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Today's Thought: Month June 2011





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Contenidos - Contents
Today's Thought - Sankarsana Das Adhikari

Today's Thought - MONTH of JUNE 2011


Thursday 30 June 2011

from Sydney, Australia 
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Today's Thought: Prestige Seekers are Forgotten

In this material world everyone is looking for prestige, but no matter how much prestige they may accrue, they will still be completely humiliated by unavoidable death. And in due course of time all the reputations of even history's most prestigious heroes will vanish into oblivion. The pure devotees, on the other hand, are not seeking personal prestige. They simply desire to spread the name and fame of Lord Sri Krishna all over the world. But because Krishna desires that His pure devotees should be more prestigious than Him, the pure devotees of Krishna automatically become the most famous, prestigious persons in the history of the universe.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari



Glorifying Krishna at a Home Program
28 June 2011--Sydney, Australia

Answers According to the Vedic Version: 

Question: How to Be Aloof from Aloofness?
Why are we trying to find happiness in the material world even if there isn't any? How can Krishna consciousness teach me how to remain aloof from aloofness? How can I control my mind in a manner that is favorable for Krishna consciousness? Can you point towards any verse in Bhagavad Gitadirecting towards this?

P.R.

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Answer: Engage Whole World in Krishna's Service
Because our nature is to always enjoy happiness we naturally try to find happiness in this material world even though it is a place of misery.

While the impersonalists adopt a mood of aloofness to try to free themselves from the miseries of material existence, the devotees of the Lord reject aloofness by engaging everything in the service of the Lord. Thus they become liberated from this material existence even while they are still living within it and relish the sweetest happiness at every minute.

The method for always having a mental attitude which is favorable for your Krishna consciousness is to always remember Krishna. In Bhagavad-gita 9.34 Krishna instructs us to always think of Him:
man-manā bhava mad-bhakto
mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru
mām evaiṣyasi yuktvaivam
ātmānaṁ mat-parāyaṇaḥ

"Engage your mind always in thinking of Me, become My devotee, 
offer obeisances to Me and worship Me. 
Being completely absorbed in Me, surely you will come to Me."

Sankarshan Das Adhikari



Wednesday 29 June 2011

from Sydney, Australia

Today's Thought: The Whole World is Waiting

The present world civilization is drowning in an ocean of nescience. People are so much deluded that they don't even realize that they are suffering. Even though they are in a miserable condition being dragged to old age and death by the insurmountable wheel of time, they imagine that they are happy by gratifying their senses. But since the happiness of the senses is only temporary and because it does not touch the actual self, no one is actually satisfied. What this means is that the whole world is waiting for the devotees of the Krishna consciousness movement to deliver them from the quagmire into which they have so deeply sunk. 

Sankarshan Das Adhikari



Working for the Awakening of the World
19 June 2011--Klang, Malaysia

Answers According to the Vedic Version: 

Question: If Chanting Hare Krishna is the Only Way
I have been wondering if chanting the Hare Krishna mahamantra (among other things) is the only way back to Krishnaloka, the transcendental kingdom of God, in this Kali yuga, the materialistic age of Kali, why didn't Krishna give this direct instruction in the Bhagavad-gita? 

Thank you in advance for your answer.

Daniel 

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Answer: Chanting Any Name of God is the Only Way
Chanting the names of God is described in the Vedic literature as the only means of deliverance in this age. Although the Vedic scriptures inform us that the Hare Krishna mantra is the most effective means of deliverance, they do not tell us that chanting Hare Krishna is the only way to attain spiritual perfection. One can chant any name of God with pure love and attain spiritual perfection in this age.

I do not know how you can ask why Krishna did not instruct us in the Bhagavad-gita to chant His name. He directly mentions in the ninth chapter that we should chant His name 24 hours daily. Since all names of God are names of Krishna, this instruction can refer to chanting any name of God.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari



Tuesday 28 June 2011

from Sydney, Australia

Today's Thought: The Platform of Genuine Love

In this world everyone talks of love, but yet they are too often tormented and brokenhearted because of love. Real love is never a cause of despondency. The love which causes disappointment is actually nothing but lust disguising itself as love. When we come to the platform of genuine love there is never any disappointment. On the platform of genuine love there is uninterrupted eternal happiness. That real love is experienced when we connect in love with that person who is the very source of love itself, Lord Sri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. 

Sankarshan Das Adhikari



Sharing Genuine Love
2 May 2011--Kaunas, Lithuania

Answers According to the Vedic Version: 

Question: Experience During Krishna Consciousness
Gurudeva,

What are your experiences during Krishna consciousness? 

Aluru S.

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Answer: The Sweetest, Most Thrilling Happiness
Krishna consciousness is the sweetest, most thrilling happiness, millions of times greater than anything that anyone can experience anywhere in this material world even if they go the topmost planet in the universe, Brahmaloka.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari



Monday 27 June 2011

from Sydney, Australia

Today's Thought: Krishnize the World or Die Trying

My ongoing meditation is that we must either make the entire world Krishna conscious, or die trying to make the entire world Krishna conscious. These are the only two options. There is no third option because without Krishna consciousness nobody can be happy. Will we succeed? The odds are stacked heavily against us. But there is one thing we can be sure of. Lord Krishna will be greatly pleased with our endeavor, and when Krishna is pleased with us our lives are perfect. Therefore let us strive with full determination, enthusiasm, patience, and intelligence to make the entire world Krishna up until our last dying breaths. 

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answers According to the Vedic Version: 

Question: Krishna Conscious Expectations
It is said that expectation leads to frustration. I want to know about expectation and hopes in the context of Krishna consciousness. What hopes and expectations should I keep with my practice of Krishna consciousness.

Thanks,
your servant,
Nikhil S.

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Answer: Always Expect Krishna's Mercy
As long as you places your hopes or expectations in material things, it is sure and certain that you will be disappointed. So instead you should place your hopes and expectations fully with Krishna that if you fully surrender unto Him He will surely bless you with His unlimited mercy. Of this there is no doubt

Sankarshan Das Adhikari



Sunday 26 June 2011 

from Sydney, Australia

Today's Thought: The Perfection of Relationship

The individual living being exists in a relationship between that which is him and that which is not him. Those who find this relationship painful and want to remove the pain sometimes deny this relationship by stating that the individual self is all that exists and therefore there is no such thing as relationship. They posit a self which exists in an impersonal, formless, relationshipless oneness and imagine that they have become liberated from all the pain of relationship. However, since our very nature is that we desire to live in a state of relationship, relationshiplessness will never satisfy the self. It something like cutting off one's head to cure a headache. So instead of denying relationship to become free from painful relationship, the living being must learn how to have a perfect relationship between himself and that which is not himself. The science of how do to this is called Krishna consciousness. 

Sankarshan Das Adhikari



Loving Relationships Seminar
25 June 2011--Sydney, Australia

Answers According to the Vedic Version: 

Question: How Can A Dietician Serve Krishna?
O Gurudeva, please accept my respectful obeisances.

I am thankful to you for helping me to get all those necessary things essential to become a Krishna conscious devotee. I am very very thankful to you that you are helping me to get love and affections of Lord Krishna through your messages. 

I have read the article "How to Practice Krishna Consciousness at Home" from the link onwww.ultimateselfrealization.com. I have a question. The article explained that a painter should paint for Krishna or a writer should write for Krishna. Gurudeva, I am a dietician by profession. How can I used this in service to Krishna?

Chandrika

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Answer: Teach the Attitude of Gratitude Diet
You can teach people how living on a vegetarian diet of foods that are first offered to God before eating is the most beneficial, healthy diet. You can call it the Attitude of Gratitude Diet. Merely thanking God for what we eat is not enough. We should only eat what we have first offered to Him. This is the real expression of thanks. And we must only offer Him those things which He will accept. This means that we cannot offer Him anything from the category of meat, fish, and eggs. It's a fact that when we practice and attitude of gratitude in all of our activities that this elevates us to a healthier, happier life. You should present this diet based on all arguments: ecological, economic, health, ethical, and spiritual. Kindly consult the Higher Taste cookbook for detailed answers on how this diet of food offered to God is superior. You can purchase a copy at: http://food.krishna.com/cookbook/higher-taste

Sankarshan Das Adhikari



Saturday 25 June 2011

from Sydney, Australia

Today's Thought: Always Connect with the Essence of Existence

Always connect with the essence of existence. Otherwise you will be carried away by the externals and remain subjected to the miseries of this material world. The essence of existence is loving service to the original source of everything, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Once you are fully connected with Him, the seed-giving father of all, who reveals Himself in the Bhagavad-gita as Krishna, you will never be touched by the miseries of birth, death, old age, and disease ever again.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answers According to the Vedic Version: 

Question: Which is Better: 16 Rounds or 64 Rounds?
Dear Gurudeva,

Please accept my humble obeisances at your feet,

Recently I was discussing with a devotee who said that chanting 64 rounds of japa mala every day is the highest service, even if it means compromising one's facility to perform devotional service. But, Gurudeva, isn't it better to do 16 rounds of chanting and utilize the remaining time for some sort of service such as preaching or book distribution? Which is better chanting 16 rounds or chanting 64 rounds per day?

Thank you,

Amith

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Answer: Serving Guru's Order is the Best
Krishna states that the highest duty is to surrender unto Him and that we should surrender unto Him by surrendering to his representative, the bona fide spiritual master. Therefore the highest principle is not how many rounds you chant. The highest principle is to follow the orders of your spiritual master.

Since ISKCON Founder-Acharya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, orders his followers to chant at least sixteen rounds of japa daily and to fully absorb themselves in activities for the salvation of the suffering human society--for ISKCON devotees a combination of chanting at least 16 rounds daily and working for the salvation of the human society is the highest principle.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari



Friday 24 June 2011

from the Hong Kong Airport

Today's Thought: Most Fortunate Messenger

I am unlimitedly fortunate to be a part of the Krishna consciousness movement because it is bestowing the greatest benediction of pure love of Godhead upon the suffering humanity. Somehow or other, in spite of my innumerable disqualifications, by the mercy of His Holiness Vishnujana Swami and His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, I have been blessed with the most sublime opportunity to serve as a messenger of the Supreme Absolute Personality of Godhead Lord Sri Krishna in His mission of reclaiming His lost children, who are presently entrapped in the cycle of birth and death, for delivering them back to His eternal, all blissful abode, the Vaikuntha world. My heart overflows with joy to be engaged in this way, and I fervently pray that everyone throughout the entire world can be awakened as soon as possible to their actual identities as eternal spirit-soul servants of the all-merciful Supreme Lord so that they can also happily swim in this sublime ocean of Krishna consciousness.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answers According to the Vedic Version: 

Question: Who Can Be Addressed as Maharaja?
I have a doubt regarding the definition of the title Maharaja. Who can be a Maharaja? Does it apply to a married person or an unmarried person who took sannyasa directly skipping the grihastha ashram? Please clarify this.

thank you

your servant 

A. Praveen Achary.

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Answer: Kings and Those With Sense Control
Maharaja means king. From Srila Prabhupada's purport to Srimad Bhagavatam 4.30.45 we learn that just as the king controls and rules over his subjects in various ways, similarly, advanced devotees maintain control and rule over their senses and can thus also be addressed as Maharaja or king. This is why sannyasis are sometimes addressed as Maharaja and also why disciples sometimes address their spiritual master as Guru Maharaja. It was also pointed out by Srila Prabhupada in a room conversation on 16 July 1968 in Montreal that a brahmana is also respectfully addressed as Pandita Maharaja. So it is very clear from Srila Prabhupada's teachings that the Maharaja title is not the exclusive property ofsannyasis. It can also be applied to kings, gurus, and brahmanas. It applies to anyone who is either a monarch or who has complete control over his senses.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari



Thursday 23 June 2011

from Khasadesh

Today's Thought: When, Oh When Will That Day Be Mine?

Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur has written the most inspiring devotional song, "Kabe Ha'be Bolo Se-Dina Amar--When, Oh When Will That Day Be Mine?" By hearing or singing this song with love, one will awaken the dormant feelings of love of God within the heart. For the easy understanding of those who do not understand the Bengali language I have sung it in English. The song can be heard and downloaded at the link given below. Everyone has permission to copy, distribute, and post it freely. (The song is presented with modern instrumentation; so if you find such music distasteful, kindly do not listen to the song.)

www.ultimateselfrealization.com/Songs/andromeda.php

The lyrics are as follows: kabe ha'be bolo se-dina amar
aparādha ghuci', śuddha nāme ruci,
kṛpā-bale ha'be hṛdoye sañcār

When, oh when will that day be mine? When my offenses ceasing, taste for the name increasing, when in my heart will your mercy shine, when, oh when will that day be mine?

Lower than a blade of grass, more tolerant than a tree. When will my mind attain this quality? Respectful to all, not expecting their honor, then shall I taste the name's nectar sublime. When, oh when will that day be mine?

Great wealth or followers, feminine beauty, I won't care for them or the comforts of my body. Birth after birth give me, Oh Lord Caitanya, causeless devotion to Your feet divine, when, oh when will that day be mine?

When will I utter Krishna, Krishna, Krishna, with words choked up and shivering body? When will I be trembling all over, lose bodily color, tears pouring from my eyes, when, oh when will that day be mine?

When in Navadvipa along the Ganges bank, shouting 'Gaura-Nityānanda' as a surrendered soul, dancing, chanting, running everywhere, when will I become half mad of mind? When, oh when will that day be mine?

When will Lord Nityānanda show mercy upon me, when will I reject the world of māyā? Bestow unto me the shade of Your lotus feet, let the right to preach the name be mine. When, oh when will that day be mine?

I will beg, borrow, or steal the nectar of the name. By the name's effect I will feel paralyzed. Oh! Enjoyer of the nectar of the name, When will I touch your lotus feet till the end of time? When, oh when will that day be mine?

When kindness to all beings will be appearing, with free heart forget myself comforting, Bhaktivinode in all humility prays, "Now I will set out to preach Your order sublime." When, oh when will that day be mine?

--end of song lyrics-----------

We are eternally and unlimitedly indebted to Bhaktivinode Thakur for giving us this most powerful song of devotion.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answers According to the Vedic Version: 

Request: Information of Your Itinerary
Gurudeva,

I have been following your discourses for quite some time. Before starting my work I take inspirations from your holy words. I feel we should have some way to join your discourses overseas for which prior intimation of your itinerary and invitation would be required. This would generate goodwill and positive interaction too.

with greetings and regards.

Shiv Shankar Singh

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Answer: It Is Always Posted
Kindly consult the "Transcendental Resources" section of our "Thought for the Day." There you will find a link, which will give you my lecture schedule for the entire year. This is the link: http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com/schedule

If you see a place where you would like to attend my lectures, simply write me for an exact lecture schedule at that city. No invitation is required. You are welcome to attend any of my lectures without an invitation.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari



Wednesday 22 June 2011

from Khasadesh

Today's Thought: The Universal Science of the Self

Krishna consciousness is not a sectarian religion. It is the universal science of the individual self in his relationship with the Supreme Self. Some people argue that Krishna consciousness is bogus because there is no such thing as the Supreme Self. But we see everywhere that people possess different quantities of power, beauty, renunciation, knowledge, wealth, and fame. Therefore, somewhere there must a be person who possesses a greater quantity of power, beautify, renunciation, knowledge, wealth, and fame than anyone else. That person is the Supreme Person. And to perfect our relationship with that Supreme Person is the universal science of the self.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari



Presenting the Universal Science
Klang, Malaysia--19 June 2011

Answers According to the Vedic Version: 

Challenge: Your Materialistic Advertisement
Your e-course is advertised as presenting the world's leading self-realization training system. This seems to be materialistic. What do you say?

M.S. 

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Answer: It is Krishna's Advertisement, Not Ours
Lord Sri Krishna states in the Bhagavad-gita that the self-realization system he presents in theBhagavad-gita is the topmost self-realization training system. We are simply presenting Krishna's system purely as it is without any additions or subtractions. So if you want to accuse someone for being materialistic for advertising this process as the topmost process, you will have to accuse Krishna. We are not making any spurious claims. We are simply repeating the words of Krishna. We are simply messengers. If you don't like the message, you should be accusing the person who has sent the message, not those who are delivering the message.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari



Tuesday 21 June 2011

from the Hong Kong Airport

Today's Thought: Malaysian Devotees Attain Deathlessness

On 19 June 2011 in an initiation ceremony in Klang Malaysia I accepted four new disciples: Dayal Nitai das, Amala-Bhakta das, Parvati devi das, and Mitravinda devi dasi. The moment of initiation is the most auspicious moment in the history of the conditioned soul in his endless sojourn in this material existence, because it is at the moment of initiation that he leaves behind his so-called material identity and fully enters into his factual identity as the eternal servant of Krishna. If the new initiate remains faithful to the vows accepted at the time of initiation to chant at least 16 rounds daily of the Hare Krishna mahamantra on japa mala beads and to strictly avoid illicit sex, meat eating, intoxication, and gambling, then from the very moment of initiation his or her eternal deathlessness has begun.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari



Initiation Ceremony
Klang, Malaysia--19 June 2011


Dayal Nitai Das Receives His Name and Beads


New Initiates with their Spiritual Master:
Dayal Nitai Das (with Black Bead Bag)
Amala-Bhakta Das (with striped T Shirt)
Parvati devi dasi (lower right)
Mitravinda devi dasi (lower left)


Transcendental Send Off Party
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Airport--20 June 2011

Answers According to the Vedic Version: 

Question: Who Created Krishna?
Dear Gurudeva,

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

I am Dipesh, 10 years old. I wake up every day at 4am and chant the mahamantra mantra 16 rounds before going to school at 7am. I read the Bhagavad-gita. I go to the ISKCON temple every Sunday. I take prasadam and follow the rules ISKCON for making spiritual advancement. 

I heard that Krishna is the creator of the creator. For example, if someone creates something, then Krishna is the one who created that thing because He created that person. But who created Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead? 

Your Servant,
Dipesh

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Answer: Krishna
Since Krishna is the original creator, He has no creator other than Himself. This is why it can be said that Krishna is the creator of Krishna. He is known as the Cause of all Causes. Everyone else requires a creator to exist, but Krishna exists without being created by anyone else. He exists simply because He desires to exist.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari



Monday 20 June 2011

from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Today's Thought: Transcendental Bliss in Malaysia

The greatest, sweetest aspect of Krishna consciousness is its transcendental nature. It does not depend on any particular time, place, and circumstance. Through Krishna consciousness you can transform any situation you find yourself in to be the ultimate adventure. You can be in any part of the world and experience the sweetest transcendental bliss simply by remembering and glorifying Lord Sri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari



Describing the Glories of Lord Sri Krishna
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia--19 June 2011

Answers According to the Vedic Version: 

Question: Soul and Spirit--What's the Difference?
Can you please explain for me the difference between the soul and the spirit?

I understand that our physical body is but a vessel which houses these sacred entities, but I don't know where one starts and the other ends. 

Christian teachings say they are both different entities, but even Christians don't seem to be able to agree on where one starts and another ends or even if they're one and the same thing.

I am very confused by it all.

Thank you

Andrew

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Answer: The Spirit and the Soul are the Same
Kindly do not be confused any longer. The spirit and the soul are the same thing. Therefore we usually use the term "spirit soul" to denote the living being who exists forever as the servant of God without the need for a material body.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari



Sunday 19 June 2011

from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Today's Thought: The Pure Devotees are Saviors of the World

The pure devotees of Krishna, those devotees who are completely free from all material desires, very strongly desire that all the suffering souls in this material existence can become happy by being reinstated in their original constitutional positions as the eternal servants of Lord Krishna. Therefore they fully dedicate their lives for awakening the sleeping souls of this age, and they take all risks for this purpose, sometimes facing great difficulties such as being publicly beaten or crucified. Such dedicated pure devotees are known as the saviors of the world.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari



Srila Prabhupada Chants with the Hippies
Golden Gate Park, San Francisco--1967

Answers According to the Vedic Version: 

Question: How to Get the Normal People to Chant?
Dear Srila Gurudeva,

How can we get the normal people to chant Hare Krishna?

L.I.

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Answer: They Already Are
The normal people are already chanting Hare Krishna. It's the abnormal people who somehow or other need to be induced to chant Hare Krishna. If you become completely pure in your chanting, you will able to convince the entire world to chant Hare Krishna.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari



Saturday 18 June 2011

from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Today's Thought: Our World Leaders are an Utter Failure

As long as our world leaders strive through material means to solve the world's problems, they will utterly fail because the underlying, foundation of all problems is that we are identifying ourselves as matter instead of spirit. Our present human population is living in the illusion that the self is the body and is trying to be happy on this false platform. This will never bring true, lasting happiness, in spite of all the promises and attempts of our leaders. Unless the people can come to the spiritual platform, they must necessarily remain discontented and agitated because they are living in unreality.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari



The Krishna Consciousness Movement
Provides Proper Leadership for the World.

Answers According to the Vedic Version: 

Question: Humans in the Dinosaur Age?
Dear Srila Gurudeva,

I recently took my daughter to the Museum of Natural History and we saw a dinosaur exhibit. According to the exhibit, in the dinosaur age man was not present on earth as per the fossil records.

Did dinosaurs have the same atma as we do today? Was earth one of the 'other' planets at the time? Did the humans exist on some other planet? 

Please help me explain this to my daughter.

Sanjay

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Answer: Be a Real Scientist, not a Dogmatist
You can tell your daughter that the people who run the museum are ignorant of the fact that human beings have been around from the very beginning of the universe, existing concurrently with all the different species of living beings. The fossil records repeatedly substantiate that human beings were present during the so-called dinosaur age. But because the scientists are blindly and fanatically putting their faith in Darwin's patently fallacious theory of evolution, they ignore the profusion of clear evidence from the fossil records. Anyone who clings blindly to a theory which is not supported by the evidence is not a true scientist. Rather he is a dogmatist. We train our students to be real scientists, not dogmatists.

Krishna confirms in the Bhagavad-gita that the atma is the same within every species. This is reconfirmed by the fact that each of us has transmigrated through all the species before coming the human form. From the Vedic scriptures we learn that there are human beings on innumerable planets throughout the universe of which the earth is one.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari



Friday 17 June 2011

from Kuala Lumpur

Today's Thought: Scientists 155 Trillion 6.3 Billion Years Wrong

On 15 June 2011 it was reported in a headline article on CNN's internet news website: 

"Scientists say at least 30 million black holes had formed before the universe was 1 billion years old, which is quite early in the universe's 13.7 billion-year history."

This time the scientists are very, very far off the mark. We get authoritative information from the Vedic literatures, which are coming from that very person who is the origin of the universe, that the universe is currently 155 trillion, 20 billion years old. This means the scientists are 155 trillion, 6.3 billion years wrong in their calculation. We can understand and accept a slight margin of error in their calculations. But to be this far off the mark makes us wonder if they have been indeed sucked into a black hole of their own making.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari



Are the Scientists in a Black Hole?

Answers According to the Vedic Version: 

Question: Transfer by Chanting from Hell to Earth?
It is a well-known fact that if one sincerely remembers the Lord's holy names, he is immediately freed from his existing undesirable situation. I would like to know that if one sincerely remembers the Lord's names even in hell, will he be removed from hell and placed at least back to earth to be freed from the terrible sufferings of hell?. 

Looking forward to your enlightening response soon.

Yours Devotedly,
A.G.

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Answer: Why Transfer to Another Hell?
A Krishna conscious devotee has no desire to be transferred to another planet. Therefore he has no interest to be transferred to the earth, which for him is simply another type of hell. For the devotee, even heaven is another type of hell. The devotee's only desire is to associate with Krishna through the transcendental process of devotional service. Thus engaged he can be happy anywhere: hell, earth, heaven, or the spiritual world. The place does not matter for him. He is simply happy to associate with Krishna wherever he may be. In this way, wherever he may be, he is transcendentally situated beyond all the sufferings of material existence because he takes complete shelter of the Lord by seeing whatever situation he may be in as the special mercy of the Lord.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari



Thursday 16 June 2011

from the Hong Kong Airport

Today's Thought: Always Prepared for the Unexpected

If you are always prepared for the unexpected, always seeing the all-perfect, all-merciful arrangement of the Lord in all circumstances, you will never be disappointed. In fact, by such vision you will live an eternal, ecstatic, enlightened existence which surpasses even the happiness experienced by the denizens of the heavenly planets.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari



Srila Prabhupada Deep in Meditation on Krishna

Answers According to the Vedic Version: 

Question: What is Spiritual Perfection?
Gurudeva, 

What is the meaning of spiritual perfection? 

A.S.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Answer: Stopping the Soul's Transmigration
Spiritual perfection means to stop the transmigration of the soul from one body to another. That is real spiritual perfection. 

Sankarshan Das Adhikari



Wednesday 15 June 2011

from Lenasia, South Africa

Today's Thought: Breaking through to the Spiritual Plane

Krishna has so kindly blessed us with this opportunity for spreading His glories in so many countries by our travelling around the globe, and to even more countries through our e-course. But the most ecstatic thing of all is diving deeply into the sweet nectarean ocean of Krishna's holy names. The two syllables "krish" and "na" when combined together contain more nectar than the entire universe can contain. And when uttered purely without offense the chanter breaks through the modes of material nature and enters into the sublime atmosphere on the other side of existence, the spiritual plane. Therefore the devotees always like to be absorbed in chanting

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare

as far as possible twenty-four hours daily.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari



Entering the Spiritual Plane
Lenasia, South Africa--13 June 2011

Answers According to the Vedic Version: 

Question: Is It Possible to Be Desireless?
Dear Gurudeva,
Namaste.

Is it possible and desirable for any man to be free from all desires?

Yours in yoga,

J.M.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Answer: Only If All Desires Are Offered to Krishna
It is not possible to become free from desire because desire is an intrinsic part of our nature. Those who aspire for desirelessness maintain their desire for desirelessness and thus never become free from desire.

The only way to become completely free from the chains of desire is to desire only for the Lord's satisfaction in all of one's thoughts, words, and deeds. Only when one comes to this platform of desiring only the Lord's satisfaction does he truly become free from the chains of desire.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari



Wednesday 15 June 2011

from Lenasia, South Africa

Today's Thought: Onwards to Malaysia

14 June 2011--Krishna has so kindly blessed us with this opportunity for spreading His glories in so many countries by our travelling around the globe and to even more countries through our e-course. But the most ecstatic thing of all is to dive deeply into the sweet nectarean ocean of Krishna's holy names. The two syllables "krish" and "na" when combined together contain more nectar than the universe can contain. When uttered purely without offense they break through the coverings of the universe and allow the chanter to enter into the sublime atmosphere of the spiritual world. Therefore the devotees always like to be absorbed in chanting:
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare

Sankarshan Das Adhikari



Farewell Flower Shower 
from Shyama Govinda Prabhu's Family


Farewell Kirtan from the Pretoria Devotees


Our Program Hosts: Prithesh and Premisha Sookraj
(Prithesh with garland and Premisha in blue sari)





Answers According to the Vedic Version: 

Question: Is Jnana Yoga Worshipping Krishna?
Dear Spiritual Master,

If I spend one hour reading books about Krishna, does it means that I spent one hour meditating on Krishna? Does it means that I am worshiping Krishna through jnana yoga?

P.M.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Answer: Yes, But Bhakti Must Be Added.
Yes you are worshipping and meditating on Krishna simply by studying Krishna conscious literature. This philosophical approach is called jnana yoga, the yoga of knowledge. However, if you simply study the books but do not follow the books, your jnana yoga will eventually become dry and tasteless and will thus gradually wither away into oblivion. The books are all telling us that we must surrender to Krishna and serve Him under the guidance of the bona fide spiritual master. So, if you will simultaneously read the books and engage in devotional service, you will be the first class jnana yogi and the first class bhakti yogi, and you will attain the topmost perfection of going back to home, back to Godhead upon leaving your present body.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari



Monday 13 June 2011

from Lenasia, South Africa

Today's Thought: Memories of Enlivening Mauritius

11 June 2011--We are flying now on a 2,000 mile flight from Mauritius to Johannesburg, South Africa. After leaving a place, I like to recall the wonderful and enlightening Krishna conscious experiences I had at that place. No matter how much one grows in Krishna consciousness, there is always room to grow unlimitedly more, realizing even more about the transcendental Krishna science and how to present it more effectively to the suffering, illusioned souls of this world. 

One nice realization was that while the natural beauty of Mauritius with its clean air, comfortable climate and beautiful scenery was certainly enlivening, it was even more enlivening to have the association of so many wonderful devotees of Krishna who reside there. We look forward to our return this coming December for another ecstatic week of Krishna consciousness in Mauritius.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari



The Beautiful Scenery of Mauritius is Enlivening...


But the Devotees Are Even More Enlivening

Answers According to the Vedic Version: 

Question: How to Surrender and Get Initiated?
I am a regular reader of the Bhagavad-gita As It Is. While reading the Dhyana Yoga chapter, we read the Lord describing about ways to attain Him via yoga. But personally, I found the purport where Arjuna says that he finds himself unworthy for meditation very similar to my condition. In reply the Lord says that even transcendental to all these methods to achieve Him was to completely surrender unto Him. I want to ask you how do we surrender to Lord Krishna? What are the steps involved? I wish to be initiated some years later under a spiritual master. Therefore, what should I be doing presently and also in the coming years before I get initiated?

Your follower,
M.N.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Answer: Follow Theses Steps
I am very pleased that you have understood the necessity of surrendering to Krishna. The first step in surrendering to Krishna is to take shelter of His representative, the bona fide spiritual master, through the process known as initiation. Then by inquiring submissively from the spiritual master and rendering service unto him, all the transcendental truths regarding the science of Krishna will gradually be revealed to you..

To get initiated you must be solidly situated in chanting at least 16 rounds daily of the Hare Krishna mantra on japa mala beads. And you must strictly avoid illicit sex, meat eating, intoxication, and gambling, as well as only eating foods which have been offered to Krishna. If you will regularly associate with the initiated ISKCON devotees in your city, you will get inspiration and strength to follow these principles strictly.

And then when you have proven to your local ISKCON authorities your ability and willingness to remain fixed in chanting at least 16 rounds daily and strictly following the regulative principles, they will recommend you to the ISKCON guru of your choice (myself or one of my Godbrothers) who will then initiate you as his disciple.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari



Sunday 12 June 2011

from Mauritius

Today's Thought: Please Take Advantage of this Opportunity

After transmigrating again and again through the 8,400,000 species of life you are now once again in the human form of life. Kindly take advantage of this greatest of all opportunities to awaken the dormant love of Godhead that is currently sleeping very soundly within your heart. This will liberate you from all the miseries of material existence, even the ultimate misery known as death, and enable you to regain your original position as an intimate associate of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His eternal pastimes in that boundless spiritual sky.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari



Teaching the Art of Deathlessness
Flac, Mauritius--10 June 2011

Answers According to the Vedic Version: 

Question: How Can We Serve You?
How can we serve you?

I.L.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Answer: Assist Us in Delivering the World
Our spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, ordered us, "Become guru and deliver the entire world." On our own it is not possible that we can successfully execute this order. But if many of you will kindly dedicate your lives for assisting us in making the world Krishna conscious, there is some hope that we can successfully carry out Srila Prabhupada's order. Therefore we are humbly begging you to adopt this mission as your very life and soul, that you fully dedicate your lives for assisting us in delivering the entire world by awakening the Krishna consciousness that is sleeping within the hearts of everyone.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari



Saturday 11 June 2011

from Mauritius

Today's Thought: Unfailing in All Circumstances

The key to getting out of the modes of material nature and coming to the transcendental platform where life is eternal, full of bliss and knowledge, is to fully absorb yourself in devotional service unfailingly in all circumstances. To do so one must be staunchly determined just as person who has fallen off of a cliff but has caught hold of a tree branch is staunchly determined not to let go.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answers According to the Vedic Version: 

Question: Chant Gayatri Instead of Hare Krishna?
Since Sri Krishna says that of mantras He is Gayatri shouldn't we chant the Gayatri mantra instead of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra? Can you please quote slokas where it is said that Hare Krishna maha-mantra is superior. My parents want me to chant Gayatri mantra, however, I tell them that since I chant Hare Krishna maha-mantra, it already includes all other mantras. But, they don't seem to be very happy with my argument.

Thank you.

A.N.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Answer: Hare Krishna is Recommended in Scripture
Not only is Krishna the Gayatri mantra; He is also the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. You have correctly understood that by chanting Hare Krishna you have already become the perfect chanter of all other mantras. This is why the Hare Krishna mantra is called the maha-mantra, or the Great Chanting for Deliverance. The Hare Krishna maha-mantra is especially recommended in this age in the following verse from the Kali-Santarana Upanisad:
hare kṛṣṇa hare kṛṣṇa
kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa hare hare
hare rāma hare rāma
rāma rāma hare hare

iti ṣoḍaśakaṁ nāmnāṁ
kali-kalmaṣa-nāśanaṁ
nātaḥ parataropāyaḥ
sarva-vedeṣu dṛśyate

“After searching through all the Vedic literature, 
one cannot find a method of religion more sublime for this age 
than these sixteen names composed of thirty-two syllables. 
They are the only means to counteract the evil effects of Kali-yuga."

Sankarshan Das Adhikari



Friday 10 June 2011 

from Mauritius

Today's Thought: Suffering is the Pastime of Fools

Why suffer when you can taste unlimited bliss at every minute by reconnecting yourself with the source of your existence? Just as an electrical appliance is useless when it is not connected with electricity, our lives are also useless when we are not connected with our source.

Krishna consciousness is the process of reconnecting yourself with your source. Try it today by chanting Hare Krishna with love. You'll feel the difference in your consciousness. 

Sankarshan Das Adhikari



Reconnecting with Krishna in Esperance Mauritius
8 June 2011

Answers According to the Vedic Version: 

Question: How Many Students Do You Have?
How many students do you have now?

A.V.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Answer: Millions
I have millions of students all over the world, it's just that they have not realized it yet.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari



Thursday 9 June 2011

from Mauritius

Today's Thought: How to Discern Your Level of Advancement

Faith means unflinching trust in something sublime. That which is most sublime is to re-awaken your lost loving relationship with the Supreme Person, the source of all existence. You can easily measure your own degree of progress on this path of awakening your love for God by seeing how much your faith has developed. 

Some persons take the pathway of Krishna consciousness with some idea of benefitting themselves materially. They do not have faith in the process of reawakening their dormant love of God. These are known as third class persons in Krishna consciousness. Others, who have firm faith that surrender to Krishna is the goal of life and have thus seriously taken it up but are not very advanced in understanding the devotional scriptures, are known as second class persons in Krishna consciousness. And those who have unflinching faith in the process of Krishna consciousness and at the same time are very expert in the devotional scriptures and presenting the philosophical conclusions of the Vaisnavaacharyas are known as first class persons in Krishna consciousness. Srila Prabhupada explains that the third-class person in Krishna consciousness may fall down, but that when one is in the second class or first class position there is no chance of his falling down. 

Sankarshan Das Adhikari



Presenting the Science of Krishna Consciousness
at the University of Mauritius--6 June 2011

Answers According to the Vedic Version: 

Question: Should We Pray for Health or Wealth?
When praying to Lord Krishna what should we ask for: health or wealth?.

Your servant, 
S.G.D.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Answer: Neither
You should pray for pure devotional service and nothing else. If you pray for health or wealth, you may achieve them temporarily. But you will again become diseased and impoverished in the cycle of birth and death within this material world. However, if you will pray for pure devotional service, you will attain eternal wealth and health in the spiritual sky. So now you decide, which is better: to pray for health and wealth or to pray for pure devotional service. 

Sankarshan Das Adhikari




Wednesday 8 June 2011

from Mauritius

Today's Thought: My Eternal Spiritual Master Saved Me

I will forever, literally for all of eternity, remain the subordinate servant of my spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. It is by his causeless mercy that I have been restored to my original pure identity as a servant of Krishna. For countless eons I was lost in the cycle of birth and death sometimes thinking myself to be a demigod, sometimes a human, sometimes a plant, and sometimes an animal. But now, by the pure loving kindness of Srila Prabhupada I have been freed from my prison sentence in this material existence and allowed to re-enter into the divine association of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna. How can I ever repay the debt I owe to Srila Prabhupada? It is impossible. Therefore I must simply serve him for all of eternity as a small token of gratitude for his having saved me from the unlimited miseries of material existence by bringing me into the most blissful, ever-expandingly more exciting adventure of Krishna consciousness.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari



Srila Prabhupada With Sankarshan Das
(standing directly behind Srila Prabhupada)
(Photo is from the early 1970's)

Answers According to the Vedic Version: 

Question: How Can We Fall from the Spiritual Sky?
Thanks for all your answers daily. I appreciate all your efforts in helping people to become Krishna conscious. I am trying my best to live a Krishna conscious life and hope I will have your blessings.

How to understand that we, the living beings, could ever fall from the spiritual world? In his purport toSrimad Bhagavatam 3.16.26 Srila Prabhupada explains: 

"The conclusion is that no one falls from the spiritual world, or Vaikuntha planet, for it is the eternal abode." 

But in a lecture he gave on the Bhagavad-gita on 6 August 1973 Srila Prabhupada states: “We have also come down from Vaikuntha some millions and millions of years ago.”

I am bit confused by this. Can you please enlighten me in the right direction?

AK

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Answer: We Only Dream That We are Not There
You most certainly always have my blessings for your rapid advancement in Krishna consciousness. I am trying my best to awaken the sleeping souls of this planet to their actual identities as the eternal servants of Krishna, but when someone wants to remain asleep it is difficult to awaken them.

Even though the two statements you have quoted appear to be contradictory, they are nonetheless both true. Such a phenomenon is known in philosophy as a paradox. Instead of thinking that one statement is correct and that the other is incorrect, we have to understand how both of them are true.

You are wondering how we could have fallen from Vaikuntha if no one falls from Vaikuntha. The answer is that both statements are true. We simply have to understand from the authoritative statements of Srila Prabhupada how both of them are true. Srila Prabhupada has explained this paradox as follows in his answer to a question by a disciple, Bhaktijana Das. This question was answered at the end of aCaitanya Caritamrita Lecture given on 18 February 1967 in San Francisco: "You are liberated. You are liberated. Simply just a cloud has covered you. Drive away the cloud. There is no question that you were ever (conditioned). You are ever-liberated. That, the sky is always spiritual, but it is sometimes overcrowded with cloud, this maya. This is called maya. Actually, you are not conditioned. You are thinking. Just like in the dream you are thinking that tiger is eating you. You were never eaten by tiger. There is no tiger. So we have to get out of this dream. Don't you sometimes dream that tiger is eating you? Is there any tiger? You are simply thinking. So if you keep in Krishna consciousness, that nonsense thinking will go away. Therefore we have to keep ourselves always in Krishna thinking so that this dream will never come. If you are always awakened, then dream never comes. So keep yourself always awakened by Krishna consciousness."

In other words, no one really falls from Vaikuntha. Instead we have simply entered into a dreamlike condition in which we think ourselves to be somewhere else. We are dreaming ourselves to be in this material world. That's all. When we awaken from this dream by reviving our dormant Krishna consciousness, we will see that actually we were in Vaikuntha, the spiritual world, the entire time, that we never left the Lord's resplendent kingdom. We will then pick up where we left off. We will resume our activities as intimate associates of the Lord in His unlimitedly astonishing transcendental pastimes.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari



Tuesday 7 June 2011

from Mauritius

Today's Thought: Utter Helplessness is the Greatest Asset

Sometimes one's circumstances become so overwhelming and bewildering that one goes into a a state of total, complete anxiety, which can even culminate in a nervous breakdown. This is what happened to Arjuna at the beginning of the battle of Kurukshetra. At such times one may feel himself to be the most cursed and unfortunate person in the whole world. However, those who are blessed with transcendental knowledge understand that such times are the greatest asset, the greatest blessing because they enable one to call out to the Lord with feelings of utter helplessness, like a child desperately crying for its mother. Such feelings of total dependence on the kindness of the Lord are most advantageous for one's spiritual advancement because they attract and capture the mercy of the Lord.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answers According to the Vedic Version: 

Question: Why Not Directly Worship Krishna?
You wrote 

"The spiritual master never accepts worship on his behalf. He only accepts it on behalf of his spiritual master, who accepts it on behalf of his spiritual master, etc., etc., all they way back to Krishna."

My question is: Why worship guru, why not directly Krishna since the direct way is much better than the long indirect way?

Regards,
V.J.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Answer: Indirect is the Direct Way
If you want to understand Krishna directly, then why do you approach Him indirectly through your imperfect mental speculation? You should instead approach Him directly through His words, which are perfectly presented in the scriptures. This is the real meaning of direct approach. Mental speculation is indirect and imperfect, whereas hearing the words of sastra (scripture) is direct and perfect.

By approaching Lord Krishna directly in the scriptures you will find this instruction, which He imparts in the Adi Purana:
ye me bhakta-janāḥ pārtha
na me bhaktāś ca te janāḥ
mad-bhaktānāṁ ca ye bhaktās
te me bhakta-tamā matāh

"My dear Arjuna, those who are My direct devotees are actually not My devotees, 
but those who are the devotees of My devotee are factually My devotees."

So if you truly approach Krishna directly by taking His words as Absolute Truth, He will reroute you to re-approach Him properly by coming to Him through the transparent via medium of the bona fide spiritual master. This is the system that Krishna has established. Because His devotees are so very dear to Him, He does not want to be worshipped alone. He wants to be worshipped through the medium of His devotees.

He confirms in the Bhagavad-gita that the only way to understand the science of the Bhagavad-gita is through the system of disciplic succession. In other words, to properly understand Krishna we must hear about Him from His devotee. 

evaṁ paramparā-prāptam
imaṁ rājarṣayo viduḥ

"This supreme science was thus received through the chain of disciplic succession, 
and the saintly kings understood it in that way."

Mental speculation will never allow us to perfectly understand Him. We must read what Lord Krishna has stated in the scriptures, that He is telling us to approach Him through the medium of His devotee. In this way we will achieve true direct access to Him.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari



Monday 6 June 2011

from Mauritius

Today's Thought: On Behalf of My Guru Maharaja

Upon our arrival in Mauritius on 4 June 2011 we were first driven by my disciple, Prahlada Das, to the Hare Krishna temple in Phoenix where we offered our respectful obeisances to Srila Prabhupada, who was fully present in his deity form and to the most beautiful deities, Sri Sri Radha Golokananda. After I feelingly prayed to Srila Prabhupada and Radha Golokananda for their merciful blessings the devotees requested if they could offer me guru puja, a traditional worship ceremony offered to the spiritual master. Of course, I do not consider myself to be qualified to accept such worship, but as a spiritual master it is my duty to accept such worship on behalf of my Guru Maharaja, Srila Prabhupada. As they began the arati ceremony I was most happy to see that my sitting place offered me an unobstructed view of Srila Prabhupada sitting regally on his Vyasasana. So as they worshipped me I mentally transferred all of their loving, affectionate worship to my spiritual master. It was such a pure, wonderful feeling to offer the worship of a whole room full of devotees to Srila Prabhupada. This is our system. The spiritual master never accepts worship on his behalf. He only accepts it on behalf of his spiritual master, who accepts it on behalf of his spiritual master, etc., etc., all they way back to Krishna.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari



Splendorous Radha-Golokananda
The Deities of Phoenix, Mauritius

Answers According to the Vedic Version: 

Question: Religious Meat Eaters Get Salvation?
Dear Gurudeva,

I read this in yesterday's Thought for the Day, "Since the real meaning of Islam is submission to the will of God and obedience to His law, global Islamization and Krishna conscious globalization are exactly the same thing".

Questions: 

Why not follow one of the Abrahamic religions where one can eat meat (Halal or Kosher for example) if they are the same as Krishna consciousness? 

So do followers of these faiths not suffer any Karmic reactions as they are within the law of their God?

Please guide me.
S.K.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Answer: They Wouldn't Want It.
I was speaking of the pure form of religion, not the polluted form that is masquerading nowadays as real religion.

Every religious system, including even the Vedic system, gives concessions for meat eaters in order to restrict them, not to encourage them. Just like the government allows cigarette smoking, but under many restrictions. It knows that it cannot stop cigarette smoking altogether, so it allows it under restriction to discourage it. In a similar way the scriptures allow flesh eating under restriction to discourage it. But this does not mean that such flesh and blood eaters are qualified to enter the kingdom of God. They are not because in that supreme abode nobody eats meat. As long as one has a taste for flesh and blood he would be miserable in the kingdom of God and is therefore not allowed to enter there. He will take birth again in that place where meat eating is allowed, this material world.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari



Sunday 5 June 2011

from Mauritius

Today's Thought: Welcome to Paradise

4 June 2011--Upon landing in Mauritius this morning, just before entering the customs area, we were greeted by a large sign, "Welcome to Paradise." I chuckled upon seeing this because any place where there is birth, death, old age, and disease is certainly not paradise, no matter how paradisial it may be from the material point of view. But we can make Mauritius or any place in this material world into a real paradise by awakening the sleeping souls in that place to the underlying truth beyond this material existence: that we are all eternal spiritual beings, the servants of God. So this is our purpose for coming to Mauritius. You will not find us loitering on the beach here for so called "fun in the sun." We have come here to help the people become reconnected with Krishna. This is the real "fun in the sun." It's better than any beach. My activities here remain the same as they are everywhere else in the world: chanting, worshipping, lecturing, counseling, reading, and writing.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari



Mauritius Morning View--Is this Paradise?

Answers According to the Vedic Version: 

Question: Is Global Islamization Anti-Krishna?
Dear Gurudeva,

All glories to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and Sri Krishna Caitanya!

Can you please clarify this for me: What is the difference between worldwide Islamization and Krishna consciousness globalization?

I.O.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Answer: Not If It Is Genuine Islam.
Since the real meaning of Islam is submission to the will of God and obedience to His law, global Islamization and Krishna conscious globalization are exactly the same thing. But if a person's conception of God is limited and sectarian, then we have problems. God is not limited to one name because He is unlimited. If even an ordinary man in this world be known by different names, why God should be limited to only one name? This does make any sense. It's time for all religious people of the world to come off of the sectarian platform and realize the true universal nature of God. This will solve all of the world's problems.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari



Saturday 4 June 2011

from London, UK

Today's Thought: Deliberate on This and Do What You Like

Surrendering to Krishna is voluntary. Krishna has given everyone the free will to do what they would like to do. If someone wants to serve Krishna, that all-merciful Lord gives them full facility to do so. And if someone wants to defy Krishna's existence and try to imitate Him, Krishna will give them full facility as well. One therefore has to be intelligent to understand what is in his best self interest and act accordingly.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answers According to the Vedic Version: 

Question: Free from Darkness by Chanting "Light"?
Krishna means light, which is everywhere. Krishna consciousness means becoming light. So can a a person come out of darkness by simply sitting in a dark room and saying, "light, light, light"? Is chanting enough, or is there anything else?

S.N.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Answer: Free from Darkness by Chanting "Krishna."
Krishna does not mean light. Krishna means that person who is the source of unlimited light. If we sit in a dark room and say "light, light, light", the room will still remain dark. However, if we utter "Krishna, Krishna, Krishna", then we will liberated from the darkness of material existence and brought into the resplendent spiritual existence, in which everything is eternal, full of knowledge, and full of bliss. Chanting is sufficient for liberation if it is done in the mood of full surrender unto the will of the Lord.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari



Friday 3 June 2011

from London, UK

Today's Thought: Obstacles Along the Path

2 June 2011--When one takes up the all-auspicious path of Krishna consciousness one should expect that there will sometimes be obstacles. The key to handling them properly is not to become discourage or bewildered, but to instead accept them as exciting opportunities to make progress in Krishna consciousness. 

I faced such a challenge as I was departing from Sofia this morning. Just before getting on the airplane for London my computer software crashed. All attempts to get it to boot up failed. Now I am staying up past 2:30 am, the time I normally rise, to completely reinstall the operating system from scratch and then write and upload "Thought for the Day." By Krishna's grace I did a back up this morning, so there was very little data loss. Only a few emails that I received this morning were lost. So if you emailed me recently and don't hear back from me within two days, you should send your email again.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Answers According to the Vedic Version: 

Question: How to Prove that "Me" in Gita Refers to Krishna?
I am having problems in convincing my friends that "Me" in the Gita refers to Krishna and Krishna alone. Please help me with strong quotations and references that it is only Krishna. Is there evidence to show how absurd it is to say that He is not referring to Himself when He says "Me?"

Servant of your servants, 
A.V.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Answer: How Can it Not Refer to Krishna?
How when Krishna says "Me", this cannot not refer to Krishna. Their analysis is not very intelligent. Ask your friends if when they say "me" they are referring to someone other than themselves. To say that me refers to someone other than oneself is absurd.

Just see how much Krishna is referring to Himself in the follow verse:
man-mana bhava mad-bhakto
mad-yaji mam namaskuru
mam evaisyasi yuktvaivam
atmanam mat-parayanah

SYNONYMS
mat—manah—always thinking of Me; bhava—become; mat—My; bhaktah—devotee; mat—My; yaji—worshiper; mam—unto Me; namas-kuru—offer obeisances; mam—unto Me; eva—completely; esyasi—you will come; yuktva—being absorbed; evam—thus; atmanam—your soul; mat—parayanah—devoted to Me.

TRANSLATION
Engage your mind always in thinking of Me, become My devotee, offer obeisances to Me and worship Me. Being completely absorbed in Me, surely you will come to Me.
--Bhagavad-gita 9.34

To argue that Krishna is not saying to think of Him, is not saying to become His devotee, is not saying to offer obeisances to Him, is not saying to become absorbed in Him, and is not saying to come to Him is patently absurd. This is simply the ridiculous word jugglery of the impersonalists, who refuse to surrender to God because they consider themselves to be God. We are not so foolish as to believe them.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari


Thursday 2 June 2011

from Sofia, Bulgaria

Today's Thought: Onwards to Mauritius

After a wonderful week of sharing the nectar of Krishna consciousness here in Bulgaria, we are heading out today for Mauritius via an overnight stop in London to make our connecting flight. Considering that Krishna consciousness is best tasted in the association of Krishna's devotees, our visit here, packed up in a small house full of devotees, has certainly been a sumptuous feast. The beauty of Krishna consciousness is that it connects us with our actual eternal identities, which exist forever far beyond the confines of time and space. Once one gets a taste of his real identity, he will never want to come back to his miserable false identity ever again.

Sankarshan Das 



Feasting on the Holy Names at the Sofia Airport

Answers According to the Vedic Version: 

Question: Did Prabhupada Name Next Acharya?

Is Srila Prabhupada still the diksha (initiating) guru of ISKCON?

During his presence on this planet did Srila Prabhupada announce anyone to be the next acharya(diksha guru)?

What are the qualities a disciple should possess in order to be the sishya (follower or student) of Srila Prabhupada?

G.R.

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Answer: All of His Disciples who Strictly Follow Him

In Vrindavan, India on 18 October 1977 shortly before his departure from this world Srila Prabhupada informed us that he would no longer give diksha (initiation). Srila Prabhupada is therefore the dikshaguru or initiating spiritual master only for those devotees who took initiation before 18 October 1977. Srila Prabhupada instructed us also in May 1977 that after his departure the new devotees who join this movement should become the disciples of his disciples. Therefore those ISKCON devotees who have accepted initiation after 18 October 1977 are the disciples of Srila Prabhupada's disciples. They are not directly Srila Prabhupada's disciples.

Srila Prabhupada did not name any particular disciple to be the next acharya. Rather he taught us that any disciple who is strictly following him becomes the next acharya. This means that there can many branches of acharya coming in Srila Prabhupada's ISKCON tree. He taught us this principle in many times and places again and again. Here is one occasion from a lecture he gave in New York on 1 December 1966:

"So Krishna also, as spiritual master of Arjuna, He played. He is the original acharya. Then acharya's disciple becomes acharya when he assimilates the knowledge received from bona fide acharya. So he becomes bona fide to act as an acharya. Evam parampara-praptam [Bg. 4.2]. Acharya means one who has become a rigid disciple of his acharya. Just like a critical student under a professor, he becomes a first-class professor, similarly, a person who is a very rigid student of bona fide acharya, he becomes next acharya. "

Anybody who chants the Hare Krishna mahamantra at least 16 rounds daily on japa mala beads and strictly avoids illicit sex, meat eating, intoxication, and gambling, as well as regularly reading and following Srila Prabhupada's books is a first class follower of Srila Prabhupada and is fully qualified to take initiation into his sampradaya (disciplic succession) by becoming the disciple of one of his disciples.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari


Wednesday 1 June 2011 

From Sofia, Bulgaria

Today's Thought: Undaunted Determination

Since our spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, has ordered us to deliver the entire world, we are determined to achieve this goal. Although such a goal is, by reasonable analysis, impossible to attain, we remain undaunted in our determination to successfully carry out the sacred mission which has been mercifully entrusted to us by our beloved Srila Prabhupada. Because we accept Srila Prabhupada's order as our very life and soul, our prayer is that if we are not able to successfully carry out his order in this lifetime, that we may take birth after birth until the entire world has become Krishna conscious.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari



Prabhupada Ordered Us to Deliver the Entire World

Answers According to the Vedic Version: 

Question: Formula for Going Back to Godhead

When a devotee successfully goes back to Godhead, either Vaikuntha or Goloka Vrindavana, what is the percentage of efforts put in for his deliverance by the Lord, the spiritual master, and the devotee.

Thank You.

With Regards,

M.D.

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Answer: Ultimate Test Depends 100% on the Devotee

There must be a 100% effort from the devotee. This is compared to someone who takes flying lessons. His teacher helps him and guides him at every step of the way. But before he becomes certified as a pilot, he has to make a successful solo flight. So at the time of death we have to make our solo flight. Depending fully on the unlimited mercy of Guru and Krishna, it is 100% up to us to pass the ultimate test of remembering Lord Sri Krishna when we leave our material bodies. Such remembrance will qualify us to immediately enter into the spiritual sky.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari




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