Devotees Vaishnavas: Today's Thought

martes, 1 de septiembre de 2009

Today's Thought - September 2009

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.

Wednesday 30 September 2009

from Kaunas, Lithuania
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Today's Thought:

Into and Out of this Mess

If we consider that we are all eternal spiritual beings with wonderful, unlimitedly blissful identities in the spiritual sky, it's really uncanny that so many of us could end up in such a mess in this material existence in the repetition of birth and death. Why in the world would we trade absolute peace, bliss, and security for this hell we are going through now? It seems unbelievable that we could do such a thing. But yet this is in fact what we did. We rejected eternal lives, full of bliss and knowledge for this inferior grade existence of temporality, ignorance, and misery. Because the Supreme Lord is unlimitedly independent and because we are part of Him we share His quality of independence to a minute degree. Since independence is indeed independence it can be misused. And when it is we end up here. Now we can use that same independence to get back to our original position in the spiritual sky. Are you willing?

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Ecstatic Farewell

Here's the Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-_KpGn8qCU

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Should I Reduce My Chanting

Dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Sri-Sri Gaura Nitai!

May I beg to get your guidance please?

I have been chanting 16 rounds a day for several months. But most of the time, it is very poor in quality due to the wandering mind. I am murmuring the mantra by lips but my mind is constantly busy in mental conversation.

I even think that I should stop chanting for the time being or reduce the number of rounds down to 1 or 2 because the quality is very poor, and the time is not enough.

May I beg for your suggestion if I should continue chanting 16 rounds a day, doing my best or reduce the rounds as said above?

Your insignificant servant,
D.B.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Answer: No. Increase the Quality of Your Chanting

I am most pleased with you for your sincere endeavor. Thank you very much. Nobody chants perfect rounds in the beginning. There are three stages of chanting as follows:

1. The offensive stage
2. The clearing stage
3. The transcendental stage

In the offensive stage the desires for material happiness still exist within the heart of the devotee. In the clearing stage one becomes free from all material contamination. And on the transcendental stage one attains the most coveted position--the stage of pure love of God.

Please continue chanting 16 rounds every day striving always to improve the quality. The numerical strength of chanting at least 16 rounds daily will purify your consciousness, even if your rounds are not perfect. And by this daily purification of your consciousness your rounds will gradually become perfect. You will attain the transcendental stage. Reducing your chanting will retard your progress. So kindly do not reduce your chanting. Simply try with each utterance to improve the quality.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Tuesday 29 September 2009

from Riga, Latvia
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Today's Thought:

The Supreme Superstar

In all of history there is no one more famous, powerful, or influential than Lord Sri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Krishna is the topmost superstar in all of history. The superstars of this material world come and go like the tides of the ocean. Even the biggest, most famous superstars of today will in the future be completely forgotten in the pages of history. So instead of running after the world's so-called superstars, who are actually no more than shooting stars which make a bright light in the sky for a few seconds and are then destroyed, we should instead take shelter of the real superstar, the greatest superstar of all time, Lord Sri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Krishna, the Supreme Superstar

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Why Only India?

I believe totally in religion and I have total faith in Lord Krishna but I have some questions as follows:

1. Today we are finding so many countries in the world, but in the Vedic scriptures only India is mentioned. So is it that India was the only country at the time of Lord Krishna and Lord Rama?

2. And if it is so, then how these other countries were created later on.

3. And if all these countries existed earlier, why did God only take birth in India and not in other countries? Or is it that there was no life in other countries at that time?

Please guide me on this.

Hare Krishna!!!

Bharat

--------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------
Answer: The Entire Earth was India

Of course the word "India" is a modern invention derived from the name of the Sindhu (Indus River) and has been in use in Greek since the 4th century BC. Formally the world-wide Vedic civilization which encompassed this entire planet was known as Bharatavarsa. Even today India is referred to as Bharat in the first article of the Indian constitution.

India or Bharat is the last vestige of the Vedic civilization on this planet. Up until 5,000 years ago India exercised absolute sovereignty over the entire planet earth for 3,722,000 years till the rule of Maharaja Parikshit. So the entire world was India during the time of Lord Rama and Lord Krishna. Of course, Ravana's Lanka was there during Rama's time, but it was conquered and brought back within Vedic rule.

When, after the advent of Kali Yuga, the Indian kings gradually deviated more and more from Vedic dharma they lost the power to rule the entire earth planet and thus the other countries naturally arose over the course of time. So now if the modern day leaders of India will again embrace the the Vedic culture, India can be restored to her former glory as the world leader.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Monday 28 September 2009

from Riga, Latvia
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Today's Thought:

Astounding Space Ship Ride

On Saturday 26 September 2009 in Riga, Latvia an entire house full of fortunate souls dipped into the unlimitedly nectarean ocean of Krishna consciousness. The atmosphere there created by kirtan, a sumptuous prasadam feast, and a presentation of Krishna consciousness philosophy was so exhilarating that the house became like a amazing transcendental spaceship that carried us beyond the miserable dimension of time and space into that unlimitedly blissful and wondrous paravyoma, the spiritual sky. What an astounding ride it was!

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Kirtan Takes Off into the Spiritual Sky

Diving Deep into the Bhagavad-gita Ocean

Ecstatic Farewell

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Guidance for Psychiatric Patient

What guidance can you give me since I am a psychiatric patient?

Your student

-------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------
Answer: Engage Your Mind in Krishna Consciousness

Being a psychiatric patient means that you are suffering from mental disturbances. The first step to become liberated from these disturbances is to understand that you are not your mind, that the mind is simply a tool that you can use in the way you choose to use it. The mind can elevate you or degrade you depending on which way you use it. If you will absorb your mind in Krishna consciousness, you will become ever more blissful and delivered from all anxiety. And if you will engage your mind in sense gratification, your life will become more and more full of anxieties. So try now to engage your mind in Krishna consciousness by reading Krishna consciousness literatures and chanting the Hare Krishna mantra as much as possible. If you can regularly discipline your mind in this way, your psychiatric difficulties will soon be over.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Sunday 27 September 2009

from Riga, Latvia
------------------------------------------------------------ --------------------
Today's Thought:

New Age of Peace and Prosperity

There is no reason for the world civilization to continue struggling in its suffering condition on the edge of total disintegration. If simply the people are taught how to love God in a real, practical manner through the science of bhakti, the ever-increasing downward trend of human civilization will be completely reversed. A new age of peace and prosperity will be experienced by everyone in every part of the globe.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Is Jesus Jealous If I Love Krishna?

Hare Krishna. After all my spiritual journey in self realization I have come back to the basics and returned to bhakti yoga. I am happy chanting, although I only chant two rounds daily. I'm married with two children and I beg Sri Krishna for the grace to stop eating meat. I'm making adjustments to keep in the path. Thank you for your free internet course on the Bhagavad-gita. I receive it in Spanish.

Even though I was born and raised as a Catholic, I find that my love for Sri Krishna is compatible with the love for Jesus Christ. Is this okay? Help me understand how because sometimes I am afraid that Jesus will feel jealous of my love for Krishna.

I'm sorry for all this childlike question, but I come to you as I am. I know that you are a true devotee and will guide me.

Your servant

------------------------------------------------------------------------ --------
Answer: Jesus Orders Us to Love Krishna

It is very wonderful that you have come back to bhakti yoga. Welcome home! Bhakti is the purest essence of the self-realization path.

I am most pleased to hear of your spiritual progress how you are becoming awakened in Krishna consciousness. Kindly continue is this spirit awakening your dormant Krishna consciousness more and more and your life will be amazingly sublime.

Jesus is not at all jealous if we love Krishna. In fact he has ordered us that we must love Krishna. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." The more we love the father, the more the son is pleased. And the more we love the son, the more the father is pleased. So with complete joy in your heart continue expanding your Krishna consciousness more and more until your heart is overflowing with so much bhakti that your family members become submerged in the nectarean ocean of bhakti by the power of your association.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Saturday 26 September 2009

from Riga, Latvia
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----
Today's Thought:

Krishna Will Never Let You Down

You must always maintain strong faith that Krishna will never let you down under any circumstances. Things do not always go well in this material world. Sometimes life is fantastic, and sometimes it is absolutely hellish. But if you detach yourself from the ups and downs remembering that everything has a wonderful, divine purpose by the arrangement of the Lord, you will always remain of steady mind in all circumstances, and thus you will never lose your enthusiasm or your Krishna consciousness.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Argument: You Nullify Reality

If you don't accept that only that which can be empirically demonstrated is objectively real, that implies that anything, in essence, can be objectively real. And if you accept that, then, "reality" has no meaning at all. In which case, everything is a delusion, and there is no purpose in pursuing knowledge whatsoever. Seems like a "good idea."

A reader

------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------
Answer: We Liberate Reality from Limited Senses

It is a fact that anything can objectively real. You and I are not in position to place a limit on reality, i.e. what is allowed to exist and not allowed to exist. Whatever does in fact exist is real, whether or not we are able to perceive or experience it. You are wrong that such an open-ended understanding of reality nullifies reality. An open view of reality simply reinforces that we cannot limit it by our limited ability to experience it or describe it. If we accept the premise that everything is a delusion, this means that this premise is also a delusion. So what does that leave us with? The existence of a tangible reality, which is not restricted by our limited perceptual powers.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Friday 25 September 2009

from Riga, Latvia
------------------------------------------------------ --------------------------
Today's Thought:

Give Up So-Called Independence

In this material world we are very proud of being independent. Just like in the USA every year the 4th of July is celebrated as a national holiday, Independence Day, the day that the American colonists declared their independence from Great Britain. But in spiritual life there is a different conception. On the path of spiritual perfection the more we can increase our feelings of dependence on Krishna and give up our feelings of independence, the more we advance. Actually we are fully dependent on Krishna at every step because not even a blade of grass can move without His sanction. So our idea of being independent from the Lord is simply a mental concoction. That all-merciful Lord appeared 5,000 years ago and delivered His teachings, which are called the Bhagavad-gita. Those who are fortunate will take advantage of His sublime teachings and finish up their business in the repetition of birth and death.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Incarnations of Krishna

What are the different incarnations of Krishna as the Supreme Lord?

Jhugroo

------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------
Answer: Absolutely Uncountable

Even if we could count every grain of sand on all of the beaches of the world, we could not begin to count the innumerable incarnations of Krishna that are manifested throughout the material world and the spiritual world. So there is no way that we can have a complete list. Even if we were to go on for all of eternity compiling a list of the incarnations of Krishna we would never ever be able to cover even an insignificant fraction of the infinite number of incarnations of Lord Sri Krishna.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Thursday 24 September 2009

from Riga, Latvia
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----
Today's Thought:

Tolerate and Transcend the Miseries

In this material world we are besieged regularly with an onslaught of miseries. There are adhyatmic miseries caused by the mind and body, adhibhautic miseries caused by other living entities and adhidaivic miseries caused by natural disasters. At any given moment we are under attack by at least one of these three types of miseries. Therefore Krishna advises us to be tolerant, not to be disturbed by these miseries that come and go like the changes of the seasons. If we fix our minds in Krishna consciousness, we will transcend the plane of miseries and gain eternal residence in the plane of transcendental bliss. The miseries will still be happening on the material plane, but we will no longer be effected by them.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Freedom from Sex Desire

I know a person who has a dependence on sex. But he is trying to become anti-sexual. He is gay. I like this friend and want to help him. Maybe you can advise me what to do it.

Thanks,

Rose

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Answer: Base Happiness on Pleasing Krishna

You may inform your friend that as long as we base our happiness on the gratification of our material senses we must necessarily suffer through so many miseries. If we want actual happiness we must come to the platform of engaging all of our senses in the service of the Lord of the senses, Lord Sri Krishna. This and only this will bring lasting peace and happiness to the self.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Wednesday 23 September 2009

from Riga, Latvia
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------
Today's Thought:

Arrival in Riga

Our arrival in Riga on 21 September 2009 was super ecstatic as usual. There is truly nothing more wonderful than the loving exchanges between the devotees. This is how we unlock the love of Krishna within our hearts. The more we love the devotees of Krishna, the more our dormant love of Krishna becomes reawakened. Here is a video clip of our arrival in Riga:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBR0kMVd3Po

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Request: Help Me Get Out of Suffering

Dear Gurudeva,

Please accept my deepest respects for your love and devotion to God and for delivering the human race from suffering.

If I can be granted any mercy or favor in your sight, please respond with patience and understanding for my ignorance and gross darkness; I am not a devotee.

1. I have the most difficult time trusting God since my prayers don't get answered.

2. I gather that He is aloof and that there is no guarantee for salvation unless I earn it, and still there is no guarantee. Because of unanswered prayers in my practices, I struggle with trusting any deity though I thirst for a personal living God. I am told there is one, but He is not real to me. I am reluctant to surrender to a deity for fear of discouragement, and I am thus walking away from God like I have done many times in the past. Voidism is a 'safe haven' for avoiding this discouragement by putting my salvation all on me, but it does not fulfill the heart of craving for fellowship. Plus, I have been let down by false masters who have knowledge but no wisdom. Worse, they knock other religions and have monetary motivations. Please assist me in this search and help me get out of suffering.

Thank you.
Your student

--------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------
Answer: Follow My Instructions. You Will Be Saved.

If your prayers are not being answered, you are not praying properly. It is a fact that God is aloof from those who approach Him to fulfill their material desires. But He becomes the intimate associate of those who approach Him to humbly submit themselves at His feet as His eternal servants. Your salvation is 100% guaranteed if you will simply surrender yourself to Him. Voidness or the philosophy of absolute nothingness can never bring happiness to your heart because it denies your very existence, which is an obvious absurdity. If a guru teaches that there are different religions, he is not bona fide because religion is one, to become a pure lover God. And if he is after your money, he is also not bona fide because the bona fide spiritual master is attracted to Krishna and only to Krishna.

If you are ready to fully open heart and learn the science of bhakti, I am willing to teach you, but for the teachings to be effective you have to be willing to carefully and sincerely follow my instructions. If you will adopt the proper practice of bhakti under qualified guidance I can assure you that will gradually become free from all suffering.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Tuesday 22 September 2009

from Tallinn, Estonia
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Today's Thought:

Relish the Sweetest Happiness

At the present moment our minds are polluted with the dirt accumulated over millions and millions of lifetimes of sense gratification. Even though our original pure nature is eternal, full of knowledge, and full of bliss, due to our mental contamination we are presently suffering in the realm of temporality, ignorance, and misery. By the purificatory process of chanting the holy names of God we can revive our original, pure nature and thus relish the sweetest happiness at every minute.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Convincing Members of Other Religions

Gurudeva, why are there so many different religions on this planet? How can I convince a person from another religion about the truth of Krishna?

Your servant,

Dinesh

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Answer: First Convince Them That Religion is One

As I have many times explained, this concept of many religions is a man made conception. It does not come from God. When the one true pathway of developing pure love for God becomes politicized, then there is the emergence of this religion and that religion.

Those who are still caught up in the misconception of this religion and that religion should be educated to properly understand that religion is one, to become a pure lover of God. When they can understand this their Krishna consciousness has already begun.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Monday 21 September 2009

from Tallinn, Estonia
-------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------
Today's Thought:

More Nectar in Riga, Latvia

After an enlivening five days of my giving the morning and evening lectures at our ISKCON center in Tallinn, Estonia we are heading out today for Riga, Latvia where I will be giving a seven day lecture series. One of the wonderful qualities of the philosophy of Krishna consciousness is that the more you speak it or hear it, the more you realize it. This means that one can get newer and ever more exciting realizations simply by presenting it again and again. In other words, the philosophy of Krishna consciousness never becomes old, hackneyed or stereotyped. It remains an ever-increasingly fresh and voluminous ocean of transcendental nectar.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Is Accumulation of Material Wealth Good?

Wealthy people have more probability of turning to spiritual side as they have access to the knowledge. Poor people are unaware of the spiritual knowledge and hence will never get to the spiritual side. Therefore, making people wealthy seems the only way to increase the number of people following spiritual path. Am I correct? Why are we not working on this rather than trying to make a few wealthy people turn to the spiritual path? I get confused over these thoughts. Please enlighten me.

Yours,
Santosh

------------------------------------------------------------------ --------------
Answer: Accumulation of Spiritual Wealth is the Best

Wealth and poverty are not determining factors for a person's taking to Krishna consciousness. Sometimes we see that a poor person is more inclined to spiritual life than a wealthy person. So instead of focusing our attention on how to make everyone more wealthy in the material sense, we should devote our energy to making everyone unlimitedly wealthy in the spiritual sense by awakening the dormant Krishna consciousness in the hearts of all human beings by the massive public performance of harinam sankirtana in every town and village all over the world on a regular daily basis.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Sunday 20 September 2009

from Tallinn, Estonia
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Today's Thought:

Reject Flimsy Pseudo-Science

If we assume as modern science does that only things that can be empirically demonstrated are objectively real, where does that leave us philosophically? The first point is that the above statement cannot be empirically verified and therefore according to itself cannot establish objective reality. So just consider the tenuous, shaky position of modern science which is built upon the foundation of the above premise. And then consider the similarly tenuous, shaky position of the modern day civilization which is based on the tenets of modern science. It's no small wonder then that we find ourselves presently in the midst of an extremely chaotic, unhappy human civilization. After all it is built upon philosophical quicksand. Therefore instead of putting our blind faith in such a flimsy system of knowledge we should openly seek the Absolute Truth which by the philosophical impossibility of its nonexistence must necessarily exist. In other words, we must reject flimsy pseudo-science, and accept the real science of the Absolute Truth.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

----------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------
Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: How to Overcome Depression and Material Attachments?

How to overcome depression and material attachments? It is very difficult for me to do this. I am very much attracted to the material world. I know that it is false, just an illusion, but please guide me how to overcome this attraction.

Manju

-------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------
Answer: Become Attached to Krishna

Depression comes automatically for those who are attached to this material world. The only way to overcome this attachment is to develop a higher attachment to Krishna and Krishna consciousness.

But kindly note that this material world is not false, nor is it an illusion. Just as the spiritual world is real, this material world is also real. Within a state the university is real and the prison is also real. The prison is for those who disobey the laws of the state. Similarly, this material world is the prison house for those who have disobeyed the laws of God.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Saturday 19 September 2009

from Tallinn, Estonia
---------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
Today's Thought:

Unlimitedly Bright Future

In the material world everyone faces a dark future. No matter how successful and happy one may be in this material world he must face the gloomy future of old age, disease, and death. This is why Krishna consciousness is of the utmost importance for the human society. Through Krishna consciousness one can enter into the brightest of all possible futures by reviving his eternal, all blissful, all knowledgeable nature. And this revival is not even difficult. All one has to do is take guidance, inspiration, and blessings from those who already situated in Krishna consciousness. It is for this purpose of transcendental association that Srila Prabhupada founded ISKCON, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, in New York in 1966.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

26 2nd Ave, Manhattan, New York
ISKCON was formed here in July of 1966.

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: How Do I Find a True Guru?

I cannot believe that your holy self has replied to my mail. Please guide me that how do I find a true guru? What are the qualities that I should ascertain before requesting someone to make me his/her disciple? Also tell me what all qualities I should cultivate in myself to become a receptive disciple. I am searching the true light which is eluding me. Is it lying dormant inside myself?

Seeking blessings,

R.B.

-------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------
Answer: You've Already Found One

You don't have to worry about finding a true guru because you have already found one. To confirm his credentials you need to see if he is presenting the Bhagavad-gita exactly as it was spoken by Krishna without any interpretation. Our spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, is a pure devotee of Lord Sri Krishna who presents the Bhagavad-gita precisely as it is without any interpretation. And he has trained us how to act in the same capacity. So if you put yourself under our guidance as a disciple you are sure to be properly led on the pathway back to home, back to Godhead.

Yes, the true light is lying dormant within you. And now if you will approach the bona fide spiritual master in all humility with submissive inquiries and loving service, by his grace the dormant Krishna consciousness, which has been sleeping in your heart for countless lifetimes, will be fully revived. You will attain the supreme happiness.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Friday 18 September 2009

from Tallinn, Estonia
--------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------
Today's Thought:

Spreading the Formula for Unlimited Happiness

On 16 September 2009, in a small university town named Tartu in Estonia, I gave a presentation at the public library to an almost full hall of interested seekers on how one can attain unlimited happiness. The fact is that the modern day leaders are cheating the people by not giving them the education they need for becoming truly happy. I am most fortunate to have been given this formula by my beloved spiritual master. And my greatest joy is that I have been blessed with the opportunity to travel regularly all over the world to share this supreme science with everyone who is wiling to hear about it. My only regret is that not everyone is interested. We have to try to change that now. We must present this Krishna consciousness science in such a way that everyone in all corners of the globe will desire to cultivate Krishna consciousness within their hearts.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Lecture in Tartu, Estonia Public Library
16 September 2009

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Are the World Leaders Subscribers?

Do members of the U.S. Congress, the White House or other world leaders receive your postings that we get here from you?

Sincere good wishes with good thoughts

Ray

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Answer: We Certainly Would Like Them to Be

We have no way of knowing for sure who our thousands of subscribers are because an email address does not necessarily reveal a person's identity. We certainly would like to see that the presidents, prime ministers, and all other leaders on this planet will become subscribers to our course. If they do, this entire planet will become peaceful and happy. They have to sign up on their own though. We are not allowed to send our newsletter to people who have not requested it.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Thursday 17 September 2009

from Tallinn, Estonia
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Today's Thought:

Ecstatic Greeting

After flying last Tuesday from Copenhagen to Helsinki and then taking a ship across the Gulf of Finland from Helsinki to Tallinn, Estonia we were wonderfully greeted by an ecstatic group of chanting devotees both at the boat dock when we landed and at the temple when we arrived. At the temple we were even showered with flower petals. It was beautiful. When we are being given so much love by the Vaisnavas we cannot feel that we are deserving of such honor. We can only feel that we are most undeserving. But still it is our duty to accept such respect on our beloved spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

Srila Prabhupada explained to us in New Vrindavan in 1972 why the spiritual masters accept such worship. He compared this to India's British viceroy during the time of the British rule of India. Wherever the viceroy went in India he would be offered all honor and respect as the king would be honored. But he never thought that he was the king. He simply accepted the honor on behalf of the king and whatever gifts he received he would send them to the royal treasury in London. In the same way a bona fide spiritual master receives the honor and worship that is due to the Supreme Lord without feeling that it is for himself personally. He simply accepts it on behalf of Krishna.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Qualification for Devotional Service

Please accept my respectful obeisances.

Sir, why is it that some people get interested in Krishna Consciousness quickly while some people don't get interested quickly? Is it because the latter people will get interest in Krishna Consciousness when they are ready to love Lord Krishna? If yes, what makes a person ready to love Lord Krishna?

Warm regards,

Sunil

------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------
Answer: Previous Contact or Special Mercy

Those who take a quick interest in Krishna consciousness do so because they had a contact with it in their previous lifetime. Even a slight contact with Krishna consciousness will revive the interest of such persons, who will then seriously try to cultivate love of Krishna.

But Krishna consciousness is so powerful that even if a person had no contact with it in a previous lifetime, he can still take an interest in cultivating love of Krishna by the combined mercy of Guru and Krishna.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Wednesday 16 September 2009

from Copenhagen, Denmark
-------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Today's Thought:

Beyond and Intensely Involved with the World

A Krishna conscious person has no interest in worldly affairs. He simply wants to peacefully absorb himself in Krishna consciousness. But when he sees that the entire human civilization is being dragged through countless miseries due to the misguidance of materialistic, greedy men, his spirit of compassion impels him to exert his influence as much as possible for bringing about positive change in the world. It breaks his heart to see people needlessly suffering, and he therefore fully dedicates his life for enlightening the general population with the liberating knowledge of the ultimate self-realization science, the science of Krishna consciousness.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Pray Away the Swine Flu?

My obeisances to you!

If everyone in ISKCON prays, will the swine flu go away?

Your eternal servant

Gayathri

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Answer: Pray Our Way Back to the Spiritual World

Our Hare Krishna prayer, the mahamantra, is not a material cure for getting rid of the swine flu or any of the unlimited types of sufferings that are going on every day here in this material world. Our chanting is for getting out of this material world, for going back to the spiritual world where the swine flu and all other types of material miseries are conspicuous by their absence. In other words, the miseries of the material world will always be here because this is the world of misery. One who wants to become free from all miseries should fully qualify himself to go back to the abode of Lord Sri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is not that by prayer the material miseries will stop. No. Rather it is by sincerely praying to serve the Lord that we will escape this world of miseries and attain eternity, knowledge, and bliss in the spiritual sky.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Tuesday 15 September 2009

from Copenhagen, Denmark
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Today's Thought:

Bliss in Spite of Sickness

Although I have been very sick and mostly bed-ridden during the several days we spent in Copenhagen, I still attended all the morning temple functions and gave my full lecture schedule of two lectures daily on the science of Krishna consciousness. It is especially important to preach Krishna consciousness forcefully in countries such as Denmark, because according to a 2005 study by Phil Zuckerman, Denmark has the third highest proportion of atheists and agnostics in the world, estimated to be between 43% and 80%. I did not want to miss this golden opportunity to defeat atheism with the wonderful science of Krishna consciousness.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Denmark

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: How to Engage Sex for Krishna?

In "The Science of Self-Realization" Srila Prabhupada has said to engage all the senses in Krishna. My question is: How to engage sex desire in Krishna's service?

Regards,

Vishnu

------------------------------------------------------ --------------------------
Answer: Produce Krishna Conscious Children

Sex desire is engaged in Krishna's service by producing Krishna conscious children. Otherwise it is given up for the higher taste of devotional service.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Monday 14 September 2009

from Copenhagen, Denmark
------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------
Today's Thought:

Thoroughly Honest

Those persons who are thoroughly honest will admit their lack of perfect knowledge regarding the source and origin of all existence. And those persons who are puffed up by their so-called erudite knowledge, their degrees, and their titles do not hesitate to put forward their speculative theories as if they were facts. The speculative thinkers are like the proverbial Dr. Frog who could not understand that the Atlantic Ocean was much, much bigger than his well.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Dr. Frog in His Tiny Well

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Peace When in Anxiety for Krishna?

When I was doing my Bhagavad-gita assignment I got this doubt. In Chapter 5 verse 12, the Lord says "The steadily devoted soul attains unadulterated peace because he offers the results of all activities to Me". Srila Gurudeva, but there is anxiety when the activity is going on that the final result should be pleasing to Sri Guru and Krishna. I am also reading Srila Prabhupada's book for our Sunday classes. Srila Prabhupada was in anxiety when he sent his disciples for acquiring land for Mayapur, when the project at Bombay got delayed, when the publishing of books got delayed, etc. He was happy and breathed with relief after the results were achieved. Before peace could be experienced, there is anxiety from another project that it should come out well for Krishna. Srila Gurudeva, then how is peace experienced or how to implement the above instruction in real life?

Your insignificant servant,

Thara Ramesh

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Answer: Anxiety for Krishna is Real Peace

The anxiety of a devotee who is trying to please guru and Krishna, is not like the anxiety of a materialist who is hankering for sense gratification. Because the devotee's anxiety is for pleasing Krishna, his anxiety is transcendental bliss.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Sunday 13 September 2009

from Copenhagen, Denmark
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Today's Thought:

Don't Be Hijacked by Maya

The material nature is very powerful. Just as pirates hijack valuable cargo ships and demand huge ransoms for their being returned to their owners, the material energy is always looking for an opportunity to hijack our consciousness and steal it away from Krishna. So we have to be very careful. This is why it is prescribed that we should chant at least 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna mantra every day on japa mala beads. This chanting along with the avoidance of illicit sex, meat eating, intoxication, and gambling will fortify us against maya's attack and allow us to cross over this dangerous material ocean safely arriving at the port of the spiritual world.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Pirates in Nigeria

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Did Prabhupada Fully Realize the Self?

Did Swami Prabhupada fully realize "the self"? If so, did he say when and how?

Ray

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Answer: Prabhupada Never Forgot Krishna

A spiritual master is always liberated. In any condition of his life he should not be mistaken as ordinary human being. This position of a spiritual master is achieved by three processes. One is called sadhana siddha. That means one who is liberated by executing the regulative principles of devotional service. Another is kripa siddha, one who is liberated by the mercy of Krishna or His devotee. And another is nitya siddha who is never forgetful of Krishna throughout his whole life. These are the three features of the perfection of life. In this connection Srila Prabhupada stated, "Throughout my whole life I do not know what is illicit sex, intoxication, meat-eating or gambling. So far my present life is concerned, I do not remember any part of my life when I was forgetful of Krishna." Therefore we can understand that Srila Prabhupada is a nitya siddha who was Krishna conscious from his very birth.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Saturday 12 September 2009

from Copenhagen, Denmark
---------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------
Today's Thought:

Krishna Conscious Hell

Sometimes in this material world we have to go through hell. All kinds of things can go wrong. There are so many varieties of miseries that can attack us. We may suffer from a devastating disease. We can find ourselves in an impoverished condition. We may be seriously injured in an automobile accident. We may suffer the loss of a close friend or family member or even find ourselves on the verge of death. How should we deal with such circumstances in such a way as to not be carried away by lamentation and illusion? How we deal with such reverse conditions can either be a great boon for our Krishna consciousness, or it can be a great setback. The point is that we have to see everything as the arrangement of Krishna for our purification. We have to take everything in the most positive way possible. Then we will never lose our enthusiasm in any type of situation. We will always be solidly situated in sweet, transcendental Krishna consciousness.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

-------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------
Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Bad Things Happen to Good People?

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

My questions are:

How to control mind?

Why do bad things happen to good people?

Pinki

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Answer: No One is Purely Good

The mind becomes automatically controlled by chanting the Hare Krishna mantra as much as possible throughout the day, especially during the early morning hours.

In this material world no one is purely good. Everyone has a combination of good and bad karma coming from previous pious and sinful activities. Therefore when bad things happen to good people, they are simply getting their just rewards for previous sinful activities committed either in this lifetime or in previous lifetimes.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Friday 11 September 2009

from Sofia, Bulgaria
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Today's Thought:

911 Remembered--Ending the Terror

It was eight years ago today that there was a terror attack which brought down the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York killing thousands of people. Such happenings are par for the course in the Kali Yuga, the age of quarrel and hypocrisy. If we want to counteract the inauspiciousness of this age, the Vedic scriptures recommend the wide scale performance of harinama sankirtana, the congregational chanting of the holy names of God. Such chanting has the power to uplift and purify the demoniac atmosphere that is being more and more manifested on this planet with each passing year.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Heavy Karma on 9 September 2001

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Why Krishna Allows Me to Fall?

My question is: Why does Krishna let me come to material world?

Would you please enlighten me why?

Hare Krishna

Your servant,

Ali

------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------
Answer: For Your Rectification

Srila Prabhupada gives a nice a example of how Krishna facilitated our foolish desire to want to try to enjoy separately from Him in lecture given on 4 September 1972 in New Vrindavan, West Virginia, USA:

Just like a child; a child is persisting, crying, "Father, I must have. Give me." Father does not like to give him that undesirable thing, but because the child persists in crying, making disturbance, then my father says, "All right, you take." That is father's mercy. "Oh, why this child is crying? Let him have it. That's all." We have got practical experience. So, I may recite that in my younger days when my eldest son was only two years and half, so, he was trying to catch the table fan -- the table fan was moving -- so I was resisting, "No, don't touch." But he insisted, a child. So, one of my friends was sitting, he said that, "Make it slow and allow him to touch it." So I did it and the child touched it; then there was, in the finger, "Tunnng!" And, then I asked him if, "Again touch?" "No, no! No."

In this example given by Srila Prabhupada we can see that Krishna is the affectionate father wanting to satisfy the desire of his but at the same time making sure that in spite of the child's foolishness that he will be alright. Krishna arranges an educational program to convince us to return to His eternal abode.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Thursday 10 September 2009

from Sofia, Bulgaria
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Today's Thought:

The More We Please Krishna

After two weeks of ecstatic preaching in Bulgaria, Macedonia, and Romania we are today heading north for preaching in Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Russia. The entire world population is suffering greatly due its lack of Krishna consciousness. Therefore there is no greater or more important welfare work than distributing Krishna consciousness to the suffering souls of this planet. Because Krishna is greatly pleased to see the distribution of Krishna consciousness, the devotees derive the greatest satisfaction in spreading His glories. The more we please Krishna, the more we become pleased.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: "No Mind" Concept on the Bhakti Path

Some weeks ago you were writing about the state of no thoughts. Perhaps you were referring to what in Buddhism is called the state of "no mind." First I will try to describe what the state of "no mind" really is in the experience of the silent traditions. Then I would like to have a look at its meaning for those who are following the way of devotion.

As I understood by reading books of spiritual teachers like Eckhart Tolle and through my own experience by practicing silent meditation and japa as well, state of no-mind is a state of awakness and awarness. Actually it is the natural state of the spiritual being beyond and between thoughts and emotions. The inner wisdom deeply to know that I AM. Somebody who lives in that state of no-mind is always in touch with the divine origin of thoughts and emotions. He or she has realized that all the thougts are coming from the divine ground, from God Himself.

Now, what does that mean for those who are following the path of bhakti? The state of no-mind is attained when one's mind is not resting outside in the world of phenomenon but when one's mind is kept in the heart, in the soul. If one's attention is concentrated on that conscious witness of thougts and emotions, this is called soul-consciousness, the platfrom where real bhakti begins. Generally I think we have to be very careful of judging other ways and traditions. Often we only have a conceptual understanding of them and not the experince beyond the words like onenss, impersonal consciousness, no mind, and so on.

Mohan Prem das

----------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------
Answer: Mind Fixed in Trance Upon Lord Sri Krishna

Everyone is already thinking "I am." The problem is that "I am" is being directed towards matter instead of spirit. Instead of thinking "I am spirit-soul", they are misdirecting their "I am" towards the material body and considering themselves to be white or black, male or female, etc--so many false designations.

While the concept of "no mind" may be attractive to a mind that is too much disturbed by the material energy, it is still a thought conceived of with an active mind. The Vedas describe the state of no mind as Brahman realization. It is a stage of perfection that can be achieved only after undergoing great penances and austerities. The same Vedic wisdom also describes that in spite of all the difficulties one must undergo to achieve "no mind", it is only a temporary state in which one cannot permanently remain, that one must eventually return to the realm of material thoughts. Therefore the Vedic wisdom recommends a higher state of perfection known as Bhagavan realization in which the mind is fully surcharged and actively absorbed 24/7 in thoughts on the absolute plane. Once achieving Bhagavan realization one is guaranteed never to come again to the distressful plane of material thoughts.

So for those on the path of bhakti the concept of "no mind" means the ultimate perfection, the Bhagavan realization stage. On this perfectional stage the mind is 100% absorbed in remembering the transcendental name, fame, form, pastimes, entourage, paraphernalia of that stupendously amazing and sweet personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna, who is described as follows in choice poetry by Lord Brahma:

aṅgāni yasya sakalendriya-vṛtti-manti
paśyanti pānti kalayanti ciram jaganti
ānanda-cinmaya-sad-ujjvala-vigrahasya
govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam aham bhajāmi

"I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, whose transcendental form is full of bliss, truth, substantiality and is thus full of the most dazzling splendor. Each of the limbs of that transcendental figure possesses in Himself, the full-fledged functions of all the organs, and eternally sees, maintains and manifests the infinite universes, both spiritual and mundane."
Brahma-Samhita 5.32

In the Bible God says, "Judgment is mine." So we can avoid judgmentalism by accepting without arguments the judgments of the Supreme Lord. Instead of concocting our own judgments we should simply try to understand the judgment of the Supreme Authority. Then we will gain perfect knowledge. We have seen that some people come along wanting to pass negative judgments on others, that they are being judgmental. This is hypocrisy. If it is wrong to judge, how can one pass judgment on others that they are being judgmental? Our accusing finger comes right back and points at us.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Wednesday 9 September 2009

from Budapest, Hungary
---------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------
Today's Thought:

Begging for Krishna's Mercy

My dearest Lord Krishna, by the mercy of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, my most beloved spiritual master, and his followers I have been engaged in Your service. It is not easy to engage oneself purely in devotional service while living in a world which is 100% dedicated to material sense gratification. Nor is it easy to spread a movement of pure bhakti in such a world. Therefore feeling myself powerless in such a situation all I can do is fall down at Your lotus feet and beg for Your mercy that I may always be engaged in pure devotional service in all times, places, and circumstances, and that I may be successful in spreading this Krishna consciousness movement all over the world. I know, my dear Lord, that without Your mercy these will be impossible to accomplish. Therefore, kindly do not deny me Your mercy. Please shower Your rain of mercy constantly upon me.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Holy Name Has Taste Only After Initiation?

Maharaja, please accept my humble obeisances.

In the scriptures it is stated to chant 64 rounds. Why did Srila Prabhupada reduce it to 16? And why does he restrict us with various rules? And also, Maharaja, is it true that the taste of the holy name comes only after initiation?

A fallen soul,

Jithender

--------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----
Answer: Taste Greatly Magnified After Initiation

Actually the scriptural injunction as stated by the Lord in the Bhagavad-gita is that we should chant His names 24 hours daily. So whether one is chanting 16 rounds or 64 rounds, this is a minimization of the Lord's instruction. The practical reality is that in today's hectic world many devotees are hard pressed even to complete 16 rounds in a day. So for such devotees how would 64 rounds be attainable? So this is Srila Prabhupada's special mercy to allow us to become accepted as initiated devotees even if we can complete only 16 rounds daily. Of course, if you are able to manage it in your schedule, you should chant at least 64 rounds daily. This will give you great spiritual strength. But if you can chant 16 rounds and engage the rest of your spare time and energy in preaching and distributing books of transcendental knowledge to those who are drowning in the ocean of ignorance, this will be even more pleasing to the Lord.

The four regulative principles: no illicit sex, no meat eating, no intoxication, and no gambling are essential principles for those who want to awaken the dormant love of God which is sleeping within their hearts. If we are trying to light a fire, we should not be simultaneously pouring water on it. So, if one engages in the above mentioned sinful activities, he will be counteracting the purifying effects of chanting with sinful activities which pollute the soul.

By the mercy of Krishna there is taste in the holy name from the very beginning of the self-realization path. But as soon as one takes complete shelter of the lotus feet of the bona fide spiritual master by the process known as initiation, the taste of the holy name becomes magnified many times over.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Tuesday 8 September 2009

from Timisoara, Romania
-------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------
Today's Thought:

Can a Guru Be Self-Proclaimed?

According to the Vedic wisdom, in which the concept of guru or spiritual master is originally presented, there is no such thing as a self-proclaimed guru. In other words, according to the Vedic wisdom, we can immediately understand that a self-proclaimed guru is bogus. He is not genuine. To become a spiritual master one must be a strict follower of the instructions of his spiritual master and he must also be ordered by his spiritual master to become a spiritual master. Only then can he act as a spiritual master.

The bona fide spiritual master never considers himself to be qualified to be a spiritual master. He simply thinks that he is executing this duty on behalf of his spiritual master on his order. In this way, by his humility, he becomes duly qualified to purely represent his spiritual master and the previous acharyas and thus capable and competent because of his transparency to deliver his disciples back to home, back to Godhead.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: How to Serve Guru?

In what ways can a devotee serve his spiritual master in this age? What kind of spiritual duties does Spiritual master give?

Swati

---------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
Answer: Dedicate Your Life to His Mission

Since the spiritual master is fully absorbed in trying to save the fallen, conditioned souls of this world from the repetition of birth and death, the best service that you can render to him is to fully dedicated your entire life to assisting him in his mission.

When you fully surrender yourself at the lotus feet of the bona fide spiritual master he will engage you in whatever way you can best assist him according to your talents and propensities.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Monday 7 September 2009

from Timisoara, Romania
------------------------------------------------ --------------------------------
Today's Thought:

Reviving Vedic Culture in Romania

We are here in Romania for a couple of days to assist the local devotees in Timisoara in trying to bring about the revival of Vedic culture in Romania. This former colony of the the Roman empire has a language which is very similar to the Latin, the language spoken in Rome during the days of the Roman empire. And if we trace history even further back, we discover that the Roman empire was founded by one of the sons of Maharaja Yayati, the grandson of the great Vedic world emperor, Parikshit Maharaja. We can see that the Romans were engaged in worshipping the demigods in accordance with the Vedic system for those who are materially attached. So now we are re-connecting these far removed descendents of the Vedic culture with their original cultural roots. It is very exciting and enlivening experience indeed!

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Map of Romania

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: How Will Disciplic Line Continue?

Hare Krishna, Gurudeva,

Lord Krishna taught the science of God first to Brahma. Brahma first taught it to Narada, and thus Narada is the second in the line of disciplic succession. Srila Prabhupada is number 31 in this line. Can you please tell us what Srila Prabhupada's judgment was concerning this very sacred line of gurus? How does this line continue now, since Srila Prabhupada has returned to the spiritual sky?

Your humble servants,

Aarti and Deodat

--------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------
Answer: By Srila Prabhupada's Loyal Disciples

Srila Prabhupada told us that those of his disciples who are strictly following him will be the next in the line of disciplic succession. In other words, position #32 is jointly held by all of the disciples of Srila Prabhupada who are strictly following his instructions. Such loyal disciples are the next spiritual masters in the line of disciplic succession and are continuing and expanding the glorious Srila Prabhupada branch of the Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya sampradaya for the deliverance of all the fallen, conditioned souls on this planet.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Sunday 6 September 2009

from Budapest, Hungary
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Today's Thought:

Cancelled Flight, But Still Alright

5 September 2009--In this material world we must always be prepared for any and all kinds of uncertainties. At any moment our plans can be disrupted. As long as our happiness is based on doing exactly what we want to do when we want to do it, we will always find ourselves on shaky ground. We have to always be prepared to do what Krishna wants us to do, even if it is not what we want to do. This mood of being willing to do anything to please Krishna brings true and lasting peace to the devotee. Because there is no power greater than Krishna, no one can disrupt His plans. Therefore by submitting ourselves to Krishna's plans we become free from all uncertainties.

We were supposed to be in Timisoara, Romania today, but after arriving from Sofia, Bulgaria to connect with a flight to Timisoara we found that it was cancelled. Therefore this morning we are in Budapest in a hotel room paid for by Malev Airlines instead of in Timisoara. Our Krishna consciousness is not disrupted because we found a Govinda's restaurant here for taking prasadam, we still have our normal morning program of deity worship and chanting our japa, and I am doing my normal writing activities on my laptop computer. As long as our only agenda is to be 24 hours engaged in Krishna consciousness, we can always be enlivened and happy under any and all circumstances, whether we find ourselves on the bank of the Yamuna or the Danube.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Yamuna River in Vrindavan, India

Danube River, in Budapest, Hungary

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Easiest Way to Achieve Krishna Consciousness?

What is the easiest way to achieve Krishna consciousness in today's life?

Deepanshu

-------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------
Answer: Full Surrender at Guru's Lotus Feet

According to the authorized Vedic wisdom undoubtedly the easiest and indeed the only way to attain the supreme perfection of Krishna consciousness is to fully surrender yourself at the lotus feet of the bona fide spiritual master.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Saturday 05 September 2009

from Sofia, Bulgaria
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Today's Thought:

What Could Be Sweeter?

What could be sweeter than taking the holy names into a downtown park on the pleasant summer afternoon and broadcasting an ecstatic kirtan to attract the hearts of the fallen, conditioned souls back to Lord Sri Krishna, their eternal lord and master? That's what we did last Wednesday on Sofia, Bulgaria. To behold the souls who have been merged in forgetfulness of God for thousands and millions of lifetimes becoming attracted and uplifted by Lord Sri Krishna in the the form of His holy names has got to be the greatest feeling that you could ever have! If you want to taste the sweetest nectar join your local Hare Krishna chanting party as soon as possible. Check out the kirtan now through the following link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djnPOsyNyZI

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Inundating Sofia with the Holy Names
3 September 2009--Sofia, Bulgaria

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Difficulty with Vedic History

Your Grace,

I am currently in the US military and a part time college student, with a major in world history. I am doing my best to continue growing into Krishna Consciousness, but I have been having difficulty. I have been reading about Vedic history and how the ages are divided up. I am having difficulty maintaining continuous devotion when I have a hard time accepting the Vedic timeline. While the Vedic timeline goes back billions of years, the fossil record dates humanity at only about 10,000 years old, and the Earth itself at only about 4.4billion years. I tried to ask devotees about this, but most were shocked that I even had this concern and were unable to provide a reason as to why this may occur (the fossil record being considerably younger than the Vedic timeline).

So, Your Grace, could you possibly clarify this issue? Thank you very much for your assistance,

Your servant

Josh

-------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------
Answer: Difficulty With the Scientists

I understand your concern and appreciate very much that you have approached me for clarification. You have mentioned that the fossil records date the human race as being only 10,000 years old. But there are archeological findings that substantiate the existence of humans on this planet as far back as 33 million years ago. It's uncanny that the modern day scientific community is so much locked into their theories about the history of the human race that they stubbornly refuse to acknowledge a wealth of documented archeological findings to the contrary. You can check this out yourself at:

http://www.forbiddenarcheology.com/

The modern day scientists are so much locked into academic stereotypes that they refuse to accept any evidence which does not agree with their theories. In other words, even though they advertise themselves as scientists, they are not being at all scientific. A true scientist does not bend or ignore the facts to suit his theories. The true scientist formulates his theories after open-mindedly analyzing all of the data which is available to him. And he is always willing to revise his theories when new data becomes available. We are seeing now that the modern day scientists are so close-minded in this regard that we wonder if they are worthy of still being designated as scientists. Someone suggested they should be called dogmatists instead of scientists. I do not think they would be happy with this new designation.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Friday 4 September 2009

from Sofia, Bulgaria
-------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------
Today's Thought:

Self-Realization on the Radio

I recently appeared on radio station 102.7FM in Vancouver, Canada as the guest on a weekly yoga talk showed called Drishti Point. It has now been aired and made available for download. The interviewer, Farah Nazarali, asked me to describe the self-realization science. It was a very nice opportunity to describe the ultimate self-realization science of Krishna consciousness both for her benefit and the benefit of the listening audience. Now you can hear the radio show through the following link:

http://www.backtohome.com/audio/2009.07.10_Radio.Show_Vancouver_Canada.mp3

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Vancouver Radio Show Interview
10 July 2009

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Asking Krishna to Fulfill Material Desires

If we have material desires, can we ask Krishna to fulfill them?

Shaktisinh

----------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------
Answer: Why Pour Water on the Fire?

Why pour water on a fire when you are trying to light it? Pure bhakti is like the fire and material desires are like the water. If you unconditionally surrender to Krishna, He will personally take care of all your needs, material and spiritual. Just as a child does not have to ask his parents to feed him, Krishna's devotee does not need to ask for anything because Krishna is already fully taking care of Him. If we don't trust Krishna to take care of us and instead of asking for bhakti we ask to have our material desires fulfilled, we may get our material desires fulfilled, but we will never get Krishna, and we will remain stuck in the cycle of birth and death.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Thursday 3 September 2009

from Sofia, Bulgaria
------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------
Today's Thought:

The All-Merciful Lord

We were originally in the spiritual world serving the Supreme Lord with love. Because He is supremely independent and because we are part and parcel of Him, we share to a minute degree his quality of independence. We therefore have the independence to decide whether we would like to serve Him or not. In order for us to truly love the Supreme Lord this free choice is necessary because without free will there is no question of love. If we use our independence wisely, we remain eternally serving the Lord in His wonderful transcendental abode. And if we misuse our independence and become envious of His position as the Supreme Person, we are given a place of residence where we can consider ourselves to be the Supreme, i.e. we are sent to this material world. However, the all-merciful Lord does not abandon us. He takes all care to rescue us from our fallen condition by always trying to convince us to return to our original position in His loving service in that amazingly wondrous spiritual sky.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Connect with Guru Through the Internet?

Hare Krishna Gurudeva,

Please accept our humble obeisances.

Gurudeva, when you say we need to seek out the association of a bona fide spiritual master and take shelter of him, can we use the Internet?

In this information age doesn't the Internet represent Krishna? It is not possible for most of us to come to Texas to live with you, although we would really like to.

Your humble servants,
Aarti and Deodat

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Answer: Vibrational Connection is the Best

Srila Prabhupada describes that there are two forms of the spiritual master. One form is his vapuh, his physical presence. And the other form is his vani, his vibrational presence or his teachings. Of these two forms the vani is more important because while we sometimes have access to vapuh and sometimes do not have such access, we always have access to the instructions of the spiritual master. If we always faithfully carry out the instructions that we have received from the spiritual master, we live constantly in the shelter of this divine association.

Such instructions can be communicated via the Internet, via printed materials, via audio or video recordings, or by word of mouth. Regarding taking the Internet as a representation of Krishna, since Srila Prabhupada has written in purport to the Bhagavad-gita, "Anything extraordinarily opulent should be considered to represent Krishna's opulence," the Internet can be taken as a representation of Krishna's opulence.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Wednesday 2 September 2009

from Sofia, Bulgaria
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Today's Thought:

The Ecstasy of Kirtan

There is nothing like kirtan. It is the supreme nectar. If you want to know where you can get shelter from the pinches of Kali Yuga, simply go to where the devotees of Lord Krishna are engaging in Hare Krishna kirtan and dive deeply into that sublime ocean of nectar. You'll be glad you did. Your life will never be the same again. You will eternally transformed. Here is a kirtan we did the other day in Sofia, Bulgaria.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FjcT_JrLuY

Participate in a Hare Krishna kirtan as soon as possible!

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

-------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------
Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Killing Plants Different From Killing Animals?

While I am a strict vegetarian from birth, many times my colleagues, mainly in the western world, have taken a dig at me on this topic. They argue that killing plants is the same as animals. When I highlight to them that there is a gradation of life forms, they laugh it off saying that who decides which is a better life form to kill? I would like the correct answer from you so I can reply when people make fun of me being a vegetarian.

Raghavan

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Answer: Killing is Killing, But...

They are right. Killing plants is the same as killing animals. Whether I kill a rich man or a poor man, in either case I am guilty of murder. Whether I kill a plant or an animal, because they are both living beings, in either case I am guilty of murder.

So what to do? How will we survive? Krishna orders us to take foods from the categories of fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and grains and to offer to them to Him before eating. If we offer such foods to Krishna before eating, He relieves us of the sinful reaction of killing the plant and transforms the foodstuffs from matter into spirit for the sanctification of our consciousness. He assures of this in the Bhagavad-gita. But He makes no such concession for the eating of meat, fish, and eggs. Because they are not offerable to Krishna, if we eat them, we are only eating lumps of sin, and we will suffer karmic reactions.

Since the plant's body is offered to Krishna, the living soul in the plant body will receive special blessings. His progress in the cycle of birth and death to the human form of life will be accelerated.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Tuesday 1 September 2009

from Sofia, Bulgaria
------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------
Today's Thought:

How to Get Great Faith

Faith is the foundation of bhakti. Without faith one cannot make progress. So how does one get faith? We get faith in this process by associating with those who are advanced in it. In this way we are able to witness and experience first hand the wonderful saintly qualities and blissful consciousness that they have developed by becoming advanced in Krishna consciousness. This enthuses us and gives us great faith because we realize that if we do what they have done we will achieve the same amazing results.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Is the Material World Merely Symbolic?

Srila Gurudeva

The explanations of modern science regarding solar eclipse etc do not match what is stated in the holy text, the Srimad Bhagavatam. So is our world a duplicate or maya of the original spiritual world in which things are happening here symbolically only?

Kindly clear my doubt.

Your humble servant,
Sudheer

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Answer: It is Real, But Temporary.

This material world is real. It is not imaginary. But we are under the illusion that it will go on forever, when in fact in due course of time it will be destroyed. And we are also under the illusion that we can find lasting happiness here. Whatever happiness we can find here is only temporary. Therefore we can never be fully satisfied here.

Although modern science has come up with a way of explaining the solar eclipses which is different from the traditional Vedic way of explaining them, Vedic science has been accurately predicting solar and lunar eclipses for thousands of years. Therefore the modern way does not negate the traditional way. It is merely observing the same thing from a different angle of vision.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari