote*** ***Beginning of Quote*** Letter to Purusottama, Mumbai, 23/10/1973: Because we have got many duties, [text missing] ...ve minimized the amount to 16 rounds, otherwise [text missing] ...minimum is 64 rounds, but Western people cannot [text missing] ...this. So 16 rounds must be executed. ***End of Quote*** ***Beginning of Quote*** Nectar of Instruction, Verse 5, purport: The Krishna consciousness movement prescribes sixteen rounds daily because people in the Western countries cannot concentrate for long periods while chanting on beads. Therefore the minimum number of rounds is prescribed. However, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura used to say that unless one chants at least sixty-four rounds of japa, he is considered fallen. According to his calculation, practically every one of us is fallen, but because we are trying to serve the Supreme Lord with all seriousness and without duplicity, we can expect the mercy of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who is famous as patita-pavana, the deliverer of the fallen. ***End of Quote*** ***Beginning of Quote*** Srila Prabhupada on a Morning Walk, November 10, 1975, Bombay: Lokanatha: Prabhupada, why we have chosen this sixteen as a number to chant the rounds? Prabhupada: Yes. Lokanatha: Why not less or more? Prabhupada: We have fixed up sixteen? Lokanatha: We are chanting sixteen. Prabhupada: No. We say "Minimum sixteen." Minimum. Lokanatha: Why that sixteen minimum? Prabhupada: If you can, sixteen thousand you can go. Sixteen rounds is the minimum. But if you are able to chant sixteen thousand rounds, that is welcome. We have got so much engagement. Still, we say, "We don't find engagement." This is our misfortune. Hare Krishna. Jaya. Haridasa Thakura was engaged in chanting and the prostitute came. She offered, "Let us enjoy." "Yes, let me finish. Let me finish this chanting." So much engagement, and still, we say, "No engagement." He refused to have sex with a beautiful young girl because he had engagement. "First of all let me finish my engagement," and we say we have no engagement. How unfortunate we are. [break] ...says, kirtaniyah sada harih [Cc. Adi 17.31]. Twenty-four-hours engagement He has given, and we see there is no engagement. Lokanatha: Some devotees have fixed different number than sixteen. Some are chanting twenty minimum or twenty-five. Prabhupada: Yes. It should be increased. Lokanatha: Is it recommended for our... Prabhupada: But don't decrease. Don't decrease; increase. Therefore one number is fixed. "At least this much I shall do." That is sixteen rounds. Lokanatha: But you are recommending sixteen as a minimum, and some devotees are choosing twenty as a minimum. Prabhupada: So who forbids? Who says that "Don't do it"? Lokanatha: They can chant? Prabhupada: Yes. That is wanted. But because you cannot do it, therefore we have fixed up this minimum. Sankhyata asankhyata Sankhyata means with vow, numerical strength. And asankhyata means there is no limit. [break] Yasomatinandana: ...are higher than any other activities or they are on the same platform? Any activities in Krishna consciousness... Is chanting the most exalted or...? Prabhupada: Everything is exalted. Therefore there are nine processes. sravanam kirtanam visnoh smaranam pada-sevanam, arcanam vandanam dasyam [SB 7.5.23], so many. They are all exalted. Yasomatinandana: So why is it recommended, chanting in this age particularly? Prabhupada: Suppose if you have no temple, so you cannot perform arcana. So this is common, greatest common. It is not that because you have no temple, therefore your devotional service is stopped. There are other processes. You can do. Hare Krishna. Jaya. Lokanatha: Prabhupada? If we chant more than sixteen rounds, so how can we know whether we are imitating Haridasa Thakura or following his footsteps? Prabhupada: Imitation is also good. If you imitate Haridasa Thakura, that is also your great fortune, even if you imitate. [break] imitating, it does not mean you are condemned. Even if you imitate, that is also good. [break] If you have some other business and if you say, "Now I am imitating Haridasa Thakura, I cannot do it," that is very bad. "I am busy in imitating Haridasa Thakura." That is not good. That is very bad. [break] Brahmananda: If the devotees are asked for service they say, "Oh, I have to chant." Prabhupada: "I am imitating." Yes. "I am imitating Haridasa. This is my first business." That is very bad. ***End of Quote*** Therefore the attitude is of the essence. These exchanges suggest that if we are sincere about increasing our chanting then that is our "great fortune," but if we just want to make an appearance of being a "big" devotee who has to chant rather than do service or preach, then that is "very bad." The key is to fill our lives with Krishna consciousness and Krishna conscious activities by always remembering Lord Krishna and never forgetting Him. Chanting 32, 48, 64 or more rounds is an ideal way of accomplishing this goal. We would suggest that devotees who want to increase their attachment to chanting not engage in making a show by broadcasting their increased practice. However, they should seek the association of like-minded devotees to gain strength in following their increased minimum daily vow. As far as possible, we should not let the false ego get in the way of our sadhana, either by making a show of increased devotion or by having a condescending attitude toward those who are unable, for whatever reason, to increase their own chanting. Strictly following in our own private way and enthusiastically encouraging others to increase their attachment also, will lead to our quick advancement towards the goal of life, Krishna-prema. So, why don't we chant (at least) one more round?
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
For Vasudeva datta prabhu,
A wasp-nest in your garden and a small child
Your child will be charmed that no matter what
The above facts are confidential but known in Vaisnava spiritual circles.
All glories to Srila Patita Pavana Prabhupada without whose causeless mercy
we would not be privy to most sublime absolute truth.
An early offering for Radhastami. Srimati Radharani, the tenderhearted, feminine counterpart of Godhead, is that one person in all of existence who knows best how to express love for Krsna. She is the supreme container of love for Him, and, as such, She is known as the asraya category. Moreover, it is She who, like a mother, nurtures us in our devotional service. Krsna, the object of Her love, comes once in a day of Brahma to display and enjoy His pastime mellows. Afterward, however, Krsna was left with three unfulfilled desires, and to fulfill those inner longings is the paramount reason for His return as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Srimati Radhika is the unique, munificent cause of those unfulfilled desires of Krsna. In this way Vrishabhanu-nandini is establishing the greatest welfare for Him........and for all His uncountable jivas. In order to recognize those desires, we remind ourselves that transcendental ecstatic bliss is called bhava. When bhava becomes condensed, it is called mahabhava. Srimati Radharani is highly concentrated ecstatic bliss, mahabhava, in person. Krsna, of course, is also tasting bliss. Indeed, He tastes the bliss to which He is entitled as the object of Her love. However, He is noticing that the abode of love, Srimati Radharani, the asraya category, is tasting bliss ten million times greater than His! Radharani was feeling more transcendental pleasure in the company of Krsna than He could understand, and He wanted to experience those blissful emotions for Himself. However, for Sri Krsna to enjoy in the position of Srimati Radharani was impossible, because that position is completely foreign to Him. Krsna is the transcendental male, the masculine counterpart of Godhead. Radharani is the transcendental female, the feminine counterpart of Godhead. As a result, Krsna cannot fulfill His desire unless He Himself actually takes up the position of that Asraya category. Therefore, in order to experience the blissful emotions of Srimati Radharani, and feel the pleasure of the asraya category, Lord Krsna appeared as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Now, in addition, there is a continuous competition between Srimati Radharani and Lord Krsna to see who can most increase the intensity of the love which they have between them. She increases, He increases, She increases...there's no end to it. Neither of them wants to be defeated while increasing the intensity of Their love. Similarly, the beauty of Lord Krsna increases when He sees the beauty of the milkmaids. Concomitantly, the more the milkmaids see Lord Krsna's beauty, the more their beauty increases. In this way a competition takes place between them in which no one acknowledges defeat. Now, Krsna becomes curious. He can understand this loving competition from His own angle of vision, but He does not understand what's going on in the mind of Srimati Radharani. He gets a desire to understand what it is like to be on the other side of this loving competition, and to understand this loving exchange from Her angle of vision. He becomes very curious about the mental activities of Srimati Radharani and Her attitude of ever-increasing love for Him. Now, for Lord Krsna, it is not such a difficult thing to study the mental attitudes of Srimati Radhika, because Her mental attitudes are out there walking around in saris. Srimati Radharani expands Her mental attitudes as Her gopi girlfriends, all of whose activities are concentrated on the pastimes of Krsna. As expansions of Her personal form and transcendental disposition, they are agents of different loving reciprocations in Krsna's pastimes. Therefore, Srimati Radharani and Her maidservants decide to help Krsna by setting up a school for Him at Radha Kunda. Radha is the Chancellor of this incomparable school, while Lalita and Visaka are the principal department heads. It is with their help that the only student, Lord Krsna, is then able to study with all those sakhis who are the personified mental activities of Srimati Radhika. When the study course is finished, it is then time for Krsna to take His final exam, which is administered by Srimati Lalita Devi. Krsna passes the exam. However, Lalita informs Him that this diligent academic learning is not enough. If He really wants to fully appreciate Radha's mental attitudes, then practical experience will also be required. Again, this experience is not possible unless He actually takes up the position of the Asraya category. Radharani's attraction for Krsna is sublime, and to experience that attraction and understand the transcendental sweetness of Himself, He must personally accept Her mentality. Consequently, in order to fully appreciate the mental activities of Srimati Radhika, He comes as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Krsna is the personification of conjugal beauty. At one point, in Dwaraka, He sees the beauty of His own reflection in a jewelled fountain. At that time He says, "My mind, bewildered upon seeing this beauty, impetuously wants to enjoy it in the same way that Srimati Radharani enjoys it." Lord Krsna's beauty attracts Lord Krsna Himself. However, because He cannot fully enjoy it, His mind remains full of sorrow. Therefore, in order to relish His beauty the way that She does, He takes up the position of the Asraya category, accepting the emotions and bodily luster of Srimati Radharani, and comes as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Thus, the primary cause for Krsna's descent as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was to taste the above three moods of Srimati Radhika, which only She could taste. He therefore borrowed Her internal mood and beauty, and became tadatma with Her. By becoming tadatma with Radhika, He forgot that He is Krsna, and could taste as She does. Some correlative details appear in a nectarian history told by His Divine Grace Gour Govinda Swami. This story reveals the origin of the final verse of the Sri Siksastikam: One day Srimati Radharani had nicely decorated the kunja with the help of Her maidservants. With great anticipation, they are expecting Krsna to come and arrive at the planned rendezvous time. However, Krsna does not show up. They wait and wait, but still no Krsna. Radha is beginning to go into Her sulky mood, and also beginning to cry, so a messenger[dyuti] is sent out to find Him. Along the way, the dyuti encounters one of Candravali's servants who pleasurably reports that Krsna is over there in that kunja. When the dyuti returns, she of course gives a prompt report to Lalita and Visaka, who in turn relay the news to Srimati Radharani. At that point, Radha's leftist sulky mood reaches it's peak, and She forbids that Krsna can enter Her kunja. And She is crying, crying, crying. Radharani says, "I don't want Krsna to come. Don't allow Him to come to My kunja. Entrance is forbidden!" When Krsna finally does arrive some time later, Lalita and Visaka are standing guard at the entrance, and stop Him. They block His entry and sharply tell Him to "Get out of here". He pleads for entry to the kunja, but there is no permission. Visakha, who is harder than Lalita, is especially tough on Him at this point. He must turn away and leave. So Krsna went away to the banks of the Yamuna. Morose and disappointed, Krsna could not understand what to do. He had gone to Candravali's kunja only to heighten the leftist mood of Radhika, the mood which brings Him so much pleasure. He wanted an opportunity to have Her association while She was in that heightened leftist mood, but His plan firmly backfired. Now, what to do, what to do? In the meantime, Vrndadevi learns of Krsna's predicament, so She comes to Him with a solution. She tells Him that He must completely change His appearance, take up the position of a begging Sannyasi, and sing a special song. She tells Him that He must get rid of all that black hair and shave His head, discard the dress of a cowherd boy and wear sannyas cloth, refrain from the 3-fold bending form, give up the flute and the peacock feather, and learn the song that She will teach Him,.... and then there may be some hope. When Vrnda said this, immediately that form appeared there. Krsna became that sannyasi form--shaved head, and His complexion was of molten gold. No peacock feather, no flute, no three places curved form. In sannyasi form He immediately appeared there. Vrnda then taught Him to sing a beautiful song in glorification of Radha, the last line of which is,
"Today Kanu, Krsna, is moving from door to door begging radha-prema, radha-prema, radha-prema". So Krsna, singing, goes back to the kunja where Lalita and Visaka become very happy to see such a blissful sannyasi singer, and very happy to hear such a wonderful song. When they ask Him what He wants, The sannyasi answers, "I have nothing, I am a beggar. I've come here to get radha-prema, radha-prema. I am a prema-bhikhari. I am a beggar of prema." So Visakha takes the sannyasi into the kunja. She requests Him, "Will You please again sing that nice song You were singing before?" Then Krsna sang that song in glorification of Radha. "Today Kanu is a bhikari, He is a beggar, moving from door to door begging radha- prema." When Radharani heard that last line, She responded thus:
"aslisya va pada-ratam pinastu mam Her response to this song is what we know as the final verse of the Siksastikam. It is the expression of a very deep mood of Srimati Radhika. Soon after, the sannyasi obtains the audience of Radhika, and upon seeing Radha, immediately Krsna's form came, tri-bhanga-lalita. That sannyasi form disappeared. Visaka was absolutely amazed. She says, "What is this? At first I saw You appear like a sannyasi, but now I am seeing You as Syamasundara, the cowherd boy. I saw You appearing as a golden doll, with Your entire body covered by a golden luster. I now see You holding a flute to Your mouth, with Your lotus eyes moving very restlessly due to various ecstasies." Much later, in Caitanya lila, Visaka appears as Ramananda Rai. At one point, Lord Caitanya shows Ramananda Rai His Syamasundara form, and what happens? Ramananda faints. Why? As Visaka, He saw the metamorphosis of a Golden Sannyasi to the form of Sri Symasundara, and lo and behold, now again He sees this same transition! He faints. Radharani was crying, and after the sannyasi reveals Himself to be Krsna, Visakha states, "One day You'll have to cry like that!" And that day comes at the Gambhira when, as a Golden Sannyasi, He is crying in the form of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Not only that, but Visaka [Ramananda] and Lalita [Swarup Damodara] are there to help Him understand how to cry........just as Srimati Radhika cried. In order to study Radharani, Krsna lived in Her role and tried to understand Himself. This is the secret of Lord Caitanya's incarnation. Thus, the paramount internal reason why Krsna comes as Gaura is to understand the Glories of Her Love for Him. The second reason for His descent is to bring with Him a wonderful present for this world. It is a special gift which is nicely explained in the famous verse below:
anarpita-carim cirat karunayavatirnah kalau This verse is the mangalam caranam for the entire Sri Caitanya Caritamrita, and everything in that book appearing after it is there to explain this verse. Srimati Radhika has a very ecstatic mood: "I want to become a dasi of that person who can please Krsna the most. I will become her maidservant". This mellow is Radharani's beautiful mood. This mood of Radhika has taken so many forms------Rupa Manjari, Rati Manjari, Labanga Manjari, Kasturi Manjari........ Radhika's beautiful mood became so many different milkmaids. However, these particular maidservants of Radhika have only one mood.......that it is Radhika Herself who should meet with Krsna.......because it is actually She who can please Krsna more than anyone else. It is She whom they want to serve. That propensity is called unnatojjvala rasam sva-bhakti- sriyam---the beauty of Srimati Radharani's mood, otherwise known as manjari-bhava. Now, when Krsna becomes influenced by the compassionate, tenderhearted mercy of Radha, He develops a desire to bestow upon all jivas the highest mood of love for God that can be given, which is the service mood of the manjaris. Wanting to give the world this most charitable present is His second internal reason for coming as Sri Gaurasundara. The first internal reason is to taste Radha's mood, and the second internal reason is to distribute the service to that mood. Inotherwords, He comes to taste Radha's bhava, and to give Radha's beauty. The brilliance of unnata-ujjvala-rasa is unparalleled, and all the acaryas in our Gaudiya sampradaya have come to this world to teach us this beautiful service mood of Radhika's maidservants.
In order to observe the word limit recommended by Chakra, the author is truncating this article right here. However, for those interested persons, the 2 secondary reasons for the descent, along with article references and credits, are available at: nectarcup.htohananet.com/blog
When that page comes up, click on "TEXT ARTICLES".
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Love And Its Reflection by Nandagopal Jivan das Posted February 22, 2008 A tree is reflected in the water as upside down. Similarly, this material world is a perverted reflection of the spiritual world. In the spiritual world there is love between Radha and Krishna. Krishna is always young (nava-yauvana), and Radharani is always young, because She is Krishna's pleasure potency. We worship not Krishna alone but Krishna with His eternal consort, Srimati Radharani. There is eternal love between Radharani and Krishna. Therefore the Vedanta-sutra says, janmady asya yatah: The Absolute Truth is that from which everything emanates. In this world we find love between mother and son, between wife and husband, between master and servant, between friends, between the master and the pet, whereas these are only reflections of the spiritual world. Just as here we love dogs and cats, there Krishna loves cows and calves, as we see in some pictures. The propensity to love even an animal is there in the spiritual world; otherwise, how can it be reflected? This world is simply a reflection. If in the reality there is nothing like that, how can it be reflected here? Everything is there in the spiritual world. To understand that original propensity to love, we should practice Krishna consciousness. As per the process, we worship the Deity, take prasadam and chant Krishna's holy names. In this way we'll learn how to understand Krishna, and then our lives will be successful, blissful and sublime.
This is an extract from ISCKON Youth Forum's E-newsletter The Higher
Taste. If you like what you've read, you may get future issues delivered
to you by e-mailing
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An offering to Srila Prabhupada on his disappearance day: One moon is better than a million stars, but one moon is bettered by many moons. The League of Devotees searches for success, but stumbles not sure what that success shall be. Srila Prabhupada is an eloquent lecturer, an incisive conversationalist, a singer of many mellows, a concise commentator, a powerful person of divine transcendence. In unique contribution, he throws open the storeroom of Krsna-prema and shares out that nectar to any person of any place without prejudice. Never before has an acarya of such sublime status traversed the globe. Even the Supreme Lord Himself confined His pastimes to one treasured area of this planet. However, in 1965 all that changes. Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai enjoy pastimes within the bodies of Their devotees. In the twelve years after 1965, those Lords travel within the heart of Srila Prabhupada to all corners of this planet to create the only true revolution - a rebellion of the heart. An uprising against ignorance, an insurrection against indulgence, a refusal of illusion, let the chimeras be replaced with a march against misery, a gathering for eternity, and the descent of divinity. No fetters bind the compassion of the Lord: let the crippled dance, the lame leap mountains, and the blind witness stars in the sky. Srila Prabhupada guides many fallen souls to come bathe in the golden fountain of love those Divine Lords open freely to the forlorn residents of this damned world. "Live together in peaceful simplicity upon the banks of this golden spring, drink deeply of eternity there, and expand the margins so that all may come for comfort and be refreshed to find their life beginning anew." A gospel of pure delight, a teaching of wrong from right, a torch brightens this world of endless night. Yet, the jungle beckons many back from the borders of that reservoir. With weak evanescence, they deem I shall take a final look at the place where many animals prowl. Let me gaze one more time at all those sufferings inside the forest from which I have escaped. No harm can befall me now. Alas, many beasts lurk in the shadows to devour the unwary and whimsical. The meandering path is laid with thorns and deep traps. Almost all leave the fresh precincts of that golden fountain, harkening to the waves of the wild, to find that loss is their only gain. Those faithful souls that remain chaste and sweetly sustain themselves by nectar upon the beauteous banks of the golden fountain will find joy in abundance when their days of patience are replaced with those of fulfillment. They shall be brilliant moons in the firmament. They shall bring luster to the earth. They shall illuminate all those they shelter. Those teachers of truth shall be the brilliant realization of the boundless gifts brought by Srila Prabhupada, spotless lights to the world and the success of his mission of mercy. An offering to Srila Prabhupada on his Disappearance Day.
Balavidya dasa
To all who bring a floral wreath,
If I'm a soul and live forever
Place them in a pretty pot
A friend may need them more than me
One thing you have to do today
With interest I read a recent article about an ISKCON constitution. There is no real need for anyone to make up a new one. Srila Prabhupada wrote one already. It can be found on pages 154-155 of "The Beginning," the 1966 New York Journal of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder-Acarya for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.
"The Beginning" was published by The Bhaktivedanta Archives, © Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, 1996, from diaries held by Bali Mardan das and from other original documents. Bali Mardan prabhu, a life trustee of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, lent the archives his source material with my encouragement for production. They have printed Srila Prabhupada's diaries in two very nice books, The Beginning and The Jaladuta Diary, which you can get from The Bhaktivedanta Archives, P.O. Box 255, Sandy Ridge, NC 27046, U.S.A.; telephone (910) 871-3636.
Here is a true copy of the aforementioned Constitution:
CONSTITUTION OF ASSOCIATION
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Since the vast majority of our readers are coming to Srila Prabhupada and
Krishna Consciousness for the first time through Internet searches, and
without access to devotee association or a nearby Hare Krishna temple, many
people have inquired about how they can set up an altar in their homes and
start practicing Krishna Consciousness at their own pace.
As God and His name are nondifferent from Him and thus all-powerful
("Hallowed be the name of the Lord"), when we chant His holy name sincerely,
we are directly associating with Him and we become purified. As we become
more advanced in chanting Hare Krishna, we feel God's presence more and
more, and consequently we become automatically happy and satisified on the
spiritual platform. Therefore, "Chant Hare Krishna and be happy" is one of
our favorite mottos in Krishna Consciousness. Please try it for yourself and
see the results. "The proof of the pudding is in the eating."
In addition, we recommend that you set up an altar in your home to help you
focus even more on the Lord and His service. Although many cities in the
world now have established temples with elaborate worship and regular
programs available to the public, for those unable to attend, Srila
Prabhupada recommends the simple process of advancing in spiritual life
wherever you may live and in whatever circumstances you may find yourself.
Prabhupada has repeatedly said that there are no material impediments to
Krishna Consciousness. All that's required is the sincere desire and effort
on your part. "If you take one step towards Krishna, then Krishna will take
ten steps towards you."
