….Regarding your points about taxation, corporate status, etc., I have heard from Jayatirtha you want to make big plan for centralization of management, taxes, monies, corporate status, bookkeeping, credit, like that. I do not at all approve of such plan. Do not centralize anything. Each temple must remain independent and self-sufficient. That was my plan from the very beginning, why you are thinking otherwise? Once before you wanted to do something centralizing with your GBC meeting, and if I did not interfere the whole thing would have been killed. Do not think in this way of big corporation, big credits, centralization—these are all nonsense proposals. Only thing I wanted was that books printing and distribution should be centralized, therefore I appointed you and Bali Mardan to do it. Otherwise, management, everything, should be done locally by local men. Accounts must be kept, things must be in order and lawfully done, but that should be each temple’s concern, not yours. Krishna Consciousness Movement is for training men to be independently thoughtful and competent in all types of departments of knowledge and action, not for making bureaucracy. Once there is bureaucracy the whole thing will be spoiled. There must be always individual striving and work and responsibility, competitive spirit, not that one shall dominate and distribute benefits to the others and they do nothing but beg from you and you provide. No. Never mind there may be botheration to register each centre, take tax certificate each, become separate corporations in each state. That will train men how to do these things, and they shall develop reliability and responsibility, that is the point. 721222LET.Karandhar

One should not view death with horror, nor have recourse to defining the body as soul, nor give way to exaggeration in enjoying the bodily necessities of life. Realizing the true nature of the living entity, one should move about in the world free from attachment and steadfast in purpose.

Please find the strong words from Srimad Bhagavatam.

SB3.31.34 TRANSLATION

One should not associate with a coarse fool who is bereft of the knowledge of self-realization and who is no more than a dancing dog in the hands of a woman.

PURPORT

The restriction of association with such foolish persons is especially meant for those who are in the line of advancement in Krishna consciousness. Advancement in Krishna  consciousness involves developing the qualities of truthfulness, cleanliness, mercy, gravity, intelligence in spiritual knowledge, simplicity, material opulence, fame, forgiveness, and control of the mind and the senses. All these qualities are to be manifested with the progress of Krishna consciousness, but if one associates with a sudra, a foolish person who is like a dancing dog in the hands of a woman, then he cannot make any progress. Lord Caitanya has advised that any person who is engaged in Krishna consciousness and who desires to pass beyond material nescience must not associate himself with women or with persons interested in material enjoyment. For a person seeking advancement in Krishna consciousness, such association is more dangerous than suicide.

SB 3.31.35 TRANSLATION

The infatuation and bondage which accrue to a man from attachment to any other object is not as complete as that resulting from attachment to a woman or to the fellowship of men who are fond of women.

PURPORT

Attachment to women is so contaminating that one becomes attached to the condition of material life not only by the association of women but by the contaminated association of persons who are too attached to them. There are many reasons for our conditional life in the material world, but the topmost of all such causes is the association of women, as will be confirmed in the following stanzas.
In Kali-yuga, association with women is very strong. In every step of life, there is association with women. If a person goes to purchase something, the advertisements are full of pictures of women. The physiological attraction for women is very great, and therefore people are very slack in spiritual understanding. The Vedic civilization, being based on spiritual understanding, arranges association with women very cautiously. Out of the four social divisions, the members of the first order (namely brahmacarya), the third order (vänaprastha) and the fourth order (sannyäsa) are strictly prohibited from female association. Only in one order, the householder, is there license to mix with women under restricted conditions. In other words, attraction for woman’s association is the cause of the material conditional life, and anyone interested in being freed from this conditional life must detach himself from the association of women.

Beautifully dressed and garlanded Sri Sri Gaura Nitai, of ISKCON Brisbane, 32 Jennifer st, Seventeen Mile Rocks QLD 4073, Australia. Head pujaris are HG Krishna-Bhavana Devi and her husband HG Ranchor Prabhu. All glories to their expert and steady service!

When we wake up at one or two AM in the morning, we don’t take sleeping drugs to induce further sleep. Some other people chose to participate in radio talkback show at this   early morning hour. We instead wisely chant

HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA

KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE

HARE RAMA HARE RAMA

RAMA RAMA HARE HARE.

We chant on 108 beads and this is called Japa. There is a 109^th bead, which represents Krishna. We don’t chant on Him. We go back and forth from one side of the Krishna bead to the other, without jumping over the Krishna bead. In fact, we never “jump” over anyone of superior stature. That is offensive and of very bad taste.

Early rise is excellent for spiritual life and very much conducive to spiritual advancement of life. Later in the day if required, we may of course, catch up on some sleep. This human form of life is meant for spiritual advancement only. If we miss this golden opportunity, we may, in our next life, regress to a less advanced form of life, such as an animal form.

The Vedanta Sutra says:” Athato brahma jijnasa”

“Now is the time to enquire about Brahman.”

“Now” refers to this human form of life opportunity.

Dogs and cats cannot make enquiries about the meaning of life. But the human form of life is specifically designed for existential enquires. In a parallel way, we find that only humans have advanced materially intelligence as well. We do not find that animals are building skyscraper or airplanes.

Even from a practical point of view the HARE KRISHNA MAHA MANTRA is so very useful!

It can relieve us from a headache or from the stresses of everyday life. What better feeling and satisfaction than to just switch off and forget about everything else and chant

HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA

KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE

HARE RAMA HARE RAMA

RAMA RAMA HARE HARE.

What a relief! What a welcome break!

Chanting Hare Krishna is safe. Chanting Hare Krishna is free of charge and chanting Hare Krishna is of untold benefit to the body, to the mind, to the intellect and ultimately to the soul.

We are not these bodies, we are not these minds, we are not these intellects. Each living entity-not just human- literally every living entity, human, animal and plant is a pure spirit soul, part and parcel of the Supreme Spirit. We are spirit souls. This is our real identity. This is the real platform of freedom, equality and fraternity.

Other perceived identities such as “I am Australian,” “I am French,” “I am American”, “I am Russian or Indian”, “I am white,” “I am black,” “I am male,” “I am female” are artificial impositions. Just like in the psychiatric ward someone may thinks he or she is Hitler or Napoleon and behave in such an imitative way. But it is nothing but the product of a wild, probably diseased imagination.

Now someone may ask where do we get this information from? The basics of Sri Krishna’s teachings are given in His book called the Bhagavad Gita, originally spoken in Sanskrit some 5000 years ago, in a place called Kuruksetra, some 150 air kilometres north of New Dehli, India. At this time, i.e. 5000 years ago, New Delhi was called Hastinapura, the city of the elephants, (Hasti means elephant) and was in fact the world’s administrative capital. At this time the world was one. And now it has become divided into some 195 countries. Just see the influence of the time factor! Because we are no being taught these things in our educational institution, we may say that we are being passively brainwashed about the history of the world. Instead we are being “brainwashed” again about such foolish things as the Big Bang (with capital letters, please) and other such fantasies. Has someone ever seen a creation coming out of a big bang? Big bangs are usually used to destroy things and not to create them.

There are about 650 different presentations of this book, just to give you an idea about its popularity. His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the Founder-Acarya of the International Society for Krishna consciousness or in short the Hare Krishna Movement, has presented his version of Bhagavad Gita and he has called it Bhagavad-Gita As It Is (BGAII). He found that most other presentations of Bhagavad-Gita were motivated by some personal interest and He has attempted to present a “transparent” translation of Bhagavad-Gita with great integrity, as if we were reading the Bhagavad Gita in its original Sanskrit text. His presentation is very clear and honest in the sense that he presents in respective order, the Sanskrit text, a transliteration, a word for word translation, a translation and finally a purport or explanation. Because of his vast erudition in Vedic knowledge and His bona fide and authoritative status, He is also qualified to presents things in their proper perspective.

His presentation is complete as well. He presents all 700 verses, whereas some other renditions will only contain a certain proportion of the 700 verses.

In the Bhagavad-Gita will shall find such statements as follows:

“Never was there a time when I did not exist, nor you, nor all these kings; nor in the future shall any of us cease to be.” BGAII 2.12

“The living entities in this conditioned world are My eternal, fragmental parts. Due to conditioned life, they are struggling very hard with the six senses, which include the mind.” BGAII 15.7

In both cases Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead is speaking to His devotee-friend Arjuna, on the battlefield of Kurukestra.

Simultaneous to the existence of this transcendental knowledge, there is a school of experts called Acaryas or a line of disciplic successors, who represent, practice and teach the knowledge. Swami Prahupada comes legitimately in this line of authority. He has thousands of initiated followers. The author of this article is one of them.

This Hare Krishna mantra has been specifically designed for this age of Kali. This age of Kali is characterized as follows:

“O learned one, in this iron age of Kali men almost always have but short lives. They are quarrelsome, lazy, misguided, unlucky and, above all, always disturbed.” Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.1.10

In previous ages, the atmosphere was better suited for self-realization and the means were given accordingly. The general trend is one of cyclic depreciation. In Satya-yuga for example, when people used to live one hundred thousand years, the recommended means of self-realization was meditation. It is reported that Valmiki, the author of Ramayana, meditated for sixty thousand years. Who lives for sixty thousand years nowadays? Perhaps some yogis in India live for a few hundred years. But that is the greatest extent of our Kali-yuga lives. It is also mentioned that a great saint of the name Bilvamangal Thakur lived for seven hundred years in Vrindavan, the birth place of Lord Krishna.

Therefore there is need for a special allowance. The allotted special allowance is the Hare Krishna maha-mantra:

HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA

KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE

HARE RAMA HARE RAMA

RAMA RAMA HARE HARE.

And it should be noted that the very same benefits can be derived from the chanting, as were derived from other processes in previous ages. What a wonderful higher arrangement! Who will not want to take advantage of this special offer?

It is simultaneously simple and sublime. It is simple because it is only composed of three different words: Hare, Krishna and Rama. And all one is required to do is to repeat these words in proper sequence, a certain number of times and with proper concentration. What could be easier? These three words of course, have got special meaning and special power. I shall explain this later.

It is sublime because its proper practice will help us achieve the greatest perfection of life: that is to be reinstated in our original, blissful and eternal status of servants of God, Krishna, in the spiritual world where everything is just unimaginably easy and blissful. In the spiritual world for example there are no birth, death, old age and disease, the cardinal faults of this material world

The theology of the holy name is fascinating and there is a book called Sri Namamrita that explains it very nicely and in a very inspiring way. It is a collection of quotes from the various publications of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivadenta Swami Prabhupada such as Bhagavad-gita as It Is, Srimad-Bhagavatam and Caitanya Caritamrta and some of His smaller books as well, such as Science of Self-realization etc… The basic principle is that Krishna and His innumerable names are absolute. Krishna is not different from his innumerable names. It is very nicely summed up in prayer number two by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in His Sri Sri Siksastaka:

“O My Lord, Your holy name alone can render all benedictions to living beings, and thus You have hundreds and millions of names, like Krishna and Govinda. In these transcendental names You have invested all Your transcendental energies, and there are no hard and fast rules for chanting these holy names. O My Lord, You have so kindly made it easy to approach You by Your holy names, but I am so unfortunate that I have no attraction for them.”

Mantra is a Sanskrit word, which can be divided into two parts. Man and tra. Manah refers to the mind and tra means to deliver or to set free. So mantra is that sound vibration which if chanted regularly, brings us freedom from the material conditioning and ultimately freedom from the laws of material nature. At least in Australia, there is also a chain of hotels that have chosen the word “mantra” as their business name. The effect of the mantra chanting is exemplified in the first stanza of the prayer called Gurvastaka.

Because the spiritual master gives the mantra it is said:

“The spiritual master is receiving benediction from the ocean of mercy. Just as the cloud pours water on the forest fire to extinguish it, so the spiritual master extinguishes the blazing fire of material existence. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master.”

The point being that the mantra received from the spiritual master helps us to pacify and control our minds even though we are facing the blazing fire of material existence, where there is always some kind of antagonism and confrontation in progress. It not only helps us to pacify the mind but it also helps us to make the mind a reliable and effective ally in the daily struggle for existence. The mind can be either an enemy or a friend as confirmed in Bhagavad-Gita As It Is 6.5:

“One must deliver himself with the help of his mind, and not degrade himself. The mind is the friend of the conditioned soul, and his enemy as well.”

Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His contemporary associate Lord Nityananada of sixteenth century India are the great prophets, revivers and advocates of the chanting of the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra. Their words / preaching and activities are described in the glorious Caitanya Caritamrta published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust and available from this website. All other books mentioned in this article are available from this website as well. If you wish to order, simply drop us an email: ajm108@gmail.com.

Here is a brief description of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu:

“The religious practice for the Age of Kali is to broadcast the glories of the holy name. Only for this purpose has the Lord, in a yellow color, descended as Lord Caitanya.”CCA3.40

” The luster of His expansive body resembles molten gold. The deep sound of His voice conquers the thundering of newly assembled clouds. CCA 3.41

““His tongue is always chanting the holy name of Krishna, and from His eyes tears incessantly fall like the flowing Ganges.” CCM 17.111

““Sometimes He dances, laughs, sings and cries, and sometimes He roars like a lion.” CCM 7.112

““His name, Krishna Caitanya, is all-auspicious for the world. Everything about Him—His name, form and qualities—is unparalleled.CCM17.113

And here is a brief description of His associate and equal, Lord Nityananada Prabhu:

“He had a glossy blackish complexion, and His tall, strong, heroic stature made Him seem like Cupid himself.” CCA 5.184

“He had beautifully formed hands, arms and legs, and eyes like lotus flowers. He wore a silk cloth, with a silk turban on His head.” CCA 5.185

He wore golden earrings on His ears, and golden armlets and bangles. He wore tinkling anklets on His feet and a garland of flowers around His neck. CCA 5.186

His body was anointed with sandalwood pulp, and He was nicely decorated with tilaka. His movements surpassed those of a maddened elephant. CCA 5.187

His face was more beautiful than millions upon millions of moons, and His teeth were like pomegranate seeds because of His chewing betel. CCA 5.188

His body moved to and fro, right and left, for He was absorbed in ecstasy. He chanted “Krishna, Krishna” in a deep voice. CCA 5.189

His red stick moving in His hand, He seemed like a maddened lion. All around the four sides of His feet were bumblebees. CCA 5.190

His devotees, dressed like cowherd boys, surrounded His feet like so many bees and also chanted “Krishna, Krishna,” absorbed in ecstatic love. CCA 5.191

Please chant:

HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA

KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE

HARE RAMA HARE RAMA

RAMA RAMA HARE HARE.

and benefit!

Thank you very much!

“One who is actually intelligent, although he may be a devotee free from material desires, a karmi desiring all kinds of material facilities, or a jnani desiring liberation, should seriously engage in bhakti-yoga for the satisfaction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.” SB 2.3.10

“Devotional service to Krishna is the chief function of the living entity. There are different methods for the liberation of the conditioned soul—karma, jnana, yoga and bhakti—but all the others are dependent on bhakti.

Madhya 22.17

“The other processes cannot yield results unless they are associated with devotional service. Devotional service, however, is so strong and independent that it can give one all the desired results.” CC Madhya 24.92

“With the exception of devotional service, all the methods of self-realization are like the nipples on the neck of a goat. Therefore an intelligent person adopts only devotional service, giving up all other processes of self-self-realization.”
PURPORT
Without devotional service, other methods for self-realization and spiritual life are useless. Other methods cannot produce good results at any time, and therefore they are compared to the nipples on the neck of a goat. These nipples cannot produce milk, although it may appear that they can. An unintelligent person cannot understand that only devotional service can elevate one to the transcendental position.
Madhya 24.94

 

The transcendental vibration established by the chanting of Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare is the sublime method for reviving our transcendental consciousness. As living spiritual souls, we are all originally Krishna conscious entities, but due to our association with matter from time immemorial, our consciousness is now adulterated by the material atmosphere. The material atmosphere, in which we are now living, is called mäyä, or illusion. Mäyä means “that which is not.” And what is this illusion? The illusion is that we are all trying to be lords of material nature, while actually we are under the grip of her stringent laws. When a servant artificially tries to imitate the all-powerful master, he is said to be in illusion. We are trying to exploit the resources of material nature, but actually we are becoming more and more entangled in her complexities. Therefore, although we are engaged in a hard struggle to conquer nature, we are ever more dependent on her. This illusory struggle against material nature can be stopped at once by revival of our eternal Krishna consciousness.

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare is the transcendental process for reviving this original, pure consciousness. By chanting this transcendental vibration, we can cleanse away all misgivings within our hearts. The basic principle of all such misgivings is the false consciousness that I am the lord of all I survey.

Krishna consciousness is not an artificial imposition on the mind. This consciousness is the original, natural energy of the living entity.

In the beginning, there may not be the presence of all transcendental ecstasies, which are eight in number. These are: (1) being stopped as though dumb, (2) perspiration, (3) standing up of hairs on the body, (4) dislocation of voice, (5) trembling, (6) fading of the body, (7) crying in ecstasy, and (8) trance. But there is no doubt that chanting for a while takes one immediately to the spiritual platform, and one shows the first symptom of this in the urge to dance along with the chanting of the mantra. We have seen this practically. Even a child can take part in the chanting and dancing. This chanting should be heard from the lips of a pure devotee of the Lord, so that immediate effects can be achieved. As far as possible, chanting from the lips of non-devotees should be avoided. Milk touched by the lips of a serpent has poisonous effects.

The word Hara is the form of addressing the energy of the Lord, and the words Krishna and Rama are forms of addressing the Lord Himself. Both Krishna and Rama mean “the supreme pleasure,” and Hara is the supreme pleasure energy of the Lord, changed to Hare in the vocative. The supreme pleasure energy of the Lord helps us to reach the Lord.

The material energy, called maya, is also one of the multi-energies of the Lord. And we, the living entities, are also the energy, marginal energy, of the Lord. The living entities are described as superior to material energy. When the superior energy is in contact with the inferior energy, an incompatible situation arises; but when the superior marginal energy is in contact with the superior energy, Hara, it is established in its happy, normal condition.

These three words, namely Hare, Krishna, and Rama, are the transcendental seeds of the maha-mantra. The chanting is a spiritual call for the Lord and His energy to give protection to the conditioned soul. This chanting is exactly like the genuine cry of a child for its mother’s presence. Mother Hara helps the devotee achieve the Lord Father’s grace, and the Lord reveals Himself to the devotee who chants this mantra sincerely.

No other means of spiritual realization is as effective in this age of quarrel and hypocrisy as the chanting of the maha-mantra: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

By Yadavendra Das (ACBSP)
June 23 2016, Perth, Western Australia.

For the third time and after a good Sankirtan day, I had unknowingly parked my van in an unsavory neighborhood for the night. At 8 PM one vehicle came and shone its beam lights repeatedly on me. This generally happens when some authority such as the municipal council ranger or state police checks things out. But when I realized that it was not case, I turned my vehicle around and shone my own lights on the vehicle with the intention to challenge the driver to state his business. It quickly disappeared in great haste. I will never know what were the intentions of the driver.
At about eleven PM, more beams of light woke me up. This was Western Australia state police. Everything went smoothly and police was very courteous. Srila Prabhupada states that Maya is Krishna’s police force. But if one has done nothing wrong, one sees only the friendly side of the police, which is not really their true function. The true function of the police force is forceful apprehension of and correction for offenders of the state law. The function of Maya or the external energy of the Lord is very much the same: forceful correction and reconditioning of the offenders of the Lord’s law. That means all of us to a greater or lesser degree. The reason for our presence in this material world is our original and continuous rebellion against the supremacy of Lord Krishna and His laws of material nature. Sri Krishna invites and demands in Bhagavad- Gita As It Is, 18.66:” Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear.” But we continually decline this fair and profitable offer with just as much insistence.

After the event, I regretfully realized that I had made an occupational mistake by failing to offer some Krishna books to the police officers.

Then Krishna amazingly and quickly fulfilled my desire and there was another police check at twelve PM. This was an unexpected and welcome opportunity for me to improve my performance. After the mandatory “We cannot accept any gifts while on duty”, the two police officers gladly accepted one set each of Higher Taste and Krishna, the Reservoir of Pleasure, “courtesy of the Hare Krishna Movement.” I also had a chance to discuss the situation with them and they confirmed that it was a crime-ridden area. True to the great Vedic tradition of the wandering mendicant, I peacefully spend the rest of the night at some other place, which unlike the previous one, had toilets and showers as well, as I discovered in the morning. Jai Srila Prabhupada!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BHAGAVAD-GITA AS IS IT AT 4.07 AM.
By Yadavendra Das (ACBSP)
June 20th 2016. Perth, Western Australia.

A few days previously, while on the way to the ISKCON temple at 155-159 Canning Rd, Kalamunda WA 6076, I had purchased goods from this father and son owned business and the son gladly gave a Krishna donation equal to the amount of goods purchased.

On Monday June 20th 2016 at 4.07 AM, as per transaction receipt, I again purchased goods at the same place. This time the attendant accepted a hardbound copy of Bhagavad-Gita As It Is. This was my first Bhagavad-Gita for the day and the week as well. He mentioned that he was actually looking for a bona fide translation of the Gita, as if Krishna had personally arranged this meeting. I can’t remember selling a Bhagavad-Gita that early ever. Jai Sri Krishna!

 

I. ISKCON COMMUNICATIONS

a) The “ALL GLORIES TO SRILA PRABHUPADA!” expression as standard part of a devotee letter introduction.

The following edited extract from a letter to a respected Godbrother will illustrate my point:

Prabhu, good to bring up again the point about use of the expression “All glories to Srila Pabhupada”. Please note that I do not now or ever forget the person Srila Prabhupada or the unlimited glories of Srila Prabhupada. In fact I try to associate with our Guru Maharaja as much as possible through sound vibration. Even though Srila Prabhupada left us in 1977, modern technology enables us to associate with Him 24 / 365, if that is what we choose to do.

However I felt consistently in the past and still feel now, that this particular positioning of the exclamation “All glories to Srila Prabhupada” parallels too much the Nazi salute “Heil Hitler”, perhaps not to be paralleled (unless I am wrong, of course) by devotees of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna and devotees of the Supreme Personality of Servitor Godhead, Srila Prabhupada, especially in view of the sweet message of love of Godhead of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. In the following passage Srila Prabhupada clearly defines Hitler’s nature:” There were so many asuras in this world. There were Lenin, there were Stalin, there were Hitler, there were Hiranyakashipu. So many. But they could not survive. It is not possible. They’ll be finished.” 740930SB.May

 In one of our exchanges, His Holiness Jayadvaita Maharaja openly admitted that he considers himself the initiator of this unwanted habit that is now permeating ISKCON.

More over, in His own letters, we NEVER find Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, our Founder-Acarya, writing in such a particular fashion, even though His own Guru and our Param Guru, His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Maharaja Goswami bore the title Prabhupada as well. From that point of view, it is nothing more than a sentimental and unwanted deviation. Who in his right mind will agree to deviate and go on a tangent, which may lead one anywhere at all?” Let us not forget the characteristic of a tangent: As a tangent progresses, it separates itself more and more and more from the original target.”

b) Additionally Srila Prabhupada set a standard of giving the place and date of origin of all His letter-communications. It is important to know when a letter was written. In the financial world and in legal matters, even the very second a communication is created can be of capital importance. In a global organization such as ISKCON, it is also important to know where in the world the author of the letter is located. Such a practice creates structure, as opposed to pandemonium. But who in ISKCON follows this Prabhupada standard? In that respect, I had submitted a GBC proposal to my Co-GBC, His Holiness Ramai Swami. He rejected it outright and consequently my proposal never made it to the annual AGM of the Governing Body Commission of ISKCON at Mayapur headquarters, India. Over our many years of association, His Holiness Ramai Swami has in fact rejected outright every single one of my GBC proposals one hundred percent. And my other Co-GBC clearly stated that he does not want to get involved in any GBC proposals, because of the possible consequences involved.  As per his opinion it is too much of a risky affair. First I though he was joking. But he is not joking. He is serious about it. So just imagine the communication wasteland I find myself in!

When I proposed to open an ISKCON center in Cairns QLD, Australia, His Holiness Ramai Swami buried my proposal under tonnes of mundane prerequisites and red tape with no dependence on Krishna, as if His Holiness were in fact in control of the future. It would appear that he is mostly interested in the status quo rather than overseeing new Krishna conscious ventures. I shall also have to assume that His Holiness does not care a fig about book distribution preaching. In Australia, I have been compiling successively the Perth and Brisbane temple book scores since the nineties. At times, I would send the scores to all ISKCON authorities, including HH Ramai Swami. But not even a single time has he even acknowledged receipt of the book distribution scores, what to speak of supporting book distribution. I also heard him making a deprecatory remark about another dedicated book distributor. Worst of all, when I try to communicate with him, he complains: “I am asking you politely not to communicate with me.” This is not a verbatim quote. But it expresses very well the gist of his message to me. The word “politely” was used indeed. I shall have to assume the next step of escalation will not be so “polite” at all. He also banned our God brother, His Grace Mandapa Prabhu from ISKCON temples for no good apparent reason. He was rubber stamped “ritvik”. Fortunately in January 2016, HG Mandapa Prabhu came anyway for the 40^th anniversary of the installation of their Lordship Sri Sri Gaura Nitai in Brisbane and there were no problems whatsoever with his presence. On the contrary His Grace Ajita Prabhu, our regional secretary, verbatim stated to me that Mandapa Prabhu “is a true gentleman” and we felt honored by his presence. There are two ISKCON Co- Governing Body co-Commissioners for Australia, His Holiness Ramai Swami and His Holiness Devamrita Swami.

In some quarters of ISKCON, there seems to be a prejudice that Australia is a third class place and in the past, several less-than-first-class ISKCON devotees have come here from outside to lead the Australian Yatra. They have failed! When the jackal is unable to reach the grapes, in frustration he may decree them sour grapes and pass on the propaganda to others jackals. But jackal’s philosophy will be of no use. I caution herewith against such a misguided conception and affirm herewith that Australia on the contrary is a very first class place for all material and spiritual purposes including and most importantly the practice and propagation of Krishna consciousness. This is due to the permanent and glorious presence of the brilliant and divine sun:

“Hrishikeshendriyätmane. The mind is the director of the senses, and Lord Aniruddha is the director of the mind. In order to execute devotional service, one has to fix his mind on the lotus feet of Krishna; therefore Lord Shiva prays to the controller of the mind, Lord Aniruddha, to be pleased to help him engage his mind on the lotus feet of the Lord. It is stated in Bhagavad-gétä (9.34): man-mania bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaaji maam namaskuru. The mind has to be engaged in meditation on the lotus feet of the Lord in order to execute devotional service. It is also stated in Bhagavad-gita (15.15), mattah smritir jnanam apohanam ca: from the Lord come remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness. Thus if Lord Aniruddha is pleased, He can help the mind engage in the service of the Lord. It is also indicated in this verse that Lord Aniruddha is the sun-god by virtue of His expansions. Since the predominating deity of the sun is an expansion of Lord Aniruddha, Lord Siva also prays to the sun-god in this verse.

Lord Krishna, by His quadruple expansion (Väsudeva, Sankarshana, Pradyumna and Aniruddha), is the Lord of psychic action—namely thinking, feeling, willing and acting. Lord Shiva prays to Lord Aniruddha as the sun-god, who is the controlling deity of the external material elements which constitute the construction of the material body. According to Shrila Vishvanätha Cakravarti Thaakura, the word paramahamsa is also another name for the sun-god. The sun-god is addressed herein as nibhritaatmane, which indicates that he always maintains the various planets by manipulating the rainfall. The sun-god evaporates water from the seas and oceans and then forms the water into clouds and distributes it over land. When there is sufficient rainfall grains are produced, and these grains maintain living entities in each and every planet. The sun-god is also addressed herein as puurna, or complete, because the rays emanating from the sun have no end. For millions and millions of years since the creation of this universe, the sun-god has been supplying heat and light without diminution. The word paramahamsa is applied to persons who are completely cleansed. When there is sufficient sunshine, the mind remains clear and transparent—in other words, the sun-god helps the mind of the living entity to become situated on the platform of paramahamsa. Thus Lord Shiva prays to Aniruddha to be kind upon him so that his mind will always be in the perfect state of cleanliness and will be engaged in the devotional service of the Lord. Just as fire sterilizes all unclean things, the sun-god also keeps everything sterilized, especially dirty things within the mind, thus enabling one to attain elevation to the platform of spiritual understanding.” Srimad-Bhagavatam, purport to verse 4.24.36

Gayatri mantra, line number one, invites us as well to meditate on the transcendental effulgence of the divine sun: “Let us meditate on that worshipable effulgence of the divine sun who enthuses our meditation.”

Whereas:

” So anything created by God, that is not monopoly for any class of men or for any country. Just like the sun is created by God. The sun is the thing, which is enjoyed by all parts of the world. But there are countries, Western countries, where sun is not visible, covered by the cloud. Any country, any part of the world, which is covered by cloud and the sun is not visible, according to shaastra, such country is condemned. Because, although the sunshine is there, by certain condition, they cannot enjoy the sunshine. Therefore from the Western countries, when people come to this country, especially in India, when they see from the Arabian Sea bright sunshine, they very much become astonished, “How nice sunshine is here.” Sunshine is the property for everyone, but according to intelligence or according to fortune, they enjoy it.” 740402BG.Bom

If my memory serves me well, in the nineteen eighties or nineties, the inscription; “We want the whole island” could be seen in the American Consulate in Perth, Western Australia, a typical example of American proactive aggressiveness. There is nothing wrong with that! On the contrary, Srila Pabhupada wants America to lead the whole world in Krishna consciousness. People from all over the world queue up for the purpose of admittance to Australia! Not to speak of those who try to gain access by stealth or by force. These facts illustrate and prove the desirability of Australia and we request herewith that ISKCON commissions their very best uttama adhikari agents for Australia. On the strength of all these considerations, we may suggest that it will be appropriate to rename Australia Nava-Bharata i.e. New India instead. Of course there may be some copyrights or political issues in this respect.

 

II. ISKCON BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA: A 10 MILLIONS DOLLARS BLUNDER AND LAND DEBACLE.

In Brisbane, Australia, some ISKCON executives have presided over a 10 million dollars land dealing mistake and loss. Still they are in executive positions. No heads have rolled. Any ordinary corporation would have taken drastic action within days, if not hours over such a gigantic failure! Or perhaps voluntary resignations would have taken place. Neither do we know whether some inappropriate dealings have taken place.

By Lord Krishna’s amazing arrangement however, after the land successively passed to several owners, each earning millions of dollars from it, whereas ISKCON Brisbane lost money in the sale, a respected Christian church now owns the 13 acres land previously owned by ISKCON. It is situated right opposite the current 4 acres ISKCON land. As per May 2016, development worth many millions of dollars has started in all earnestness, with active excavators, scrapers, bulldozers and water trucks etc etc……, a true and sincere tribute to the great Lord Jesus Christ! Because ISKCON men headed by HH Bhakti Vidya Purna Maharaja carried out the corner stone laying ceremony sometimes in 1997 or so, we may assume that this Baptist Church will be very successful.

By Lord Krishna’s extraordinary arrangement and gazing upon the developing land, I also had the opportunity to meet the individual who owned the same land in the sixties and seventies, when he sold it for very small money, a pittance indeed! He also missed out on the big opportunity! His sadness could be seen in his face, especially his eyes. He now suffers from cancer as well.

III. DOCTRINAL APOSTASIES

Whereas the teachings of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada are meant to represent the basic constitution of The International Society for Krishna Consciousness for the duration of its existence, the prediction being a duration of ten thousand years, at least one other Australian ISKCON executive has made in the past, the most renegade statements, seriously meant, in respect of the teachings of the Founder-Acarya of ISKCON. Ignoring the transcendental nature of Srila Prabhupada’s message, he proposed publicly in a Vyasapuja offering that the Founder-Acarya’s teachings need a double distillation to be authoritative and relevant. What absolute nonsense!!! These are  very wrong utterances and apostasies. My simple questions are: Is this an acceptable situation??? How can a person who questions not only the basic tenets, but questions Srila Prabhupada’s comprehensive presentation of the Vedic philosophy as well, assume a position of leadership in His institution ISKCON. And most importantly where will such type of leadership lead us??? A common saying is “Go with the flow”. That is all right as long as the destination is clearly defined. Otherwise not!

“You are not taking advantage of these facilities, natural facilities. You are misled by so-called material civilization, and you are doomed. Andhaa yathaandhair upaniyamaanaas [SB 7.5.31]. If you are led by blind leaders, you are all doomed. That is going on. That is my appeal to the Indians. Don’t be doomed. Take Krishna…, accept Krishna as the leader. Then you’ll be happy. As Krishna says… Not only India. India, especial, I say. Because Krishna is so kind. Of course, for Krishna, there is no such thing as “India” and “America.” 721126BG.Hyd

IV. SILENCE.

When one attempts to have some constructive exchanges with some responsible officers of The International Society for Krishna Consciousness or the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (BBT) for that matter, one often meets with just silence, as a passive answer to one’s questions. Or one is invited “politely” to mind one’s own business, as mentioned previously. In the glorious “Nectar of Instruction”, Srila Prabhupada, the Founder Acarya of The International Society for Krishna Consciousness, clearly and unequivocally gives His verdict about silence. He writes: ”Silence may appear helpful for some time, but ultimately it proves a failure.” The wording of this sentence should be considered very carefully! It conveys the meaning that “silence” offers only an illusion of help. In other words, “silence” is never really helpful but represents always a failure.

If only uttering

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna

Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama

Rama Rama Hare Hare

a devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is never short of words in any and all circumstances. Srila Prabhupada also gives the example of the rabbit, who closes his eyes with the hope that this vain defense measure will saved him from the hunter’s bullets. There is a lack of openness in ISKCON. We urgently need “glasnost” in ISKCON. Srila Prabhupada, the Founder-Acarya Himself didn’t hold anything back. In His books, letters and lectures, He benevolently and publicly gave all the knowledge and realization He had accumulated. Why don’t we follow in His footsteps??? Because He is so great, the whole world can take inspiration from His transcendental realizations. It is said that He built a house to accommodate the whole world.

Srila Prabhupada took the trouble to communicate openly and answered sensibly and elaborately each and every letter He received. He certainly did not ignore them!

“You write in your letter of September 10th that you have not received my replies, but I reply each and every letter. Especially your letters, Brahmananda’s letters, Satsvarupa’s letters and Gargamuni’s letters I take special care and reply each of them. I hope by this time you have received my reply.” 6909914LET.TamalKrishna

and

 “I receive daily so many odd letters, still we have to reply them properly.” 690311LET.Upendra

Srila Prabhupada’s own 6586 letters or so represent an unfathomable source of spiritual and practical information. Why have they been pushed so far back in the Vedabase search function? Instead of listing them among Srila Prabhupada’s other written legacy, they are listed after His audio transcripts. I have seen them listed after movie transcripts as well. Who has done this and why such discrimination?

Silence may also be a sign of caution, ignorance, paranoia or duplicity. Besides that Sri Krishna says in Bhagavad-Gita As It Is 10.38: “…Of secret things I am silence…”

V. GBC Law presentation.

The GBC or Governing Body Commission of ISKCON has been in existence since the mid ninety seventies, still there is no systematic presentation of ISKCON law produced by the GBC, that one may consult for law execution and for adjudication. Mundane governments around the world systematically publish their legislative decisions in a matter of days or weeks. Such an appropriate presentation will also be useful for outsiders. Ultimately there are no “ISKCON outsiders”! Everyone is an insider if “….we have got good potency to be the leaders of the world if we carefully push on this movement.”! 731108LET.Hansadutta

Why do we find such a blatant neglect in this fundamental field and how can we be a fair player if we don’t ostensibly post the rules of the game for everyone to see? Which in turn begs the question: “Is ISKCON 2016 a fair player?” The reply will have to be: ”It is strongly hoped that ISKCON 2016 is a fair player but caution dictates that a “yes” to this essential question can definitely not be taken for granted.” Or is ISKCON 2016 perhaps a lawless or dysfunctional corporation???

VI. THE ARTICLES.

There is no alternative on this point. Irrespective of what is actually happening on the altar, the articles MUST be presented first to Srila Prabhupada on the temple Vysasasana, failing which there is offense to His Divine Grace and imposture on the part of the devotee who accepts the articles first in the Founder-Acarya’s stead. Srila Prabhupada is always and under all circumstances the Vaishnava Shrestha in the ISKCON temple room. Imposture may also be called Dhritarashtraism, as the battle of Kuruksetra came about by the stubborn imposture of Dhritarashtra along with his sons. Lord Krishna spoke to Bhagavad-Gita to His friend and military general Arjuna minutes before the start of the battle, as we understand from the Bhagavad-gita itself. It took less than one hour to speak the seven hundred verses.

It is a fact that on some occasions, Srila Prabhupada did point out directly or indirectly that His disciples lack proper respect in His regard and that the Japanese people were much more respectful to Him. Of course the Japanese people will also get the credit of producing nice Toyota vehicles, which are very useful in Lord Krishna’s service.

Proactive denial of such a mark of respect for the Founder-Acarya of ISKCON, in His own institution, is nothing but a mark of envy of Him, whereas Srimad Bhagavatam 11.17.27 clearly states:

aacaaryam maam vijaaniyaan

navamanyeta karhicit

na martya-buddhyaasuuyeta

sarva-deva-mayo guruh

TRANSLATION

“One should know the Acaarya as Myself and never disrespect him in any way. One should not envy him, thinking him an ordinary man, for he is the representative of all the demigods.”

Further more the purport to the same verse SB 11.17.27 states:

“In fact, however, a bona fide aacaarya is nondifferent from the Personality of Godhead, and therefore to envy such an aacaarya is to envy the Personality of Godhead Himself. This will produce an effect subversive of transcendental realization.”

For further details, please see my article: https://krishnaculture.org/2016/04/07/articles

Jaya om Vishnupada Paramahamsa Parivrajakacaraya astottara-sata Sri Srimad A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada ki jaya!!!

 

VII. GBC RULING 6.4.8.1.2 Vyasa-puja shall be amended to read as follows: (1999)

” ISKCON members shall celebrate Srila Prabhupada’s vyasa-puja ceremony as the pre-eminent vyasa puja ceremony in ISKCON. All ISKCON members are requested to write an annual vyasa-puja offering to Srila Prabhupada. Vyasa-puja for ISKCON gurus other than Srila Prabhupada should only be observed on one day a year. His celebration may be held in the temple room. ISKCON members conducting vyasa-puja ceremonies for ISKCON siksa and diksa gurus shall observe them in a modest way, significantly less elaborate in duration and cost, than Srila Prabhupada’s vyasa-puja. In general, devotees shall observe these vyasa-puja celebrations in their own locales. In ISKCON, only Srila Prabhupada’s vyasa-puja books shall be published.”

This ruling aims to deprive every ISKCON Guru of a written Vyasapuja offering which generally comes in the form of a book(let). Here is a tinge of “ritvikism”!

Whereas transcendental book publication is our family business and whereas following in Srila Prabhupada footsteps would also include accepting a Vyasa puja book(let) for ISKCON initiating Gurus, as He did Himself and is still doing, it is felt that Srila Prabhupada Himself will not agree to ratify such a ruling.

In my humble opinion it represents as well an attempt to muzzle an individual’s freedom and should be done away without delay.

Why would ISKCON want to produce maimed and atrophied Gurus? Why is ISKCON not trying its very best to produce full-fledged and fully realized gurus instead? This is what the world really needs and represents the actual purpose of Srila Prabhupada in creating ISKCON.

We suggest in return and in the strongest possible terms that the GBC rules that every ISKCON member should distribute a certain minimum of Prabhupada books per year. Such a ruling will be most productive indeed. We suggest that the minimum book quota be at least one book per day, i.e. 365 books per year, per member. And if ability to pay is there, a minimum fine of one dollar or one local currency for non-compliance may apply. It is payable to the BBT. For Prabhupada reference please see 660405BG.NY:

“Now their family duty is that they are, this Singhania, Sir Padampat Singhania, they have got four or five brothers, and the mother is still living. And the order is that each and every family member must go every day and pay respect to the Deity. And if somebody is absent one day, then he must be fined. A fine is imposed. The, the big brother, Sir Padampat Singhania, if he’s absent one day to pay respect to the Deity, he’s fined ten rupees, or ten dollars. You see? And, and next day the braahmana, or the puuari, the worshiper engaged, he goes to collect the fine. He presents, “Yes, yes. I am sorry. Yes. Here is my fine.” [laughs] So of course, this is self-imposed, but the idea is that they are spiritually conscious in this way. “Oh, I did not go yesterday to offer my respect to the Deity, Krishna. So I must pay fine.” This is also spiritual consciousness. This is also spiritual consciousness.”

Please find attached my Book Distribution Motivational Magazine, which over the years, I have vainly attempted to publish through BBT channels. We hope that this situation will evolve favorably.

VIII. MOST IMPORTANTLY:

FORTY YEARS AFTER IT’S CREATION, THE IMPECCABLE PRESENTATION OF SRILA PRABHUPADA’S VANI TO THE MISGUIDED AND SUFFERING WORLD FOR TRANSCENDENTAL AND REDEMPTIVE GUIDANCE IS STILL MISSING. IS THIS PERHAPS TO BE CONSTRUED AS A 50TH ANNIVERSARY OFFERING???

No doubt His Holiness Jayadvaita Swami nicely improved the original Bhagavad-Gita As It Is’ translation in many respects. But simultaneously some backward deviation steps have taken place as well in the process. For all practical purposes, we may call the original version, version 1 (V1). And we may call His Holiness’ rendition version two (V2). We note that for some reason(s) His Holiness’ name is not mentioned in version two, as the author of the changes.

The current version two (V 2) edition of Bhagavad-Gita As It Is, also called in the book itself “Second Edition, Revised and Enlarged”, officially replaced version one (V 1), also called “Complete Edition”, in 1983. V1 was originally introduced to the market in New York in 1972.

1) In 690216BG.LA Srila Prabhupada states:

” Saankhya-yoga is the ashtaanga-yoga. This sitting posture and meditation, this is called saankhya-yoga. And jnaana-yoga means by, through philosophical process. By analytical process what is Brahman and what is not Brahman. Neti neti. That is jnaana-yoga. …………………………… Free from sex life. One should meditate upon Me. And ultimately, where is the meditation. Not in void. Just on Vishnu, this Vishnu form. That is saankhya-yoga…….

This saankhya-yoga was first practiced by Kapiladeva. He is incarnation of God, Krishna. So this is the secret of yoga. That this, I mean to say, process of sitting and seeing the tip of your nose and sitting straight, all these means will help you to concentrate your mind on the Vishnu form, or Krishna. One should meditate upon Me. This meditation means meditation on Krishna. So here in this Krishna consciousness movement, it is directly simply on Krishna. There is nothing, therefore nobody is better meditator than these boys.”

From this passage we infer that Saankhya-yoga will be the first class title for chapter six of Bhagavad-Gita As It Is, Ashtanga-yoga will be second class and current Dyana-yoga will be third class or less.

Srila Prabhupada clearly wants the sixth chapter of BGAII to be called Saankhya yoga. He has called it Saankhya-yoga in the original colophon. It has been whimsically changed to Dhyana yoga. And why not change it to Ashtanga Yoga instead? Ashtanga Yoga is eight times more complete than Dhyana Yoga!

But where is the due respect for the author’s freedom of expression? It is illegal to put words into Srila Prabhupada’s mouth. He has clearly stated to nature of such actions. It is rascaldom!!! These were His comments when He heard that some members of ISKCON were falsely quoting Him for the purpose of advancing their own personal agendas. Srila Prabhupada is no fool! But we are both fools and offenders for tempering with His will. Appropriate passages and evidence can be found in Vedabase. Here is one relevant passage:

“Therefore this rumor that within a few years there will be police repression and people will have no more money to buy books and sankirtana will stop is completely bogus. Whoever told you that is a rascal, saying it in my name. 740508let.GovindaDas

We should note in this regard that Srila Prabhupada often takes the freedom to use the word “mellow” in an unconventional way as well. In my Mac dictionary the noun “mellow” does not exist at all. It exists as an adjective and as a verb. Still Srila Prabhupada uses it as a noun meaning “rasa”. To render “rasa”, He also uses the term “humor”.

Here is one example:

” The purport in presenting this verse necessitates explaining the comparative positions of the transcendental mellows known as shaanta, daasya, sakhya, vaatsalya and maadhurya. All these rasas, or mellows, are situated on the transcendental platform.” CCM 8.83 purport.

And here is another:

““There is a gradual order of improvement in transcendental mellows from the initial ones to the later ones. In each subsequent mellow the qualities of the previous mellows are manifested, counting from two, then three, and up to the point of five complete qualities.” CCM 8.85

According to the false logic applied to changing the title of chapter six of Bhagavad-Gita As It Is and again in order to conform, this term “mellow” would have to be changed as well.

2) To my personal knowledge, Srila Prabhupada never used the word “numinous”, but indeed used “noumena”, as pointed out by Bhakta Oles Kukharuk from Ukraine. Bhakta Oles holds an MA in cultural studies from Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, one of the most prestigious universities in Eastern Europe. However BGAII 7.2 now reads (V2):” I shall now declare unto you in full this knowledge, both phenomenal and numinous. This being known, nothing further shall remain for you to know.”

BGAII V1 reads as follows instead:” I shall now declare unto you in full this knowledge, both phenomenal and noumenal, by knowing which there shall remain nothing further to be known.” This sounds perfectly OK and we may revert to this version one anytime now.

This substitution of “numinous” to “noumenal” represents possibly the greatest example of mental speculation ever offered in the history of transcendental philosophy and disciplic succession, also called parampara. As we all know, mental speculation comes under the heading of “gambling” and forms part of the four prohibitions to qualify for spiritual life i.e.

1) No illicit sex life,

2) No gambling,

3) No intoxication of any kind,

4) No meat, fish or egg eating.

These four activities represent the root of all social problems. Eradicate these four activities and any society will flourish and all people of such societies will be truly happy. As per Srila Prabhupada, these are the four preliminary conditions to become a first class person.

 

3) “Pravrttim ca nivrttim ca” Bhagavad-Gita As It Is Chapter 16, Text 7.

In the word for word, His Holiness Jayadvaita Swami has taken the liberty to give new and opposite meaning to “nivrttim” as “not acting improperly”.

From a logical point of view, this current presentation is simply absurd and nonsensical. Even though the original V1 translation has rightly been left intact, this new meaning V2 given to “nivrttim” in the word for word translation creates dangerous and asuric ambivalence as to what is proper action and what is improper action and the editor himself does not seem to know fully the difference between the two. Why would Sri Krishna, the most learned of all, repeat Himself and use two different words to express the very same idea? If Sri Krishna has chosen two different words i. e. “pravrttim” and “nivrttim” the meaning also must be different and cannot be the same.

In 730828BG.Lon, Srila Pabhupada gives definitions for “pravrttim” and “nivrittim” as follows:

“That is asuric civilization. Pravrttim ca nivrttim ca na vidur äsura-janäù [Bg. 16.7]. Äsura-jana means these rascal or asuras, atheists, fools, rascals, they do not know pravåtti and nivåtti. Pravåtti means in which subject matter we should take interest. That is called pravåtti. And nivåtti means in which subject matter we shall not take interest, or we shall try to give it up. The äsura-jana, they do not know.”

These are straight affirmations and negations, as in version 1 and contradict HH Jayadvaita Swami’s renditions for these two words.

Everyone will understand Who is right and who is wrong!

So we suggest that translation of “nivrttim” be left untouched just as the rest of BGAII 16.7 has been left untouched. It is perfect as it is.

4) Inconsistent editorial presentation throughout Srila Prabhupada’s books.

For example, “He” when referring to the Supreme Personality of Godhead is capital letter. But “who”, when referring to the same Supreme Personality of Godhead, is in small letter instead of capital letter as well. This contradicts logic by any standards.

5) We would also suggest that pronouns and possessives referring to Srila Prabhupada be all written with capital letters as per Gurvastaka stanza seven:

“säkñäd-dharitvena samasta-çästrair

uktas tathä bhävyata eva sadbhiù

kintu prabhor yaù priya eva tasya

vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam **

“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 Çré Hari [Kåñëa].”

6) BGAII 10.43 purport V2: “….And the ability not only to read many books on different subject matters but to understand them and apply them when necessary….”

Whereas BGAII 10.34 purport V1 reads: “One need not read many books on different subject matters; the ability to remember a few and quote them when necessary is also another opulence.”

Here again we feel that Srila Prabhupada spirit and literal message has been betrayed because the general mood is per version one, not version two.

“My Guru Maharaja used to say that for one who is not engaged in devotional service, reading all the books is simply like licking the outside of the honey jar. One who thinks the books is the thing is content in this way. But we should learn the secret to open the jar and taste the honey. In this way, if we can simply understand one book, or one sloka, the perfection is there. Lord Caitanya warned about reading too many books, although I see in America this is very popular to get volumes and volumes of books and not understand one.” 680217let.Pradyumna

 

7) We also assume that, out of misplaced sentiments, the same devotee(s) changed the “Vishnu” of the original Tulasi Pranam mantra into “Krishna”, whereas Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, in similar circumstances, clearly instructed SarvaBhauma Battacarya not to make any changes:             “On another day, the Bhaööäcärya wanted to change the reading of the tat te ’nukampäm [SB 10.14.8] verse because he did not like the word mukti-pada. He wanted to substitute the word bhakti-pada. Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu advised Särvabhauma not to change the reading of Çrémad-Bhägavatam, because mukti-pada indicated the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Kåñëa.” Caitanya Caritamrta, Madhya Lila, introduction to chapter six: “The liberation of Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya”

8) My latest discovery: BGAII 7.4:

V1:”Earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intelligence, and false ego – altogether these eight comprise My separated material energies.”

V2:” Earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intelligence and false ego—all together these eight constitute My separated material energies.”

We note the substitution of “comprise” with “constitute”. That is very nicely and expertly done. However the substitution of “altogether” with “all together” cannot be accepted on the strength of the following dictionary statement:” usage: Note that altogether and all together do not mean the same thing. Altogether means ‘in total, totally’ as in there are six bedrooms altogether, or that is a different matter altogether, whereas all together means ‘all in one place’ or ‘all at once,’ as in it was good to have a group of friends all together, or they came in all together.” The idea here in BGAII 7.4 is not time or space. Common sense dictates that the idea here is belonging or inclusion.

Regrettably but inevitably, the conclusion will have to be that HH Jayadvaita Swami cannot be fully trusted in the matter of a final rendition of Srila Prabhupada’s and Sri Krishna’s rendition of Bhagavad-Gita As It Is. We hear that his health is currently not the best and we wish to pass on to him herewith our very best wishes for his full and speedy recovery and re-establishment.

 

9) I have personally been misguided and misled for the last 40 years by some faulty presentation of Srila Prabhupada’s message. The sentence “It is better not to accept any disciples” previously found in Caitanya Caritamrta, Madhya 7. 130, purport, represented a totally false presentation. My dear readers please beware, as there may still be other such similar cases! This has now been properly adjusted due to the professionalism and sagacity of HG Dravida Prabhu of ISKCON San Diego. Quite the opposite in fact applies! Just as a father generates more children to increase the number of family members, the Vaishnava tradition demands that any mature follower MUST accept possibly thousands of disciples in order to increase the number of followers. Please see my article “For everyone to contemplate openly” for all technical details on this historic literary mistake. https://krishnaculture.org/2016/04/10/for-everyone-to-contemplate-openly/

As compensation to right this serious wrong, I shall accept nothing less than unconditional grant of Diksha Guru license as well as Sanyasa license from ISKCON!

As per Srila Prabhupada’s statement

” Sat nyaasa, sannyaasa. This is the combination. Sat means the Supreme, the ever-existing, and nyäsa means renunciation. That means one who has renounced everything for serving the Supreme, he is real sannyäsa. He may take this dress or not, that doesn’t matter. Anyone who has sacrificed his life for service of the Supreme Lord, he’s a sannyäsé. That will be explained in the Fifth Chapter. Go on.” (681220BG.LA)

According to these standards, I am already situated in the renounced order of life or sannyasa ashram. All I need is the official seal of sannyasa from Srila Prabhupada’s own institution, ISKCON.

This claim however is not to be construed as a matter of absolute dependency on ISKCON but it is on the contrary a gesture of friendly cooperation only and it should be noted in this respect that ISKCON does not at all possess monopoly on any kind of licensing emanating from Srila Prabhupada and these matters of transmission of spiritual authority are actually contained in Srila Prabhupada’s Vani itself. Like any other bona fide spiritual institution claiming Srila Prabhupada ancestry, ISKCON is subordinate to Srila Prabhupada Vani. Nor should the success of ISKCON be taken for granted because of its initiation by Srila Prabhupada, the very great spiritual genius of the modern age. The success of ISKCON is conditional on and proportional to its members and especially the leaders strictly following in total the orders of its Founder-Acarya.

“Sri Caitanya Mahäprabhu wanted to preach the sankirtana movement of love of Krishna throughout the entire world, and therefore during His presence He inspired the sankirtana movement. Specifically, He sent Rüpa Gosvämé and Sanätana Gosvämé to Våndävana and Nityänanda to Bengal and personally went to South India. In this way He kindly left the task of preaching His cult in the rest of the world to the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. The members of this Society must always remember that if they stick to the regulative principles and preach sincerely according to the instructions of the äcäryas, surely they will have the profound blessings of Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu, and their preaching work will be successful everywhere throughout the world.” Caitanya Caritamrta, Adi 7.171, purport.

There is no doubt that Srila Prabhupada has left in his literary legacy the very greatest spiritual treasure to the suffering and quarrelling Kali Yuga world. Still in order to become fully effective and functional upon the world His message must first all be properly realized and simultaneously distributed widely and systematically. What is the use of the greatest treasure if it remains hidden? We acknowledge the fact that according to the World Sankirtan Newsletter almost 520 million pieces of literature have been distributed all over the world since the mid seventies. And I have personally contributed my fair share. But did not Srila Prabhupada usually, coolly and simply reply to these type of figures with the injunction: ”Please double it.”?

It is an open field where all are equal. As the French say: ”Que le meilleur gagne!” or “May the best win!” Over my last 45 years or so of association with ISKCON and to the discredit of the ISKCON officers I have been associated with during that time, I would like to finally state and admit that I have never really felt properly accommodated in ISKCON and that consequently I had to create my own party called The Australian Society for Krishna Culture, www.krishnaculture.org, to implement my own and personal realization of Krishna consciousness. At the ultimate analysis, I exclusively depend on Srila Prabhupada’s Vani and on the Hare Krishna Maha mantra. Had I remained solely depending on ISKCON, it would have remained impossible for me to dedicate my life to preaching and specifically to the distribution of Srila Prabhupada’s books, as I am doing. Besides that, as found in my Pabhupada Glosssary (https://krishnaculture.org/srila-prabhupada-glossary-and-info/) under the “Sannyasa” entry, Srila Prabhupada recommends:

“A sannyaasi should have an institution meant to preach Krishna consciousness; he need not accumulate money for himself.” SB 7.13.34 P

 

 

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna

Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama

Rama Rama Hare Hare

IX. ISKCON DIKSHA GURU POLICY.

Srila Prabhupada explains that the Vaishnava tradition dictates that as long as Guru is physically present all candidates must be brought to him for initiation. But ISKCON does not follow this policy in so far that some disciples initiate in the physical presence of their Guru. Why is this discrepancy and disobedience allowed?

X. AN OPEN CHALLENGE TO THE MINISTER FOR SANNYASA AFFAIRS, HIS HOLINESS PRAHLADANANDA SWAMI.

In Caitanya Caritamrta, Srila Prabhupada writes:
“A sannyäsi is supposed to beg from door to door. He does not beg simply because he is hungry. His real purpose is to enlighten the occupant of every house by preaching Krishna consciousness. A sannyäsi does not abandon his superior position and become a beggar just for the sake of begging. Similarly, a person in householder life may be very important, but he may also voluntarily take to the mendicant way of life. Rüpa Gosvämi and Sanätana Gosvämi were ministers, but they voluntarily accepted the mendicant’s life in order to humbly preach Sri Caitanya Mahäprabhu’s message.” CCM 8.39 P

 

and if

“ … Preaching means selling books.” 720221let.BhaktaDas and if

“Our preaching work will be measured by the quantity of books we distribute so continue ever-increasingly… “ 731211et.MakanlalDas,

then how many ISKCON sannyasis are preaching according to these standards set by our Founder-Acarya? Srila Prabhupada Himself did all these things.

 

As per http://sannyasacandidates.com/?page_id=295, on April 6th 2016, there are 105 sannyasis in ISKCON. Would the Minister please compile and present to the assembled devotees and the world an exhaustive list of sannyasis, who TRULY and SUBSTANTIALLY (no tricks here) conform to these above mentioned preaching requests and standards of the Founder-Acarya and commander in chief of ISKCON?

 

IN CONCLUSION.

ISKCON is not at all an ordinary institution! And I may take the freedom to beg and request the directors of ISKCON to rectify existing mistakes and deficiencies ASAP, always give their very best for this most noble cause of Sri Krishna Caitanya Sankirtan, to be strictly disciplined under all circumstances as per Srila Prabhupada standards (mäà ca yo ‘vyabhicäreëa bhakti-yogena sevate. BGAII 14.26) and not to fall prey to any type of Dhritarastraism, as ISKCON remains always and under all circumstances the property of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna and His appointed and spotless representative His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, whose glories are very great and are spread all over the world. I may mention the following event to illustrate my point. On Thursday May 12, 2016 at about 9.30 AM in a town called Armidale, in New South Wales, Australia, the very first gentleman I approached in the street for the purpose of book distribution Sankirtan, spontaneously started glorifying Srila Prahupada, the Founder-Acarya of ISKCON. Thank you very much for your attention.

Please hear Srila Prabhupada, please hear Srila Prabhupada, please hear Srila Prabhupada!

Param vijayate Sri Krishna Caitanya Sankirtanam!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the New Govardhana ISKCON Australia, Hare Krishna Easter Holy Name Festival 2016, I was clapping my hands during His Holiness Indradyumna Maharaja’s Srimad Bhagavatam class’ introductory kirtan and was quite absorbed in the chanting, when I felt some slight rub in my back. I thought: “O some devotee moving around in the crowd. Nothing to be noticed.” When the rub repeated itself, I turned around to see what was happening. His Grace Sakhi-rai Prabhu was indicating to me that I should stop the clapping and that was quite a hit. I did however stop the clapping, especially when I noticed that the message was actually coming for HH Indradyumna Maharaja himself, who was on stage, playing the harmonium.

Later on during the day, at an opportune moment, I approached His Holiness and ask the question. He was then sitting on a chair, attending the kirtan amid the crowd, a bit as on the picture above:

“So Maharaja, please tell me, what was wrong with my clapping?”

“It was too fast.” was the answer.

Coming from such a seasoned musician and kirtan leader, I had no choice but to accept the verdict.

I replied: “O you told me the very same thing some few years ago.”

We smiled and even laughed.

If my memory serves me well, it was some years ago at a Brisbane Sunday Feast at the now abandoned Elisabeth st. facility that he told me the very same thing: “Too fast”. I was then playing the kartals and Maharaja was again playing the harmonium.

He gracefully added: “It’s your passion to go Back Home, Back to Godhead”, which denotes the positive and Krishna conscious way to look at the situation and represents in fact a compliment. Thank you very much Maharaja!

Although I do not feel anything lacking in my relationship with HH Indradyumna Maharaja, someone may remark that this is not much of an exchange between Godbrothers. But we should remember that in devotional service relationships are based on service to the Lord. Besides that one of the four Srila Prabhupada slogans reads:”Utility is the principle”, the others being: “Preaching is the essence”, “Purity is the force” and “Books are the basis.”

This principle applies especially in the relationship between spiritual master and disciple or teacher and student. Srila Prabhupada also calls it “functional devotional service”, as per quote below. But in the realm of devotional service, anyone who teaches us even one single thing properly, according to parampara, either philosophical or practical, as well as unknown to us and therefore new, is factually acting as instructing spiritual master or “siksha guru.” This is the great benefit of sadhu sanga! HH Holiness Indradyumna Swami is actually trying to help me temper my kirtan participation. I am thankful and indebted to him. A very advanced soul sees the teachings of Krishna, the primeval spiritual master, all around him. This is explained in Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto eleven, Chapter eight titled “The story of Pingala” and elsewhere.

In Caitanya Caritamrita, Adi Lila, 1.47, purport, Srila Prabhupada writes:

“When by learning from the self-realized spiritual master one actually engages himself in the service of Lord Vishnu, functional devotional service begins. The procedures of this devotional service are known as abhidheya, or actions one is dutybound to perform. Our only shelter is the Supreme Lord, and one who teaches how to approach Krishna is the functioning form of the Personality of Godhead. There is no difference between the shelter-giving Supreme Lord and the initiating and instructing spiritual masters. If one foolishly discriminates between them, he commits an offense in the discharge of devotional service.”

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

All glories to His Holiness Indradyumna Maharaja!

All glories to the assembled devotees, especially those lucky devotees who attended the ISKCON Australia Easter New Govardhana, Holy Name Festival 2016 and also those who will attend the US equivalent at Boone, North Carolina USA, on May 27th to May 30th 2016. Please see sadhusangaretreat.com for further info.