realist

Let there be one God – KRISHNA Let there be one religion KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS What a wonderful world it would be

Quote: <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #666666 1px solid; PADDING-RIGHT: 3ex; BORDER-TOP: #666666 1px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 3ex; BORDER-LEFT: #666666 1px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #666666 1px solid" bgColor=#e0e0e0>And theist has a heart 'in which the whole world can live'.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> Theist is outside looking in http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=LFgUW6umgBk&feature=related If anyone has the fascility, make a Krsna conscious version of this song that I first heard when I was 14 years old We need another 1960s mind expanding conscious revolution to get the kids of 2008 (not just Hindus from India) to experience the Prabhupada bliss of 1968 http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=EqP3wT5lpa4

Krishna Consciousness Works Outside of the Square BY: KURMA DASA <CENTER> </CENTER> Oct 03, AUSTRALIA (SUN) — Since 1980, I have struck up a lot of devotional friendships with people who were either kicked out of ISKCON or oppressed in some way or another by those within the Gopi Bhava Club, the thugs who have controlled Srila Prabhupada's Society in this part of the world. It is really quite amazing when you get out there amongst it, to find how many people have come to ISKCON convinced by the power of Srila Prabhupada, but due to some power crazed individual they encountered, they have left the Society. Only recently I met one devotee working at a rubbish tip. Prior to this he was a pujari for many years at one ISKCON temple here in Australia, and I had actually met and spoken with him many years before, when he was doing his service as a pujari. I remember being very impressed by his nice nature. I do not believe for one minute that Srila Prabhupada would be pleased with devotees being kicked out of His Society or oppressed by thugs. So many nice people kicked out, regardless of what stage of devotion, it is a real tragedy. Who knows what sort of ISKCON we would have if these great souls who were touched by Srila Prabhupada had stayed. I can remember being bullied myself by some of ISKCON's thugs in the early days here in Australia, however I stayed determined and grasped onto Srila Prabhupada's lotus-like instructions, and it worked. A few devotees and myself went out preaching and distributing Srila Prabhupada's books in country towns all over Australia. We also distributed prasadam. We purchased an old cart that was used to deliver milk in the olden days, and we decorated the cart with flowers and signs of the Hare Krishna Mantra. We attended various festivals and became a popular attraction, and were invited to attend other festivals in different towns. It was really amazing. Our cart wasn't big, it was just really simple, but the attention it created was awesome. What we did was really small, however the bliss surrounding this small offering was incredible, I have absolutely no doubt whatsoever that Srila Prabhupada was there with us when we chanted at these festivals. Every time we pulled up at the end of a parade, we had scores of curious people who took one of Srila Prabhupada's books, or ate some prasadam. I guess that the moral to this story is that Krishna Consciousness works outside of the square. We do not have to be living in the temples, nor do we have to be part of the various groups that have accumulated within ISKCON. We simply have to follow Srila Prabhupada anywhere in the world with a sincerity of purpose. If we do this, how could we not be under Srila Prabhupada's divine care? I have included a couple of shots of a daffodil festival that we attended in 1988. That's me, Kurma (not the chef), sitting on the cart playing the harmonium! Kurma Dasa (the famous writer) <CENTER> </CENTER>

Quote: <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #666666 1px solid; PADDING-RIGHT: 3ex; BORDER-TOP: #666666 1px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 3ex; BORDER-LEFT: #666666 1px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #666666 1px solid" bgColor=#e0e0e0>The present version of ISKCON in Autralia have no idea what they are doing, nor have they the guts to take responsiblity and own up to their past injustices and mismanagement, that cleverly denies devotee from knowing the real truth about their past leadership blunders that they new all along, and not only did nothing to help one particular devotee, but also denied him the medical help he was ordered to have. Instead, today they now palm it all off to the Indian congregational members to sought out. Its all just another cover-up to avoid admitting to THEIR past irresponsibility and ignorance What a joke They don't care about a devotee they have wronged by not allowing him the care he needed, they only interested in protecting themselves </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- END TEMPLATE: bbcode_quote --> Actually, ISKCON principles and standards today is way worse than what many think. Don't be disillusioned by the vast numbers of Indian Hindu's. That's only happening due to the new found weath of India and the fact the Indian population is on the move all over the world. Its like money on the stock exchange, it's not real and only gives a false sense of security. THE REAL WAY TO JUDGE IS BY HOW MANY WESTERN DEVOTEES ARE CONVERTED. Prabhupada always said quality is better than quantity. And today the quality is materialistically feeble and weak It is being infliuenced not only by layback (yet sincere) Indian congregation, but also many bitter congregational devotees who live around the Temple still burnt by the guru fiasco and still looking for someone to blame with their crazy 'witch hunts'. Even Srila Narayana Maharaj says there no place worse, with the influence of Kali-yuga ANYWHERE ON THE PLANET, than Murwillumbah NSW Australia. The place is full of envious fault finding 'witch hunting' snakes in the garb of devotee from both the ISKCON and Gaudiya math camps in the Murwillumbah pit hole!! On the ISKCON side is very nasty heartless so called devotees like Subabhati dasa (someone should tell him Lord Caitanya has come to save EVERYONE!!!, no matter how fallen and not just his ISKCON buddies. And on the Gaudya matha side there are so many fools and envious rascals who follow both Srila Govinda Maharaj and Srila Narayana Maharaj who have no idea what the word 'merciful and compassionate' means.

Srila Prabhupada –“We are eternally conditioned (nitya baddha), but as soon as we surrender to Krishna do we then become eternally liberated (nitya-siddha)? You are not eternally conditioned (nitya baddha). You are eternally liberated (nitya-siddha), but since we have become conditioned on account of our desire to enjoy materialistic way of life, from time immemorial, therefore it only APPEARS that we are eternally conditioned (nitya baddha). Because we cannot trace out the history or the date when we became conditioned, therefore it is technically called eternally conditioned. Otherwise, the living entity is NOT actually conditioned (nitya-baddha). A living entity is always pure(nitya-siddha). But he is prone to be attracted by material enjoyment and as soon as he agrees to place himself in material enjoyment, he becomes conditioned (nitya-baddha), but that is not permanent. Therefore, a living entity is called on the marginal state, sometimes this side, sometimes that side. These are very intelligent questions. And I am very glad that you are putting such intelligent questions and trying to understand it. It is very good”. Letter to Aniruddha dasa, Los Angeles 14 November 1968 Note -Prabhupada says here to try and understand, where as in another letter to us Australian devotee on another occasion he said “Don’t waste time with the crow-and-tal-fruit logic” I have always prefered the 'try to understand' instructions from his Divine Grace

Srila Prabhupada - “You are already in the spiritual sky, but you are simply covered. Just like the sun is already there. You are also already there…Try to understand. Actually we are not fallen therefore, at any moment we can revive our Krishna consciousness." Srimad-Bhagavatam lecture given in London, on July 30, 1971 Srila Prabhupada - "You are ever-liberated (nitya-siddha). The sky is always spiritual, but it is sometimes overcrowded with cloud, actually, you are NOT conditioned (nitya-baddha). You are thinking. Just like in the dream that tiger is eating you. You were never eaten by tiger. There is no tiger. So we have to get out of this dream". Lecture on Sri Caitanya-Caritamrta, Adi-lila 7.108--San Francisco, February 18, 1967 Srila Prabhupada - "Actually we are not fallen therefore, at any moment we can revive (Regain, re-establish, wake up from the dream, remember who we really are as a body eternally in a state of originality) our Krishna consciousness. As soon as we understand that (my svarupa body is always in Krsnaloka), "I have nothing to do with (the material world and its bodily vessels my sub-conscious fallen nitya-baddha condition is housed in). I am simply Krishna's servant. Eternal servant. That's all". Srimad-Bhagavatam lecture given in London, on July 30, 1971 FALLING TO THE MATERIAL WORLD j It is a fact that no one falls from Vaikuntha" (Bhag. 7.1.35, purp. by Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada) Yes, that is exactly right as very clearly explained as follows Srila Prabhupada - 'No one falls from the spiritual world or Vaikuntha planet, for it is the eternal abode”. (Bhag. 3.16.26, purp.) This clearly means our nitya-siddha svarupa body can NEVER leave Krsnaloka or Vaikuntha and that we only dream, think or imagine we leave. Srila Prabhupada – “This material creation is the spirit soul's dream. Actually all existence in the material world is a dream of Mahā-Vishnu, as the Brahma-samhita describes – · “This material world is created by the dreaming of Mahā-Vishnu. The real, factual platform is the spiritual world, but when the spirit soul wants to imitate the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he is put into this dreamland of material creation”. 4.29.83.http://vedabase.net/sb/4/29/83/en That dream state secondary sub-consciousness of the living entity, activated when one is NOT Krishna Conscious is called the jiva-baddha or nitya-baddha consciousness. Srila Prabhupada –“When the living entities desire to enjoy themselves, they develop a consciousness of duality and come to hate the service of the Lord. In this way the living entities fall into the material world." Srimad Bhagavatam 4.28.53 Srila Prabhupada – “When the living entities desire to enjoy themselves, they develop a consciousness of duality and come to hate the service of the Lord. In this way the living entities fall into the material world." Srimad Bhagavatam 4.28.53 Srila Prabhupada – ‘Regarding your questions about how and from where did the conditioned souls fall, your first question if someone has a relationship with Lord Krsna on Krsnaloka, does he ever fall down?" Srila Prabhupada's answer -"The souls are endowed with minute independence (the ability to choose) as part of their nature and this minute independence may be utilized rightly or wrongly at any time, so there is always the chance of falling down by misuse of one's independence". 67-08-27. Letter: Jananivasa Actually, you ARE a pure devotee RIGHT NOW, WE ALL ARE but we have forgotten that long, long, long ago, we have allowed ourselves to be covered by the cloud of selfish desires that blocks out our memory of who we really are. Try to understand what Prabhupada is telling us. Srila Prabhupada- "You are already in the spiritual sky, but you are simply covered. Just like the sun is already there. You are also already there…(In Vaikuntha) so actually we are always in the spiritual world. But when you forget Krishna by the cloud of illusion, then that is material”. Srila Prabhupada – “Try to understand. Actually we are not fallen therefore, at any moment we can revive our Krishna consciousness. As soon as we understand that, "I have nothing to do with (This biological body or vessel and the material creation). I am simply Krishna's servant. Eternal servant. That's all". In a Srimad-Bhagavatam lecture given in London, on July 30, 1971 Srila Prabhupada - "You are liberated. You are liberated. (Meaning we are always nitya-siddha) Simply just a cloud has covered you. Drive away the cloud”. (Lecture on Sri Caitanya-Caritamrita, Adi-lila 7.108--San Francisco, February 18, 1967) Srila Prabhupada - "There is no question that you were ever [not in Vaikuntha]. You are ever-liberated (nitya-siddha). That, the sky is always spiritual, but it is sometimes overcrowded with cloud, this Maya. This is called Maya”. (Lecture on Sri Caitanya-Caritamrita, Adi-lila 7.108--San Francisco, February 18, 1967) Srila Prabhupada - "Actually, you are not conditioned (nitya-baddha). You are thinking. Just like in the dream you are thinking that tiger is eating you. You were never eaten by tiger. There is no tiger. So we have to get out of this dream". (Lecture on Sri Caitanya-Caritamrita, Adi-lila 7.108--San Francisco, February 18, 1967) Srila Prabhupada - “So because we are living entities, we are not as powerful as Krsna, therefore we may fall down from Vaikuntha at any moment”. Washington D.C., July 8, 1976 760708ED.WDC Srila Prabhupada - "By misusing his independence, the living entity falls down from the service of the Lord and takes a position in this material world as an enjoyer." Also: "The vibbhinamsa expansions, the marginal potencies of the Lord, are the living entities”. Srimad Bhagavatam 4.28.53 Srila Prabhupada - "If you fall down from the platform, then it is your fault. Just like we are all in the Vaikuntha planet. Now, we wanted to enjoy this material world. We have fallen down, Now we are trying to go back again. Therefore we say, "Go back to home, back to Godhead." Lecture Srimad-Bhagavatam 1975 750522SB.MEL Srila Prabhupada - “We have given up the company of Krsna, and we wanted to be happy in this material world. Srimad-Bhagavatam 1972 720928SB.LA Also it should be made clearly that Maya has nothing to do with one FIRST forgetting Krsna and their nitya-siddha perpetual bodily identity and 'sub-consciously' falling to the material world because She (Maya-s'akti) does not exist in that role in Vaikuntha. The answer is quite simple, it is the choice of the living entity, it is free will, the ability to be with Krishna as their eternal nitya-siddha body (who they really are) or drop out and do their own thing with the provisions provided by Krishna's expansion Maha-Vishnu Actually we ALL still in Vaikuntha but are 'consciously' caught up within the past, present and future of the material creation that has covered our awareness to the 'eternal present' of Vaikuntha and Goloka, like a cloud covers the view of the Sun" Srila Prabhupada – “When the living entities desire to enjoy themselves, they develop a consciousness of duality and come to hate the service of the Lord. In this way the living entities fall into the material world." Srimad Bhagavatam 4.28.53 Here we are told our fall down is one of 'consciousness and NOT SVARUPA body The fact is no-one falls down from Krsnaloka, the planet from where we are all from because our eternal nitya-siddha body, of whom is our real eternal permanent identity,NEVER EVER FALLS DOWN DUE due to the ETERNAL present. We only dream, imagine and think we fall down, that sub-conscious projection that enters the material creation is called the baddha jiva. However, ones real authentic self or nitya siddha krsna Conscious bodily form NEVER falls down. Try to understand side by side with chanting Hare Krsna

Because of free will any marginal living entity can fall down, that is why we are called marginal. But great souls like Prabhupada, even though technically due to free will, as Prabhupada says, they can also fall down, they NEVER do because they choose not to miss use that free will and always remain Krsnas servant. http://www.scribd.com/doc/1732507/jiva (jiva's fall from Goloka) Also it is Prabhupada who says we are always in Vaikuntha but are now presently dreaming we are in the material world

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=4 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width="100%" bgColor=#c0c0c0> Metal Storm Rifle System developed by ex-ISKCON devotee </TD></TR><TR><TD width="100%"> It has no moving parts. Yet, it can fire standard, small-caliber projectiles from multiple barrels at speeds up to one million rounds per minute. Is it still a gun? Its creators call it Metal Storm. No moving parts mean no jams in the traditional sense and a quiet operating mechanism. The high rate of fire is not just a function of the number of barrels. The cartridges are initiated with an electronic impulse. Building on earlier technology, successfully demonstrated over the past three years, Metal Storm continues to try to drag small arms technology-some might suggest kicking and screaming-into the computer age. Inventor Michael O'Dwyer said his Australian-based company, also named Metal Storm, has found additional applications and new ways to incorporate other technologies with its own. Metal Storm still is ranked as a high-risk technology among the latest in a string of efforts to achieve a real leap ahead in small-arms technology. Prototypes have been demonstrated to the apparent satisfaction of the U.S. Defense Advance Research Projects Agency. Metal Storm's owners in Australia, engineering of weapons side of the business run by an ex-member of the ISKCON religious Movement have received more than $50 million in development dollars from the U.S and Australian governments. Looking beyond the traditional, a single, or multi-barreled Metal Storm device could be added to an existing weapon on a Picatinny rail, or current optics and fire-control systems could be added to a Metal Storm platform. The company has taken its 9 mm pistol and incorporated a key control device to create its own version of a "smart gun" for possible law enforcement applications. This variant could fire multiple rounds with a single trigger pull. On activation, the weapon could send out a "help" signal on a radio frequency to call for backup. The Australian company is partnered with the U.S.-based SAIC in a DARPA-led contract to develop a new, lightweight advanced sniper rifle, based on Metal Storm technology. Rather than depending on larger calibers-such as .50 caliber or 20 mm-the Metal Storm advanced sniper rifle would use .45 caliber ammunition, with thousands of rounds fired at a high rate of fire. The ammunition developed for the sniper version of Metal Storm comes in two versions. One has a .17 caliber tungsten sabot fin stabilized projectile. The second variation has a .22 caliber sabot round that is spin stabilized. Both variants are caseless and electronically primed. Some of the advantages of the sniper application noted by its developers include a rapid reload, since the rounds come in a pre-loaded barrel. This same technology allows the shooter to quickly change calibers or ammunition type. It also offers the user the option to make a quick shift to less-than-lethal, as a scenario evolves. Because Metal Storm can be programmed to fire multiple rounds with a single trigger pull at an extremely high rate of fire, it is conceivable that a sniper could deliver multiple rounds, a double or triple tap, at long range, with no recoil between rounds. Metal Storm's creators reduced the rate of fire in the sniper version to a more manageable 60,000 rounds per minute to improve the accuracy of a sniper rifle version. The company has been experimenting with the sniper rifle for the past year. Australia's Defense Science and Technology Organization is looking at various applications for the technology, including area denial, vehicle self-defense and a close-in weapon system. The company also is looking at civilian applications, such as firefighting. Australian Weapon Most recently, Metal Storm was selected as a component of Australia's Advanced Individual Combat Weapon, that country's version of the U.S. Objective Individual Combat Weapon. Still in the concept stage, the Australian AICW looks like an over-under system, with the upper barrel firing an air-bursting munition and the lower firing standard 5.56 x 45 mm ammunition. The standard Australian-built, Austrian-designed AUG bullpup will provide the foundation for the new weapon. The air-bursting munition will be based on Metal Storm technology. O'Dwyer said it should be possible to apply the technology to the larger 20 mm round. Metal Storm was listed on the Australian stock exchange in 1999 and has raised over $215 million from private speculators. The corporate strategy to date has been to concentrate on research and development and aggressive international marketing to improve the technology's long term chances of survival. As with any new technology, Metal Storm does not come without skeptics. Many of them are small-arms designers and engineers with years of experience in research and development, as well as production engineering. The weapon's inventor is not from the milieu of the small-arms world. He is an inventor with "out-of-the-box" ideas. Most of the questions from experienced small arms manufacturers involve the physics of firing multiple rounds simultaneously down a barrel. Manufacturers wonder about the effects of the gases, which inevitably must be initiated to thrust any projectile down the barrel. What impact do the gases propelling one projectile have upon subsequent projectiles, as they travel down the barrel and out the muzzle? The high rate of fire also has some asking about the effects on the mechanics of the barrel, including wear. Metal Storm's primary sources of funding, however, are from government agencies and capital investors who are used to gambling on promising concepts and recognize the high-risk nature of this new and different technology. Metal Storm is a 100% electronic operating system which allows for a wide variety of projectiles grouped in tube containers such as barrels, to be stored, transported and electronically fired. With no mechanical moving parts, Metal Storm has the capability to fire a wide variety of material including fire retardant, bullets, fertilizer and explosive charges. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Also click <LI class=rss_item>Ecstatic slideshow from Iskcon Melbourne's Janmastami <LI class=rss_item>10,000 guests during Janmastami in Melbourne

How do You Become an ISKCON Sannyasi? Who are these young boys?

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=700 bgColor=white border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top colSpan=2><MAP name=nav1><AREA shape=RECT coords=23,17,110,82 href="../../index.htm"><AREA shape=RECT target=_blank coords=1,87,46,98 href="../../../media/mantra.wav"><AREA shape=RECT coords=76,86,111,97 href="../../news/news.htm"><AREA shape=RECT coords=121,86,189,97 href="../../editorials/editorials.htm"><AREA shape=RECT coords=199,86,256,97 href="../../features/features.htm"><AREA shape=RECT coords=266,86,329,97 href="../../sunblogs/sunblogs.htm"><AREA shape=RECT coords=339,86,412,97 href="../../classifieds/classifieds.htm"><AREA shape=RECT coords=421,86,466,97 href="../../events/events.htm"><AREA shape=RECT coords=476,86,539,97 href="../../recipes/recipes.htm"><AREA shape=RECT coords=549,86,796,604 href="../../podcasts/podcasts.htm"></MAP> </TD></TR><TR><TD width=700> The Wonderful Hindu Invasion of ISKCON Melbourne Down Under BY: GAURAGOPALA DASA <CENTER> Devotees celebrate Janmastami 2008 </CENTER> Aug 26, MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA (SUN) —Indian Hindus are populating ISKCON Temples in the West in a way never seen before over the last 42 years. This is happening all over the world at a massive rate and is not a phenomenon, as some suggest. The fact is, as India becomes a wealthier nation, we can only expect more and more students to leave India and attend Western educational, institutions as well as many more arriving from India to become citizens of other countries. Also we are seeing that many of these students eventually take up residency in countries like Australia. As a result, India "Hinduism" has increased 153% just in the last 4 years in Australia! We have also seen in recent years that some of those students have moved into the ISKCON temples and have taken up the life of a brahmacari. We are all living in interesting times. As the world becomes more and more like a Global Village, due to technology, we are seeing a massive movement or the travelling of the world's population never before seen in recorded history. Already the most popular nation on the planet who speaks the English language is not England, America, Canada or Australia, it is India, whose enormous population is on the move. At the Melbourne Australia ISKCON Temple on the weekend there were 12,000 people, of which 98% where Indian Hindus, Sikhs and even some Indian Muslims, celebrating Janmastami (Lord Krsna’s appearance day). The other 2% were of European background. From the perspective of white Australians like myself, this was truly an amazing Janmastami like no other experienced in ISKCON Melbourne's history. There was a queue of people, mostly Indian Hindus, that went from the front gate of the Temple for two blocks, all waiting enter the Temple. I have never seen anything like this in Australia. It was truly fascinating to watch as those in different parts of the queue were having their own kirtan while waiting to see the beautiful Deities of Radha Ballabha and then honour delicious Maha-prasadam. <CENTER> </CENTER> I felt very privileged to be a part of and witness this truly amazing event of Janmastami in 2008 and thought how Srila Prabhupada would be so pleased that ISKCON was providing the facility to worship Krsna in every corner of the planet. This is a very auspicious historical event that is happening now and has been unfolding for the past 42 years. There is a famous saying, that history is never recognized in its own time. What Srila Prabhupada achieved in the mid-1960s will eventually be recognized as the most significant event. He planted the seeds of a coming bona fide spiritual Movement that will inundate the entire World. As we were watching the vast queue of people slowly making their way into the Temple, I mentioned to some young brahmacaris, of who most are of Indian origin, that they must never forget why Srila Prabhupada came to the West in the first place. We must understand His Divine Grace came first to America to give Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and cause of ALL causes, to EVERYONE regardless of race, colour, political persuasion, or religion. Srila Prabhupada further wanted to influence ALL the age-old branches of so-called Hinduism and bring them back to the original essence and cream of Vedic teachings, The beautiful Bhagavat Purana or Srimad Bhagavatam. In the Caitanya-caritamrta it is stated that the essence and conclusion of all Vedic texts is the Srimad Bhagavatam. This message was brought to the West by Srila Prabhupada in 1965, and then taken back to India by Prabhupada and with his ‘dancing white elephants’ in 1970. This was a name Srila Prabhupada used to describe his Western devotees he had brought with him to India for the purpose of building ISKCON temples and distributing Books all over India. In this way, ISKCON would help rejuvenate and re-establish the worship of Krsna, the original Cause of all causes, Lord Caitanya and the chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra, meant for this age of Kali yuga, can spread to all those of Hindu background and bring about a spiritual revolution within India. It was further emphasised, as we watched this massive Hindu invasion of Melbourne Temple on Janmastami day, that we must not just preach only to the Indian Hindus, who are coming on their own accord anyway due to Krsna being part of their ancient tradition. We, including those of Indian birth, must also be determined to preach to all others regardless of religious or cultural backgrounds. Krsna or God is for everyone and is in every living being's heart. What ISKCON is offering to all the Hindu’s who are taking citizenship in Australia is the basic foundations of the faith of their birth, above the customary demigod worship many of them are accustomed to back in India. However, the brahmacaris were reminded to keep up the mood of Srila Prabhupada and preach to EVERYONE regardless of if they worshiped the demigods or race or culture. The main focus is to also keep attracting those of Western background and follow the disposition and example of preaching Srila Prabhupada set for us all. Here is an interesting story in regards to demigod worship. In 1974, I personally was the pujari who performed puja to Ganesha at ISKCON’s Spiritual Sky incense and clothing company in Melbourne for around four months. All the devotee workers would attend the puja as instructed by the then manager of Spiritual Sky in Melbourne, Ugrashava Prabhu. At the time, I was also dressing the small Radha Govinda Deities at the Temple and afterwards would go down town to Spiritual Sky to perform the Ganesh puja. When Srila Prabhupada came to Melbourne for Rathayatra in 1974, he heard about our worshiping of Ganesha and performing puja to him, and called for Jayadharma Prabhu and myself to come to his room. Jayadharma Prabhu was the Australian General Manager of Spiritual Sky at the time. Srila Prabhupada told us immediately to stop this worship of Ganesha with Prabhupada humbly adding: “Our ISKCON properties are NOT for demigod worship, our devotees are to exclusively worship Radha Krsna, Gaura Nitai and Balarama, Subhadra and Jagannatha, and to also celebrate other various Vishnu tattva’s like Lord Ramachandra, etc. though, our main focus is worshiping Radha and Krishna. We always offer proper respects to all the demigods. We must always know however, that no demigod is equal to or above the Supreme Lord Our ISKCON temples are known as Hare Krsna or Radha Krsna Temples, this is what we want people also in India to understand. Even on our Spiritual Sky incense packet there is Radha Krsna.” Srila Prabhupada paused for a moment, then emphasised again the central status of his movement: “Our ISKCON devotees exclusively worship Radha and Krsna and of course Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.” And then Srila Prabhupada finished his talk to Jayadharma Prabhu and myself by saying in very simple straightforward English: “Why worship the demigods when they all get all their power from krsna anyway? Then Satsvarupa Maharaj, who was also in the room, quotes from memory: “Those whose intelligence has been stolen by material desires surrender unto demigods and follow the particular rules and regulations of worship according to their own natures. (Bhagavad Gita 7:20.) Men of small intelligence worship the demigods, and their fruits are limited and temporary. Those who worship the demigods go to the planets of the demigods, but My devotees ultimately reach My supreme planet.” (Bhagavad Gita 7:23.) So obviously, our worship of Ganasha at Spiritual Sky incense factory came to an abrupt end. Hari Bol, All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Your fallen servant, Gauragopala dasa </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> Added [TRANSLATED] Krishna Janmashtami @ ISKON Melbourne, 24.8.08 [Krishna Janmashtami @ ISKON temple in Melbourne, 24.8.08 ... Festival ... Added[TRANSLATED] hare rama hare krishna- By naman Before the state library of melbourne, Krishna followers, spreading message of love, peace and devotion. ... iskon ... Added[TRANSLATED] Hare Krishna Iskcon Melbourne 2008

I like this point, this pioneering movement of Lord Caitanya, be it Gaudiya matha or ISKCON, is in its infancy and we are not really advanced at all even we pretend to be in our costums of tilak, dhoti and dundas. So I suppose with the comment above by Sarva, if the shoe fits, THEN WEAR IT!!

Follow the Angels is indeed a timely publication that will certainly enthuse all sincere souls who are in search of the highest plane of truth. Srimad Bhagavatam, the most exulted scripture ever to see the light of day assures us that if one wants to make advancement in spiritual life that it is necessary to follow in the footsteps of the devotees of the Supreme Lord. bhavanti purusa loke mad-bhaktas tvam anuvratah bhavan me khalu bhaktanam sarvesam pratirupa-dhrk "Those who follow your example will naturally become My pure devotees. You are the best example of My devotee, and others should follow in your footsteps." (Bhag. 7.10.21) In "Follow the Angels" the author Srila B. R. Sridhar Deva Goswami Maharaja, the illustrious Guardian of Devotion, guides the readers on the path of dedication shown by our predecessor acaryas such as Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura and Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura Prabhupada. To follow the path of the previous acaryas is indeed the way of success in spiritual life, whereas to obscure the path of the previous acaryas or to create a method of spiritual practice of our own fancy certainly implies failure. In part one of Follow the Angels Srila Sridhara Maharaj discusses the Krsna Conception as the highest plane of truth attainable for a living entity. The basis of this conception is that absolute beauty, affection, love and harmony are the highest goals ever discovered and that these exist in Krishna to the fullest degree. It is Krishna alone who can satisfy the innermost hankering of the soul. "Awake, arise! Search for your fortune!" Srila Sridhara Maharaj explains that this requires the necessity of a proper connection with a real agent or guru who has a direct connection with Krishna. The guru assures our future in spiritual life. The guru and Vaishnavas are the agents of the Supreme Lord and Srila Sridhar Maharaja explains that such agents are higher than the scripture and that all success can be achieved by service to such higher agents. We have come to attempt to know the infinite, but for a finite soul to measure the infinite is impossible. Only our good faith (sraddha) will guide us in our journey through the infinite. Faith is everything there and it is of infinite nature-all-accommodating. By the sweet will of the Lord, everything may be true in the world of faith. Calculation does not have any value there. It is inconclusive and destructive in its ultimate aspect, so calculation should be rejected. Faith is everything for one who wants to know Krishna. One must acquire an earnest desire to know the truth, which in due course will mature into pure spiritual attraction. Then a real taste for the truth will manifest-will be awakened in our heart. And all attraction for sense pleasure, fame, name, and money will vanish. When this spontaneous taste for the truth awakens within us, we are safe, but not prior to that. In Kali Yuga the service of the holy name has especially been recommended, but first the name must be taken from a bona fide guru, and it should be chanted in the association of the sadhu or saint. In the acme of dedication there is only love, Vraja Vrindavana bhava. And there is preaching-preaching is sankirtana-the most effective way of chanting. Preaching is real service to the holy name, not just counting beads. These and many more illuminations on the Krishna conception are revealed in part one of Follow the Angels. From part two of Follow the Angels, the title of the book has been drawn. Here we find that we have come to the fulfillment of our innermost demand, but a measure of caution is given, "Fools rush in where angels fear to tread." In part two, Srila Sridhara Deva Goswami advises that one should follow the angels and not make offense by rushing ahead when one is not actually qualified. "One must go step by step. If we omit any step, we will be nowhere. We should be mindful of every step, and automatically that will take us in the right direction. Don't ever try to run very hurriedly. Try to remain a little down and back. That will forcibly take you to the goal, naturally. The higher Vaishnavas will take you there. You can't go there on your own." For the greatest success in our spiritual life a proper posing in the relativity of the Absolute Truth is required. Don't try to rush ahead-do not become an offender. Stay a little distant and below. That will draw the greatest fortune for you. Pujala ragapatha gaurava bange, try to keep at a respectful distance. Keep the highest goal always above your head. Don't rush towards that position. It is not that cheap. Srila Sridhara Deva Goswami says, "Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, has especially given this caution, pujala ragapatha gaurava bange. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has distributed what He experienced in His deep trance, but we must be ready to pay for it. Saraswati Thakura came for that purpose. Pujala ragapatha-don't go hurriedly. Fools rush in where angels fear to tread. Don't commit offenses. This is the highest prospect of your life after many lifetimes. We should always move expressly towards the goal of having the temperament of a servant. We should not venture to tread on the highest plane. Fools rush in where angels fear to tread. Don't be a fool; become an angel. Try to follow the angels." This is a fragment of the valuable advice given by Srila Sridhara Deva Goswami in part two of Follow the Angels. In part three, Higher Talks, Srila Sridhara Deva Goswami reveals the highest ideal of guru tattva: Gaura-Gadadhara in madhurya-rasa, and Radharani in Krishna-lila. If we raise our head a little higher and look up, then we shall find Radharani and gurudeva. It is Radharani who is instrumental in accomplishing the function of gurudeva from behind. The source of grace for the guru is coming from the original source of service and love. Srila Sridhar Maharaja says, "We are requested not to see guru as limited in his ordinary personification, but as the transparent mediator of the highest function in his line. If only our vision is deep, we can see that according to the depth of our sraddha, our vision, guru tattva is very peculiar, very noble, very broad, wide and very deep." As an example of the higher vision of guru, Srila Sridhara Deva Goswami relates how his guru (Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura) saw Gadadhara Pandit and Swarupa Damodara in Bhaktivinode Thakura and Gaura Kishora das Babaji respectively. Srila Sridhara Deva Goswami then carries his readers away with an unparalleled description of Gadadhara Pandit as a shadow of Mahaprabhu running after Him as if his heart had been stolen. Like a shadow, he is moving after Mahaprabhu. Srila Sridhara Deva Goswami compares Gadadhara Pandit to Rukmini. "So when Mahaprabhu plunders the spirit of Radharani, the rebellious vama nature, what remains is comparable to Rukmini-a passive seer, without any power to assert, only an onlooker. An onlooker, tolerating everything, a very pitiable condition that elicits kindness and sympathy from everyone." This and other higher talks one will find in part three of Follow the Angels. It is with great happiness that Gosai Publishers present this publication and we trust that it will be well received by the devotional community for it contains the most valuable wisdom for progress in our spiritual lives. Srila Sridhara Deva Goswami is renowned throughout the world as a saint and self-realized pure devotee of the Supreme Lord-we therefore bow down to his lotus feet and humbly beg forgiveness for any mistake that we may have made in our attempt to serve him.

Krsna in Jainism is prominent but the correct understanding on service to Krsna has been diluted over time of thousanda of years due to deviations The most exalted figures in Jainism are the twenty-four Tirthankaras. Krishna, when he was incorporated into the Jain list of heroic figures presented a problem with his activities which are not pacifist or non-violent. The concept of Baladeva, Vasudeva and Prati-Vasedeva was used to solve it. The Jain list of sixty-three Shalakapurshas or notable figures includes amongst others, the twenty-four Tirthankaras and nine sets of this triad. One of these triads is Krishna as the Vasudeva, Balarama as the Baladeva and Jarasandha as the Prati-Vasudeva. He was a cousin of the twenty-second Tirthankara, Neminatha. The stories of these triads can be found in the Harivamsha of Jinasena (not be confused with its namesake, the addendum to Mahabharata) and the Trishashti-shalakapurusha-charita of Hemachandra. In each age of the Jain cyclic time is born a Vasudeva with an elder brother termed the Baladeva. The villain is the Prati-vasudeva. Baladeva is the upholder of the Jain principle of non-violence. However, Vasudeva has to forsake this principle to kill the Prati-Vasudeva and save the world. The Vasudeva then has to descend to hell as punishment for this violent act. Having undergone the punishment, he is then reborn as a Tirthankara.

No, Krsna is performing lila (pastime) when He appears as Buddha Read this - Krishna Book- Table of Contents <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class="j hc">(1970 Edition, 2 Volumes, 400 pages each. Hard Cover, 70 color plates, 6"x9"). Purchase 2 Volume Set(s) of Krsna Book. www.krsnabook.com/contents/ - 17k - <NOBR>Cached - Similar pages</NOBR> More results from www.krsnabook.com » </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>