Text 212901 (104 lines) [D1] From: Bhakti Caru Swami Date: 19-Sep-95 20:09 SST To: BCS Questions and Answers [7] Subject: infinite regression ------------------------------------------------------------ Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Guru Maharaja and Srila Prabhupada! In the following we post Guru Maharaja's answer to Gauranga Premananda's question. He dealed with these quesitons during a darshan in Malaga, Spain and asked us to put them on the conference. We are very sorry for the delay due to some organisational problems. Your humble servants Balaram Das Malati Manjari Devi Dasi 1. Question of "infinite regression" Answer: God is the cause of all causes: sarva karana karanam, which means that He is the cause of all causes, but He doesn't have any cause. You asked: "How can we intellectually satisfy ourselves without going ad infinitum?" The answer is: Intellectually you cannot satisfy these questions. You cannot intellectually get any answer to these questions, because when it comes to the spiritual subject matter, it is beyond your intellect and your intellect cannot enter there. Therefore the process is not to try to get intellectual answers but to accept the scriptures, especially the vedic scriptures, and accept the answers that have been given in the Vedas. If God has a cause, then that cause would have been God. That is the meaning of cause of all causes or ultimate cause. He is where all the causes stop and he doesn't have a cause and that is the spiritual reality. 2.Question: Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur writes in one book on Ramananda Raya, " 'Krishna' or 'Shyama',' blue', 'black' or 'dark' , e.g.that is void of all material colors". Does this mean Krishna has no spiritual black color or a color we can depict in our paintings, because dark according to Srila Bhaktisiddhanta means not any color we can think, that is like monsoon cloud? Answer: Krishna being spiritual, His form is spiritual, that is non material. Therefore with any material concept we cannot understand Krishna's form, complexion, etc. But that doesn't mean that Krishna doesn't have any color. Krishna has a color, but that color is spiritual, and the closest that one can think of in the material platform to Krishna's color is the monsoon cloud. Unless and until we develop our spiritual vision, we will not be able to see the form of Krishna and we will not be able to understand what is Krishna's color actually like. Also, here we have to understand that the material black is not exactely what Krishna's color is like. It is not black like coal, or black like dark night. It is a complexion which is inconceivable with our material understanding. 3. Question about material creation: Is it that material atoms are transformations of Brahmajyoti and do these atoms, which are all alive, then manifest certain of their qualities only to form the 24 material elements? Answer: Material nature is a transformation of spiritual energy, Brahmajyoti, but that doesn't mean that just as water transforms and becomes ice, it becomes something like that. No, the transformations of the spiritual energy into material energy takes place in a different dimension altogether and that transformation takes place like in a dream. We see on object in reality, but at night, in dream, we see the same object. In a dream the impression of the object is there, but the elements of the object of which it is composed of in its normal material condition in its three dimensions are not existing there. So similarily, the transformation of spiritual energy into material energy is somewhat like that. The spiritual reality is the reality and the material reality, or the perception of the material nature, is like a dream. In this way one reality transforms into another, from the spiritual reality to material reality. As far as the spiritual energy transforming into 24 material elements is concerned, the understanding is according to Sankya philosophy, which has been elaborately discribed in the 4th Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam, the Lord glances at the material nature and as a result of that, material nature becomes active and this activity of material nature becomes manifested in the form of the three modes and mahat-tattva. And in this way the transformation gradually takes place. And from these three modes three kinds of ahankaras develop, three types of false ego. In the mode of goodness it is vaikarik, in the mode of passion it is tejas and the mode of ignorances it is tamasa. So these three ahankaras give rise to the demigods, the mind and the material ingredience for creation and in this way the material creation becomes manifest. But in the ultimate issue we have to understand that this material nature is a product of our mind, or rather the creation is a product of Mahavisnu's mind. Mahavisnu glances on the material nature and as a result of that, the material nature becomes manifest. It is like Mahavisnu's mind creates this material nature and the living entities are becoming tuned up to this dream of Mahavisnu, so to say. The main point is that with material understanding, our material mind, we cannot possibly conceive how the spiritual energy transforms into material energy. The transformation is not like one matter transforming into another matter. Prabhupada often pointed out, that material experiences are like a dream. So when we wake up in the spiritual sky, we will find that we were never in the material nature. Material nature didn't exist. We never left the spiritual sky. Just like a person dreams in his sleep, but when he wakes up, the dream doesn't exist and he feels that he never left his room. So similarily, when we wake up in the spiritual sky we will find, that we never left it. And all the experiences that we had gone through in the material nature never really existed. (Text 212901) ---------------------------------------------- Text 216155 (24 lines) [D1] From: Sarasvati (dd) BCS (Amsterdam - NL) Date: 25-Sep-95 13:47 SST To: BCS Questions and Answers [8] Subject: questions on preaching ------------------------------------------------------------ Dear gurumaharaja, Please accept my most humble obeisances in the dust of your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Thank you very much for the wonderful answers you gave to Gauranga Premananda prabhu's questions. Yesterday I went to a program organised by a group of hindu students. One of them argued that since the soul is omnipresent (sarva gatah), it cannot be the soul that leaves the body at the moment of death . His view was that it is the mind or subtle body that leaves. I read Srila Prabhupada's purport to Bh.gita 2.24 for him and told him the importance of accepting a bona fide spiritual master in disciplic succession, but I didn't really have a good argument to proof that it is the soul that leaves and not just the mind. Guru maharaja, what would have been the perfect way to defeat this argument? Another difficulty I encountered was when trying to explain and proof by citing slokas that Sri Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, this boy said that how come that in Ramayana Lord Rama worshiped Lord Siva. I felt I didn't really have a good answer to that. your foolish servant, Saraswati dasi (Text 216155) ---------------------------------------------- Comments: Text 220000 by Bhakti Caru Swami Text 220000 (59 lines) [D1] From: Bhakti Caru Swami Date: 01-Oct-95 18:38 SST Refernce: Text 216155 by Sarasvati (dd) BCS (Amsterdam - NL) To: BCS Questions and Answers [11] Subject: questions on preaching ------------------------------------------------------------ Dear Sarasvati, Please accept my blessings. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Sometimes the Hindus pretend that they know everything about the Vedas. However, in most cases their knowledge is very superficial and shallow. They just heard some stories from their grand-mothers and their understanding is based on those fairy-tales. Therefore, Mahabharata and Ramayana to them are stories, and Puranas are mythologies. Don't take these people seriously. Your position is much superior to theirs because you have accepted the Vedas with full conviction and dedicated yourself to practicing the vedic culture. Whereas they are just aping the western materialism. The word `sarva gatah' does not mean omnipresent, it means `able to go anywhere'. The Sanskrit word for omnipresent is `sarva-vyapta'. Jiva is not omnipresent ; The Supersoul, Krishna is omnipresent. If the soul doesn't leave the body at the time of death then why does the body become death? Yes, the mind or the subtle body also leaves the gross body and the spirit soul goes along with the subtle body. We know that the soul transmigrates. Therefore if the soul does not leave the body then where is the question of transmigration of the soul. In Bhagavat-Gita Krishna clearly says: "tatha dehantara praptir" - the soul leaves the body and gets a new body. The best way to convince these people would be to make them understand the difference between the gross body, the subtle body and the soul. At the time of death the spirit soul leaves the gross body along with the subtle body and according to the subtle body the next body is developed in the womb of the mother. No body, subtle or gross, can be alive without the presence of the soul. Mind, intelligence and false ego are also matter, subtle matter, and they can not function without the presence of the soul, just as a pair of glasses can not see without the eyes. The Lord often worships his devotees, but that does not mean that His position becomes minimized due to that. On the other hand that is the greatness of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In spite of being the Greatest and the Supreme worshipable Lord, He worships His devotees. For example Krishna worshipped Sudama Vipra, does that mean, Krishna became inferior to Sudama Vipra? Similarly when Lord Ramacandra worshipped Lord Siva His position as the Supreme Personality of Godhead did not become affected. Ask him to read the 24th Chapter of 4th Canto where Lord Siva offers his prayers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That will clarify everything They have a little learning and they pretend as if they know everything. So the best way to defeat them is with knowledge. You prove to them that your knowledge is superior to theirs. Quote the scriptures Bhagavat-Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam they will be very easily defeated. (Text 220000) ---------------------------------------------- Text 221736 (23 lines) [D1] From: Amavasya (dd) HKS (Hamburg - D) Date: 04-Oct-95 14:06 SWT To: BCS Questions and Answers [12] Subject: naked children ------------------------------------------------------------ Dear Maharaja, please accept my most humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Thank you for giving me a chance to ask questions to your Divine Grace. I have a practical question. I know you are also very familiar with cultural topics. In scripture we hear for example that the four Kumaras are naked. They have bodies like five years old children. Krishna is crawling naked, clad only with juwels and ornaments, in the garden of Nanda Maharaja. In India we see sometimes naked little children on the way or in front of houses. How shall we deal with our children? For example we had discussions if it is propper to let little children play or bath naked in a temple garden. Once I saw a little girl running naked between the devotees in the templeroom (with closed altar curtain) while they took prasad. Some found it unclean or disturbing, some found it natural. What is your opinion regarding naked children? Your servant Amavasya dd (Text 221736) ---------------------------------------------- Text 228601 (32 lines) [D1] From: Sacidulal (das) BCS (Zurich - CH) Date: 19-Oct-95 15:24 SWT To: BCS Questions and Answers [13] Subject: 4 Questions ------------------------------------------------------------ Dear Guru Maharaja, Please accept my humble obeisances in the dust of Your divine lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and his ISKCON. Thank You very much for Your divine answers to the following questions: 1. Recently I heard from Harikesa Maharaja, that just by following the 4 regulative principles and chanting 16 rounds of the maha-mantra one will go back home back to Godhead. But I also heard the statement that one can chant for lifetimes, without making spiritual progress, if the 10 offenses against the holy name are not avoided. To my weird mind this sounds like a contradiction. What is the right understanding of this? 2. In his purports, Srila Prabhupada sometimes uses the word "accidental". (e.g. SB 4.24.6.p) Since everything is under Krishna's control, even the movement of the Gras in the wind, what means Srila Prabhupada with this term? 3. On sankirtan, if somebody is talking badly about Srila Prabhupada´s books, then sometimes I can't avoid saying also something cynical or even insulting to that person. Because I know that actuarially my mind is taking over in this moment because the false ego got hurt, would it be better to just tolerate always such situations by saying good by and leaving the scene? 4. The number of the books I am allowed to distribute is varying from day to day. This makes it quite difficult for me to observe the hidden influence of Krishna and my own dependence while my rascal mind is whispering; "see, it happens just by chance." How is it possible to realize that Krishna is the controller of everything and that everything is happening according to His will? Your aspiring servant Bira-Krsna dasa (Text 228601) ---------------------------------------------- Text 228602 (19 lines) [D1] From: Sacidulal (das) BCS (Zurich - CH) Date: 19-Oct-95 15:24 SWT To: BCS Questions and Answers [14] Subject: Back to Godhead ------------------------------------------------------------ Dear Srila Gurumaharaja Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. In the Bhagavad-Gita it is stated in the purport of the 1 Chapter, Vers 31, that; "It is said that two kinds of men, namely the ksatriya who dies directly in front of the battlefield under Krsna´s personal orders and the person in the renounced order of life who is absolutely devoted to spiritual culture, are eligible to enter into the sun-globe, which is so powerful and dazzling." I thought, that one who dies, doing something for Krsna, will certainly go back to him, and someone who is absolutely devoted to spiritual life, what means the science of Krsna-Consciousness, has the same destiny? Thank you for your kind answer. your servant Saci-dulal dasa (Text 228602) ---------------------------------------------- Comments: Text 233213 by Bhakti Caru Swami Text 234968 (42 lines) [D1] From: (Bhaktin) Alexandra (Mayapur) Date: 31-Oct-95 08:59 SWT To: BCS Questions and Answers [16] Subject: Question from Haridas Thakur das ------------------------------------------------------------ approaching the path of devotion Dear Guru-Maharaja! Please accept my humble obeicances, all Glories to Srila Prabhupada. The other day I was listening to a darsana on book-distribution, given by Your Divine Grace in Vitznau/Switzerland. There You stressed the point, that devotees should take up projects thinking for themselves of how to spread Krsna-Consciousness, under the guidance of the temple-authorities. Devotees, You said, have to like their service so much that this will keep them in Krsna-Consciousness/ISKCON. In other words, devotees have to be engaged according to their nature and liking. This of course is very nice but there are some services which are nobodies nature. For example book-distribution. It is nobodies nature to go every day out on the streets and sell Srila Prabhupadas books, no matter under what conditions (hot/cold weather, stupid or intelligent people, and so on). Still devotees do it, because there is the order of the spiritual master and the understanding that this activity is pleasing Srila Prabhupada very much. Hence they derive their bliss not so much from the activity itself, but from their devotion to Guru and Krsna. How will such services as book-distribution go on, if everybody is engaged according to his nature and liking? Does everybody has to find his own service in ISKCON where he/she can be satisfied? Should we give devotees a vision of what they can do and become in ISKCON? Or should we just strive to become like tools in the hands of our temple- authorities, to be used at any time in any way they want? Are desires for other kinds of preaching which may sometime come up in our hearts to be designated as material or materialy tinged? I would be very thankful if Your Divine Grace could answer all these questions and also those I failed to ask regarding that subject matter Your humble servant Haridas Thakur das (Text 234968) ---------------------------------------------- Comments: Text 241899 by Bhakti Caru Swami Text 233213 (21 lines) [D1] From: Bhakti Caru Swami Date: 27-Oct-95 08:26 SWT Refernce: Text 228602 by Sacidulal (das) BCS (Zurich - CH) To: BCS Questions and Answers [18] Subject: Back to Godhead ------------------------------------------------------------ Dear Sucidulall, Please accept my blessings. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. In that part of Bhagavad-Gita , namely 1st chapter, Krishna did not start to speak about pure devotional service. He started to speak about the Raja Guhya yoga from the 9th chapter. Therefore this was more of a Karma Yoga result - elevation to higher planetary systems . Not exactly elevation to the spiritual sky. However, the pure devotee (spiritual master) churns out the hidden meaning of those instructions and gives the understanding which is beyond the apparent meaning of those words. For example here Krishna's personal orders could also mean the instructions in the Karma Kanda section of the Veda's. These are Krishna's instruction for people who want material enjoyment, that is, one who fights in a battle in a righteous way for the sake of establishing dharma on the planet but he is not aware of Krishna's abode in the Spiritual Sky. That is why to understand the real purport of the scriptures we need the guidance of a bonafide spiritual master. Your ever well wisher Bhakti Charu Swami (Text 233213) ---------------------------------------------- Text 241899 (104 lines) [D1] From: Bhakti Caru Swami Date: 14-Nov-95 10:52 SWT Refernce: Text 234968 by (Bhaktin) Alexandra (Mayapur) To: BCS Questions and Answers [20] Subject: Question from Haridas Thakur das ------------------------------------------------------------ Dear Haridas Thakur das, Please accept my blessings. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Thank you for your question in the conference, however I just got back from South Africa to India, and ever since I came back I have been busy in meetings and seminars from the morning till the night therefore, I couldn't reply earlier. I am very happy with your question. Srila Prabhupada always used to say that asking questions is a sign of intelligence. There are different stages of devotional service. In the initial stage, one just acts according to the instructions he gets from his authorities. Then he comes to the stage when he is engaged by the spiritual master or authority according to his propensity. Then comes the stage when he realises what needs to be done and he does it without any consideration of personal liking or dislike. In this respect Srila Prabhupada writes "Neophyte means no independent decisions no free will, that means surrender. But when he is trained up then automatically he gets his freedom. Just like a small child can only eat such things which are sanctioned by his parents." In another place Srila Prabhupada mentions "If you turn over your intelligence to Him, He will bestow upon you more and more intelligence how to serve the spiritual master and Krsna in full Krsna consciousness." Question: You asked "How will such service as book distribution go on, if everybody is engaged according to his nature and liking?" Answer: ISKCON is a preaching movement and books are the basis of our preaching. Therefore the more one matures the more he will render his service in such a way that book distribution will increase. Initially one may need to be forced or compelled to go out and distribute books but as he advances his service attitude will become more and more spontaneous. Preaching and book distribution cannot be separated. Effective preaching will encourage people to read books and as their interest increases the book distribution will also increase. We should never separate preaching and book distribution. As a matter of fact book distribution is the means to preach. Preaching without generating the interest to read books will not make them into devotees, and book distribution without preaching will not make devotees either. Therefore sincere devotees will either become engaged in direct book distribution or will become engaged in preaching activities in such a way that the book distribution will increase. Therefore there is no need to be afraid that if people are given the freedom to render their service according to their propensity or liking, then book distribution will stop. Question: "Should we give devotees a vision of what they can do or what they can become in ISKCON? Or should we just strive to become like tools in the hands of temple authorities, to be used at any time in any way they want?" Answer: Yes, devotees must have a vision and that vision is that this Krsna consciousness movement must spread in every town and village in order to deliver all the fallen souls. In order to execute this vision every devotee must realise that they must become a tool in the hands of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His representatives like the GBC body, Zonal GBC, spiritual master, temple president etc. Yes, a good devotee should always be prepared to be used at any time in any way necessary. Question: "Are desires for other kinds of preaching which may sometimes come up in our hearts be designated as material or materially tinged?" Answer: Material or materially tinged means for sense gratification. Therefore one should try his best to get rid of that kind of service which is tinged with sense gratification. Pure devotional service means 'anyabhilasita sunyam' - there is no room for sense gratification. The only consideration is to please Krsna's transcendental senses. Book distribution is preaching it should not be thought of as done for money, it is executed as a preaching purpose with this guidelines in mind try to distribute as many books as possible. Not only book distribution neophyte devotees will be reluctant to anything besides eating and sleeping. Because that is what they have been doing for so many lifetimes in the past. Therefore to change the habit initially you have to push them but then when they get the taste of it they will spontaneously do it. The goal of this Krsna conscious activities is come to this spontaneous platform. I hope this meets you in the best of health and blissfully distributing Srila Prabhupada's books. Your ever well-wisher, Bhakti Charu Swami. (Text 241899) ---------------------------------------------- Text 242245 (37 lines) [D1] From: Malati Manjari (dd) BCS (Wiesbaden - D) Date: 14-Nov-95 19:02 SWT To: BCS Questions and Answers [21] Subject: offense against brahmacarini ------------------------------------------------------------ Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Guru Maharaja and Srila Prabhupada! Guru Maharaja asked me to add the following question and answer to the conference: Question: What should one do if one is brahmacari and he commits an offense to a brahmacarini? On one hand the brahmacaris should have no relationship to the girls, but if you offend a devotee you must pay your obeisances and beg forgiveness. Such an exchange would seem too close for comfort as far as I can see, but still I want to make up for my wrong behaviour. What is the correct thing to do? Answer: If one commits an offense to a vaisnava he should beg forgiveness. For a brahmacari it may be a little awkward to approach a brahmacarini and beg forgiveness. As far as offering obeisances to a brahmacarini is concerned, there is no harm in doing that. When a vaisnava wants to become more humble than a blade of grass the he should be prepared to offer obeisances to an insect. It is true that a brahmacari should not approach a brahmacarini directly. Therefore he can let a senior householder or the temple authorities to mediate and in their presence they can beg forgiveness and offer obeisances. Besides that in ISKCON we learn to treat women as mothers. If we can approach them with that kind of respect, then there will not be any problem at all. After all we all are members of ISKCON and with Srila Prabhupada in the centre we all are related to each other as members of one family therefore there should not be any difficulty in developing a very healthy spiritual relationship with mutual respect for each other. Hare krishna. (Text 242245) ---------------------------------------------- Text 244801 (83 lines) [D1] From: Malati Manjari (dd) BCS (Wiesbaden - D) Date: 18-Nov-95 21:20 SWT To: BCS Questions and Answers [23] Subject: spiritual personalities ------------------------------------------------------------ Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Guru Maharaja. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! In one of the last postings regardig offences to bramacarinis there was an error in the anwer. Instead of " offer respect to an insect" it should read "offer respect EVEN to an insect " The following questions were raised in a letter, from Bhakta Vinod ( Holland ). Here are the answers: 1.Q: What is the realtionship between Srivas Pandit and Srinivas Acarya? Who are these personalities? Ans.: Srivas Pandit is an associate of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. He is one of the Pancatattvas. He is an incarnation of Naradamuni. Srinivas Acarya is one of the most leading preachers of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhus message. He was born when Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was present on this planet, however, he did not personally meet Sri Chaitanya Mahaparabhu. He was considered to be the most powerful preacher of his time. He was a very close friend of Narottam Das Thakur and Shyamananda Prabhu. Three of them actually preached Krsna consciousness very forcefully and established it in Eastern India. 2.Q: What are the positions of Srimati Subhadra, Mahamaya, Yogamaya and Bhakti Devi, towards Srimati Radharani? Are they all extensions of Srimati Radharani? Ans.: Subhadra Devi is Balarama's sister. She is Yogamaya. Mahamaya is the personification of Krsna's external energy, who controls the material nature. Yogamaya is Krsna's internal potency who arranges Krsna's pastimes and Bhakti Devi is devotion personified. They are all expansions of Srimati Radharani. However, in that relation the order will be Bhakti Devi, Subhadra, Yogamaya, Mahamaya. 3.Q: How did Sri Balaram and Sri Nityananda Prabhu disappear? Ans.: There is no clear description of how Balaram and Nityananda Prabhu disappeared. Mainly because how they disappeared is not so important to the devotees. To the devotee they are eternally present. 4.Q: Can a disciple serve the spiritual master in Goloka Vrndavan? Ans.: Yes a disciple can serve the spiritual master even in Goloka Vrndavan, provided he is elevated there. Their relationship is eternal. 5.Q: Are Mahamaya and Durga Devi jiva tattva? Ans.: No, Mahamaya and Durga devi are not jiva tattvas. They are shakti tattvas or personification of Krsna's potency. 6.Q: Is the relationship between Balaram and Srimati Radharani like brother and sister? Ans.: No, the relationship between Balaram and Srimati Radharani are not like brother and sister. It is more like younger brother's wife and elder brother-in-law. 7.Q: The disciple should consider the spiritual master as God, so how does he consider his spiritual master's Godbrothers? Ans.: A disciple should also consider his spiritual master's godbrothers as his spiritual masters. The more one makes spiritual advancement the more one sees Krsna's presence in others. At the most advanced stage one sees Krsna in every living entity. *GM travel schedule GM will go to Calcutta on 19 Nov, fly to Bombay on 20 Nov. Spend 10 days in Bombay. On 29/30 Nov GM will fly to Dehli and drive to Kurushetra and spend 2/3 days there delivering a B/Gita Sapta. Return to Calcutta on 2/3 Dec. (Text 244801) ---------------------------------------------- Text 245685 (13 lines) [D1] From: Sacidulal (das) BCS (Zurich - CH) Date: 20-Nov-95 15:52 SWT To: BCS Questions and Answers [24] Subject: terrible activities ------------------------------------------------------------ Dear Gurumaharaja, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. In a lecture in Mauritius about Kirtanandana Swami you explained: "Some of ISKCON´s leaders may have fallen down to glorify SP´s unique position as the founder Acarya of ISKCON." I heard the argument that terrible activities as they happened in New Vr. could never be Krsna´s arrangement to glorify SP. How can it be that Krsna uses such terrible activities to glorify his pure devotee Srila Prabhupada? Thank you for answering this question your servant Muralidhara dasa (Text 245685) ---------------------------------------------- Text 246562 (166 lines) [D1] From: Malati Manjari (dd) BCS (Wiesbaden - D) Date: 21-Nov-95 18:13 SWT To: BCS Questions and Answers [26] Cc: Harinamananda (das) HKS (Zurich - CH) [34] (received: 23-Nov-95 09:54) (sender: Sacidulal (das) BCS (Zurich - CH)), Svarupa (das) HKS (NE-BBT) [1520] (received: 20-Dec-95 09:41) (sender: Govinda Madhava (das) HKS (NE-BBT)) Subject: ritvik ------------------------------------------------------------ Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Guru Maharaja. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! The following is from a question-and answer session in Spain in september. We are planning to post more of these in due course of time. Personally, I feel that these answers reveal the strength, purity and humility of Guru Maharaja. Your humble servant Malati Manjari dasi ------------ Question: What did Srila Prabhupada say about ritvik? Answer: In his Srimad Bhagavatam Srila Prabhupada explained that the word 'ritvik' means the priests who perform a sacrifice on behalf of somebody. It is a vedic expression, in Sanskrit 'ritvik' means 'yajna purahit'. They perform the sacrifice for the hota, the person who organises the sacrifice. When Srila Prabhupada spoke about who will initiate after His Divine Grace leaves this planet, he named some of his disciples, but he suggested that they should not initiate while he was present on this planet. As long as he was present they could initiate on his behalf. And that point Tamal Krishna Gosvami asked Srila Prabhuapda: "So, will they be like ritvik?" Srila Prabhupada answered: "Yes, like ritvik". When Prabhupada was present in Vrndavana, he was not able to give initiation to so many devotees all over the world who were waiting, so there was a need for giving them initiation. So Prabhupada suggested that different devotees in different areas could give them initiation. As long as he was present, they could give initiation on his behalf, but after he had left the planet they would become their disciples. Later on someone came up with the theory that Srila Prabhupada wanted his disciples to give initiation on his behalf as ritvik acaryas, and it that case all the initiates would be Srila Prabhupada's disciples. As a matter of fact, Srila Prabhupada was very much against this concept and at one point he mentioned that this was the flaw of Christianity. Christianity does not accept the system of present guru. They think that Jesus is the only one and no one is able to give initiation or no one is coming as acarya. Therefore, there is no system of continuation of spiritual knowledge. But ours is a line is a succession of disciples. Any intelligent person who has any understanding of the vedic scriptures and principles knows, that the policy is that the spiritual knowledge flows in a disciplic succession from the bonafide spiritual master to the bonafide disciple. The vedic understanding from time immemorial is that it is a chain of disciplic succession. As a representative of his guru one gives initiation to his disciples, then his disciple in turn becomes a guru and gives initiation to his disciples and in this way there is a disciplic succession. Prabhupada himself made that point very very clear. The flaw of Christianity is that they don't have a disciplic succession. Jesus Christ is the only son of God, the only guru, and ultimately he is the only God, there is no other God, the son becomes the father the God. As a result of that Christianity has become spoiled. But if there was a bonafide disciplic uccession, then probably we would have found a bonafide sampradaya coming from Jesus Christ today, but that sampradaya has been lost. Those who are proposing ritvik system system of initiation, are actually proposing a system that was condemmed by Prabhupada himself. What they are saying is that Prabhupada is THE guru, no one is qualified to become a guru. That means that they are trying to establish something that is detrimental or opposed to the vedic principles. They want to introduce a new system. Since Brahma down to Prabhupada there was a chain of discipic succession, but now that is going to stop. Let us consider what is the root of this principle. My observation is, it first started by those, who are very envious. Those who could not become guru because of different spiritual problems, concocted this theory. It started first from someone who was a very old devotee, a sanyasi, a GBC, but had some major spiritual difficulties , and therefore Srila Prabhupada did not name him as initiating guru inspite of his seniority. Since he himself could not become a guru, he must have felt that no one else is qualified to become guru. Now let us consider what does a bonafide guru do. Does he say "I am everything"? No, the bonafide spiritual masters act as a link. The bonafide gurus are connecting their disciples to Srila Prabhupada. It is not that Srila Prabhupada is not in the scene any more. He is very much in the center, but those who came to ISKCON after Srila Prabhupada's disappearance pasttime, they have to be initiated by a present acarya. They have to be linked up to Srila Prabhupada through someone else who is representing him. Through their gurus they will be linked to Srila Prabhupada. In this way they will get Srila Prabhupada. They will get all the acaryas in the line, and ultimately they will get Krishna. The system is to follow the disciplic succession. There is a specific quote in the 6th canto, where Prabhupada says that one must have a guru who is present on the planet (SB 6.5.22): << Lord Brahma is the guru of Narada Muni, who is the guru of Vyasadeva, and Vyasadava is the guru of Madhvacarya. Thus the Gauiya-Madhva-sampradaya is in the disciplic succession from Narada Muni. The members of this disciplic succession - in other words, the members of the Krsna consciousness movement - should follow in the footsteps of Narada Muni by chanting the transcendental vibration Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. They should go everywhere to deliver the fallen souls by vibrating the Hare Krsna mantra and the instructions of Bhagavad Gita, Srimad Bhagavatam and Caitanya-caritamrta. That will please the Supreme Personality of Godhead. One can spiritually advance if one actually follows the instructions of Narada Muni. If one pleases Narada Muni, then the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hrsikesa, is also pleased (yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasadah). THE IMMEDIATE SPIRITUAL MASTER IS THE REPRESENTATIVE OF NARADA MUNI; THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE INSTRUCTIONS OF NARADA MUNI AND THOSE OF THE PRESENT SPIRITUAL MASTER. BOTH NARADA MUNI AND THE PRESENT SPIRITUAL MASTER SPEAK THE SAME TEACHINGS OF KRSNA. >> All the acaryas in our line are nitya siddhas, eternal beings. But they are not present on the planet at this point. Therefore, those who are on this planet now cannot be directely be linked up to them, they need a via media and that is the guru. If hypothetically ISKCON accepted the theory that one can accept a guru who is not present on this planet, then some may say, "I'll get initiated by Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati", some others may say "I'll get initiated by Gaurakishore Dasa Babaji or it is better even to take initiation from Rupa Gosvami". Some will say, "why not Caitanya Mahaprabhu or why not Krishna"? That is not the system. Spiritual life is a process of becoming submissive, surrendered. Surrender begins from surrendering to the representative of Krishna: the spiritual master. If someone says, "I will not surrender to you, who is present now, because you are not good enough". Do you think Prabhupada will accept that surrender? He will say, "You rascal, you cannot surrender to my disciple and you are saying that you will surrender to me. I don't want you." Those who are proposing ritvik, they are not actually winning the favour of Srila Prabhupada, they are actually disturbing him. He doesn't want them in ISKCON, because they have become blind with envy, and that is why they are saying that no one is qualified. At the heart of their hearts they are saying "Im am the only qualified person, but because I can't become a guru, no one else can." Another point that must be considered is, that those who are surrendered to a bonafide spiritual master of ISKCON, see how nicely they are serving Srila Prabhupada. But those who are proposing ritvik system, look at them. Who is serving Srila Prabhupada more? Who is distributing his books? Who is pushing on his movement? So the sign of a tree is in its fruits. Similarily, whether the guru is successfully executing the mission of his spiritual master will be seen by how his disciples are rendering service to his guru's mission. Question: What should we do to defeat the ritvik people? Answer: There is no need to try to defeat them. They are already spiritually dead. When people are so envious they are not going to listen. But time will tell. When people become proponents of a wrong philosophy, they do not listen, no matter how much you reason with them. Question: What do you want your disciples to do about this? Answer: My request to all my disciples will be: Don't fall victim of this kind of misrepresentations or misconceptions. Just follow the vedic principles, read Srimad Bhagavatam scrutinizingly and see whether in Srimad Bhagavatam or Bhagavad there was ever a mention of this kind of concept. If not, then why should we go for that? What are you missing in your spiritual life? I repeatedly tell my disciples: If you feel you made a mistake by accepting me as your spiritual master, then there are so many bonafide spiritual masters in ISKCON, find another one, but stay in ISKCON. Find somebody who is going to encourage you and guide you in your spiritual life. You need a spiritual master, otherwise you can't make spiritual progress. If you find one of my godbrothers to be your guide I'll be more than happy, because Srila Prabhupada was such a great devotee and he made so many pure devotees. The sign of a pure devotee is that he makes pures devotees. Whoever comes in contact with him becomes a pure devotee. That is why sometimes I feel very frustrated when I see that some of my disciples are not really making spiritual advancement or becoming pure. Then I feel that this is because of my inability, because I am not pure I can't make my disciples pure. (Text 246562) ---------------------------------------------- Text 250738 (39 lines) [D1] From: Malati Manjari (dd) BCS (Wiesbaden - D) Date: 28-Nov-95 18:50 SWT To: BCS Questions and Answers [27] Subject: four sinful activities ------------------------------------------------------------ Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Guru Maharaja and Srila Prabhupada! Recently I asked Guru Maharaja about the connection between meat eating and austerity and intoxication and mercy, because from some devotees I had heard the assignment the other way round. This is his answer: ------------------------------------------------------------ I got a quote from Srila Prabhupada saying how mercy is lost due to intoxication - "too much addiction to intoxication , mercy is spoiled." [SB 1.17.25 purport] In this purport, Srila Prabhupada mentions - "By pride, either artificial or real, the resultant action of austerity is spoiled; by too much affection for female association, cleanliness is spoiled; by too much addiction to intoxication, mercy is spoiled; and by too much lying propaganda, truthfulness is spoiled." [SB 1. 17.25 purport] Although Srila Prabhupada did not clearly mention here that due to meat eating austerity is destroyed, we can see from this description that :- 1. Cleanliness is destroyed by illicit sex, 2. Mercy is destroyed by intoxication, 3. Truthfulness is destroyed by gambling, therefore, naturally 4. Austerity is destroyed by meat eating. I could not search thoroughly. But I am sure, somewhere else Srila Prabhupada clearly mentioned that. I hope this answers your question for the time being. Your ever well-wisher, Bhakti Charu Swami (Text 250738) ---------------------------------------------- Text 253312 (120 lines) [D1] From: Bhakti Caru Swami Date: 02-Dec-95 11:30 SWT To: BCS Questions and Answers [28] Subject: REPLY TO BIRA KRSNA'S QUESTIONS ------------------------------------------------------------ Dear Bira Krsna Please accept my blessings. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. I received your questions in time and had answered them. However, only recently I got to know from Malati Manjari that the rely did not appear on the com. Therefore, I am sending the replies again. 1. Recently I heard from Harikesa Maharaja, that just by following the 4 regulative principles and chanting 16 rounds of the maha- mantra one will go back home back to Godhead. But I also heard the statement that one can chant for lifetimes, without making spiritual progress, if the 10 offenses against the holy name are not avoided. To my weird mind this sounds like a contradiction. What is the right understanding of this? ANS : When a pure devotee like Harikesa Maharaja says something you must accept it without any doubt. Srila Prabhupada also gave this assurance that if one chants 16 rounds, and follows the 4 regulative principles he will go back to Godhead at the end of his life. What you mentioned is also correct - that if one commits the offenses against the holy name, one will not go back to Godhead. But, if one chants 16 rounds everyday following the regulative the four regulative principles, he will gradually become free from the offenses and thus become qualified to go back to Godhead. If one chants the holy name with such faith and sincerity, then the holy name who is non-different from Krishna will purify him from all offenses. However, if one commits vaisnava aparadh, then he will not be able to even remain on the spiritual platform. What to speak of going back to Godhead. 2. In his purports, Srila Prabhupada sometimes uses the word "accidental". (e.g. SB 4.24.6.p) Since everything is under Krishna's control, even the movement of the grass in the wind, what means Srila Prabhupada with this term? ANS : I could not find the term in the purport of S.B. 4.24.6. Anyway, it is true that even a blade of grass does not move without Krishna's approval. However, Krishna does not control the material nature directly. He set the principle of guna and karma, and through that he controls everything , here, indirectly. Here the living entities have a chance to act independently. However, according to his actions, he gets his reactions. Those who are below human species they are completely controlled by material nature, however, when one gets a human birth, he is endowed with "will" and he can decide for himself, what he wants to do and what he does not. he also gets a chance to be directed by conscience or sense of morality, and finally by the scripture and the spiritual master. Inspite of all this guidance, when he decides to deviate or act against the right path, that's considered a falldown. These falldowns can be deliberate or accidental. When one contemplates and plans how to deviate from the principles of Krishna Consciousness, then it is deliberate, but when it happens by chance then it is accidental. 3. On sankirtan, if somebody is talking badly about Srila Prabhupada's books, then sometimes I can't avoid saying also something cynical or even insulting to that person. Because I know that actually my mind is taking over in this moment because the false ego got hurt, would it be better to just tolerate always such situations by saying good by and leaving the scene? ANS : While distributing books or preaching one must be very calm and composed, and try not to get agitated. We have to always remember that most of the people we are preaching to, are in ignorance. Actually, they are like sick patients and our business is like that of a physician. Just as a physician cannot afford to get angry with the patient, no matter how he behaves, similarly, we also cannot afford to get angry upon those we are preaching to. Your analysis is correct - most of the time it is due to false ego that one gets angry at a situation like that. 4. The number of the books I am allowed to distribute is varying from day to day. This makes it quite difficult for me to observe the hidden influence of Krishna and my own dependence while my rascal mind is whispering; "see, it happens just by chance." How is it possible to realize that Krishna is the controller of everything and that everything is happening according to His will? ANS : Whenever something good happens, a devotee feels, it is due to Krishna's causeless mercy, and when something bad happens he feels that it is due to his bad karma. Try to maintain this attitude and you will gradually realize how Krishna is the ultimate controller and everything is happening according to His will. I hope this meets you in the best of health and blissfully engaged in distributing Srila Prabhupada's books. Your ever well-wisher, Bhakti Charu Swami (Text 253312) ---------------------------------------------- Text 261957 (78 lines) [D1] From: Malati Manjari (dd) BCS (Wiesbaden - D) Date: 15-Dec-95 20:44 SWT To: BCS Questions and Answers [31] Subject: naked children ------------------------------------------------------------ Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Guru Maharaja and to Srila Prabhupada! Some time ago Amavasya Mataji was asking a question about naked children. As she received the answer personally due to some previous difficulties, we now post again the question along with the answer to the conference for the benefit of everyone. ------------------------------------------------------------ Dear Maharaja, please accept my most humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Thank you for giving me a chance to ask questions to your Divine Grace. I have a practical question. I know you are also very familiar with cultural topics. In scripture we hear for example that the four Kumaras are naked. They have bodies like five years old children. Krishna is crawling naked, clad only with juwels and ornaments, in the garden of Nanda Maharaja. In India we see sometimes naked little children on the way or in front of houses. How shall we deal with our children? For example we had discussions if it is propper to let little children play or bath naked in a temple garden. Once I saw a little girl running naked between the devotees in the templeroom (with closed altar curtain) while they took prasad. Some found it unclean or disturbing, some found it natural. What is your opinion regarding naked children? Your servant Amavasya dd ------------------------------------------------------------ Dear Mother Amavasya devi dasi, Please accept my best wishes. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. I got to know from Malati Manjari that you still didn't receive my answer to your question. Therefore I am sending the answer once again. I feel extremely sorry that for some unknown reason the answer didn't reach you as yet. I replied on the 16th October from Johannesburg. I do not know what actually happened. Forgive me for this mix-up. Here is the answer to your question that you did not previously receive: Dear Amavasya Devi Dasi Please accept my best wishes. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. I think the warm climate has a lot to do with it. Medically also it is accepted that it is good for children's health. Since they are innocent no one actually thinks that there is anything obscene about it. In India it was a common understanding that it is good for children to stay naked and drink mother's milk. Sometimes they drink mother's milk up to the age of 5-6. Now of course due to western sophistication things are changing. The west has a different outlook which devoloped due to thousands of years of habit and practice. The weather of course has a major role to play towards that. In a way it is unfortunate that, due to gross materialistic outlook, they got their values so badly mixed up. In the one hand they cannot tolerate a child going around naked, but at the same time their parks and other public places are filled with naked statues and paintings. They curl their lips in disgust when they see an innocent little boy without clothes, and their sense of morality becomes extremely acute, but at the same time they pay large sums of money to go to topless bars and nightclubs just to watch naked bodies. Nowadays a civilized person can not go to the French Italian and Spanish beaches in summer because practically every woman there does not have anything on top and many do not have anything on the bottom as well. One can see how in the west everything has turned upside down. If the sight of a naked child disturds people then there is no need to agitate their minds. After all our children are happy wearing Krishna Consciousness clothing. I hope this meets you in the best of health. Yours in the service of Krsna, Bhakti Charu Swami. (Text 261957) ---------------------------------------------- Text 264268 (99 lines) [D1] From: Malati Manjari (dd) BCS (Wiesbaden - D) Date: 19-Dec-95 19:12 SWT To: BCS Questions and Answers [32], Sacinandana Swami [1396] (received: 19-Dec-95 22:19), (Temple) Durban (S.Africa) [367] (forwarded: 20-Dec-95 05:05), Navina Nirada (das) HKS (Zurich - CH) [985] (received: 19-Dec-95 19:53), Harinamananda (das) HKS (Zurich - CH) [37] (received: 23-Dec-95 16:42), Ramapriya (das) HKS (Heidelberg - D) [90] (received: 24-Dec-95 07:36), Hayagriva (das) HKS (Heidelberg - D) [877] (received: 19-Dec-95 21:00) Subject: PRABHUPDA MARATHON MESSAGE ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Srila Bhakti Charu Maharaja has sent his sankirtan message for the Prabhupada Marathon via the com to several devotees. This text was sent on 14 December, however many devotees did not receive it as yet. I am now resending this message. Please forgive us for the inconveniences caused and for its delay. Your servants Hadai Pandita Das Malati Manjari Devi Dasi BCS Communications Office -------------------------------------- 10 December 1995 TO ALL THE DEVOTEES OF SRILA PRABHUPADA WHO HAVE TAKEN UP HIS MISSION SO SINCERELY Please accept my best wishes and humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada's marathon is in full swing now, and I can well imagine how much involved you all must be. I wanted to write to you much earlier. However, traveling in India did not allow me the opportunity. Krishna Consciousness is a process to become submerged in an ocean of ecstasy, and this is the way to experience that. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's pastimes offer greater ecstasy than other pastimes of Krishna, because this is the pastime of distributing Krishna Prema. One who can distribute, naturally has it himself, otherwise how can he give ? As a matter of fact he has so much that he can afford to offer it to others. You may feel that you did not receive Krishna Prema as yet, therefore this principle does not actually apply to you. However, your position as a giver is not as a owner who gives, but as a representative who gives on behalf of someone. You may not have it, but Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has it, Nityananda Prabhu has it, Srila Prabhupada has it, and as their representative, you are offering it to others. That is their order and that is why we all have to take up this most wonderful responsibility with full confidence. In this respect Srila Prabhupada gave the example of a postman. The postman does not write the letters himself, but he delivers them to the right address. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu asked everyone to chant the holy name of Krishna, and as they chanted with full faith they received Krishna Prema - all of a sudden they found their hearts were inundated with Krishna Prema. Even when the Moslems chanted the name mocking the devotees, they got Krishna Prema. They became so ecstatic that they could not stop chanting. When Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu withdrew his pastimes, gradually his mercy was also withdrawn for the time being. Then in due course of time Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu sent Srila Prabhupada to flood not only India, but the entire world with Krishna Prema. 500 years of Kali's sovereignty changed the world considerably. People are no longer pious, even in India, what to speak of the rest of the world. Therefore, Srila Prabhupada had to introduce a new method for distributing Krishna Prema. He realized that the direct method of hearing and chanting will not be so effective in this age, at this point in time. Therefore, he made a very beautiful packet of Krishna Prema in the form of his books with Bhaktivedanta purports and offered it to this world. Whoever reads these books will get Krishna Prema. Even if somebody starts to read Srila Prabhupada's books out of spite or to find faults, he will get Krishna Prema. There have been many such instances. Therefore, please, distribute Srila Prabhupada's books with all sincerity, in order to deliver all the fallen souls of the world. In this dark age of Kali people are in total ignorance. Due to their forgetfulness of Krishna they became lost in sense gratification, and they are so bewildered by the illusory energy of the Lord that they do not realize how they are suffering. Look deep into their hearts and see how miserable that spirit soul is. When you approach him his conditioning may not respond favorably. His mind may want to reject you, his intelligence may argue with you and his false ego may insult you, but his spirit soul under all these coverings will see a glimmer of light and call out to you for help. Therefore, do not become discouraged by the initial attack. Like a valiant soldier you have to rescue the imprisoned soul. Krishna is the Supersoul and is already sitting in his heart in order to rescue him. As His representative when you take compassion upon that imprisoned soul, then Krishna will also get into action. He will stupefy his mind, intelligence and false ego, and allow the imprisoned soul to grab Srila Prabhupada's books. At that time Krishna, as the Supersoul in his heart, will rejoice - "Wonderful ! You rescued another soul !" Did you not experience this ? Did you not feel at that time that your heart became filled with joy and it wanted to leap out of your body ? Actually that is what ecstacy is, and it was due to Krishna's embrace. Yours in the service of the sankirtan devotees, Bhakti Charu Swami (Text 264268) ---------------------------------------------- Text 265940 (29 lines) [D1] From: Malati Manjari (dd) BCS (Wiesbaden - D) Date: 22-Dec-95 21:10 SWT To: BCS Questions and Answers [33] Subject: terrible activities ------------------------------------------------------------ Here is Guru Maharaja's answer to Muralidhar's question, which we shortly repeat: -------------- Dear Muralidhar, Please accept my blessings. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. When I said that it was Krsna's arrangement to glorify Srila Prabhupada, I meant to say that it showed that as long as they were humbly serving Srila Prabhupada they were safe in their spiritual life. But, as soon as they deviated from his lotus feet, they were lost. It shows how great Srila Prabhupada's shelter is. I did not mean that all the terrible activities that they did, after they fell down, were meant to glorify Srila Prabhupada. I hope that this meets you well and in blissfully engaged in Krsna consciousness. Your ever well wisher, Bhakti Charu Swami (Text 265940) ---------------------------------------------- Text 268516 (121 lines) [D1] From: Malati Manjari (dd) BCS (Wiesbaden - D) Date: 27-Dec-95 19:03 SWT To: BCS Questions and Answers [34] Subject: ------------------------------------------------------------ Pahmo. All glories to Guru Maharaja and Srila Prabhupada. These are the answers to questions, that Guru Maharaja recently received in his letters. One is from Anupama Krsna Das and the other from Stoka Krsna Das: ---------------- A. Questions received in a letter (dated 29 October 1995) from Anupam Krsna Das, a disciple of Guru Maharaja in Radhadesha : 1. How do I know whether a certain instruction is coming from the Paramatma or from the mind? How can I make the right distinction to follow the right authority ? Ans.: Unless one is considerably advanced, he cannot hear the instruction of the Paramatma. Therefore he has to follow the instructions of the spiritual master first. By doing so, when he becomes advanced, he hears his spiritual master instructing him from within. That is how he is guided by the Supersoul, and therefore, the spiritual master is non-different from the Supersoul. In this way one always realizes that the spiritual master is always there, with him. Another way of figuring out whether the instructions are coming from the mind or Supersoul, is that the Supersoul's instructions will always be in line with sadhu, sastra and guru. 2. In Benelux we have a quota for a certain amount of books that we have to distribute. Although I know that I am not the doer, I still get caught up by fruitive mentality. How can I get rid of this fruitive mentality ? Ans.: To have a quota for book distribution is not fruitive mentality. Consider this quota to be the bare minimum that you have to do, but for the maximum there is no limit. Please try to distribute as many books as possible, it does not matter with what kind of motivation you distribute these books, as long as these books go out, Srila Prabhupada will be pleased and Krishna will give you His blessings. 3. Although I have a strong desire to become Krishna conscious and to get Krishna prema, still there are other desires, which are not really material desires. Like becoming a good book distributor, a good pujari, a good mrdanga player etc. How can I make my desire, to become Krishna conscious in every respect, my strongest desire ? Ans.: The desires to become Krishna conscious is a spiritual desire, and all the other desires you mentioned are related to Krishna consciousness. Therefore they are beneficial for your spiritual advancement. Try to always think of Krishna. Make sure that what you desire is meant for giving pleasure to Krishna and his devotees. When your desires to please Krishna are sincere, then Krishna, who is sitting in your heart, will fulfill those desires and thus you will make spiritual advancement. Since He is all-attractive, the more you get to know Krishna the more your attraction for Him will increase. Thus your love for him will automatically increase. Therefore, always remember Krsna and never forget Him. -------- B. Questions received in a letter (dated 26th November 1995) from Stoka Krsna Das, a disciple in Radhadesh. 1. In the purport to B.G. 3.21, Srila Prabhupada mentions that "all such leaders have a great responsibility to their dependants, therefore they must be conversant with the standard books of moral and spiritual codes" Should we also study these books ? If so, which books are these ? Ans.: Srila Prabhupada has presented the entire vedic wisdom through his books. Therefore, for the devotees of ISKCON, just reading Srila Prabhupada's books and becoming conversant with the knowledge in them will be sufficient. 2. In the introduction to B.G. Srila Prabhupada says "we do not have to change anything, but we just have to remember Krishna", he also mentions "we have to mould our lives in such a way that we can remember Krishna always" This seems to contradictory. Please can you explain this to me ? Ans.: When Srila Prabhupada says that we do not have to change anything, it means that we do not have to give up the situation we are in. However, Krsna consciousness demands that the devotees give up all sinful habits. Therefore, there is no contradiction in Srila Prabhupada's statements. Obviously Srila Prabhupada did not say that a man can continue his sinful life of eating meat, taking intoxication and having illicit sex and at the same time remember Krishna. In order to remember Krishna and be engaged in His service one must give up his sinful activities. However, one can continue with whatever he is doing. If one is a businessman, he can continue with his business. If one is a professional, he can continue with his profession. If one is a student, he can continue with his studies. But still they can become devotees of Krsna. Inspite of being engaged in one's occupation one can remember Krishna all the time, but that needs some adjustment. That's what Srila Prabhupada suggested, that one has to mould his life in such a way that he can remember Krishna at all times. 3. In the introduction to B.G, Srila Prabhupada mentions that "A strong sense of love is required to remember Krishna". Is it not that when one has a strong sense of love for Krishna one gives up his engagement in material duties ? Ans.: No, one does not have to give up his engagement in his material life when he develops his love for Kishna. Actually due to his love for Krishna his apparently material activities will become spiritualised. 4. What does Srila Prabhupada mean, when he says that "When the mind is engaged in Krishna's service then the senses are automatically engaged in His service" ? Ans.: Mind is the centre of all the senses. Therefore, when the mind is engaged in Krishna's service the senses are automatically engaged in Krishna's service. The senses act according to the dictation of the mind. Therefore, when the mind is focused onto Krishna the senses will automatically be focused to Krishna. 5. Sometimes one may not agree how leading devotees in your zone are managing and preaching and one may have therefore have difficulties in co- operating and surrendering to them. What should one do in such circumstances ? Ans.: Try to surrender to your authorities or the leading devotees who are managing in your zone, even though you may not agree with them. Just as in the army even if the commander is wrong the soldiers have to follow his command. Similarly in Krsna consciousness we have to follow our leaders, right or wrong. But always remember that the ultimate leader of this movement is Krsna who is omniscient and omnipotent. If there are any mistakes He will rectify. (Text 268516) ---------------------------------------------- Text 269130 (55 lines) [D1] From: Malati Manjari (dd) BCS (Wiesbaden - D) Date: 28-Dec-95 20:31 SWT To: BCS Questions and Answers [35] Subject: purpose of intellect ------------------------------------------------------------ Here is the response to a question raised in a letter dated 15th November 1995, by Gauranga Premananda, a disciple from Holland: Ques.: You said that the "spiritual subject matters are beyond the intellect, our intellect cannot enter there". But why have we been given intellect if we cannot have its question answered ? Our senses can be fully satisfied by bhakti, when we meet Krsna. Of course, one can say that by devotional service one enters the spiritual sky. One will see that there is nothing beyond Krsna, but because everything there is unlimited and one can still doubt a question "is there something beyond". Also because according to nectar of devotion, "the 52nd quality of Krsna, "all cognisant", is not for the jiva. How am I to stop my intelligence (mind) searching for answers while being in this material world ? Should I tell it to "be silent", because as you answered "Intellectually you cannot answer this question" ? Ans.: I mentioned that since Krsna is the cause of all causes He does not have any cause. If Krsna had a cause then the cause would have been superior to Krsna. Therefore, Krsna could not be the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Living entities have been endowed with intellect simply to understand that the purpose of his existence is to serve Krsna. The purpose of this intellect that you have mentioned is not the real purpose of intellect, but the perverted material condition of intellect by which one tries to understand everything with the tiny little brain. Which actually means that he tries to lord over material nature. But the actual spiritual purpose of intellect is not that. A tiny little brain cannot really understand beyond its tiny little sense perception. In this respect you probably can consider the story of Dr. Frog, who tried to measure the ocean according to the size of the well he lived in. The way to receive knowledge through intellect is called the ascending process. By ascending process one never gets to know the absolute truth. The knowledge of the absolute truth comes through descending process by the mercy of Guru and Krsna. And the way to invoke the mercy is through devotional service. If you ask what is the purpose of intellect, the answer will be to understand the fact that Krsna is the inconceivable Supreme Personality of Godhead and your business is to surrender unto Him unconditionally. Since in your letter you classify intelligence as being similar to mind, then remember Krsna's instruction in Bhagavad Gita, that mind can be your friend as well as your enemy. If you think that with your intelligence you will be able to understand everything, it will become an enemy, but if you use it for rendering devotional service, it will become your friend. As you asked "why have we been given intellect if we cannot have its question answered." In response we can consider one example: Sometimes a thief in prison is tested by giving him an opportunity to steal - some money or some object is placed in front of him to provoke him to steal. If he avoids the temptation then he is released from the prison. Similarly, we have been given the intelligence to exploit this material nature - but that does not mean that we must do that. If we do we get trapped. When I said "intellectually you cannot answer this question", I meant that if you try to analyse with your sense perception then you will never get the answer. The answers are already there in Srimad Bhagavatam. Therefore, use your intelligence and accept the answers with your heart. Then the answers will automatically dawn in you. (Text 269130) ---------------------------------------------- Text 269597 (34 lines) [D1] From: Malati Manjari (dd) BCS (Wiesbaden - D) Date: 29-Dec-95 20:57 SWT To: BCS Questions and Answers [36] Subject: ------------------------------------------------------------ Here is the response to questions raised in a COM letter dated 18th December 1995, by Vrndavan Chandra Das, a devotee in the USA. Ques.: Lord Vishnu took Mohini form to take nectar away from the demons and also to delude Narada Muni (As he thought he won over Kamadeva and to destroy that ego), so he was given the face of a monkey, in Svayamvar (selection of husband), finally Narada muni cursed Him that he will have to take help of monkeys to retrieve His wife. Can you tell something more about this? Ans.: I did not come across this story of Narada Muni in any of the Puranas. Tulsidas mentioned it in Ramacaritamansa, but I do not know what the source is. Ques.: Also in Chaitanya Mangala it is said that one should not accept Lord Siva's prasad, because of Bhrgu muni's curse. What is that? Ans.: I do not have a Caitanya Mangala with me. Therefore, I cannot find out where exactly it was mentioned. However, our understanding is that Lord Shiva as a vaisnava takes only Krsna prasad. Shiva is often worshipped by people in the mode of ignorance, therefore there is no way of knowning what they are offering. Often Shiva does not accept their offering. Therefore, it is not actually Shiva prasad. The best thing is to offer Krsna prasad to Lord Shiva, then it will become maha maha prasad, and then you can take it. Actually that is the best way to please Lord Shiva. He hankers for Krsna prasad. Ques.: Ugrasena was a very pious, religious and righteous king. How come did he have a son like Kamsa? Answer : Kamsa was not a real son of Ugrasena. Once a demon, called Drumilla, became attracted by the beauty of Ugrasena's wife, and assuming the form of Ugrasena, he united with her. As a result of that union Kamsa was born. (Text 269597) ---------------------------------------------- Text 274790 (20 lines) [D1] From: Sarasvati (dd) BCS (Amsterdam - NL) Date: 07-Jan-96 21:20 SWT To: BCS Questions and Answers [38] Subject: taking darsan of the Deities ------------------------------------------------------------ Dear Guru Maharaja, Please accept my most humble obeisances at your most divine lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and to Your Divine Grace! Guru Maharaja, I have the following question: When we take darsan of the Deities in the temple, what kind of devotional service are we performing? Is it part of Arcanam? I was wondering about this because it may be quite a passive thing. One admires Their Lordships and I remember reading somewhere that if one just admires Krsna's qualities but does not serve Him actively, this is santa rasa. Is it an active service to see the Deities? Or is it in different rasa's according to the development of the devotee's devotion? Can you please elaborate more on the role of taking darsan of the Deities? Does Krsna like it when we come to take darsan, or does He prefer that we serve Him and get His darsan when He reciprocates through the service we render? your humble servant, saraswati dasi (Text 274790) ---------------------------------------------- Comments: Text 285672 by Bhakti Caru Swami Text 276753 (23 lines) [D1] From: (Bhaktin) Alexandra (Mayapur) Date: 10-Jan-96 18:26 SWT To: BCS Questions and Answers [39] Subject: Love for Krishna ------------------------------------------------------------ Dear Guru-Maharaja, Please accept my most humble obeisances, all glories to Srila Prabhupada! I'm always moved when I think about the story of the simple shoemaker who praised Lord Narayana so much, after Narada Muni told him that Lord Narayana was able to make a camel go through the eye of a needle, or for instance the story about the illiterate brahmana who developed ecstatic symptoms just by looking at the picture of Krishna being Arjunas cherioteer, although holding the BG upside down. Lord Caitanya proclaimed, that he was actually the real knower of the Bhagavad gita, because he has realised its most profund purport: Love for Krishna and Krishnas love for His devotees. My question is, how is it possible in this technical, money-conscious age of rational thinking and sober management to revive this sweet simplicity in our hearts and regain this simple, natural love for Krishna? Thank you very much for giving us the possibility to ask questions and please forgive me the neophyte character of mine. Your fallen servant Bhn. Alexandra (Text 276753) ---------------------------------------------- Comments: Text 296504 by Bhakti Caru Swami Text 284351 (16 lines) From: Malati Manjari (dd) BCS (Wiesbaden - D) Date: 22-Jan-96 18:28 SWT To: BCS Questions and Answers [40] Subject: Krsna, husband of all living beings ------------------------------------------------------------ Dear Guru Maharaja, please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! In the purport of Srimad Bhagavtam (5.18.19) Prabhupada says that Krsna is the real husband of all living beings, because they are all prakrti, while Krsna alone is purusa. Unless it is specifically mentioned we are supposed to understand the scriptures literally. But as only very few living entities have a conjugal eternal relationship with the Lord, and as there are so many varieties of spiritual forms in the spiritual sky, I tend to believe that this has to be understood metaphorical. Could you please explain this? Your insignificant servant Malati Manjari dasi (Text 284351) ---------------------------------------------- Comments: Text 288898 by Bhakti Caru Swami Text 285672 (22 lines) From: Bhakti Caru Swami Date: 24-Jan-96 17:57 SWT Refernce: Text 274790 by Sarasvati (dd) BCS (Amsterdam - NL) To: BCS Questions and Answers [41] Subject: taking darsan of the Deities ------------------------------------------------------------ Camp : Calcutta Question : Answer : The darshan of the deities will depend upon the depth of devotion of the observer. A non-devotee will see the deities as just some stone or clay or metal. A neophyte devotee will have a vague idea that this is Krishna but, he will not understand fully that the deity is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. A person in awe and reverence will see the deities as Narayan of Vaikuntha and a person in the platform of loving devotion will see the deity as the son of Nanda Maharaj in Vrndavan. When one just experiences the beauty of the deities and appreciates the qualities of the deity and meditates upon them then yes it is in santa rasa but if someone recognises that the deity is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and He is depending upon him for his service then it will be active service in dasya, sakhya, vatsalya, or madhur. That is why it all depends upon the depth of the observer's devotion. (Text 285672) ---------------------------------------------- Text 286119 (14 lines) From: Haridas Thakur (das) BCS (Vienna - A) Date: 25-Jan-96 13:39 SWT To: BCS Questions and Answers [42] Subject: distinctions ------------------------------------------------------------ Dear Guru Maharaja Please accept my humble obeisances, all glories to Srila Prabhupada. While reading BG the following question came to my mind: What is the difference between Karma Yoga and Karma Yoga- acting in K.C? In BG 12.12 Sri Krsna explains that if one cannot practise one of the above mentioned processes one should beginn with the development of knowlege. In that way he can come to the platform of meditation. Yet better than meditation is the renounciation of ones fruits for a good cause. In the purport Srila Prabhupada does explain seemingly another order. Could You please cast some light on this. Your humble servant Haridas Thakur das. (Text 286119) ---------------------------------------------- Comments: Text 291011 by Bhakti Caru Swami Text 288898 (22 lines) From: Bhakti Caru Swami Date: 30-Jan-96 06:39 SWT Refernce: Text 284351 by Malati Manjari (dd) BCS (Wiesbaden - D) To: BCS Questions and Answers [43] Subject: Krsna, husband of all living beings ------------------------------------------------------------ Delhi 27th January Dear Malati Manjari, Please accept my blessings. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. "Purusa" means the energetic, "prakriti" means the energy. Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and all living entities are His energy. Krishna is the supreme enjoyer and all living entities, as His energy, are meant for His enjoyment. In the spiritual sky that understanding is very clear. However, in the material nature, due to their forgetfulness of Krishna, the living entities try to imitate Krishna. Prabhupada used the expression "husband of all living entities" in the sense of Krishna being the supreme enjoyer and all the living entities are meant for His enjoyment. This of course do not mean that all the living entities are related to Krishna in a conjugal relationship. Your ever well wisher, Bhakti Caru Swami (Text 288898) ---------------------------------------------- Text 290666 (16 lines) [D1] From: Sacidulal (das) BCS (Zurich - CH) Date: 02-Feb-96 09:38 SWT To: BCS Questions and Answers [44] Subject: swimming earth? ------------------------------------------------------------ Dear Gurumaharja, Please accept my most humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. To the occasion of Lord Varahaïs appearance day I read the story of His appearance in the 3rd Canto of the Srimad Bhagavatam. In the 13 Chapter, Verse 47 it is said, that before Lord Varaha left the universe, He placed mother earth planet on the water. I thought that the planets are floating in the air, and specially the middle planetary system, because it is in the middle and not in the lower spheres of the universe where the Garbodhaka ocean is situated? Could you please kindly elaborate on this? Your ignorant servant Saci-dulal dasa (Text 290666) ---------------------------------------------- Comments: Text 325378 by Bhakti Caru Swami Text 291011 (64 lines) From: Bhakti Caru Swami Date: 03-Feb-96 02:24 SWT Refernce: Text 286119 by Haridas Thakur (das) BCS (Vienna - A) To: BCS Questions and Answers [45] Subject: distinctions ------------------------------------------------------------ Question: What is the difference between Karma Yoga and Karma Yoga- acting in K.C? Answer: When one acts with the desire for sense gratification, but at the end gives the results to Krishna, that is karma yoga. However, when one acts simply for Krishna's pleasure, under the direction of a bona fide spiritual master,that is karma yoga in Krishna consciousness. Actually, that is devotional service. The difference between karma yoga and devotional service is, in karma yoga there is desire for sense gratification and then offer the results to Krishna, whereas in devotional service there is no desire for sense gratification, and ultimately, the results are offered to Krishna naturally. In the beginning there may be some desire for sense gratification, however, gradually that desire diminishes and when ultimately the desire disappears completely then it become pure devotional service. Question: In BG 12.12 Sri Krsna explains that if one cannot practise one of the above mentioned processes one should begin with the development of knowlege. In that way he can come to the platform of meditation. Yet better than meditation is the renounciation of ones fruits for a good cause. In the purport Srila Prabhupada does explain seemingly another order. Answer: Here it says - Better than jnana is dhyana. Better than dhyana is to renounce the fruits of action. What makes you say that Srila Prabhupada explained seemingly another order? In the purport, Srila Prabhupada is explaining about vaidi bhakti and raganuga bhakti. Then he is saying that those who cannot practice devotional service, it is better for them to cultivate knowledge to understand his real position. This knowledge will lead to meditation and by meditation, one will be able to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In the verse also it has been mentioned that better than knowledge is meditation, and better than meditation is renunciation of the fruits of action, which is possible only by offering it to Krishna. In the purport, Srila Prabhupada explained how the initial stage of meditation, due to impersonalism, one may understand that he himself is the supreme. Since it is some sort of spiritual cultivation, in a way this is also positive. But then Srila Prabhupada is explaining that if one can not come to that platform of spiritual cultivation of the self, one can practise the varnasrama dharma. By in either case, one should give up the results his labour, because that is what Krishna consciousness is - offer everything to Krishna and in this way learn to offer one's own self to Krishna - sarva dharma parityaja. Then in the purport, Srila Prabhupada is explaining one is a gradual process and the other is a direct process. Devotional service is a direct process which is received by the mercy of the guru. Then Srila Prabhupada is explaining, (according to the text), the gradual development from the platform of knowledge to meditation, then the understanding of the Supersoul,and the stage of understanding of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. To me, it is clear that Srila Prabhupada is simply explaining the verse through his purport. Your ever wellwisher, Bhakti Caru Swami (Text 291011) ---------------------------------------------- Text 292935 (13 lines) From: Sacidulal (das) BCS (Zurich - CH) Date: 06-Feb-96 13:31 SWT To: BCS Questions and Answers [46] Subject: parts of th subtle body? ------------------------------------------------------------ Dear Gurumaharaja, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. In the 6th Canto, Chapter 1, Verse 51, the Yamadutas are explaining that the subtle body consists of 16 parts: the 5 senses of knowledge, the 5 working senses, the 5 objects of sense gratification and the mind. Please could you explain, why the 5 objects of sense gratification are a part of the subtle body? It seams to me that they are separate, or outside of the body, with which the living entity trays to enjoy those 5 objects of sense gratification. Your ignorant servant, Saci-dulal dasa (Text 292935) ---------------------------------------------- Text 293634 (55 lines) From: Haridas Thakur (das) BCS (Vienna - A) Date: 07-Feb-96 20:32 SWT To: BCS Questions and Answers [47] Subject: distinctions ------------------------------------------------------------ Dear Guru Maharaja Please accept my humble obeisances, all glories to Srila Prabhupada. I am sorry but I would need some more clarification to Your answer. This list I according to my understanding: First class (12.8) Raganuga bhakti Second class (12.9) sadhana bhakti Third class (12.10) karma yoga (Krsna Karma) Fourth class (12.11) sarva-karma-phala-tyagam (giving for a good cause) Fith class (12.12) dhyanam (impersonal meditation) Sixth class (12.12) jnanam (cultivation of knowledge) 12.12 purport: "If one is not able to meditate in such a way, then there are prescribed duties for brahmanas........ But in all cases, one should give up the result or fruits of labor; this means to employ the result of karma for a good cause." So here Srila Prabhupada says that meditation (impersonal) is better than giving money for a good cause (karma phala tyagam) which according my conditioned view is contradictory to the order given in the vers. Then again in 12.12 purport: "Devotional service in Krsna C. is the direct method and the other method involves renouncing the fruits of ones activities. Then one can come to the stage of knowledge, than to the stage of meditation...." Here Srila Prabhupada again says that the stage of cultivating knowledge is better than giving ones fruits, but still better is meditation. Then again in 12.12 purport: "It is for others, who are not at this stage; for them the gradual process of renunciation, knowledge meditation and realization of the Supersoul and Brahman should be followed." Srila Prabhupada gives again the same order . Renunciation, knowledge and then meditation, wereas Lord Krsna says: First jnana, than dhyanam, than tyaga, karma yoga, sadana bhakti and finaly raganuga bhakti. Dear Guru Maharaja, could You please elaborate on Your answer. Your humble servant Haridas T.d. (Text 293634) ---------------------------------------------- Text 296504 (20 lines) From: Bhakti Caru Swami Date: 14-Feb-96 08:06 SWT Refernce: Text 276753 by (Bhaktin) Alexandra (Mayapur) To: BCS Questions and Answers [48] Subject: Love for Krishna ------------------------------------------------------------ Camp : Calcutta, 31-Jan-96 Question (from Bhaktin Alexandra): How is it possible in this technical, money conscious age of rational thinking and sober management to revive this sweet simplicity in our hearts and regain this simple, natural love for Krishna? Answer: As our hearts become purified, our love for Krishna becomes manifest. In this age, the way to purify our heart is by chanting the Hare Krishna Mahamantra. As Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said about the Holy Name - ceto darpana marjanam - the Holy Name cleanses the mirror of our mind, (or our heart). In this age, due to a very gross materialistic attitude, the hearts of people have become very very dirty. Therefore, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu gave this very special process of the chanting of the Holy Name. The Holy Name can purify anyone's heart, no matter how contaminated it is. (Text 296504) ---------------------------------------------- Text 299532 (20 lines) From: Malati Manjari (dd) BCS (Wiesbaden - D) Date: 21-Feb-96 19:58 SWT To: BCS Questions and Answers [49] Subject: Bhakti Devi's origin ------------------------------------------------------------ Dear Guru Maharaja, please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! In the 4th canto Narada Muni tells king Pracinabarhisat the story of Puranjana, which is his own story told in a different way. As far as I understand this means we have to take it as a metaphor, not directly in a true sense, like the other stories in Srimad Bhagavatam. In chapter 28 Narada Muni tells how Puranjana becomes a woman in his next life, Vaidarbhi, and gets married to Malayadhvaja. Their black-eyed daughter is Bhakti Devi. (I could not find this directly in the puport now, but it says that she was bestowed with devotional service and you once explained this in a seminar.) Now obviously Bhakti Devi is a real person. Therefore I don't understand how this relates to a metaphor, where apparently all characters are ficticious. Could you kindly explain this? Your servant Malati Manjari dasi (Text 299532) ---------------------------------------------- Text 299833 (8 lines) From: Sacidulal (das) BCS (Zurich - CH) Date: 22-Feb-96 15:16 SWT To: BCS Questions and Answers [50] Subject: Siva ratvi (Question from Harivamsa dasa / Zurich) ------------------------------------------------------------ Dear Bhakti Caru Maharaja PAMHO, AGTSP. Siva ratvi means "appearance day of Lord Siva". Which life of Siva or which incarnation is meant here? Your servant, Harivamsa dasa (Text 299833) ---------------------------------------------- Comments: Text 327688 by Bhakti Caru Swami Text 299834 (12 lines) From: Sacidulal (das) BCS (Zurich - CH) Date: 22-Feb-96 15:16 SWT To: BCS Questions and Answers [51] Subject: returning from hell ------------------------------------------------------------ Dear Srila Gurumaharaja, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. In the 6th Canto, Chapter 5, Verse 13, there is the statement given from the Haryasvas. "Hardly once has a person who has entered the lower planetary system called Patala been seen to return." How is this to understand? Is it not, that one after a lot of suffering comes back automatically because his bad karmic reactions are diminished? Your servant, Saci-dulal dasa (Text 299834) ---------------------------------------------- Comments: Text 327689 by Bhakti Caru Swami Text 320268 (16 lines) From: (Temple) Radhadesh (Belgium) Date: 07-Apr-96 17:05 SST To: BCS Questions and Answers [52] Subject: questions from Visvesvara dasa ------------------------------------------------------------ Radhadesh, 6 April 1996 Dear Guru Maharaj, Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotusfeet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Could you please explain to me what are the different levels of Krishna Consciousness? What is the top degree and what are the intermediary levels? Also what are the various levels of purification that one encounters? Thank you very much. Your servant, Visvesvara dasa P.S. Could you please also send me to a particular literature for further information on these topics? (Text 320268) ---------------------------------------------- Comments: Text 323455 by Bhakti Caru Swami Text 320269 (29 lines) From: (Temple) Radhadesh (Belgium) Date: 07-Apr-96 17:05 SST To: BCS Questions and Answers [53] Subject: questions from Dhira Krsna dasa ------------------------------------------------------------ Radhadesh, 7 April 1996 Dear Guru Maharaja, Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotusfeet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. 1. In a class lately there was some discussion about what happens to a person who, at the time of death, receives the auspicious signs of a vaisnava on his body, such as tilaka, maha-garland, tulsi neckbeads etc., although maybe he hasn't done any devotional service during his life? The question arose concerning what we could do to save our parents at the time of their death. Could you please enlighten me about this? 2. In one of your lectures, you were explaining that the spiritual master is present in the heart of the disciple as the supersoul. How do I have to see this, since it is very difficult for a conditioned soul like me to relate directly to the supersoul, although it is more easy to relate personally to you as my spiritual master. Please clarify how you are present in my heart and how I can listen better to your instructions from within. 3. I have been trying to control my senses and mind, but on my own endeavour I have not succeeded very much. Is it so that unless one gives up trying it himself, but one depends fully on Krsna, one will never succeed? Guru Maharaja, you are so selfcontrolled, please tell us how to become like this? Your humble servant, Dhira Krsna dasa (Text 320269) ---------------------------------------------- Comments: Text 323453 by Bhakti Caru Swami Text 323453 (80 lines) From: Bhakti Caru Swami Date: 11-Apr-96 21:59 SST Refernce: Text 320269 by (Temple) Radhadesh (Belgium) To: BCS Questions and Answers [54] Subject: questions from Dhira Krsna dasa ------------------------------------------------------------ Dear Dhira Krsna Please accept my blessings. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Thank you very much for your very nice questions. The answers are as follows: 1) When one receives the auspicious signs of a vaisnava on his body such as tilak, maha garland, tulsi neckbeads etc. at the time of death, receives spiritual benefit to the extent of even to going back to Godhead. In many Puranas the benefits of these spiritual objects have been discribed as - Yamaraja told the Yamadutas that if they see someone with vaisnava tilak on his body then they should offer obeisances to that person and leave the place. The maha garland is a spiritual object and due to its touch one comes in contact with the Lord and one receives inconceivable spiritual benefit. What to speak of tulasi beads, if there is a stick of tulasi wood in the fire of his funeral pyre then he can go back to Godhead. Now the question may arise how come a person who has not done any devotional service during his life can receive such spiritual benefit? The answer is it is due to the mercy of a devotee. Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakur describes in his Madhurya Kadambini how it is by the mercy of a devotee only that one can become a devotee. And the mercy of the devotee comes initially in the form of 'ajnata sukriti'. The parents of the devotee have already received inconceivable good fortune because their children have become devotees. Krsna will positively reward them for producing such children. Yes, it will be good to help them receive spiritual benefit at the time of death or even after. 2) Krsna is present within the heart as the Supersoul and it is He who externally appears as the spiriual master. Therefore the spiritul master and Supersoul are non-different. Krsna is guiding both externally and internally as the spiritual master and the Supersoul, therefore it is said that the spiritual master is present in the heart ot the disciple as the Supersoul. The Supersoul as the spiritual master is known as caitya guru. Until our consciousness beomes purified the spiritual master helps us by giving direct instructions, but when our onsiousness becomes purified then we can see that the spiritual master who is directing us from without is also present within our hearts. Therefore we find exalted devotee like Srila Prabhupada saying, "I am never separated from my spiritual master." However we should also consider that when the spiritual master is present then there is no need to bypass him and try to listen to the spiritual master in the heart. As long as the spiritual master is present on this planet one should ask him directly and take his guidance. Yes it is true that it is more easy to relate personally to the spiritual master as long as he is present on this planet. 3) It is very good that you are trying to control your senses and mind. However in spite of all your sincere endevours you will see that on your own you cannot control them. Therefore you will feel the need to depend upon guru and Krsna for help. The sincere appeal for Their help is prayer and it is through this prayer that one receives the mercy of the Lord and then only one can become selfcontrolled. Our chanting of the Maha Mantra is that prayer to the Lord for His help. When He sees that your prayer is sincere then He will help you to wake up in the spiritual sky. Then the dream of this material nature will automaticaly disappear and your senses will spontaniously become engaged in the service of the Lord. I hope this meets you in the best of health and blissfully engaged in your service. Your ever well wisher Bhakti Charu Swami (Text 323453) ---------------------------------------------- Text 323455 (40 lines) From: Bhakti Caru Swami Date: 11-Apr-96 21:59 SST Refernce: Text 320268 by (Temple) Radhadesh (Belgium) To: BCS Questions and Answers [55] Subject: questions from Visvesvara dasa ------------------------------------------------------------ Dear Visvesvar Please accept my blessings. All glories to Srila Prabhupada There are three principle levels of Krsna Consciousness - kanistha, madhyama and uttama (or third class, second class and first class). These distinctions are made according to one's faith in Krsna. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu difined these three levels as one who occasionally chants the Name of the Lord he is a kanistha adhikari, one who continuously chants the Holy Name he is a madhyama adhikari and one who is so absorbed in Krsna Consciousness that just by seeing him others start to chant the Holy Name of the Lord, he is the uttama adhikari. The kanistha adhikari thinks that he is the only devotee; the madhyama adhikari recognizes that some are devotees, some are innocent and some others are offensive and therefore he acts according with them; and the uttama adhikari is one who sees everybody else as a devotee of the Lord, only he could not become a devotee. There are various levels of purification according to one's detachment from sense gratification and attachment to devotional service. The basic stage of purification is called anartha nivritti or freedom form unwanted attachments. However even after that some contaminations still remain., but due to his sincere involvement in Krsna Consciousnss he gradually becomes purified and those stages after anartha nivritti are called nistha, ruci, asakti and bhava. Then finally when one becomes completely free from all material attachments then he attains the stage of pure love of Godhead. I hope this meets you in the best of health and blissfully engaged in your service. Your ever well wisher Bhakti Charu Swami (Text 323455) ---------------------------------------------- Text 325378 (19 lines) From: Bhakti Caru Swami Date: 14-Apr-96 13:54 SST Refernce: Text 290666 by Sacidulal (das) BCS (Zurich - CH) To: BCS Questions and Answers [56] Subject: swimming earth? ------------------------------------------------------------ Answer to the following question asked by Sacidulal Das: "To the occasion of Lord Varaha Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu considered all these to be external because they are necessary only as long as one is on the bodily platform or material platform. However, when the spirit soul becomes free from all material contamination then the spirit soul transcends all thiese platforms and comes to the platform of pure devotional service. That is when out of his spontaneous love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead he becomes attracted towards Him and starts to render service for His pleasure. In this context your statement " 'external' means 'belonging to the external energy' and thus material." is correct. 2. In satya, treta and dvapara three legs of dharma - austerity, mercy and cleanliness have been broken, and in the age of Kali dharma is standing only on one leg - truthfulness. Now when that leg is also broken then dharma is completely destroyed and adharma begins to rule with full sovereignty. Yes, it is true that this age of Kali is so degraded that even the last leg of dharma is also twiddling. I do not know in what context it is said that truthfulness manifests in search for the truth, i.e.attempts of the modern scientists to attain material knowledge. But my understanding is that trying to understand truth through material knowledge is something like trying to find water through a mirage in the dessert. It is only through devotional service that one can understand the absolute truth. Then through the application of devotion even this material nature becomes reality. Truth is Krishna. And everything related to Krishna is also the truth. Therefore the only way to understand the truth is through Krishna Consciousness. 3. Since H.H. Jayapataka Maharaja mentioned that, why don't you ask him? I think he will be the best person to answer this question. My input to this answer will be - when one becomes a devotee he becomes situated in the spiritual platform and then his bodily designation does not matter. In the spiritual platform, irrespective of whether one is a man or woman, everyone can preach. There is some segregation in ISKCON but in the outside world free mixing between men an women has become a common phenomena. Therefore since men and women are mixing freely, the women devotees in the movement also can preach as long they are strong enough to avoid becoming a victim of men's lust. I hope this meets you well. Yours in the service of Krishna, Bhakti Charu Swami (Text 358176) ----------------------------------------------