–The Australian Society for Krishna Culture. AUSKCULTURE, operation start 1984 — ABN 65 231 425 870.

PRESIDENT TRUMP ‘S ADVICE: “NEVER EVER GIVE UP OR QUIT AND WORK HARD.” THAT ADVICE FULLY APPLIES TO THE PROCESS OF KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS: “NEVER EVER GIVE UP, EVEN IF IT LOOKS HOPELESS, JUST DON’T GIVE UP, EVEN IF YOU HAVE TO START AGAIN FROM THE BEGINNING. THE PREVIOUS RUN WAS A LEARNING RUN WHERE YOU HAD TO LEARN ALL IT TAKES TO BE SUCCESSFUL” JAI SRILA PRABHUPADA, JAI SRI KRISHNA

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Hawaii
6 March, 1969
69-03-06

My Dear Rayarama,

Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of Feb. 27, 1969, and I am so glad to read it. Keep your health in good condition and work very hard for Krishna. That is our motto of life. I am so glad to learn that you felt too much inconvenience in the company of the karmis in your last tour to Los Angeles. There is a verse in Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu in which it is stated, the more you advance in Krishna Consciousness, the more you become disgusted with the material modes of life. When the American boys are disgusted with cigarette smokers, or listening to rock music and meaningless chattering, it means there is Krishna’s Grace. May Krishna bless you more and more, as you advance in Krishna Consciousness.
You wanted one assistant editor, and I can understand that you may feel inconvenience with Hayagriva, but would you like to have as your assistant editor, Gaurasundara? So he can help you in editing work even from such distant place. But the difficulty is that he is working here to maintain the establishment. I have advised Govinda dasi to think of this and he may write you.
Regarding Bhagavad-gita manuscript: If you have got two copies then you can send one to Janardana. Otherwise you have to send him a copy only, and keeping one copy with you. Because in future I am thinking of publishing a revised and enlarged edition of Bhagavad-gita As It Is. You know that we have to cut short the book because the MacMillan Company wanted within 400 pages. So you know that the majority of the verses in the back portion of the book were not given purports. Therefore in our next publication we shall give purport for all the verses.* So you should keep one copy with you before you send the manuscript to Janardana.
That Rohini Kumara is assisting you in artistic abilities is very gratifying. So you are preparing for the Japanese issues. In fact, from the number when we begin our Japanese issue we shall stop advertisement altogether . . . either hippies or dhippies.
You select your articles according to your best choice but I shall recommend to publish the article of Hayagriva, “Hare Krishna Movement Exploded.” I have received suggestion from Dindayal — he is getting good response from Berkeley and he is expecting that the whole quota of 5000 may be completely sold. In Hawaii, however, they have no Back To Godheads, and receipt of them is very much delayed and sporadic. So if the shipping is closed they can be sent by air cargo. So we have to organize the transport means also. I think there is some special postal rate for 50 lb. lot. So with the assistance of Subala please do the needful and make Back To Godhead a successful Krishna Consciousness magazine.
My program is to stay here up to the end of March, but in San Francisco they also want me for a few days there. So before going to New York I may go to San Francisco from here. Of course, you think you cannot leave your office just now, but this place is very nice. I think if you could manage to come here a few days then you can directly exchange letters with Govinda dasi.
Please care for your health nicely, and convey my blessings to all the devotees there in New York.
Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
*As well as word to word meanings

Ref. VedaBase => Letter to: Rayarama — Hawaii 6 March, 1969

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Of course we dance and chant “hard” too. And what to speak of accepting prasadam subsequently!

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Devotee: What is recreation for a Krsna conscious person?
Prabhupada: Recreation? Dancing. [laughter] Come on, dance with us. Is it not recreation? And when you get tired, take prasadam. Do you want more recreation than this? What is your answer? Is it not recreation?
Devotee: Yes. I think it is difficult for someone who comes from…
Prabhupada: Why difficult? Dancing is difficult? Chant and dance?
Devotee: It’s easier for a devotee who lives in the temple.
Prabhupada: Oh, but as you can come, anyone can come. Everyone is welcome. We don’t charge anything for this dancing. You go to ball dance and so many other dances, you pay for it. But we don’t charge. We simply…, our these students simply beg something, because we have to maintain.
We don’t charge anything. So if you simply come and dance for recreation, it is very nice. Everything is there in Krsna consciousness. We want music — there is music. We want dancing — there is dancing. You can bring nice musical instruments — you can join. We distribute nice, palatable dishes.
So practically this is a system of recreation only. [laughter] Yes. If you seriously think, you’ll find this system there is no labor at all; simply recreation. Su-sukham [Bg 9.2].
[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 it is joyfully performed.]

That is stated in the Bhagavad-gita in the Ninth Chapter you’ll find, su-sukham. Everything is pleasing and happy. Find out anything in our system that “This is troublesome.” Tell me practically, anyone, that “This point is very troublesome.” Just put your counterargument. Simply pleasing. It is simply recreation. That’s all. You just point out, “Swamiji, your this point is not very recreation or not…, not very…, unhappy portion.” Nothing.
People want. That is their natural. Just like the children: when they see that boys and girls are dancing, their children also dancing. Automatically. This is spontaneous. This is life. And that is our real life in the spiritual world. There is no anxiety. Simple people are dancing and chanting and eating nicely. That’s all. There is no factory, there is no labor, there is no technical institution. There is no need. These are all artificial. Anandamayo ‘bhyasat [Vedanta-sutra 1.1.12], the Vedanta says.
[By nature, the Supreme Lord is blissful.]
The…, every living entity… God is anandamaya, full of bliss and pleasure, and we are part and parcel of God, we are also the same quality. Anandamayo ‘bhyasat. So our whole process is to join the supreme anandamaya, Krsna, in His dance party. That will make us actually happy.
Here we are trying to be happy by artificial means, and we are becoming frustrated. But if you actually be situated in Krsna consciousness, simply you revive your original position, joyful, simply joyful. Anandamayo ‘bhyasat. These are the Vedanta terms. Because our nature is anandamaya. People are…, everyone is trying to find out. In this La Cienega Avenue there are so many restaurants, so many things and so many signboards. Why? They are advertising, “Come on, here is ananda, here is pleasure.” He’s advertising. We are also doing like that: “Here is ananda.”

Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 6.1 – February 13, 1969, Los Angeles

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In a letter dated April 16th to Gurudasa, Srila Prabhupada advises to distribute Back to Godhead magazine in the American “Reader’s Digest” way:

“Now, since I have come to your country, I have entrusted the matter to my beloved American boys and girls, and I wish to see that this magazine is published and distributed in the American way like “Readers Digest”, “Life” etc., published in millions and distributed all over the world. Actually the position of BTG should be more important than any mundane magazine because it contains the quintessence of human necessities.

Ref. VedaBase => Letter to: Gurudasa — Los Angeles 16 April, 1970

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Finally there is a letter to Hayagriva advising to finish New Vrindavan “the American way”

20 August, 1970
6-16, 2-chome, Ohhashi
Meguro-ku, Tokyo, Japan

My Dear Hayagriva,
Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 5th August, 1970.
Regarding Janmastami arrangement, it is going on nicely-that is very encouraging. We have started New Vrndavana in America and it must be finished in the American way. In Vrndavana there are so many temples, they say 5,000, or in Vrndavana every home, every cottage, is a temple. As far as possible try to develop New Vrndavana on this standard. In the coming meeting of Janmastami amongst other business you must have a resolution how to finish the development of New Vrndavana in the right sense of the term. At the same time, please make a very nice scheme to purge out the non-Vrndavana spirit that entered in our Society.

Ref. VedaBase => Letter to: Hayagriva, 20 August, 1970

The point is they are expert at publicising themselves. And as Srila Prabhupada says: : The duck who quacks the loudest gets the cookie. ” All glories to the Dubai Hare Krishna team !!!

This young lady has got character and a piercing voice which is what it takes.

And she has an excellent sense for crescendo.

ahimsaya paramahamsya-caryaya
smrtya mukundacaritagrya-sidhuna
yamair akamair niyamais capy anindaya
nirihaya dvandva-titiksaya ca

Word for word

ahimsaya — by nonviolence; paramahamsya-caryaya — by following in the footsteps of great acaryas; smrtya — by remembering; mukunda — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; acarita-agrya — simply preaching His activities; sidhuna — by the nectar; yamaih — by following regulative principles; akamaih — without material desires; niyamaih — by strictly following the rules and regulations; ca — also; api — certainly; anindaya — without blaspheming; nirihaya — living simply, plain living; dvandva — duality; titiksaya — by tolerance; ca — and.

TRANSLATION

A candidate for spiritual advancement must be nonviolent, must follow in the footsteps of great acaryas, must always remember the nectar of the pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, must follow the regulative principles without material desire and, while following the regulative principles, should not blaspheme others. A devotee should lead a very simple life and not be disturbed by the duality of opposing elements. He should learn to tolerate them.

PURPORT

The devotees are actually saintly persons, or sadhus. The first qualification of a sadhu, or devotee, is ahimsa, or nonviolence. Persons interested in the path of devotional service, or in going back home, back to Godhead, must first practice ahimsa, or nonviolence. A sadhu is described as titiksavah karunikah (SB 3.25.21). A devotee should be tolerant and should be very much compassionate toward others. For example, if he suffers personal injury, he should tolerate it, but if someone else suffers injury, the devotee need not tolerate it. The whole world is full of violence, and a devotee’s first business is to stop this violence, including the unnecessary slaughter of animals. A devotee is the friend not only of human society but of all living entities, for he sees all living entities as sons of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He does not claim himself to be the only son of God and allow all others to be killed, thinking that they have no soul. This kind of philosophy is never advocated by a pure devotee of the Lord. Suhrdah sarva-dehinam: a true devotee is the friend of all living entities. Krsna claims in Bhagavad-gita to be the father of all species of living entities; consequently the devotee of Krsna is always a friend of all. This is called ahimsa. Such nonviolence can be practiced only when we follow in the footsteps of great acaryas. Therefore, according to our Vaisnava philosophy, we have to follow the great acaryas of the four sampradayas, or disciplic successions.
Trying to advance in spiritual life outside the disciplic succession is simply ludicrous. It is said, therefore, acaryavan puruso veda: one who follows the disciplic succession of acaryas knows things as they are (Chandogya Upanisad 6.14.2). Tad-vijnanartham sa gurum evabhigacchet: [MU 1.2.12] in order to understand the transcendental science, one must approach the bona fide spiritual master. The word smrtya is very important in spiritual life. Smrtya means remembering Krsna always. Life should be molded in such a way that one cannot remain alone without thinking of Krsna. We should live in Krsna so that while eating, sleeping, walking and working we remain only in Krsna. Our Krsna consciousness society recommends that we arrange our living so that we can remember Krsna. In our ISKCON society the devotees, while engaged in making Spiritual Sky incense, are also hearing about the glories of Krsna or His devotees. The sastra recommends, smartavyah satatam visnuh: Lord Visnu should be remembered always, constantly. Vismartavyo na jatucit: Visnu should never be forgotten. That is the spiritual way of life. Smrtya. This remembrance of the Lord can be continued if we hear about Him constantly. It is therefore recommended in this verse: mukundacaritagrya-sidhuna. Sidhu means “nectar.” To hear about Krsna from Srimad-Bhagavatam or Bhagavad-gita or similar authentic literature is to live in Krsna consciousness. Such concentration in Krsna consciousness can be achieved by persons who are strictly following the rules and regulative principles. We have recommended in our Krsna consciousness movement that a devotee chant sixteen rounds on beads daily and follow the regulative principles. That will help the devotee be fixed in his spiritual advancement in life.
It is also stated in this verse that one can advance by controlling the senses (yamaih). By controlling the senses, one can become a svami or gosvami. One who is therefore enjoying this supertitle, svami or gosvami, must be very strict in controlling his senses. Indeed, he must be master of his senses. This is possible when one does not desire any material sense gratification. If, by chance, the senses want to work independently, he must control them. If we simply practice avoiding material sense gratification, controlling the senses is automatically achieved.
Another important point mentioned in this connection is anindaya — we should not criticize others’ methods of religion. There are different types of religious systems operating under different qualities of material nature. Those operating in the modes of ignorance and passion cannot be as perfect as that system in the mode of goodness. In Bhagavad-gita everything has been divided into three qualitative divisions; therefore religious systems are similarly categorized. When people are mostly under the modes of passion and ignorance, their system of religion will be of the same quality. A devotee, instead of criticizing such systems, will encourage the followers to stick to their principles so that gradually they can come to the platform of religion in goodness. Simply by criticizing them, a devotee’s mind will be agitated. Thus a devotee should tolerate and learn to stop agitation.
Another feature of the devotee is nirihaya, simple living. Niriha means “gentle,” “meek” or “simple.” A devotee should not live very gorgeously and imitate a materialistic person. Plain living and high thinking are recommended for a devotee. He should accept only so much as he needs to keep the material body fit for the execution of devotional service. He should not eat or sleep more than is required. Simply eating for living, and not living for eating, and sleeping only six to seven hours a day are principles to be followed by devotees. As long as the body is there it is subjected to the influence of climatic changes, disease and natural disturbances, the threefold miseries of material existence. We cannot avoid them. Sometimes we receive letters from neophyte devotees questioning why they have fallen sick, although pursuing Krsna consciousness. They should learn from this verse that they have to become tolerant (dvandva-titiksaya). This is the world of duality. One should not think that because he has fallen sick he has fallen from Krsna consciousness. Krsna consciousness can continue without impediment from any material opposition. Lord Sri Krsna therefore advises in Bhagavad-gita (2.14), tams titiksasva bharata: “My dear Arjuna, please try to tolerate all these disturbances. Be fixed in your Krsna conscious activities.”

The Australian Society for Krishna Culture (AUSKCULTURE), hopefully soon to be known as The International Society for Krishna Culture or ISKCULTURE because of increasing overseas membership is simultaneously one with and different from The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), which we consider in some ways our parent organisation. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu called this philosophy the acintya bedha abheda tattva: “The simultaneously ONE with and DIFFERENT from” reality.

We may also call it spiritual dialectism. We have Karl Marx’s material dialectism. But spiritual dialectism is always superior to material dialectism as the mind, even though material, is superior to dull matter and the 10 senses, yes 10 senses, not 5 senses. There are 5 knowledge acquiring sense and these are what the West calls the five senses: the eyes, ears, nose, tongue and skin. To this state of affairs, the more realistic, practical and clinical East adds another 5 working senses. There is consequently no disagreement, there is only complementing. The five working senses are the voice, the arms, the legs, the anus and the genitals This is called “pancabhih — with the five working senses (voice, arms, legs, anus and genitals)” in Srimad Bhagavatam 6.1. 50, word for word.

We are ONE for the following reasons and this may be an incomplete list:

a) Our source of knowledge is ONE: Srila Prabhupada the creator of ISKCON, (The International Society for Krishna Consciousness), the BBT, (The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust) and BTG (Back to Godhead) magazine and 80 or so top-class books on self-realisation is simultaneously the source of our knowledge and our link to the Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya sampradaya or school of thought.

We are DIFFERENT and again this may be an incomplete list:

a) In terms of member-numbers and assets we are small, whereas ISKCON is huge with about 1200 representations all over the world. This number is sourced from the Introduction to the Vyasapuja Book 2024 by the Vyasapuja book team of 4 members.

But even high numbers can never compensate for a lack in quality. And if you dont have the required quality, you are simply disqualified once and for all without any further ceremonial or until you acquire the required quality through thoughtfulness and hard work. This rule applies even in the fruits and vegetable trade with its stringent commercial rules and high quality control, what to speak of all matters Parampara or line of disciplic succession. Life is tough.

b) We do not commit the very grave mistake of promoting a fake version of Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad Gita As It Is.

c) contrary to ISKCON’s offensive policy, we try to give Srila Prabhupada the respect and honour due to Him by marking all pronouns and possessives related to His Divine Grace with capital letters. In ISKCON there is a very strong opposition to such practice based on the misinterpretation of His instructions and quite plainly on the lack of a sense of courtesy. The head opponents is Dravida Das of ISKCON San Diego, who assumes the position of head editor. He approves or rejects all changes to Srila Prabhupada’s books and is considered the highest authority in the field. Mind you, Dravida Das has made some very essential contributions to the improvements of the presentation of Srila Prabhupada’s books. The best example is Dravida’s shrewd perspicacity in spotting the mistake in CC. Please see article A PERFECT EXAMPLE of a CRUCIAL and BONA FIDE IMPROVEMENT to SRILA PRABHUPADA’S BOOKS by and due to THE SAGACITY and PROFESSIONALISM of HIS GRACE DRAVIDA PRABHU of ISKCON SAN DIEGO, USA. of April 10th 2016. There is also the article of 21 MAY 2019 ABOUT DRAVIDA PTABHU’S expertise.

BG 6.47 purport Version 3:

“The word “bhajate” is significant here. Bhajate has its root in the verb “bhaj”, which is used when there is need for service. The English word worship cannot be used in the same sense as bhaja. Worship means to adore, or to show respect and honor to the worthy one. But service with love and faith is especially meant for the Supreme Personality of Godhead. One can avoid worshiping a respectable man or a demigod, and may be called discourteous—but one cannot avoid serving the Supreme Lord without being thoroughly condemned. Every living entity is part and parcel of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and as such every living entity is meant to serve the Supreme Lord by its own constitution. Failing to do this, he falls down.” 

On the whole, this erroneous policy results in a massive, blanket and global disrespect for Srila Prabhupada, the Founder Acarya of ISKCON and Jagat Guru for the next 10 000 years. There are and will be unpleasant consequences for this sate of affairs. One cannot disrespect the representative of God without God Himself getting involved, just as one cannot disrespect the representative of the king or the state without the king or the state getting involved.

Conclusive Note:

As long as ISKCON (and the BBT) erroneously supports Bhagavad Gita As It Is NOT by Jayadvaita, we shall be in conflict with ISKCON (and the BBT.)

One major reason.

BBT supports and publishes Bhagavad Gita A It Is NOT by the subversive traitor Jayadvaita.

Two.

BBT does not publish and has not published for a while Cooking with Kurma , which used to be number 8 best selling book in Australia. What is the reason for that?

Three.

BBT does not care to publish preacher’s essentials such as the Vaishnava Verse Book by His Grace Rohininandana Prabhu for example.

ADDITIONALLY, there is an issue with the”Western Pacific” Sydney BBT warehouse manager, who restricts to the extreme book supplies, meaning to say: for whatever reason he instituted a unique window of opportunity every two weeks or so, when he will ship any quantity of books. I got the impression he prioritizes his personal sense gratification and convenience above all instead. 

We may legitimately ask: What business in his right mind would restrict the sale of its goods and services in such a restrictive manner? He also weaponises your order, meaning to say if you displease him, he’ll just try to cancel your order. I doubt that this type of blackmailing fits within the BBT ethical code of conduct, if there is such a thing in existence at all, of course, which we doubt very much.

But this cancelling of book supplies however, definitely falls under Srila Prabhupada’s definition of violence as in BGAII 13. 8-12:

“Nonviolence is generally taken to mean not killing or destroying the body, but actually nonviolence means not to put others into distress. People in general are trapped by ignorance in the material concept of life, and they perpetually suffer material pains. So unless one elevates people to spiritual knowledge, one is practicing violence. One should try his best to distribute real knowledge to the people, so that they may become enlightened and leave this material entanglement. That is nonviolence.”

Therefore this policy of whimsically cancelling customer’s orders must be vehemently condemned along with its author.

In the whole of BBT Sydney warehouse history, such despotic management has never been seen before. First the manager dictated exclusively when you can place an order and when it can be dispatched. Then he is trying to dictate exclusively how it can be freighted to destination and manipulates you to that effect. As I have personally experienced, he does not hesitate to lie to achieve his goals either. And we wonder what he will try to exclusively dictate next. 

But a devotee is definitely not a liar and conversely a liar is definitely not a devotee.

There will be many more reasons that attract the label “Under bad management” for the BBT indeed. 

We look forward to the welcome label “UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT” instead.

PS. If anyone has got one or several Vaishnava Verse Books by Rohininandana Prabhu for sale please get in touch:

Signed: The Krishna Conscious Observer. 

tkco16108@gmail.com

“Srila Narottama dasa Thakura says, chadiya vaisnava seva nistara peyeche keba: unless one serves a Vaisnava, he cannot be delivered. The spiritual master initiates the disciple to deliver him, and if the disciple executes the order of the spiritual master and does not offend other Vaisnavas, his path is clear. Consequently Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu requested all the Vaisnavas present to show mercy toward the two brothers, Rupa and Sanatana, who had just been initiated by the Lord.

When a Vaisnava sees that another Vaisnava is a recipient of the Lord’s mercy, he becomes very happy. Vaisnavas are not envious. If a Vaisnava, by the mercy of the Lord, is empowered by Him to distribute the Lord’s holy name all over the world, other Vaisnavas become very joyful — that is, if they are truly Vaisnavas. One who is envious of the success of a Vaisnava is certainly not a Vaisnava himself but is an ordinary, mundane man. Envy and jealousy are manifested by mundane people, not by Vaisnavas. Why should a Vaisnava be envious of another Vaisnava who is successful in spreading the holy name of the Lord? An actual Vaisnava is very pleased to accept another Vaisnava who is bestowing the Lord’s mercy. A mundane person in the dress of a Vaisnava should not be respected but rejected. This is enjoined in the sastra (upeksa). The word upeksa means neglect. One should neglect an envious person. A preacher’s duty is to love the Supreme Personality of Godhead, make friendships with Vaisnavas, show mercy to the innocent and reject or neglect those who are envious or jealous.

THERE ARE MANY JEALOUS PEOPLE IN THE DRESS OF VAISHNAVA IN THIS KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS MOVEMENT, and they should be completely neglected. There is no need to serve a jealous person who is in the dress of a Vaisnava. When Narottama dasa Thakura says chadiya vaisnava seva nistara peyeche keba, he is indicating an actual Vaisnava, not an envious or jealous person in the dress of a Vaisnava.“

CAITANYA CARITAMRITA, MADHYA 1.218