Devotees Vaishnavas: Today's Thought

miércoles, 1 de diciembre de 2010

Today's Thought - December 2010

Pensamiento-del-dia

Sankarshana Das Adhikari

An Appeal for Your Help

On the order of his spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, Sankarshan Prabhu has dedicated his life for the most urgent work of spreading Krishna consciousness all over the world. The more that Krishna consciousness spreads, the more that the suffering, scarcity, and hate on this planet will be replaced with bliss, abundance and love. This is a golden opportunity for us to do the highest good for all living beings and receive the special blessings of the Lord. Therefore we should, as much as possible, sacrifice our time, energy, and resources to assist Sankarshan Prabhu in his most important work. If you would like to help out to any extent, little or big, kindly inform Sankarshan Prabhu of your desire.

Sofia Lecture Videos On Line:
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/gauranga

Friday 31 December 2010

from Melbourne, Australia
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Today's Thought:

Don't Throw Away the Rarest Opportunity

This human form of life is the rarest opportunity because after transmigrating through 8,000,000 species in the lower forms of life one finally gets the opportunity to be a human being. In this human form one is gifted with the rare ability to inquire into what is the nature of the Absolute Truth. If one sincerely does so, he becomes factually situated on the human platform of spiritual awakening and through proper association and guidance gradually realizes his eternal identity in the transcendental kingdom of God. However, if one wastes his human form of life simply imitating the animals in a polished life of material sense gratification, he is fated to go back down to the lower species in his next birth in accordance with whatever type of material sense gratification he has become inclined towards. Therefore one should intelligently not throw away this rarest of all opportunities.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Explaining the Rarest Opportunity
Melbourne, Australia--29 December 2010

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: If I Continue Chanting Will I See Krishna?

If I continue chanting will I actually see Krishna? Will He actually appear while I'm chanting?

Shivash

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Answer: Absolutely

It is absolutely a fact that by sincerely chanting the Hare Krishna mahamantra one day you will see Krishna, face to face, eye to eye. So now you must qualify yourself for that day. Putting full faith in this process you must regularly associate with devotees, take shelter of and initiation from the bona fide spiritual master, and under his guidance give up all of your bad attitudes and habits. In this way you will become solidly fixed in Krishna consciousness, deriving from it the sweetest taste. You will become absolutely attached to Krishna experiencing ecstatic emotions in constant remembrance of Him. You will then reach the perfectional stage known as Krishna prema in which you will see Krishna constantly within and without and always be deeply absorbed in direct personal loving exchanges with Him.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Thursday 30 December 2010

from Melbourne, Australia
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Today's Thought:

A Balanced Life

Lord Sri Krishna explains in the Bhagavad-gita:

"There is no possibility of one's becoming a yogi, O Arjuna,
if one eats too much or eats too little,
sleeps too much or does not sleep enough."

Therefore to be successful in the self realization process we must practice the art of moderation. Overeating and oversleeping as well as under-eating and under-sleeping are all unfavorable for advancing on the pathway of self realization to awaken our dormant Krishna consciousness.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: How to Go Deeper into the Holy Name?

Hare Krishna, Maharaja,
Please accept my obeisances
All glories to Srila Prabhupada

I was listening to one of your lectures, and you said to go deeper into the holy name while chanting. How can one do so?

Thank you,
Your servant,

Nandan

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Answer: Totally Absorb Your Consciousness in the Name

Deeply chanting means chanting with such intense feeling that one's consciousness becomes totally absorbed in the Lord's holy name. In a similar way that a person can become so deeply absorbed in watching a movie that he forgets that it is a movie and feels that it is reality, a chanter can become so deeply absorbed in the holy name that the entire material world pales into insignificance in the splendorous presence of the all beautiful, all powerful holy name of Lord Sri Krishna.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Wednesday 29 December 2010

from Melbourne, Australia
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Today's Thought:

The Perfect Meditation

Srila Rupa Goswami wonderfully describes as follows:

"I remember the Lord standing by the banks of the Yamuna River, so beautiful amid the kadamba trees, where many birds are chirping in the gardens. And these impressions are always giving me transcendental realization of beauty and bliss."

There is no type of meditation more powerful than this. This Krishna meditation quickly brings the practitioner of self-realization to the highest goal.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Lord Sri Krishna on the Bank of the Yamuna

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Our Free Will or God's Free Will?

Dear Gurudeva,

Many thanks for providing enlivening aspects of Bhakti science on daily basis, which are quite refreshing.

One doubt cropped up after reading the answer for the question made on "Thought For the Day" of 27 December 2010, wherein it is mentioned that, "Krishna will not override our free will and make us prisoners by forcing us to do what He wants us to do" and that he lets us take independent decision according to our free will. This seems to be in contrary to the statements made in purports of Bhagavad-gita 7.21, Bhagavad-gita 9.6 where it is stated, "Not a blade of grass can move without the will of Supreme Personality of Godhead." Kindly clarify, whether our decisions are based on our free will or based on the will of Supreme Personality of Godhead.

With regards,

M. Raviraja

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Answer: Both

The answer is very simple. Both. By Krishna's free will we have free will.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Tuesday 28 December 2010

from Sydney, Australia
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Today's Thought:

Invigorating Spiritual Retreat

We have just returned from an invigorating self realization retreat in beautiful Govinda Valley, Australia. What was even more beautiful than the location of the retreat was the subject matter of the retreat: the steps to becoming perfect in Krishna consciousness beginning from sraddha or faith and progressing all the way to prema or pure love of God. Studying about the symptoms and qualities of each step on the path of bhakti gave each participant an excellent perspective on how to map and accelerate his or her gradual process to the highest level of spiritual enlightenment.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Sraddha to Prema Self-Realization Retreat
Govinda Valley, Australia--24-26 December 2010

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Eating Prasadam Attracts One to Krishna?

Is it true that by eating Krishna prasadam one gets attracted to Lord Krishna?

Regards,
Sunil

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Answer: He's Already Attracted to Krishna

Since Krishna prasadam is the mercy manifestation of Krishna, by eating prasadam one is already attracted to Krishna. Prasadam is so powerful that even if one is not a devotee, if he keeps eating Krishna prasadam he will become a devotee.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Monday 27 December 2010

from Sydney, Australia
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Today's Thought:

The Battle with the Senses

When one seriously adopts the path of bhakti, he immediately gets resistance from the material senses. The practitioner of bhakti resolves to only give his senses what is needed for a healthy life and not beyond this. He refuses to overindulge his senses. But in material life the senses are accustomed to being overindulged on a regular basis. Therefore when one begins the path of bhakti the senses adamantly demand that they should receive the gratification they are accustomed to, even though this is not healthy and not favorable for spiritual progress. Therefore the devotee must be careful not to cave in to the demands of the senses. He must accept only as much sense gratification as is necessary for a healthy life so that he can free up as much energy as possible for his practice of Krishna consciousness.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Why God Doesn't Force Us to Be Good?

I firmly believe that God is everywhere and that without Him we cannot do anything. He will just show us two paths in life: good and bad and leave the choice to us. It is we who decide which one to take for the rest of our life. Even when we take the wrong path, why does not He prevent us at the very first time?

I always have this doubt and now I found a platform for clarifying it. Kindly clear my doubts.

Malini

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Answer: He Can't Exchange Love with a Robot

Krishna is providing us with all help to make the right choice to follow the path of love of God instead of the path of material sense gratification. He personally appears on this planet to enlighten us with transcendental wisdom. He sends great spiritual masters to guide us. And, He is fully present in the form of the Bhagavad-gita, in His holy name, and as the Supersoul within our hearts.

If we do not take advantage of all His wonderful mercy, it is our fault. Krishna will not override our free will and make us prisoners by forcing us to do what He wants us to do. If He took away our free will, we would be transformed into robots and Krishna would not be able to exchange love with us. Therefore He never interferes with our free will. He always gives the choice between loving Him and leaving Him letting us decide what we want.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Sunday 26 December 2010

from Govinda Valley, Australia
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Today's Thought:

The Awakening of Krishna Consciousness

The awakening of Krishna consciousness is a process of ever-deepening meditation upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead via absorption in His loving service. Of all meditational systems, bhakti or loving service is the most powerful and effective because one becomes spontaneously attracted to his object of meditation just as a young boy is attracted to a young girl.

First one has faith in the process. This is the sraddha stage. Then he seeks out the association of devotees to help him take up the process. This is called the sadhu sanga stage. Then he becomes fully initiated into the process by the bona fide spiritual master. This is the bhajana-kriya stage. At this early stage, his meditation on the Supreme Lord is in little flashes and is always intruded upon by material thoughts. But then as he becomes free from the dirt within his heart (anartha nivritti) he reaches the nistha stage in which the meditation is hardly interrupted. In the next stage, known as ruci, the meditation is for longer periods without external interruptions. Then in the asakti stage the meditations are deep and profound. In the bhava stage the Supreme Lord appears immediately in his meditation. And finally, in prema, exchanges with the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna are constant, direct, and personal.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Getting Rid of False Ego

Revered Master,

How do I get rid from my false ego?

Thanks & Regards

Indira G.

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Answer: Replace It With Real Ego

False ego is the false conception in which one considers himself to the center of enjoyment, to be the lord of all that he surveys. The impersonalists try to get rid of this false conception by denying the existence of the self, but they are not successful. After all, if the self denies the self, it is still the self doing the denying. The self has not been annihilated, nor can it be annihilated.

Therefore since the self cannot be annihilated, the actual solution is to replace the false ego with the real ego: "I am the eternal servant of Krishna." This assertion revives ones original identity beyond the temporary material body and opens the door to eternity, knowledge, and bliss. So this is what you should do to get rid of false. You should assert your identity as the eternal servant of Krishna by taking up the practice of devotional service under the guidance of the bona fide spiritual master.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Saturday 25 December 2010

from Sydney, Australia
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Today's Thought:

The Other Side of the Window

The Hare Krishna mahamantra is a transcendental window to the spiritual world. When we master the art of chanting it without any offense we are blessed by the opportunity to see through that window and even pass through that window into the wondrous spiritual existence on the other side. The key is that we have to chant without any offense. The first principle of offenseless chanting is that we must always be respectful to all the devotees of the Lord who have dedicated their lives fully for propagating the holy names of the Lord all over the world. In other words we can only enter into the nectarean ocean of the Lord's name to the extent that we have learned how to love His devotees. So, the more we love the Lord's devotees, the more we are able to enter into the name and into the spiritual world. The Lord's name, the Lord Himself, and His transcendental abode are all non-different.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Two Truths?

Dear Guru Sankarshan Das Adhikari,

Can you please explain to me the difference between the Hare Krishna movement and the Jehovah's Witnesses?

Indy

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Answer: Hare Krishnas Witness for Jehovah

If we simply analyze on the basis of the name of their movement, the Hare Krishna people are also Jehovah's witnesses because Jehovah is a name of Krishna and we are always witnessing on His behalf. Regarding a detailed comparison of the two philosophies, if you can describe to me what is their philosophy in detail, I will happy to explain to you how their philosophy compares with the sublime knowledge revealed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead Krishna or Jehovah in the Bhagavad-gita.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Friday 24 December 2010

from Sydney, Australia
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Today's Thought:

The Most Awesome Responsibility

Our spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, has given us the most awesome responsibility. We have to bring true, lasting, peace and happiness to every single person on this planet by enlightening them in the transcendental science of Krishna consciousness. Sadly, at the present moment practically the entire human population is completely lost, sleeping in the lap of bodily consciousness. We have been blessed with the duty to awaken them. To be fully equipped to do so we must be fully awakened ourselves. As it is said, "Physician, heal thyself." Therefore even though our most important duty is to save the world, it is even more important that we save ourselves.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: How Can I Get Liberated?

How can I get liberated from material existence through my mind? What are the main defects in thinking of ourselves as body? How can I motivate myself in Krishna consciousness consistently?

Parag R.

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Answer: Always Think of Krishna

To get liberated from the cycle of birth and death you need to mold your life in such a way that you are always thinking about Krishna. This is the key for getting liberated as soon as possible.

Thinking of ourselves as the body is the main defect of the modern civilization, because the body is only the covering of the self. It is not the real self. If we polish the bird cage and do not feed the bird within the cage, the bird will die. This is what we are doing now in our present soul-killing civilization.

If you want to be constantly motivated in Krishna consciousness, you must always remember that Krishna is a real person who wants you to give Him all of your love.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Thursday 23 December 2010

from Lenasia, South Africa
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Today's Thought:

Medicinal Radio Broadcast

Today, 22 December 2010, I was blessed with the most auspicious opportunity to appear for an interview on Eastwave 92.2 FM radio. I was asked very nice philosophical questions such as why we exist and how we can create a peaceful atmosphere on this planet. Many listeners called in nice intelligent questions in as well. It is important to take advantage of every single opportunity which presents itself for enlightening the world population in the transcendental Krishna consciousness science. All over the world people are suffering due to the disease of material consciousness. We have been blessed with the medicine that can save them. Therefore we must get this medicinal message out to all of them as soon as possible so that they can also become happy.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Interview on Eastwave Radio
22 December 2010--Lenasia, South Africa

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Who is the Creator of the Creator?

Who could be the creator of the creator?

Deepak W.

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Answer: There Cannot Be Such a Person

There cannot be a such a person. The Creator cannot have a creator because this would make Him the Created instead of the Creator.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Wednesday 22 December 2010

from Lenasia, South Africa
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Today's Thought:

There is Nothing More Sublime than This

If you are looking for happiness that goes on increasing throughout your entire life, a happiness that is not eroded, but enhanced, by your advancement of age, then you have come to the right place. Krishna consciousness is just what you are looking for. By seriously applying yourself to this process of Krishna consciousness you will eventually become completely free from all anxieties and will be able to be engaged 24 hours in acting for the ultimate benefit of all living beings throughout all of existence. It doesn't get any better than this. Take up this process with all seriousness and attain the supreme result.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: How to Avoid Bad Thoughts in the Mind?

I am regular reader of your emails. Today I need your help and guidance. I want to avoid bad thoughts and images which keep reflecting in my mind during chanting japa or praying. How to avoid this? I have difficulty controlling this. I admit my failure and continue to try daily to avoid this, but these images appear even in my sleep. I have prayed for mercy to the Lord. However this continues. Kindly help me. I am eagerly looking for your advice and direction.

Your Servant,
Suresh K.

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Answer: Patiently Cultivate Pure Krishna Bhakti

My prayers are with you that you may be blessed with pure bhakti. You are presently suffering the reactions from previous sinful activities. The key is that in spite of all disturbances you must remain in chanting at least 16 rounds daily of the Hare Krishna mahamantra on japa beads while strictly avoiding illicit sex, intoxication, meat eating, and gambling. If you will stick tightly to these instructions, these thoughts will gradually evaporate and go away forever.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Tuesday 21 December 2010

from Mauritius
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Today's Thought:

Deep Sea Diving in Mauritius

Presently I am doing a lecture series on a paradisial island known as Mauritius in the Indian ocean located 560 miles east of Madagascar, which is off the eastern coast of Africa. I usually give lectures in hellish cities. But in Krishna consciousness it does not matter where you are, because wherever you are, you can taste the same transcendental bliss by diving deeply into the transcendental ocean of Krishna bhakti. One can be in the middle of hellish polluted city or on a paradisial island such as Mauritius. It does not matter, because in either place one can go deep sea diving into the transcendental ocean of Krishna bhakti experiencing unlimited bliss in the sweet nectar of remembering that amazing Lord Krishna, who is the source of all existence and the most merciful well-wishing friend of all living beings.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

One Can Remember Krishna

in Serene, Beautiful Mauritius,

or in a Hellish City.

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Why Devotion to Lord Vishnu?

Why did you mention in "Thought for the Day" devotion to Lord Vishnu, when Vishnu is actually subordinate to Krishna? Why can't you just say glories of Krishna? In a recent post you use Vishnu, when devotion to Vishnu is not the goal of bhakti, and thus will not get you to Goloka because only Krishna prema will? It is not necessary to ever think of Vishnu. Simply if we water the root (Krishna) everything else is automatically taken care of. If you water Vishnu it doesn't mean Krishna is watered. A true lover of Krishna considers it a fall down to worship Vishnu. Please forgive my intense feelings on this, I am in no way trying to offend. I just feel very, very strong on this point. Kindly correct me, if I'm wrong.

Your servant

Bhakta John

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Answer: Lord Krishna is the Original Lord Vishnu

I appreciate your devotion to Lord Krishna, but kindly try to understand now the relationship between Krishna and Vishnu as revealed to us by Srila Prabhupada.

Devotion to Vishnu is not my mention. I have simply repeated the words of the Srimad Bhagavatam, the topmost of all scriptures. The verse I quoted, in which devotion to Vishnu is described, is spoken by Prahlada Maharaja, one of the twelve greatest devotees of all time.

There is no mistake in this concept of devotion to Vishnu because Krishna consciousness is devotion to Lord Vishnu in His original form, in which He is known as Krishna. This is why devotees of Lord Krishna are known as Vaisnavas (devotees of Lord Vishnu.) Krishna and Vishnu are actually the same person, but when God is understood intimately He is called Krishna. And when He is understood formally, He is called Vishnu.

It is a fact that if one wants to attain admittance into topmost spiritual planet, Goloka Vrindavan, that one must be devoted to Lord Vishnu in His original form of Lord Krishna. Therefore the name of Krishna is always given more importance than the name Vishnu. This however does not alter our philosophical understanding that devotion to Krishna is devotion to Vishnu and that the perfection of devotion to Vishnu is devotion to Krishna.

The expanded Vishnu forms are subordinate to Krishna. But the original Vishnu form is Krishna Himself and is therefore not subordinate to Krishna.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Monday 20 December 2010

from Mauritius
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Today's Thought:

Perfect Your Krishna Consciousness

If you want to achieve the supreme perfection of going back to home, back to Godhead at the time of death, you need to perfect your Krishna consciousness. As long as our devotional service is mixed with mental speculation and fruitive activities we will be obliged to take birth again in this material world in order to try to satisfy our unfulfilled desires. What a foolish waste of time and energy! Such desires are not worth it because they will never satisfy us. Therefore those who are actually intelligent take the cultivation of pure devotional service as their only business. They quickly become free from all anxieties and at the time of death immediately enter into the transcendental pastimes of Lord Sri Krishna with his pure loving devotees.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Can Eating Vegetables Also Be Sinful?

While discussing with one of my friends I got confused. According to the four regulative principles of Krishna consciousness, I gave up meat eating a long time ago as I wanted to refrain from killing. When I told my friend I left meat because I don't want to kill, he said that even the plants have life and therefore eating them would also be killing. So I told him that since we are offering food to Krishna it's not sinful. He then asked, "If you offer meat to Krishna wouldn't that also be free from sin, just as when you offer vegetables to Krishna?"

Somewhere I got angry inside and did not talk to him any more. But after thinking about it, this question comes to my mind: Am I sinning by eating vegetarian food?

Also it is said in scriptures that God is present in everything. Prahlada Maharaja insisted upon this, and God came out of the pillar to prove His devotee's words. Is it sinful then to eat anything since God is present everywhere?

One point that is given in Bhagavad-gita is that meat is tamasic, in the mode of ignorance. So to advance spiritually one must be sattvic, that is, in the mode of goodness. Could this be the answer of my question? Kindly clear my doubts.

Sushant

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Answer: Yes, If You Don't Offer Them to Krishna

Your understanding from Bhagavad-gita that meat eating is in the mode of ignorance is a fact. The more one eats meat, the more he becomes ignorant.

It is a fact that eating vegetables is also killing. Therefore our vegetables must be offered to Krishna before eating. Meat cannot be offered because when Krishna specifies which types of foods are offerable, He does not include meat in the list. He only includes foodstuffs from the category of fruits, vegetables. dairy products, and grains.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Sunday 19 December 2010

from Mauritius
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Today's Thought:

Certainty in a World of Uncertainty

There's at least one thing for sure. This material world is a place of uncertainty. You never know what is going to happen next. Things can be going along really great when all of sudden out of the blue disaster strikes. This is why if we want lasting peace and happiness we must always take shelter of Krishna. It is only when we take full shelter of that inconceivably amazing beautiful person who is the source of all existence that we can find certainty in a world full of uncertainty. Krishna is the supreme all-merciful controller. He is supreme in every conceivable and inconceivable way. We can always count on Him in all times, places, and circumstances. So besides uncertainty, there's another thing for sure. Krishna's mercy is certain.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: How to Become Accomplished in Bhakti Yoga?

How we can one become accomplished in the bhakti yoga system? Please mention what is the process.

Sourav

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Answer: Through these Nine Items

The process of bhakti yoga is described by Bhakta Prahlada in the Srimad Bhagavatam as follows:

"Hearing and chanting about the transcendental holy name, form, qualities, paraphernalia and pastimes of Lord Vishnu, remembering them, serving the lotus feet of the Lord, offering the Lord respectful worship with sixteen types of paraphernalia, offering prayers to the Lord, becoming His servant, considering the Lord one's best friend, and surrendering everything unto Him (in other words, serving Him with the body, mind and words)--these nine processes are accepted as pure bhakti yoga or devotional service. One who has dedicated his life to the service of Krishna through these nine methods should be understood to be the most learned person, for he has acquired complete knowledge."

The above mentioned bhakti yoga system is learned under the expert guidance of the bona fide spiritual master. Through this system one attains the highest perfection of self-realization, pure love of God.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Saturday 18 December 2010

from Lenasia, South Africa
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Today's Thought

Don't Miss the Bliss

There is a truly amazing thing happening on this planet right now. The Krishna consciousness movement is inundating the planet earth with a tsunami of transcendental bliss. Those who are attuned to the higher reality which exists beyond the rotting material body are taking full advantage of this nectarean ocean and are sporting and swimming in its waves with great delight. Don't miss the bliss. Don't be left behind. Dive into this ambrosial ocean today.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Can Yogis Make Their Bodies Eternal?

The material body is temporary, it is subject to birth, death, old age and disease. Can you tell me, does this fact apply to mystic yogis who possess eight mystic powers? I read from the Gita that those who are accomplished in mystic yoga can choose the time and situation of leaving their body. Does it mean that they have the power to negate the law of nature and be immortal if they choose not leave their body? Lord Brahma is subject to death in the end. Are the yogis more powerful than Lord Brahma?

Your humble servant
Yechen Zhang

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Answer: Only the Bhakti Yogis Get an Imperishable Body

Even though the real yogis are able to expand their life spans by hundreds of years and choose their time of passing away, they like Lord Brahma are also subject to the law of death. Sooner or later they must succumb to the all-powerful material nature and leave their bodies behind. Therefore the best utilization of the human form of life is to practice the bhakti yoga system known as Krishna consciousness and for quickly receiving an immortal spiritual body.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Friday 17 December 2010

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Today's Thought

A Never Ending Adventure

For one who has fully dedicated his life for awakening his dormant Krishna consciousness and the dormant Krishna consciousness of the suffering humanity, life is a never ending adventure because Krishna consciousness is ever increasing. There is no limit to how far it can expand. Therefore there is no limit to the happiness that can be tasted by Lord's sincere devotee.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: How to Receive Guru's Training?

There are millions of devotees of Krishna who do not know the process of transcendental meditation. This process is to be learned from a bona fide spiritual master on a one-on-one basis. Where are so many spiritual masters? Is there any alternative to a bona fide spiritual master? Could the process be explained through daily inspirational thoughts?

Janardan V.Mali

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Answer: Especially Through His Vibrational Presence

The spiritual master is not only present in his written word. He is also present in the form of his instructions. This is known as his vibrational presence. This is more important than physical meeting. So if even if you are not able to have a face to face meeting with the spiritual master, you can still take his guidance through personally corresponding with him and through his written and recorded instructions and be sufficiently guided how to achieve the supreme perfection.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Thursday 16 December 2010

from Durban, South Africa
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Today's Thought:

Krishna is Unlimitedly Kind

Krishna is unlimitedly kind. Even though through our eons of
lifetimes we have accumulated an inconceivable burden of sinful
karma for which we are slated to suffer like anything for millions
and millions of births, if we simply surrender ourselves to
Krishna, that I now I am your eternal servant, please engage me in
any way you like--Krishna will kindly relieve us from all of our
karma and take us back to our original form and identity in the
spiritual world.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: How to Change Someone's Destiny?

It is appreciated that you are trying to live your life at every
moment for the deliverance of the suffering souls of this material
world. In this material world some are doomed to suffer due to
their karma. When there is no escape from sufferings for such
people how can you change their destiny ordained by themselves?

Janardan V.Mali

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Answer: We Cannot, But Krishna Can.

We cannot change anyone's destiny. That is a fact. But if we can
convince someone to surrender to Krishna, He will change their
destiny by taking away all of their karma and delivering them back
to His eternal, all-blissful kingdom in the spiritual world.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Wednesday 15 December 2010

from Durban, South Africa
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Today's Thought:

If You Want to Live Forever

Eternal, youthful, all-blissful existence is your divine birthright, but you have now lost it. If you would like to regain it, all you have to do is engage your mind, speech, and body in those thoughts, words, and deeds that were originally natural for you. This training will revive your original, eternal identity. This art is learned from the bona fide spiritual master, that person who is fully situated in his spiritual identity and can thus teach you how to do the same.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: We Fell from the Lord's Pastimes or Brahman?

Did we fall to this material world from having a spiritual personality and spiritual form in the Lord's eternal pastimes in the spiritual sky? Or did we fall to his material world from from an impersonal formless existence in the impersonal Brahman?

S.F.

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Answer: We Gave Up the Lord's Association

Lord Caitanya has very nicely answered this question when He was instructing Santana Goswami. He states:

jivera svarupa haya-krsnera nitya-dasa

"The constitutional position of the living entity is that
he is the eternal servant of Lord Sri Krishna."

Therefore it is not possible for the living entity to have originally been impersonal. And besides that Srila Prabhupada states that there is no question of falling down from Brahman because Brahman is itself a fallen position. Prabhupada also mentions that through the process of Krishna consciousness we regain our old original transcendental body. So, if originally before falling into this material existence we had a spiritual
body, it is clearly indicated that we did not originate in the impersonal Brahman, because in that impersonal Brahman no one has a spiritual body. Spiritual body means that we originated in the pastimes of the Supreme Lord. Our present material body means that we misused our minute independence and fell into this material existence.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Tuesday 14 December 2010

from Durban, South Africa
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Today's Thought:

Plea for Lord Caitanya's Mercy

My dear Lord Caitanya,

My spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who is your dearmost servant, is teaching us that a Krishna conscious being is always engaged in planning how to take all of suffering humanity back home, back to Godhead and that we should always be Krishna conscious. So in spite of my innumerable disqualifications I am trying to live my life in this way at every moment for the deliverance of the suffering souls of this material world. But my dear Lord Caitanya, I am facing so many impediments that sometimes I wonder how I can carry on with this duty. Therefore, oh most merciful Lord Caitanya, I am desperately begging you like a child crying for its mother that you kindly remove all the impediments so that I can be successful in executing the duty given to me by my spiritual master.

Your humble servant, hopefully crying for your mercy.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Who is Qualified to Lead the World?

Who is qualified to lead the world? What kind of knowledge and special capacity should we cultivate to realize this purpose? To realize this purpose, do we need some devotees to pursue the high level material degrees to study with them in the same school and then help them to know the Krishna consciousness science?

I say this because there are many graduates from the worldly topmost famous universities like Harvard University, etc who are now the topmost leaders in most walks of life and who have influenced the common people in many aspects. My thought is if by Lord Sri Krishna's mercy they can fortunately meet the devotees, read Srila Prabhupada's books and then accept Krishna consciousness, spread this science, gradually the general people will easily take Krishna consciousness. Is this thought correct?

And how to persuade most of the material scientists, the philosophers, or the education leaders, who are considered to have more material knowledge than others, to believe and take the Krishna consciousness? What are the main solutions?

J.D.

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Answer: The Purely Krishna Conscious Persons

The persons qualified to lead the world are those persons who are purely Krishna conscious. A mundane education is not required. Even in the material world some of the most successful leaders are college dropouts. Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft, and Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple computers, are two notable examples. One may accept a mundane education for the matter of earning a livelihood, but the educational program for becoming a qualified Krishna conscious leader is to become expert in understanding and following the teachings of Lord Sri Krishna as so expertly explained by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

Of course, it is a fact, as you have noted that most of the world's leaders are college graduates. Therefore it is very important that we educate college students all over the world in the science of Krishna consciousness. In this way, if they learn about Krishna during their educational years, this will help to pave the way for a future world that is guided by Krishna conscious leaders. It is not necessary to enroll in the university to be able to do this. We can distribute Srila Prabhupada's books to the college students and we can invite the students for special educational programs that are geared for them either on the campus or off of the campus.

In every field of knowledge and there is a certain style of language which is used to convey that branch of knowledge. Because Krishna consciousness is the universal science, it can presented in the language of any particular science without in any way diluting its original meaning. Just as Srila Prabhupada has presented Krishna consciousness as the science of anti-matter in his book Easy Journey to Other Planets, we can present the science of Krishna consciousness in many different ways in the language and style of each and every branch of knowledge.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Monday 13 December 2010

from Lenasia, South Africa
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Today's Thought:

Tune into the Absolute Truth

If you are not attuned with the Absolute Truth, your life will not be auspicious and you will not feel very good. But if you fully attune yourself with the Absolute Truth, you will have an ecstatic eternal existence. The process of tuning in is called transcendental meditation. The difficulty is that most people who try meditation focus their minds on something other than the Absolute Truth and thus never truly enter into a meditative state of consciousness. Therefore a bona fide spiritual master is required to enlighten the student properly in the science of the Absolute Truth.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: How to Choose a Guru?

I'm in bitter confusion about how a disciple after few years in his devotional life, would get initiated. So kindly, please very elaborately and deeply describe the process of choosing a spiritual master in ISKCON. There are many gurus, but I don't know to whom I belong. So if you could explain or direct me to a lecture where its taught, it would be very nice.
Thank you.

Your Servant.
C.R.

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Answer: Who Best Connects You with Prabhupada?

What is the difficulty? Associate with as many ISKCON gurus as possible through attending their lectures, hearing their recorded lectures, watching their videos, reading their writings, and having personal darshans to see which guru inspires you the most to dedicate your life to follow the teachings given in Srila Prabhupada's books. If you sincerely and diligently search in this way, Krishna will instruct you from within who is your spiritual master.

If you like to include me in your list of possible gurus, you can check out my audio and video lectures at:

www.ultimateselfrealization.com

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Sunday 12 December 2010

from Lenasia, South Africa
--------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
Today's Thought:

Respecting the Sanctity of Life

There is a spirit-soul present in every living thing. Therefore all forms of life should be respected. In the Bhagavad-gita Lord Sri Krishna explains that the humble sages see with equal vision all varieties of living beings. This is why a society which freely kills cows and unborn children is a most condemned and unfortunate society. They do not realize how they will be punished by the laws of nature. We try to warn them, but they do not heed our warning. If they would only stop their heinous activities and chant the holy names of God, this entire planet would be turned into a paradise.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Attracted to Krishna But Can't Give Up Fish

I feel very attracted towards Lord Krishna. I do a few rounds of japa daily (thought not sixteen rounds, since my work pressure does not leave me with the required time to do so), and have given up alcohol. Though I have given up meat, I have not been able to give up fish, since it is a staple food item in our community. Do I not qualify to be a Krishna devotee despite my strong attachment towards Sri Krishna? I do get frustrated with this thought.

Pranams

Satya

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Answer: Keep Chanting and You Will Give Up Fish

Just keep chanting and gradually you will give up fish eating also. How would you like it if someone grabbed you with a net, cut off your head, and threw you in a frying pan? You can get ample nutrition through a simple diet of fruits, grains, vegetables, and milk products.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Saturday 11 December 2010

from Lenasia, South Africa
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Today's Thought:

Their Civilization is Doomed

The planet earth is presently under the control of asuras, materialistic persons who are not enlightened with the transcendental knowledge of how to live in peaceful, submissive harmony with the Supreme Person, the source of all existence. Because of their ignorance, they are foolishly trying to attain peace and happiness by exploiting the resources of the material nature. They have no mood of loving reciprocation with the Supreme Person. Indeed, they either openly deny His existence, covertly deny His existence by saying that He is impersonal or void, or even if accepting His existence, instead of trying to serve Him selflessly use Him selfishly as their order-supplier. No matter which of these moods they choose, they are clashing with the Supreme Person and spoiling the atmosphere of the earth. Therefore their civilization is doomed. It cannot and will not remain.

We are therefore trying to save them before it is too late by teaching them how to surrender to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna. If they will listen to us, it will truly be the dawning of a new age of peace, prosperity, enlightenment, and happiness for all living beings. Our mission is to see that all living beings are respected and happy, including even the animals and plants.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Initiation Procedure

My Dear Gurudeva,

Humble obeisances to you.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Since I joined the self realization course, does it mean that I have been initiated? If not, what is the procedure for receiving initiation?

Kindly advise.

TV

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Answer: Demonstrate Your Seriousness

As soon as you accept the spiritual master's orders as your very life and soul, you are practically speaking already initiated. And then when you prove to the spiritual master that you are seriously committed to following his instructions for your entire life, he performs the initiation ceremony handing you your chanting beads and giving you your spiritual name. This is called formal initiation.

The basic instructions of the spiritual master are that you must chant at least 16 rounds daily of the Hare Krishna mantra on japa beads and that you must strictly avoid illicit sex, meat eating, intoxication, and gambling. When you have demonstrated to your local ISKCON authority your seriousness for making a lifetime commitment to following these instructions, he will recommend you to the spiritual master as being qualified for initiation and the spiritual master will then initiate you as his disciple.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Friday 10 December 2010

from London, United Kingdom
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Today's Thought:

A Thrill at Every Moment Within

Any journey you take on this planet will leave you in the same place you started: stuck in the realm of birth, death, old age, and disease. Therefore those who are actually intelligent and philosophically inclined take the inner journey of self discovery instead. This inner journey of spiritual awakening is the most exciting travel experience you can ever have. At every moment newer and more enlivening realms of consciousness are discovered as you gradually progress to the perfectional stage of pure love of Godhead.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Why is there Suffering in this Material World?

Dear Sir,

Humble Pranams! I am a devotee of Lord Sri Krishna. I want to know why is there so much suffering in this material world when God, the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Sri Krishna, loves all living beings unconditionally.

Most humble servant,

Kavita

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Answer: We Inflicted this Suffering Upon Ourselves

Our suffering in the material world is self-inflicted. It is not that Krishna put us into a suffering situation. We came here out of our free choice to try to enjoy independently from God. Because Krishna loves all beings unconditionally, He has given each of us a residence of unlimited bliss in the spiritual world where everyone is engaged in sweet loving relationships with Krishna. If someone foolishly does not want to love Krishna, he makes the mistake of leaving Krishna and coming to this miserable place where love of God is conspicuous by its absence. Just see how foolish this is.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Thursday 9 December 2010

from London, United Kingdom
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Today's Thought:

It's All the Same in this World

In this material world there are so many varieties of places: hot, cold, wealthy, poor, strong, weak, beautiful, ugly, densely populated, sparsely populated, etc. Because of the relativities of material existence some appear to be good, some bad, and some in the middle. But the real fact is that they all are of the same category because they are all places of repeated birth and death. If we want to go to a truly different destination we must travel to the spiritual world where life is eternal, full of knowledge, and full of bliss.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: How to Enlighten Everyone?

I want to ask you some questions:

1.How can we provide good knowledge to everyone?

2. From my busy schedule (college, lectures, exams) how can I get pure Krishna consciousness?

3. Is there any other book better than the Bhagavad- gita?

Ganesh
Pune, Maharashtra, India

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Answer: Tell Them About Krishna's Teachings.

You can provide the highest knowledge to everyone by explaining to them the teachings of Lord Krishna as presented in the Bhagavad-gita. To get pure Krishna consciousness in the middle of your hectic daily schedule you must take out a few minutes every day to study Bhagavad-gita As It Is by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and to chant the Hare Krishna mahamantra on japa mala beads. There is no book better than Bhagavad-gita. Krishna says that is the highest knowledge, raja vidya.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Wednesday 8 December 2010

from Bhaktivedanta Ashram, Austin, Texas USA
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Today's Thought:

Resuming Our Lecture Tour

7 December 2010--Today we are resuming our around-the-world lecture tour as the humble servants of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. On the most auspicious occasion I am humbly begging for the mercy of Srila Prabhupada that he may keep me always engaged 24 hours a day in whatever way I can best serve his mission of delivering all living beings from their entanglement within the vicious cycle of birth and death. For this mighty task I have absolutely no qualification. But if I have any qualification at all, it is that am I willing to try my level best to do whatever is required to push forward this Krishna consciousness movement all over the world.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Can I Be Srila Prabhupada's Disciple?

Dear Gurudeva,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

When I chant am I directly contacting Krishna? Or is it so that I have to chant via a spiritual master in order to connect with Krishna? In other words, does chanting become more effective when one is initiated?

Is it not enough to consider Prabhupada as one's spiritual master? I guess this is the whole point. I am confused with this issue of spiritual master. I feel as though Prabhupada is my guru, and I want to serve him. And I don't quite see how a "live" guru such as your respected self (and all the other ISKCON gurus) relate to this.

Do disciples always consider Prabhupada as "the highest" or is it so that once someone accepts a living guru then they somehow "take over" Prabhupada's position? I hope these questions are ok. They have been bothering me for quite some time and, now I have finally decided to open my heart. There are many more issues too, but I think this is enough for now.

Sincerely,

J.

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Answer: You Must. This is Called Grand Disciple.

Our connection with Krishna is simultaneously direct and indirect. Here is a crude example to clarify how this can be. At the present moment I am directly communicating with you by writing you this email. And at the same time our communication is indirect because it is being conducted via the internet. Even if we are speaking face to face, the same principle applies, because even though in a face to face meeting we are directly communicating with each other, it is still indirect because the sound vibrations of our voices are being conducted through the medium of the ether. So in a similar way, when we chant Hare Krishna we are directly connected with Krishna through the medium of the bona fide spiritual master. In this way, it is simultaneously direct and indirect. The spiritual master engages us in directly approaching Krishna. It is by his mercy that we are able to directly approach Krishna. If one decries the spiritual and tries to approach Krishna leaving aside the spiritual master, Krishna will not accept him.

In a similar way that the relationship between a man and woman becomes strengthened when they make a commitment to remain permanently together by taking marriage vows, the relationship between a student and the spiritual master also becomes strengthened when the initiation vows are taken. So, initiation means commitment. It is a two way process, because the disciple vows to always follow the spiritual master's instructions and the spiritual master vows to do whatever it takes to deliver the disciple back to home, back to Godhead, even if he has to take birth again to do so.

You ask it if is enough simply to take Srila Prabhupada as one's spiritual master. The answer is yes. The only thing that is required for going back to home, back to Godhead is to fully surrender to Srila Prabhupada's instructions. So we must carefully study to see what are Srila Prabhupada's instructions regarding accepting a spiritual master and not simply speculate.

The first thing is that he states in the Nectar of Devotion that initiation is mandatory, if we want Krishna to be connected with Krishna consciousness:

"The connection with the spiritual master is called initiation. From the date of initiation by the spiritual master, the connection between Krishna and a person cultivating Krishna consciousness is established. Without initiation by a bona fide spiritual master, the actual connection with Krishna consciousness is never performed."--from Nectar of Devotion Introduction

The next point is that Srila Prabhupada told us on 28 May of 1977 in Vrindavan that those persons who get initiated after his disappearance would become his grand disciples, i.e. the disciples of his disciples.

Prabhupada: They're his disciple.
Tamala Krishna: They're his disciple.
Prabhupada: Who is initiating. He is grand disciple.
Satsvarupa: Yes.
Tamala Krishna: That's clear.
Satsvarupa: Then we have a question concern...
Prabhupada: When I order, "You become guru," he becomes regular guru. That's all. He becomes disciple of my disciple. That's it.

And to make this point even more clear Srila Prabhupada stated on 18 October 1977, just days before his departure from this world, that because of his diseased condition he would stop initiating disciples and only resume doing so if he recovered his health, which he did not. He specifically ordered one of his disciples to initiate a Bengali gentleman as his own disciple. He directly states that he has deputed his disciples to accept disciples.

Prabhupada: Hare Krishna. One Bengali gentleman has come from New York?
Tamala Krishna: Yes. Mr. Sukamal Roy Chowdury.
Prabhupada: So I have deputed some of you to initiate. Hm?
Tamala Krishna: Yes. Actually... Yes, Srila Prabhupada.
Prabhupada: So I think Jayapataka can do that if he likes. I have already deputed. Tell him.
Tamala Krishna: Yes.
Prabhupada: So, deputies, Jayapataka's name was there?
Bhagavan: It is already on there, Srila Prabhupada. His name was on that list.
Prabhupada: So I depute him to do this at Mayapura, and you may go with him. I stop for the time being. Is that all right?
Tamala Krishna: Stopped doing what, Srila Prabhupada?
Prabhupada: This initiation. I have deputed the, my disciples. Is it clear or not?
Giriraja: It's clear.
Prabhupada: You have got the list of the names?
Tamala Krishna: Yes, Srila Prabhupada.
Prabhupada: And if by Krishna's grace I recover from this condition, then I shall begin again, or I may not be pressed in this condition to initiate. It is not good.
Giriraja: We will explain to him so that he will understand properly.

So it is very clear from Srila Prabhupada's instructions that anybody who wants to accept Srila Prabhupada as his spiritual authority must seek out a disciple of Srila Prabhupada from whom he will accept initiation.

People who argue that they will only accept Srila Prabhupada as their spiritual master are not in fact accepting Srila Prabhupada as their spiritual master because they are not following his instructions. They argue that it is okay to take initiation from a spiritual master who is not physically present. But if this were the case, we could all take initiation from Krishna and become the Godbrothers of Lord Brahma. Throughout the entirety of Vaisnava history devotees have accepted initiation from a spiritual master who is physically present. This is the exact same system that is taught to us by Srila Prabhupada. Devotees who advocate this philosophy that one can now become the initiated disciple of Srila Prabhupada were not personally trained by Srila Prabhupada and are immature and imperfect in their philosophical understanding. The point is that the spiritual master has to be present to say, "Yes, I will accept this person as my disciple." We cannot force ourselves on a spiritual master. He must openly agree to a specific person as his disciple.

Regarding who we accept as the highest, our system is that we accept Krishna as the highest because He is the source of everything. The line of disciplic succession begins with Krishna. The previous acharyas are always accepted by everyone in the line of disciplic succession as being higher because we are nothing but the humble servants of the previous acharyas. And certainly no one can compete with Srila Prabhupada's position as the most empowered Vaisnava acharya in the history of the universe.

No one can ever take over Srila Prabhupada's position because he is ISKCON's Founder-Acharya and thus the ultimate authority in our ISKCON movement. To be a bona fide devotee one must strictly follow the instructions of Srila Prabhupada.

I am very happy that you opened your heart to me regarding these issues. And I am prepared to discuss with you in all detail until every issue which is troubling you becomes fully clarified. Please let me know what your other concerns are. I will be happy to shed light on them with Srila Prabhupada simply wonderful teachings.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Tuesday 7 December 2010

from Bhaktivedanta Ashram, Austin, Texas USA
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Today's Thought:

The Perfection of Love

Everyone wants love. In fact we are all starving for love. The difficulty is that we are more interested in getting love than we are in giving love. But this does not work because love is selfless. It is not selfish. True love can only be experienced to the extent that we give love to everyone without any thought of return. This is called pure, unmotivated love. The perfection of love is thus when we can totally and genuinely serve all other living beings.

But how to achieve this state? How can I give all of my love to one living being when at same time I am supposed to give all of my love to all other living beings as well? The answer is quite simple. Just as by watering the root of a tree all the leaves and branches are nourished, by giving all of my love to the Supreme Person, who is the root cause of all existence, my love is then perfectly distributed to all living beings whoever they may be and wherever they may be throughout the vast total existence.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: ISKCON's Mission

Any creature is immortal in nature. It only sheds one body and assumes another body. The core, i.e. atma, is ever immortal migrating from one body to another. To avoid such migration which brings in its wake all trials and tribulations, one wishes eternal bliss. This is possible only if one attains the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is achieved only when we are in the human body and we consciously remember Him. The acharya, the bona fide spiritual master, shows the way. Am I right in summarizing the purpose and content ISKCON's service in leading humanity to such goal?

Mr. V. Krishnamachary
Retired Civil Engineer

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Answer: The Deliverance of All Living Beings

Yes, you have properly understood our mission. We want to deliver all living beings from their entanglement within the cycle of birth and death. You are a retired man. We request that you fully dedicate the remaining portion of your life to assist us in accomplishing our mission.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Monday 6 December 2010

from Bhaktivedanta Ashram, Austin, Texas USA
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Today's Thought:

Unfailing in All Circumstances

Being a devotee of Lord Krishna means 24 hours daily. In other words there is no such thing as a part time devotee. If someone is a devotee, he will always remain a devotee in all circumstances. It's not that when he is at the temple his a devotee and that when he goes home or to work then he becomes a non-devotee. Krishna clearly states in the Bhagavad-gita that devotional service means unfailing in all circumstances.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Why Buddhists Are Atheists?

I am very lucky to have a master who is helping with my questions. If Lord Buddha achieved self realization, He must have been Krishna conscious or God consciousness. But yet the Buddhists don't believe in God. Why is this?

Thank you

KC

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Answer: Unknowingly Buddhists Are Theists

It is amazing that even without knowing it the Buddhists are theists, that they are God conscious. This is because Lord Buddha is an incarnation of Krishna. At the time of Lord Buddha's advent the people had become so degraded that they were justifying cow killing with a completely distorted misunderstanding of the Vedic wisdom. Out of kindness upon the poor cows, Lord Buddha appeared and taught an atheistic philosophy, which denied the Vedas but taught that if one causes suffering to others that the same suffering will come back to the person who caused it. In this way Lord Buddha stopped the cow killing by teaching karma and non-violence. This was amazing because God Himself was teaching atheism. Why did He do this? It was for the higher cause of saving the poor cows and making the people pious so that later on pure Krishna bhakti could be re- introduced.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Sunday 5 December 2010

from Bhaktivedanta Ashram, Austin, Texas USA
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Today's Thought:

Break Free Now

For countless eons you've been waiting for this moment when you can finally break free from the chains of material existence and regain your eternal, full-of-knowledge, and full-of-bliss position in the spiritual sky. Now, by the combined mercy of guru and Krishna, you have been given the key that unlocks the door to permanent deliverance from all forms of suffering. Take advantage of this most auspicious opportunity and fully break free now from the clutches of maya or illusion.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Can Chanting Alone Lead to Perfection?

Gurudeva:

Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Thank you very much for your daily thoughts on the sublime philosophy of Krishna Consciousness.

There are so many rules and regulations to follow if one wants to become a sincere devotee of Srila Prabhupada and his disciples. If one is very much caught up in maya, even though aware of these rules and regulations, is it correct to assume that by at the very least chanting the Hare Krishna mahamantra one will be guided by Lord Krishna and it will be made clear what to do? I guess what I mean is that if one is not strictly following, but wants to follow in his heart, but is just stuck, can one just start with the chanting and be confident that the Lord will guide him? Can one just do this one thing- chanting the Hare Krishna mahamantra-and the Lord will slowly guide him step by step?

I hope you understand my question. I realize I am a fool by not following, but can I just start with this one thing?

I look forward to your answer. Thank you very much.

Chris H.

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Answer: If You Chant Sincerely

Yes. It is a fact that even if you can't do anything else, if you will simply sincerely chant the Hare Krishna mahamantra as much as possible every day, by the power of Krishna's holy name your spiritual life will gradually become perfect. If you simply chant Hare Krishna, everything else will follow.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Saturday 4 December 2010

from Bhaktivedanta Ashram, Austin, Texas USA
---------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------
Today's Thought:

If They Only Knew

Krishna consciousness can save the entire world, if they only knew. It can solve all the problems: crime, terrorism, scarcity, global warming, disease, pollution, etc, if they only knew. Therefore we must fully dedicate our lives for enlightening everyone in the transcendental science of Krishna consciousness. We want to see that day as soon as possible when everyone knows who is Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Challenge: Science is Saving the World

Hare Krishna, Gurudeva,

Thank you for the inspirational daily thoughts. May Krishna elevate you to highest level for bringing us joy even in our darkest moment. Blessed are you to have this blessing from Krishna Himself.

Regarding your statement in yesterday's "Thought for the Day" that the scientists will not be able to make us immortal. To me your statement is called vanity and fruitless work, misleading to the masses and disturbing the minds of devotees.

This morning I read in the newspaper an article about a scientist who discovered a bacteria that consumes arsenic. Whew, what a miracle!!! Whilst we are destroying the world here is something that is saving the world.

Your humble servant,
Sandeep

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Answer: Even Einstein Could Not Conquer Death

I am glad to note your feeling of gratitude for the daily inspirational thoughts. Regarding my level, I am on the lowest of all levels because my position is simply to serve all others by delivering to them the sublime teachings of Krishna. It is a fact that I have been blessed with the highest knowledge by Sri Guru and Krishna. Therefore, my life is fully dedicated to seeing that the entire human civilization can be blessed by the enlightening teachings of Lord Sri Krishna as revealed in the Bhagavad-gita.

Regarding our stating the fact that the scientists will not be able to give us immortality, I was quite surprised that you labeled this as vanity, fruitless, misleading to the masses, and disturbing to the minds of the devotees. In spite of your good intentions, what you have failed to note is that while the scientists are able to, to a certain extent, discover the workings of the material nature, they are not able to change the laws of the material nature.

Our statement of fact is not a vain, fruitless, misleading disturbance. It is a service to help people become free from illusion and suffering. Death is an unavoidable law of material nature. It will never be eliminated. Dr. Albert Einstein was the greatest scientist, but even he could not conquer death. Nor in the future will any scientist be able to eliminate death. If one wants to conquer death he must surrender to Krishna. There is no other way to do it.

To support your idea that the scientists are saving the world and can give us immortality you cite the example of a scientist who discovered an arsenic-eating bacteria. Kindly note that the scientist did not create the arsenic-eating bacteria. He merely discovered what Krishna had already created. The scientist did not discover to a way to change the laws of nature. He merely discovered something more about the laws of nature that previously was unknown to the scientists.

As a final note, please remember that one should not approach a spiritual master in a challenging way. If something he states is incomprehensible, one should humbly inquire for clarification instead of telling him that his teachings are a vain, fruitless, misleading disturbance.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Friday 3 December 2010

from Bhaktivedanta Ashram, Austin, Texas USA
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Today's Thought:

They Rescue the Human Population

The entire human civilization is lost due to being abysmally engrossed in material sense gratification. Those rare souls who have so fortunately been awakened from the deadening spell of maya or illusion, by the mercy of Sri Guru, have entered into the transcendental realm of Krishna consciousness. They naturally, out a sense of acute compassion, dedicate their lives to rescuing the bewildered human civilization from the ever-increasingly chaotic quagmire of material bodily consciousness.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

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Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Will the Scientists Make Humans Immortal?

I am a follower of Lord Sri Krishna. Recently I have read an article that within 20 years the material scientists will make humans immortal. Can it be true? Please clarify my doubt. This disturbs my mind when I am praying to Krishna.

Aluru

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Answer: Only the Bhakti Scientists Can Do That.

The claim of the material scientists that within 20 years they will make us immortal is preposterous and absurd. Trust no future however pleasant. The inexorable wheel of time will roll on just as it has done since time immemorial crushing everything in its path. If these fellows want immortality they can get it right now by chanting Hare Krishna. But when we tell them, "Chant, chant, chant", they say, "Can't, can't, can't." So what can be done? Those who are gullible will believe them, but we do not wish to members of their fools' paradise. Instead of waiting forever for getting immorality and never getting it, we will get immediately by following the bhakti scientists, such as Srila Rupa Gowami and His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Thursday 2 December 2010

from Bhaktivedanta Ashram, Austin, Texas USA
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Today's Thought:

Thought for the Minute

When I told one of my Godbrothers that I was writing a daily "Thought for the Day", he was amazed that how I could write a new realization every day. But, personally, I do not find it to be very amazing. Our beloved spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, has mercifully given us such a wonderful, enlightened perspective on reality, that it would not be difficult to write a new realization every minute. We simply have to always remember how Srila Prabhupada would see things and see everything through his vision.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: How Krishna Can Be God If He Takes Birth?

I am from the Sikh religion, but I am more attracted towards Lord Krishna. One query disturbing my mind is that in our scripture, the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, it is mentioned that the Lord never takes birth. But as Lord Krishna does take birth how is He the Supreme Personality of Godhead?

Simran

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Answer: Krishna Is Unborn

I am very happy to hear that even though you are a Sikh, you are attracted to Krishna. As Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh religion, also was attracted to Krishna, it is certainly appropriate for you to be attracted to Lord Krishna.

It is a fact that Krishna never takes birth because He is eternally manifested. For the sake of loving reciprocation with devotees who desired to be His parents, He plays the role, like on actor on the stage, of taking birth as the son of Vasudeva and Devaki and being the stepson of Nanda Maharaja and Mother Yasoda. To demonstrate that He was not being born like an ordinary human being, He first of all revealed Himself before Vasudeva and Devaki as the Supreme Lord. Then after showing that He was God Himself, He assumed the form of a small baby. Because Krishna is not born like an ordinary human being, instead of saying that He was born, we usually say that He appeared. And the day of this pastime we generally describe as His appearance day, not as His birthday.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Wednesday 1 December 2010

from Bhaktivedanta Ashram, Austin, Texas USA
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Today's Thought:

Arjuna's Realization

Arjuna had a complete nervous breakdown on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. Even though he was one of the most powerful warriors, famous for his great heroic deeds, on the beginning day of the battle he could not cope with the duty that he was expected to perform. Although he cast aside his bow and arrows and became overwhelmed with grief, he was fortunate to realize that his confusion was due to miserliness. So, he humbly presented himself to Krishna as His fully surrendered disciple, begging Krishna to instruct him. This is a powerful example for us of how to deal with that which is beyond our ability to handle. We simply have to humbly approach Krishna or His representative, the bona fide spiritual master, for enlightened guidance and then faithfully follow the instructions that we are given.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Caste-ism Among the Devotees?

Thank you very much for guiding me every day in the form of your precious messages. It keeps me in the flow of bhakti.

Prabhupada's future plan was to establish Krishna conscious communities according to varnashram dharma, the system of four social and four spiritual orders, in which people would co-operate with each other to serve Krishna. But in this scenario who would like to become a sudra? And how it will be decided who will become a ksatriya, vaisya or brahmana? As a sudra is vulnerable to exploitation by the upper classes, I am concerned that in the the future there could be caste-ism among the devotees.

Thank you

Your servant,

Ashish

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Answer: Krishna Consciousness is Transcendental to Caste-ism.

In the real varnasharm system nobody is exploited. Everyone works together co-operatively for the mutual benefit of all. It is not that someone is forced against their will into an occupation that is not according to their nature. Rather, everyone is encouraged and facilitated to earn their livelihood in that way which is in harmony with their nature.

Within the general society there are always people with different types of tendencies. Some like to work with their brains. These are the brahmanas. Some like to administrate or to protect the innocent people. These are the ksatriyas. Others prefer to do business or agriculture. These are the vaisyas. And others prefer to work under someone else as employees. These are the sudras. Just as there is a natural division of labor within the human body, similarly there is a natural division of labor in the social body.

The present caste system in India is the asuri varnashram system, the demoniac varnashram system, because people are forced into certain designations according to their birth, not according to their natural tendencies. As described by Lord Sri Krishna in the Bhagavad-gita, the genuine varnashram system is based one's tendencies and activities. In that system each person works in that occupation which is in accordance with his nature and offers the fruit of his work to Krishna. In the real varnashram system every member of the society is peaceful, prosperous, and happy.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari