“Therefore, both the yogas are interdependent, as religion and philosophy. Religion without philosophy is sentiment, or sometimes fanaticism, while philosophy without religion is mental speculation.”

Ref. VedaBase => Bg 3.3

Sri Sri Gurvastaka

Text Seven

saksad-dharitvena samasta-sastrair
uktas tatha bhavyata eva sadbhih
kintu prabhor yah priya eva tasya
vande guroh sri-caranaravindam

Word for word translation

saksat — directly; hari-tvena — with the quality of Hari; samasta- all; sastraih — by scriptures; uktah — acknowledged; tatha — thus bhavyate — is considered; eva — also; sadbhih — by great saintly persons; kintu — however; prabhoh — to the Lord; yah — who; priyah — dear; eva — certainly; tasya — of him (the guru); vande — I offer obeisances; guroh — of my spiritual master; sri — auspicious; carana-aravindam — unto the lotus feet.

Translation

The spiritual master is to be honored as much as the Supreme Lord, because he is the most confidential servitor of the Lord. This is acknowledged in all revealed scriptures and followed by all authorities. Therefore I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is a bona fide representative of Sri Hari [Krsna].

Ref. VedaBase => SVA 1: Sri Sri Gurv-astaka (samsara-davanala-lidha-loka)

This means pronouns referring to Srila Prabhupada ought to be capitalized as is being done for Krishna Himself. Example: “Srila Prabhupada Himself…” or “Srila Prabhupada Who….”

Anyone who claims to be a follower of Srila Prabhupada and who does not accept and practice this transcendental etiquette is to be understood not having departed from the elementary stage number one of chanting the Holy Names of the Lord i. e. the offensive stage of chanting the Holy Names of the Lord. Still, they have not understood fully the actual position of Srila Prabhupada. They think “Srila Prabhupada is my buddy-spiritual master or buddy-grand spiritual master”, etc. There are three stages of chanting the Holy Names of the Lord, namely the offensive stage, the clearing stage, sometimes called the reflective stage as in the following quote, and the pure stage. Someone who does not accept and practice this transcendental etiquette is to be considered to be stuck on the elementary stage of chanting the Holy Names of the Lord i. e. the offensive stage. It’s time to please move on!

There is another bona fide disciple of Srila Prabhupada who claims this title “Jagat-Guru.” This title is not to be claimed casually. It brings heavy world responsibility. I am not implying that this is done in his case. I do not know enough about his activities. The American politician Ms. Tulsi Gabbard has become grand disciple of Srila Prabhupada through him and simultaneously my God niece so to say in our transcendental Vaishnava world family. My respectful greetings to you Mother Gabbard!

“Lord Sri Caitanya, therefore, made it easier for the prospective devotee of the present age in the following specific manner. Ultimately there is no difference in the result. The first and foremost point is that one must understand the prime importance of bhakti-yoga. The living beings in different species of life are undergoing different terms of encagement according to their fruitive actions and reactions. But in the execution of different activities, one who secures some resources in bhakti-yoga can understand the importance of service to the Lord through the causeless mercy of the Lord, as well as that of the spiritual master. A sincere soul is helped by the Lord through meeting a bona fide spiritual master, the representative of the Lord. By the instruction of such a spiritual master, one gets the seed of bhakti-yoga. Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu recommends that the devotee sow the seed of bhakti-yoga in his heart and nurture it by the watering of hearing and chanting the holy name, fame, etc., of the Lord. The simple process of offenselessly chanting and hearing the holy name of the Lord will promote one very soon to the stage of emancipation. There are three stages in chanting the holy name of the Lord. The first stage is the offensive chanting of the holy name, and the second is the reflective stage of chanting the holy name. The third stage is the offenseless chanting of the holy name of the Lord. In the second stage only, the stage of reflection, between the offensive and offenseless stages, one automatically attains the stage of emancipation. And in the offenseless stage, one actually enters into the kingdom of God, although physically he may apparently be within the material world. To attain the offenseless stage, one must be on guard in the following manner.
When we speak of hearing and chanting, it means that not only should one chant and hear the holy name of the Lord as Rama Krsna (or systematically as the sixteen names Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare), but one should also read and hear the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam in the association of devotees. This primary practice of bhakti-yoga will cause the seed already sowed in the heart to sprout, and by a regular watering process, as mentioned above, the bhakti-yoga creeper will begin to grow. By systematic nurturing, the creeper will grow to such an extent that it will penetrate the coverings of the universe, as we have heard in the previous verses, reach the effulgent sky, the brahma-jyoti, and go farther and farther and reach the spiritual sky, where there are innumerable spiritual planets called Vaikunthalokas. Above all of them is Krsnaloka, or Goloka Vrndavana, wherein the growing creeper enters and takes repose at the lotus feet of Lord Sri Krsna, the original Personality of Godhead. When one reaches the lotus feet of Lord Krsna at Goloka Vrndavana, the watering process of hearing and reading, as also chanting of the holy name in the pure devotional stage, fructifies, and the fruits grown there in the form of love of God are tangibly tasted by the devotee, even though he is here in this material world. The ripe fruits of love of God are relished only by the devotees constantly engaged in the watering process as described above. But the working devotee must always be mindful so that the creeper which has so grown will not be cut off. Therefore he should be mindful of the following considerations:
(1) Offense by one at the feet of a pure devotee may be likened to the mad elephant who devastates a very good garden if it enters.
(2) One must be very careful to guard himself against such offenses at the feet of pure devotees, just as one protects a creeper by all-around fencing.
(3) It so happens that by the watering process some weeds are also grown, and unless such weeds are uprooted, the nurturing of the main creeper, or the creeper of bhakti-yoga, may be hampered.
(4) Actually these weeds are material enjoyment, merging of the self in the Absolute without separate individuality, and many other desires in the field of religion, economic development, sense enjoyment and emancipation.
(5) There are many other weeds, like disobedience to the tenets of the revered scriptures, unnecessary engagements, killing animals, and hankering after material gain, prestige and adoration.
(6) If sufficient care is not taken, then the watering process may only help to breed the weeds, stunting the healthy growth of the main creeper and resulting in no fructification of the ultimate requirement: love of God.
(7) The devotee must therefore be very careful to uproot the different weeds in the very beginning. Only then will the healthy growth of the main creeper not be stunted.
(8) And by so doing, the devotee is able to relish the fruit of love of God and thus live practically with Lord Krsna, even in this life, and be able to see the Lord in every step.
The highest perfection of life is to enjoy life constantly in the association of the Lord, and one who can relish this does not aspire after any temporary enjoyment of the material world via other media.”
SB 2.2.30

Ref. VedaBase => SB 2.2.30

original singer Ms Q Lazarrus here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKFaGDrOfrI

Enable to transfer. Please go to youtube

Goodbye Horses

Q Lazzarus

He told me, “I see you rise”
But, it always falls
I see you come, I see you go
He says, “All things pass into the night”
And I say, “Oh no sir I must say you’re wrong
I must disagree, oh no sir, I must say you’re wrong”
Won’t you listen to me?

He told me, I’ve seen it all before
I’ve been there, I’ve seen my hopes and dreams
Lying on the ground
I’ve seen the sky just beginning to fall
He says, “All things pass into the night”
And I say, “Oh no sir, I must say you’re wrong
I must disagree, oh no sir, I must say you’re wrong”
Won’t you listen to me?

Goodbye horses I’m flying over you
Goodbye horses I’m flying over you
Goodbye horses I’m flying over you
Goodbye horses I’m flying, flying, flying, flying over you Source: LyricFind Songwriters: William Garvey Goodbye Horses lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

I have been attracted to his song for many years now and just today and after further investigation, I learned that in the mind of its composer William Garvey it is meant to be related to the Bhagavad-gita As It Is. It is a nice song with good rhythm and some challenging lyrics. “According to its writer, “the song is about transcendence over those who see the world as only earthly and finite. The horses represent the five senses discussed in the Bhagavad Gita and the ability to lift one’s perception above these physical limitations and to see beyond this limited earthly perspective.”^[1] (Wikipedia)Somehow these notions are hidden there in the song, imperceptibly encrusted in the sound vibrations. It’s a very subtle transmission of energy and one has to have the appropriate receptor functions.

Q Lazzarus (born December 12, 1960)^{[citation needed]} is an African American female bus driver and retired singer known for her 1988 song “Goodbye Horses“. She is noted for her mysterious profile as little is known about the singer’s identity or private life.^[1] Q Lazzarus has a deep, husky, contralto voice.(Wikipedia)

Well-organized and structured music is such a fabulous and universal means of expression, communication, and communion. Let us, therefore, have melodious Hare Krishna kirtans with drums and cymbals and lots of dancing of course. Among the very best non-Hare Krishna singers, I would see ABBA, with the Scandinavian Goddess Agnetha Faltskog, born 1950, the divine-voiced Celine Dion, and indeed the Beatles because of George Harisson. But then again George IS a Hare Krishna, with tremendous worldwide Hare Krishna preaching achievements. This last view is emanating from Srila Prabhupada Himself.

In 1966 or so, Srila Prabhupada went chanting solo in Tomkins Square Park, Lower Eastside, New York:

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare 

“At that time, I was sponsored by a friend’s son, Gopala Agarwal, who is settled up in this country by marrying an American girl, Sally. I was their guest, and I feel very much obliged to Gopala and his wife Sally for their nice treatment and reception. I was with them for three weeks in Butler, near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and then I came to New York. I was getting some money by selling my Srimad-Bhagavatam, thus I was maintaining myself in New York. After some time, I rented one apartment at number 100 71st Street West, but after a few months, all my things — typewriter, tape recorder, books — were stolen. Then for some time one of my students gave me shelter at Bowery Street.
I then rented one store-front and an apartment at 26 Second Avenue for $200 per month, but without any source of income. I started my classes and sometimes, on Sundays, I used to chant Hare Krishna Mantra in Tomkins Square Park from three to 5 P.M. During this time, all the young boys and girls used to gather around me, sometimes poet Ginsberg would come to see me, and sometimes a reporter from the New York Times came to see me. In this way, the Hare Krishna Mantra chanting became very popular on the Lower East Side.”

Ref. VedaBase => Letter to: Hanuman Prasad Poddar — Los Angeles 5 February, 1970

I thought to myself well let me follow in my Guru’s Maharaja’s footsteps. If He can do it in the heavy New York atmosphere, why shouldn’t I be able to do it in the pleasant and relaxed Noosa Hastings st., where one is always close to the three great Australian Ss: Sun, Surf and Sand. Just see how kind they both are to me, Sri Krishna and Srila Prabhupada. They make it soooooo easy for me. One would have to be a great fool, pretender or coward to decline this wonderful offer and opportunity. And I did it, yesterday afternoon / evening Sunday 16th of Jan 2022. The results and the public’s reaction are just so touching.

Even the youngest members of the public were waiving spontaneously without any prompt from their parents or otherwise. That means they were appreciating the Holy Names of the Lord in their innocence. Under such circumstances I may get a little emotional because this is the fulfillement of a verse of Bhagavad-gita As It Is, text 5.7, latest version 3 (BGAII V3):

“One who works in Krishna consciousness, who is a pure soul, fully controlling his mind and senses, is dear to everyone and everyone is dear to him. Even though always working, such a person in Krishna consciousness does not entangle himself.” All of us are yearning for friendship and affection, but this universal friendship and affection is only available through the intermediary of God, Krishna. It cannot be done otherwise. If we want to be everyone’s friend, which a very nice, noble and legitimate sentiment, we had better follow this formula. Every living entity including animals and plants are parts and parcels of Krishna. If we follow Sri Krishna’s instructions strictly and seriously, I suppose out of his kindness Krishna allows us to connect into His own, personal network of connections which means billions and trillions of connections and much more. Being God He can handle them very easily. But for our tiny IT specialists this would probably represent an unsurmontable hurdle and headache of killing intensity and proportion. 

I am going to have to make this a regular religious function. Because that’s what it is. This is a religious function and everyone who participates even in the least, even by just moving a single finger under the influence of the kirtan’s rhythm, will get a benefit because Lord Caitanya is just soo merciful. That does not mean, however, that one cannot offer tens of thousands of dollars to be used in Krishna’s service, according to one’s means. “Ok people, you don’t want to come to the temple, well then we shall gladly come to you. But pious you will become.” is Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s line of reasoning. Tricked into devotion to God, Krishna in the most enjoyable way. After all, religion is a very, very dirty word. So please tell me where else will you find such a wonderful and liberal process or religion? You cannot find? So please be smart and take to Krishna consciousness.

“This knowledge is the king of education, the most secret of all secrets. It is the purest knowledge, and because it gives direct perception of the self by realization, it is the perfection of religion. It is everlasting and is joyfull performed.” Bhagavad-gita As It Is, V 3, 9.2.  

And who would want to be any of these fools, pretenders or cowards? Even our respectable and respected Prime Minister The Honourable Scott Morrison made recently a remark about internet cowards. The lack of control and anonymity on line greatly encourages such behaviour. I have heard that China’s control of the internet is much tighter. Perhaps every user is a registered user in China. I wonder if this is not the solution to our internet problems of scams, impersonation, phishing etc, which have indeed ruined many lives and also caused many suicides. The governments of the world do have a duty of care and protection to the people in this regard. We have found that some banks such as BNPParibas, (BNP Paribas S.A. is a French international banking group. It is the largest bank in Europe and the seventh largest bank in the world by total assets. Wikipedia.) deserves to be named and shamed for their absolutely callous attitude toward people who have been victimized by crooks utilizing BNPParibas fake letter head, BNP fake deposit /tranfer forms and fake BNP emails. They will totally and absolutely ignore you, thus becoming an accomplice of the crooks. The crooks must be just so delighted to have an ally such as BNPParibas of France. On the diametrically opposite side of the scale, we find that ANZ Bank of Australia is a very first class bank, catching very quickly the crooks and returning the money to its rightful owner within days. Thank you very much ANZ Bank! A job very well done and an examplary leader in the fight against banking fraud. This is the difference between France and Australia, even though the French president, Mr Macron has got the audacity to point his finger at Australia over the submarine affair. Sorry Mr. Macron, with all your lethal atomic weapons, we just don’t take you seriously and as president face slapping is really in vogue, political opportunism will be defeated. Let us watch the next French election. If the French government is any good at all, it should legislate and enforce sanctions against the immoral behaviour of such financial corporate giants as BNPParibas, which through their inactivity are in tacit collusions with financial crooks and defrauders. And so is the French government. It is my experience that extremely well organised, extremely well informed crooks, with refined manners as well, actually impersonate with impunity members of the French government for the purpose of stealing people’s hard earned money such as the Minister for the Economy and Finance, Minister Bruno le Maire and his junior asssitants ministers: Olivier Dussopt as Minister for Public Accounts, and Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher as Minister for Industry. And if one tries to lodged a complaint with the French governement, again one is met with a wall of steel, as with BNPParibas. And the French Post which holds some of the crook’s accounts puts up the same wall of steel. One may ask the legitimate and obvious questions: Are these crooks former or current members of the French governement? Is someone living a double life here? Some of them pretend to be “international diplomats” with pseudonym Mr. Charles Ruquier, Directeur des Operations, of African origin. I have reported to the Australian Cybersecurity Centre, the Queensland police, the Australian Federal Police, to the Procureur de la Republique in both Mulhouse and Paris. Both offices didn’t even have to courtesy to acknowledge my letters. And no one really seems to be interested to help me obtain justice. My only option left now is to speak out publicly. The main crook is still at his old email address. This must be a joke of a French government. There is no alternative. THIS IS A JOKE OF A FRENCH GOVERMENT!!! Just like the French resistance to the German invaders in 1939 was nothing but a joke of a French resistance.

Thank you for reading.