A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami`s Mission

[melvin]

How can I carry out A.C. Bhaktivedanta

Swami`s Mission without displeasing him?

Should I distribute his books to those

who are interested or help in publishing

new ones? Which is which?

[mahak]

Haribol, first, chant the Hare Krsna mantra, a prescribed number of recitations daily.

 

Read His books, this helps in distribution of them, and by all means, distribute books.

 

One cannot give unless one has taken, so, to please Srila Prabhupada, take what He has given. Distribution will be proportionate to reception. Wish ya well, and haribol, ys, mahak

[janardana prabhu]

If one wishes to please A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami all he has to do is completly surrender to the will of the surpeme personality. by so doing you will completly ignor any of your desires, thoughts, impressions. for now or for the forseeable future. by so doing you will position yourself very humbly at the lotus feet of the choosen spiritual master.

there is no prize on the other side, just the stripping away of your illusions. the supreme lord will favor you if you simply give up that which is not yours to begin with.

[melvin]

reality is when i immediately carry out

a.c. bhaktivedanta swami`s mission and

that is to produce more books. swami loved

books so much that he even left his wife

when he found out that she exchanged them

for a couple of grams of tea leaves.

writing books to glorify krishna-balarama

is swami`s whole life and it won`t matter

to him if he goes back to this planet earth

so long he can write some more books for

radha-krishna.

[Jahnava Nitai Das]

Sometimes spiritual life can be very simple and practical. No need to try to read into the heart of the pure devotee, or psychically channel the thoughts of the great saints. Just ask "What service can I do." And do what is requested.

 

[R_Srisan]

<CENTER>CARRY OUT BEING CARRIED OUT</CENTER>

 

To do what you requested, simply:

 

Approach His initiated disciple, request whatever service he requires of you; and if it seems reasonable... Do It...

 

Simple as that..

 

AUM TAT SAT

[melvin]

I have actually suggested this idea of

translating Swami`s books to its local

versions to Viraja Mrdanga( Sounds of the

Printing Press ) when I paid a visit to

the Radha-Damodara temple in Basak,

Mandaue City, Cebu, Philippines, whose

care taker, Bharata dasa, was personally

present when I submitted the idea, with my

humble obeisances, to the Guru when he

conducted a seminar/lecture to the devotees

in the temple on the Bhagavad-gita. It was

rather a surprise visit since I didn`t know

Guru Mrdanga was there. My purpose in visi-

ting the temple was causeless when it

dawned on me this irresistible feeling of

going to the temple, bringing with me a book

written by Rene Descartes and a copy of

a web site I designed which I wanted to show

Bharata dasa.

When they gave me the opportunity to have

a brief moment with Viraja Mrdanga and

telling him who I was and the purpose of my

visit( showing him a copy of the web site:

www.mateo.bizland.com ), the Guru then asked

me what I really had in mind. All of the

sudden, this idea of translating Swami`s

books to its local version(Visayan) came

upon me and spoke, as if I was in samadhi,

to him as if I had already had this in my

mind before the visit.

After revealing to the Guru my idea, he

immediately told Bharata dasa to coordinate

with me, and without delay come up with a

local version of, say Nectar of Instructions,

and once written be reviewed or edited by

an authority.

Sadly, I wasn`t able to get in touch again

with Bharata dasa because of my work as

a government physician in one of the dis-

trict hospitals here in the province.

Besides I was busy posting pieces of my

mind at www.iskcondc.com`s message boards,

which I regularly do after they allowed me

to visit their web site on December 1999.

I have friends in the media who are expert

on the field of journalism, who are Visa-

yan natives good in speaking and writing

Visaya. With their assistance, I could

start immediately the translations only if

you provide this wretched soul the logis-

tics required to start it. Of course, with

Bharata dasa`s close supervision.

I`m not a con-man or something. It`s just

because I believe A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami`s

mission points towards our direction. Isn`t

it?

[shvu]

Hi,

 

Why are you calling yourself a "wretched soul" ? What other types of souls are there ?

All this work that you intend to do, is only for self fulfillment.

 

There is no progress towards getting close to God. You are as close as one can get. There is no direction.

 

 

[Jahnava Nitai Das]

The Paramatma is situated within our heart, so one can say that God is already here. The problem is we have no experience of the Paramatma because we are channeling our spiritual senses outward to the external world. Instead of hearing and seeing internally, we are hearing and seeing externally. As a result the mind must process and store all information that the senses perceive, resulting in mental disturbance. We are very careful to filter what goes in through our mouth (we drink filtered water), but very few people care to filter what goes in through the ears, the eyes, and the other senses. Just as the contamination in the water causes physical sickness, in the same way the contaminations of sound and sight cause internal sickness within the mind. As our consciousness becomes more and more polluted, our ability to perceive subtle internal realities becomes less and less.

 

Thus we need a process of purifying the consciousness of contamination in order to bring our perception closer to the Paramatma. The Srimad Bhagavatam gives us the cure. It advises us:

 

srinvatam sva katha krishna

punya sravana kirtanah

hrdyanta stho hyabhadrani

vidhunoti suhrit satam

 

By hearing the transcendental discussions of Krishna's activities and instructions all the contamination in the heart will be purified.

 

Therefore it is of utmost importance to translate these spiritually charged books into every language on the planet in order to give every soul the opportunity to purify their polluted consciousness and experience God face to face.

[shvu]

But as long as we chase purity, perfection or moksha, isn't it within the frame of imperfection ?

 

As long as I have this big desire to see God, I am still not free of desire. This seeking by itself will be a hurdle.

 

------------

There is neither heaven nor hell nor even liberation during life. In a word, in the sight of the seer nothing exists at all. 18.80

 

- Ashtavakra Gita

 

Those who desire pleasure and those who desire liberation are both bound in samsara; the great-souled person who desires neither pleasure nor liberation is rare indeed. 17.5

 

- Ashtavakra Gita

 

 

 

[shvu]

"This Atman cannot be attained by the study of the Vedas, or by intelligence, or by much hearing of sacred books. It is attained by him alone whom It chooses. To such a one, Atman reveals its own form." - Katha Upanishad

 

[melvin]

There are at least 60 atmaramas described by Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to

Prakasananda. All of which are eligible for liberation through the process of

sravanam kirtanam visnoh. Or chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. There`s

no other way to cleanse the mind from the contamination maya has done to it but

to continue singing the glories of Krishna and His pastimes with the gopis and

His conjugal relationship with Srimati Radharani. That way, one always sees Krishna

within his heart and mind.

 

[janardana prabhu]

"How can I carry out A.C. Bhaktivedanta

Swami`s Mission without displeasing him?

Should I distribute his books to those

who are interested or help in publishing

new ones? Which is which? "

Dear Melvin, I am still thinking about this post I find it very confusing. first do you know what Prabhupads mission is? Is not the first order of business to purify ones self. would it not be displeasing if you skipped over this most critical part of Bhakti yoga. why are you trying to please Srila Prabhupad. when you understand the answers you will not ask which is which, you will know what is what.

[melvin]

The biography of Swami Prabhupad after reading it had left me a lot of questions

waiting to be answered. Like what happened to his wife and children? Where are they

now? What happened to Swami`s magazine,

Back to Godhead, and why its subscriptions

are no longer in circulation. What is

actually the goal of Swami`s Bhaktivedanta

Book Trust? How much have it earned and how

the proceeds are spent?

When Swami was dying, why were there nobody

discussing with him about the pastimes with

Radha-Krishna? Why was Swami focusing on his

mind Krishna-Balarama prior to his departure?

And why did the children of Swami not grant

him his last wish of going out to visit the

different temples in Vrndavan riding on a

cart? And lastly, why is Swami antagonistic

to doctors practicing the art of modern

medicine? Is it because Swami Prabhupad had

not found one - a pure-devotee? Because I

believe Swami Prabhupad would have lived

longer if there was one on his bed side who

could treat him the way he wanted it to be.

How I wish I was on Swami`s bedside because

maybe I could discuss to him about his

heart problem as it is, as well as telling

him about this plan of translating his books

into its(Visayan)local version so that our

people could understand the science of

Krishna.

[melvin]

Re: Atmaramas.... It was not Prakasananda

Saravasti the 60 atmaramas Lord Chaitanya

had described to... It was Sanatana Goswami.

I`m sorry for this mistake.

 

 

 

[Jahnava Nitai Das]

Sorry for the short answers, but I don't have much time today:

 

"Like what happened to his wife and children? Where are they now?"

 

His family members had no or very little interest in Krishna consciousness. His children later filed a court case against ISKCON claiming to be the rightful heirs to Srila Prabhupada's mission (and fortune). Srila Prabhupada left in his will a small ammount for maintenance to his family, everything else was left to ISKCON. Srila Prabhupada said his disciples were his true sons, as they always endeavoured to do what would please him. His material sons would only come to him to ask for money (despite him being a sannyasi renounced from the world).

 

"What happened to Swami`s magazine,

Back to Godhead, and why its subscriptions

are no longer in circulation."

 

Back to Godhead magazine is still being published by Srila Prabhupada's disciples. You can read it online at their website, which I don't know offhand. Go to the Hare Krishna Index and there is a link to it from there.

 

"What is actually the goal of Swami`s Bhaktivedanta Book Trust?"

 

I am sure there is an official goal listed in their incorporation documents (or what ever legal setup they have). But basically it is to print and distribute Srila Prabhupada's books in all the languages of the world (including visayan!). They may give more importance to languages that have a wider audience, as they would want to influence the maximum number of people.

 

"How much have it earned and how

the proceeds are spent?"

 

It has earned millions of dollars as far as I can guess. The money is used to print books and to fund several activities, one of which is construction of temples in India (particularly in Vrindavan and Mayapur).

 

"When Swami was dying, why were there nobody

discussing with him about the pastimes with

Radha-Krishna?"

 

Srila Prabhupada was translating the tenth canto of Srimad Bhagavatam up until his last days. The tenth canto of Srimad Bhagavatam deals with the pastimes of Lord Krishna on earth. Devotees came to Srila Prabhupada at that time to receive his divine association, not to give him their somewhat mundane association (in comparison). Both hearing and reciting the glories of the Lord has the same spiritual effect, both on the listener and the reciter. Srila Prabhupada's mission was to preach Krishna consciousness, up until his last breath.

 

"Why was Swami focusing on his mind Krishna-Balarama prior to his departure?"

 

Because Krishna and Balarama are the eternal forms of the Lord in the spiritual abode of Goloka Vrindavana. Balarama is the immediate expansion of Krishna, and practically there is no difference between the two except for their external features (color, etc.). Balarama is a white Krishna, and Krishna is a black Balarama. To meditate on Krishna and Balarama at the time of leaving the body is the top most perfection of life. Srila Prabhupada was an eternal servant of Krishna Balarama in the spiritual world. He is their intimate friend and associate. Thus it was natural for Srila Prabhupada to meditate on Krishna and Balarama in his final days.

 

"And why did the children of Swami not grant

him his last wish of going out to visit the

different temples in Vrndavan riding on a

cart?"

 

Srila Prabhupada's disciples were worried for his health. His body was very frail, and he would not have survived the visit to Govardhan hill on a bullock cart. Whether this was right or wrong of his disciples is another point. The devotees were divided on this. It is nice to note that Sri Narasingha Swami Maharaj, a disciple of Srila Prabhupada with an ashram near Mysore, has established the worship of a deity of Srila Prabhupada along with a Govardhana sila so that everyday Srila Prabhupada can visit Sri Govardhan as was his desire.

 

"And lastly, why is Swami antagonistic

to doctors practicing the art of modern

medicine?"

 

Modern medicine is an imperfect science that has many side effects. There are many benefits in modern medecine, but at the same time there are many things that are not good. Srila prabhupada was not attached to staying in this world. He was situated beyond bodily consciousness, thus he left it to Krishna to decide if he should stay or go. It was Lord Krishna's desire that Srila Prabhupada return to Goloka Vrindavan. Thus Srila Prabhupada, with full yogic control over his prana, left his material body and returned to Krishna.

 

"I believe Swami Prabhupad would have lived

longer if there was one on his bed side who

could treat him the way he wanted it to be."

 

Srila Prabhupada knew this, but was not interested in extending his life. His mission in the material world was complete and Krishna wanted him to return to Goloka Vrindavana.

 

 

[melvin]

Parikrama

The word parikrama may have an equivalent

in the Roman Catholic religion where its

practitioner visit the churches called

" Visita de Iglesia, " during Lent to pray

to the Lord Jesus Christ and to confess

his sins to a priest. All these rites are

re-enacted every year to atone one`s self

of the things he did that displeased God.

Similarly, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami had

heard( taken verbatim from the book Prabhu-

pada written by Satsvarupa dasa Goswami )

of the program from his disciple Lokanatha

Goswami, who took a small group of men on

a bullock cart and preaching in villages

throughout India. He told Swami that in

the course of their travels, they were able

to visit tirthas, like Badarakisrama and

Bhim Kapur. Although dying, Swami was enli-

ven to hear this and came up with the desire

that he himself go ride a cart pulled by

bullocks circumambulate the area of Vrnda-

van. However, Swami`s two close disciples,

Tamala Krishna and Bhavananda felt that he

may not survive the trip because they felt

his body was as fragile as glass that it

could break once it`s tossed and jolted from

the bad roads Swami will have taken. But

Swami Prabhupada reasoned that," Dying on

parikrama is glorious, " and he asked them

to take him. A controversy developed among

the devotees, as some said Prabhupada`s will

to go parikrama should be immediately

honored as an order from the spiritual mas-

ter. The doctor(whoever he is did a great

disservice to Swami himself), however,

assured them;Tamal Krishna, and Bhavananda

that Swami would not survive the jostling

of the cart. Lokanatha Goswami, however,

followed Swami`s request even if his disci-

ples held different opinions, by suggesting,

with Hamsadhuta that the parikrama could

go to the city of Vrndavan or visit the seven main temples of the Goswamis and since

the next day it was Govardhana Puja, Prabhu-

pada could go to Govardhana Hill. But the

three disciples, Tamal Krishna, Bhavananda,

and Bhakticaru, protested adamantly against

parikrama. " One-day experiment, " Prabhu-

pada said. " It is for one day. Rest assured

I won`t die in one day." He liked the idea

of going to Govardhana. " And " We will make

our cooking there," he said. Lokanatha Swa-

mi, he assured them, was experienced." Make

very good picnic, " he said.

After discussing back and forth, the devo-

tees finally decided that early the next

morning they would take Srila Prabhupad in

the bullock cart to Govardhana. The majority

of the devotees then left Swami alone for the night. Parikrama the next day did not mat-

rialize. And why? This incident irreversibly

broke his heart and he was never the same

again. Hare Krishna!

[Jahnava Nitai Das]

Liberated souls are not influenced by material circumstances. Srila Prabhupada was constantly seeing Krishna within his heart, thus he was not broken hearted by not going on an external parikrama. It was Srila Prabhupada who finally decided not to go on Parikrama, taking the desires of his disciples into consideration.

 

"This incident irreversibly broke his heart and he was never the same again."

 

This statement is not correct. I am curious how you know he was never the same again?

 

[melvin]

I really don`t know how I knew. Only the

Supreme Soul( Paramatma) knows the Truth

and nothing but the Truth.

[janardana prabhu]

Your doing it again melvin--

"I really don`t know how I knew. Only the

Supreme Soul( Paramatma) knows the Truth

and nothing but the Truth. " This is not Krsna Conscious understanding and if you were to meet Srila Prabhupada personaly, He would simply laugh and call you a busy fool!A fool can pretend to be the king, until he opens his mouth. By your words are you contributing to ignorence or knowlege.

[melvin]

The Paramatma

----------------

 

After discussing Krishna consciousness for

some time, Ramananda Raya fell at the lotus

feet of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and

said," My dear Lord, You are so kind to me

that You have taught me about the science

of Krishna and Radharani and Their loving

affairs of the rasa-dance and Their

pastimes. I have never thought that I`d be

able to speak regarding this topic. Hence,

You have taught me as You formerly taught

the Vedas to Brahma."

Those statements from Ramananda Raya are

referred to as the system of receiving

instructions from the Supreme Soul( The

Paramatma). Externally, He is not to be

seen but internally, He speaks to His

devotee from within his heart. The Lord

reciprocates His devotee`s loving service

by giving him instructions and acting in

such a way that His devotee ultimately

attains the surpeme goal( Krishna cons-

ciousness).

When Lord Brahma was born, there was no one

to instruct him of the science of God. But

by His causeless mercy, The Supreme Soul

Himself Sri Krishna, instructed Lord Brahma

the Vedas through his heart. And so with

Sukadeva Goswami, when he prayed to the

Supreme Yogesvara within his heart to help

him speak Srimad Bhagavatam before Mahara-

ja Pariksit.

In other words, when a conditioned soul

immediately becomes electrified with Krishna

consciousness, the Supreme Soul Visnu

trains him from without the science of God

through the spiritual master and from with-

in his heart through the Supreme Soul Hari.

The Absolute Truth therefore can be realized

in three ways: 1) Bhagavan realization 2)

Paramatma realization, and 3) Brahman(Self)

realization. These are confirmed in Srimad

Bhagavatam(2.9.33) when it said: That the

Absolute Truth(Sri Krishna) exists before

this cosmic manifestation, that He exists

during the continuance, and that He conti-

nues to exist after the annihilation. He

is therefore the soul of everything great,

the all-pervading and all-witnessing ( Pa-

ramatma), as well as the supreme form of

everything.

( Taken from the Teachings of Lord Chaitanya

1981 Phil. Copyright edition. )

 

Note: Yes, my dear Janardana Prabhu, your

friend, Melvin, is a fool. And I`m truly

sorry for being a fool for Krishna. Are you

now satisfied?

[Janus]

Melvin isn't a fool, and your speculation that Srila Prabhupada would call him that shows your own ignorance. Thay you think that you have any comprehension, and full comprehension of what Srila Prabhupada thought, why your just presumptuous. Melvin has some attachment to Srila Prabhupada, you have an attachment to supposing that you know who Srila Prabhupada would criticize. Why don't you start with yourself? Why don't you say that you are fool number one, because you don't think that you are? You think your better than Lord Caitanya?

Hari bol

[Janus]

PS Janardana

I see that your from Vancouver B.C. If Partha das is still there, or Pasupati das you might avail yourself of their good association.

[Janus]

Melvin

Janardhana is on the mental platform and is criticizing you for what he cannot relish in that state, the wisdom of the heart, a far closer position to the Supersoul than is the cold and arid mind.

Hari bol

[melvin]

My dear Prabhus,

Please let us not make a fire out of an

ember. Janardana is my friend and so are

all of you. If Janardana calls me names,

well, it`s alright with me. It won`t hurt

me if a friend calls me names. He`s a

friend, see? If friends don`t share the

same feelings then let it be. A friend does

not impose his points of view on his dear

friend because he gives respect whatever

view his friend has on himself. We should

love one another as Lord Jesus Christ had

commanded to his disciples. There`s no

greater command than this. Let peace rule

in our hearts so this peace may also rule

among men and women throughout the world.

The solution starts with us, my dear Prabhus.

Hare Krishna!