THEY SHOULD NOT BE CHANGING THE SPIRITUAL MASTERS BOOKS

Disciples and followers of Srila Prabhupada should write their own books helping to clarify for others according to their own realizations the path of devotional service. Taking responsibility for what they are writing as service to the spiritual master and the Lord. 

They should not be changing the spiritual masters books according to their own ideas of what they think He meant to say.

I DON'T AGREE.. ALL MECHANICAL

I don't agree with the Ritviks. Srila Prabhupada was very clear that He is not God. But I also don't agree with the ISKCON management and "approval" system of guru "selection."

This is all simply control by mechanical means on the material platform. 

So what about initiation? Initiation is by hearing from the pure devotee. Associate with those who are initiated in this way. The future of the Hare Krishna movement will be secure. Srila Prabhupada's mission will be successful.

CUT AND PASTE... IT'S A WAR

There is a war going on. You can see it from this propaganda. Two pictures. Srila Prabhupada actually sitting with His authorized editions. The books He personally lectured from for years. and the other picture Srila Prabhupada's picture placed with the changed books.

OVER THE TOP

The book adulteration is what finally pushed me over the edge. 

The phony guru thing I let slide.. they meant well it was just a mistaken judgement... 

The rampant pedophilia I let slide... couldn't actually even comprehend it....my mind goes a lot of dumb places but it just won't even go there... 

All the other stuff... theft, sex scandals, stolen properties, abuses to the disciples by leaders, muggings, slanderous lies, character defamations, even murders.. 

All ignored by the protectors of the institution... 
I just kind of let it all slide... these things happen it's Kali yuga... 

But the books... butchering and contaminating of the most sacred of all sacred books? The only direct instruction Srila Prabhupada received from Srila Bhaktisiddhanta, print books. Srila Prabhupada with His last dying breath lying helpless in bed still translating and commenting on Srimad Bhagavatam with the microphone being held to his lips barely audible due to his physical condition....
Dirty, nasty hands tearing the precious books apart.... That was it. I'm over the top.

OFF THE RAILS

I am finally accepting that the institution established by Srila Prabhupada and meant to give guidance to the whole world is now like a train off the rails. It's going somewhere but who knows where.. There is the individual body and there is also a social body..

HUNG UP ON A BANANA IN A FIRE?

Jaya Srila Prabhupada. "... a bona fide spiritual master is accepted by regularly hearing from him about the Lord." from the purport shown below. To all those who are all hung up on procedures, bananas in the fire, name giving ceremonies, etc. don't worry about that. This is the actual initiation. 

"Devotional service entails being initiated by a bona fide spiritual master and following his instruction in regard to hearing about the Lord. Such a bona fide spiritual master is accepted by regularly hearing from him about the Lord. The improvement in knowledge and detachment can be perceived by devotees as an actual experience. Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu strongly recommended this process of hearing from a bona fide devotee, and by following this process one can achieve the highest result, conquering all other methods." SB 3.5.42

THOU SHALT NOT KILL

Discussion in response to a post about the Ten Commandments... "Thou shalt not kill."

Ralph Wilms I know and you are right, but the discussion is that law of not killing in the Book of Exodus could not apply to animals, because in the same Torah like the Book of Leviticus, were Animals by the commandment of Jahwe were killed and sacrificed in the Temple, and a lamb hath to been eaten by the commandement of Jahwe, which was a shadow and this only ended at the coming of the Messiah Jesus Christ.

Meena Devi Dasi In searching for correlations in the different teachings, and since there is only one God we would expect to find correlations.... there is provision for killing and eating animals in the Vedas also. But it is done under very specific conditions and never a cow. Usually a goat or some other animal. 

The offering is not made directly to Lord Vishnu but to a demigod and the idea is that for people who will insist on eating meat they may be allowed to do it but in such a way that they can still have some opportunity for advancing in God consciousness. 

So there is provision in scripture for animal sacrifice in the different cultures for very specific reasons. That is not the general rule that anyone can just go and start an animal slaughtering business. The law is Thou shalt not kill. Then if the Lord or His bonafide representatives have to make some amendment to it from time to time for very specific reasons that is also there.

LOTUS THIS... LOTUS THAT... WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

I have to admit I was getting a little irritated every time I heard Lotus Feet, Lotus Face, Lotus Hands, lotus this and that referring to Lord Krishna's body. I began asking for some clarity so that I can appreciate the lotus references.

I know lotus is famous for being on top of the water and not affected by the water like a transcendentalist who may be in the material world but not affected by it. But why always referring to the parts of the Lord's body with lotus?

Yesterday my desire for insight on this was really getting to a fever pitch so much so that every time I read or heard lotus I was becoming irate. Irate at my own ignorance.

Well, as "always" happens the answer came by reading Srila Prabhupada's books. If it isn't discussed in Srila Prabhupada's books it doesn't exist. The hair-raising part is the timing. Ask a very specific question and the answer is there. Pretty much right away if not sooner. 

"The paramahaṁsas are compared to royal swans who make their nests on the petals of the lotus flower. The Lord’s transcendental bodily parts are always compared to the lotus flower because in the material world the lotus flower is the last word in beauty." SB 3.5.41 purport

A TRAGEDY AND A LOOK AT UNION AND SEPARATION

A look at union and separation...

In the 80's I had a small incense business. I would buy top quality incense from different sources and then design a package with the particular store logo on it. The shop owners liked that. Their own brand.

There was a large co-op that became a good customer. The purchaser for the co-op for the incense department, her name was Venus, was very favorable to Krishna consciousness. I would bring prasadam from the temple Deity and always dress in sari with tilak etc. 

There was something strange though. It was eerily creepy. Another woman who also worked there, a very tall woman, would rivet her eyes on me from over the counter tops. She was that tall. I thought perhaps it was my outfit. Maybe she had some spiritual "bones to pick" with Lord Krishna. It was unmistakable though. The intense negative energy directed towards me. 

One day when I was making my rounds of stores and entered the co-op the whole atmosphere in the store was very dark. I could feel it the minute I walked in. I asked one of the workers to meet with my Venus and they put their eyes down and shook their head.
"I have some bad news. There has been a tragedy." I braced myself. Car accident? Overdose of something or other?

"There has been a murder and suicide." One of the workers here has shot and killed Venus and then shot and killed herself. Immediately I could understand. The other woman, the one who riveted her stares at me whenever I had to meet with Venus, was attached as a lover. The angry energy was fear and envy. "She left a note. If I can't have you. No one can."

I was thinking about this.. this morning. That was a long time ago. Almost 35 years ago. Why think about it this morning? I have been researching intimacy and autonomy. 

Swedenborg has some interesting things to say about it. It can be seen as another way to look at union and separation. Both the desires are there in the soul. Union and individuality. How do they reconcile? Not losing individuality and yet being part of something. Simultaneous one and different. We have that in Krishna consciousness. Devotional service. 

The impersonalist position is like the murder/suicide. The desire for intimacy is there but it takes the form of merging. I deny God is an individual (kill God) and then I deny that I am a individual (I kill myself) Now we will be together eternally. Never separated. We have become one. Lord Krishna accepts this and there is provision for someone with this desire. The brahmajyoti.

But the devotee of the Lord never accepts this. For the devotee there will always be individuals and there will always be intimacy. A spiritual dynamic that brings waves of ecstasy in the ocean of love of God for both the Lord and for the devotee.

HIDDEN SIGNIFICANCE OF THE APPEARANCE OF CHRIST

Some thoughts on the hidden significance of Christmas.

The Appearance of Christ is celebrated as the appearance of the savior. This is true. He embodies the message of Godhead. "What is the Godhead?"
The secret is revealed in His relationship with His mother and father.

When the Lord appears He accepts someone as His parents. Their love for God allows His appearance as a human being. He is not a human being. He is way, way more than a human being. But He sometimes appears as a human being and walks among us as an extra ordinary person. 

The miracle is that He displays intimate loving relationships. He reaches into the deepest depths of the heart and elicits the strongest emotions of love and attachment. This is His appearance. The first relationship He exhibits is with His mother and father. 

How does this relate to salvation? Freedom from birth and death and entrance into the spiritual kingdom?

Love of God is the only way for entrance into the spiritual kingdom. Everything else exists outside.

HOW CAN LORD KRISHNA BE SOMEONE'S FATHER AND THEIR SON?

Lord Krishna is not a reluctant nor begrudging father. Not a negligent or abusive father. He is a father that enjoys being a father. And wants to see his children happy.

The question then arises... how can Lord Krishna be the father and also invite everyone to come and engage with Him as "His father" or even as His lover?
Isn't that a little bizarre?

The way Lord Krishna deals with this apparent conflict is by expanding Himself for the specific function.

The fathering function is performed by Him in His expansion as Karanadaksayi Vishnu who lies down in the Causal Ocean and impregnates the conditioned souls into the womb of the material universes. Maya devi being one of His wives. He does this simply by his glance. Lord Krishna is not an ordinary person. He is unlimited and every limb can perform the function of any other part of His body. So his glance is capable of impregnating. No need for sex as we think of it in the materially conditioned state. 

He then expands again as Garbodakasayi Vishnu to fill each and every universe with His Divine Presence. The non-devotee may begin to try to understand His presence as the Universal Form. 

He then expands again as Ksirodakasayi Vishnu to accompany each and every living entity within the heart to act as a personal guide and friend. 

Lord Krishna can be anything and everything. He is everything and anything. He can accommodate any relationship. All He has to do is expand for the specific function. No problem. No effort needed. He just wills it and there it is.

DOES A FATHER EVER STOP BEING A FATHER?

Does a father ever stop being a father? No.
Why? Because he wants to be a father.

I'm not talking about someone who had sex and a baby was born.
I'm talking about someone who wants to be a father.
 
If the child is bad...in spite of all efforts to train and show love and guidance...the child deviates...is rebellious...is maybe victimized by bad association.
Does the father ever stop being a father. No.
Why? Because he wants to be a father.

Or the child is physically impaired, or emotionally disturbed or retarded in some way.
Does the father ever stop being a father.
No. Why? Because the wants to be a father.

What child could ever repay such a father?
Yes. There is God. He is supplying everything.
And He is like that. And we are those children.

ALL PLANS ARE EVENTUALLY FINISHED

In response to a post pointing out how permanent arrangements in the material world are not possible. 
All plans are eventually finished. 

Phani Kumar For me this is the key ... i just heard SP telling all plans fail ... hard to digest as it simply means I can't control outcomes.

Meena Devi Dasi I find this a great relief. The tendency is to want to make some plan that is perfect. So we depend on techniques, structures, patterns, formulas, etc. But it is not possible in the material world. The perfection is the mood of devotional service to Lord Krishna. 

Like now the formal society of Srila Prabhupada is busy rewriting Srila Prabhupada's books, inconceivable to me, with the justification that they are making them more perfect based on grammar, references to obscure manuscripts, etc. This is a big mistake on the platform of devotional service that the leaders do not care to recognize. 

Even Srila Prabhupada's institution will crumble. Lord Krishna will have to come up with something else. Again and again...

I pray to have some proximity to when these events unfold and be able to recognize the Master at work.

GOD IS NOT A HUMAN BEING

You have to remember, Krishna is not a human being. But when He appears as a human being He is the human being of all human beings. I mean He out-humans any human. Whatever anyone can do He can do it unlimitedly better. 

Krishna is the trip of all trips. He is so cool. He is so awesome. There isn't anything He can't do and He does everything. 

I mean think about it. He is the Supreme Enjoyer. The Supreme Controller. And the Supreme Friend.

Forget mundane morality. That's for mundane humans. But still what a mess this place would be without laws, rules and enforcers. Even with laws, rules and enforcers it's still a mess. It will always be a mess to one degree or another. It's the material world. That's what the material world is... a mess. And everyone here is messed up. 

If we get even a tiny whiff of the transcendence we are sooooo fortunate.
Jaya Srila Prabhupada. Your fragrance lingers....

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NO ONE WAS APPOINTED

Question from a sincere follower of Srila Prabhupada...

Hi Mataji,
the gurus that we have TODAY. THEY were appointed BY Prabhupada to be initiating Guru?

My answer, as I see it....
No. No one was appointed. When He was very ill nearing the time for His disappearance He appointed some of the senior disciples to perform the initiation ceremony on His behalf. He was too physically weak to do "anything" at that time.

The controversy that arose was that as soon as He disappeared these disciples claimed they had now become initiating gurus in their own right. But there is nothing to support that anywhere. They present a letter and a garbled tape with a few sentences on it that can be interpreted in a million different ways as some sort of proof.

There were many, many tape recordings made at the time near His disappearance but they have all mysteriously disappeared.

From what I see of the tendency of these people to improve upon Srila Prabhupada's books by changing them in thousands and thousands of unnecessary revisions I think the same mentality is there in this guru issue.

Personally, I think there is a movement and ISKCON is functioning somewhat but it is a bit confusing for someone who wants to try to take shelter and serve there now. Just my honest opinion.

HANDS FALLING OFF

They say, "We have our book changing program and are busily engaged in changing all Srila Prabhupada's books. You have the 1972 Gita and the other first editions. So what is the problem?"
People have a choice. 

All the changed books need to be destroyed. There should be no changed books at all.

You are so advanced that you know what Srila Prabhupada means to say better than what He is even saying?

Write your own books.

I will not be surprised to see at some point these "editors" find their hands fall off.

"BECOME" ETERNAL ?

Because there are people who do not have access to spiritual truths they see everything from a materialist perspective. The higher reality is not perceptible by them. That there is God, a Person, and worlds beyond this temporary world we are now experiencing. 

One problem I find with the teaching of Christ.. that is popularly presented... is that the soul is created when the body is created. It is a popular belief. That all the different forms of life we see, are created when those bodies are created. This allows for killing and eating other living entities without consideration. After all of what use are they except to serve my desires? God created them for that didn't He? 

But in Krishna consciousness we understand that the soul is eternal. it is never created and it can never be destroyed. The different life forms do not mean there are different types of souls in them. The souls are traveling throughout the species of life.

If you think about it... it makes no sense to say, someone becomes eternal. No one can "become" eternal. Eternal means always existing. No beginning. So it is not possible to become eternal. It is possible to be in forgetfulness of the eternal nature of the soul though.

VIDURA ONLY WANTS TO HEAR ABOUT LORD KRISHNA

It's all about family for the next few weeks. But people aren't used to spending so much time with family and relatives. Usually they are working all day. So four days in one stretch is a lot to be together. A lot of arguments start after the first few days. And they are drinking alcohol... sometimes there is violence or serious car accidents. 

Here's a verse I read this morning to give some perspective...

"Who in human society can be satisfied without hearing sufficient talk of the Lord, whose lotus feet are the sum total of all places of pilgrimage and who is worshiped by great sages and devotees? Such topics can cut off one’s bondage to family affection simply by entering the holes of one’s ears." SB 1.3.11

Notice here the word "bondage to family affection." It doesn't say "family affection" It says "bondage" to family affection. There is a difference. 

It is like money. "Love" of money is the root of all evil. Not money is the root of all evil.
It is a powerful purport. Srila Prabhupada covers everything in one paragraph. Material identification with body as the self extended to other bodies seen as extensions of the body, the working of the three modes of material nature having a firm grip on the conditioned soul bound by this family affection. How even the mode of goodness falls short with it's impersonal realizations of the difference between spirit and matter and its material welfare work in the forms of hospitals, schools and welfare charities. 

Only topics... of Lord Krishna, the Supreme Personality if Godhead can free one from the bondage of illusory family affection, the grip of the three modes of material nature and the trap of impersonal realization.

Vidura is approaching Maitreya muni. He is requesting to hear only topics concerning Lord Krishna. He is done with topics concerning welfare work and organization of society for gradual upliftment. He wants the juice. He doesn't want to hear anything unless it is directly connected with Lord Krishna. Krishna katha.

"To preach kṛṣṇa-kathā all over the world, as recommended by Lord Caitanya, is the greatest missionary activity, and all sensible men and women of the world may join in this great movement started by Lord Caitanya." SB 1.3.11 purport

NO. GOD IS NOT AN ALLEGORY

In response to a recent post about Jesus Christ:
Comment: Should not be taken literally, should be seen as an allegory.

My reply: allegory def: a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.

No. God is not an allegory. The spiritual world is not an allegory. The pastimes of the Lord and His incarnations are not allegories. Aesop's fables are allegories...

The account of King Puranjana in the 4th Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam is an allegory. But the appearance and activities of Jesus Christ is not an allegory. His crucifixion is not an allegory. The Battle of Kuruksketra is not an allegory. Lord Krishna's lifting Govardhana Hill is not an allegory.
The nature of the Supreme is absolute. Non different. The pastimes do not refer someone to something else. They are what they are. Absolute.

The Holy Name of the Lord is non-different from Lord Krishna. Chanting Hare Krishna not done to get something else. This is my personal realization. You are entitled to your views. But I do not agree with you.

TWO SIDES TO EVERYTHING

It is painful to see how my father tries to get out of his suffering without taking shelter of God. I am there and do what I can but he has a lifetime of, "I am strong. I can do anything I put my mind to." But he is nearing everyday to that situation he will not be able to control. Not with his will, nor mind nor physical strength. And he is suffering so much with infections. Like leprosy.

Yesterday was especially difficult. He was wild with wanting relief. Like a trapped animal. All he could think about was going somewhere. Anywhere. But he can't go anywhere.

I had to find some strength. He was dragging me into his fear and pain and helplessness.

I began chanting with desperation for him and for myself. Lord Krishna is there in His Holy Name. My father started to calm down and fell asleep. I continued Hare Krishna japa loudly for several rounds and then sang Krishna kirtan. He slept.

Two sides to everything.

The duplicity of the material world.

The material world itself is another side of everything.

A perverted reflection. Which means everything in the reflection is backwards or upside down.

For instance... strength. In the material world defiance is considered strength. In sports defying the material energy by performing extraordinary acts. Jumping higher than anyone ever jumped, or fighting and defeating all opponents. Defying the limitations of the material body. Overcoming disease. Ah, yes that is physical strength. That person is defiant. Strong.

But in the God consciousness compliance is strength. Not defiance. Compliance with the will of the Lord. The material energy is not an obstacle to be defeated. The material energy assists a person who is compliant with the Master of the Material Energy. The material energy become the servant of the servant.

Or renunciation... In the material world living with nothing as much as possible is considered renounced. But what can anyone renounce? Does anything belong to anyone? If nothing actually belongs to anyone how can anyone renounce anything?

Everyone in the material world is a thief. This is mine. That is mine. This other thing is also mine. And I want more and more. But nothing belongs to anyone. Everything belongs to the Lord. So the thief is renouncing his stolen goods? Go into a store and walk out with a TV. The guard will stop you. What will you say? "I renounce this TV?"

But in God consciousness renunciation means to use everything for the owner of everything, the Lord. Talents, abilities, resources, whatever someone has access to.

HE WAS TELLING ME

When I saw his back today it was like a miracle. The huge infected wound on his right shoulder was cleaned out and the swelling was way down. Still some problems with the infections on his lower back but getting better. I was so relieved. 

The nurse was there. I told her, "He's like a cat with nine lives. He comes through things that someone else just wouldn't." 

I was still leaning over him from looking at his back and he was lying there on his side. He glared at me and put his fist in my face.

I thought he was angry at me. I said the wrong stupid thing or something. It bothered me all afternoon. Why did he put his fist in my face. Maybe I shouldn't go to visit tomorrow. I am annoying him. 

Then hours later I realized... he was telling me, "I'm strong."
I cried.

THAT COUPAL WAS PRECIOUS

I love Christmas. People are so much fun this time of year. 

Visiting Dad in the hospital. He seems to be doing a lot better. IV antibiotics and the nurse put in an order for probiotics. Finally they are testing for MRSA.

The elderly man in the other bed in his room is fighting cancer. He and his wife are so sweet. Somehow we got to talking about God. How great He is and how we can feel His presence within the heart and how we wished everyone could feel His presence and become happy.

The man's wife said something I found unusual for a traditional Christian. She was sure people chose who they wanted for parents. The man shared that he felt so inadequate to help other people and really wanted to help people. Sometimes people come to him but he finds he is so preoccupied with his own difficulties he can't help them. He felt so bad. I tried to reassure him that whatever we do even something very little helps. Even if we can't do the whole job right then and there. We do what we can to help and then God sends someone else to help them a little more and pretty soon they have what they need and are on their way to the Lord. 

I love sharing with Christians. Even if what I am saying or what they are saying is not all rational, is not a quote from somewhere, It is filled with a kind of childlike exuberance. Simply trying to say something that cannot really be expressed in words. And yet is still understood and felt.

They were so generic... although I am sure they were followers of Christ. None of us wanted to find differences we simply wanted to feel right with the Lord however we understood Him. My father generally doesn't enter into the spirit of it but he watches and listens.

So there it was a mini revival at the hospital. That couple was precious.

WHENEVER I TRY TO MEASURE

Whenever I try to measure my worth or value or lovableness by the perception of other conditioned souls I always come up with a negative. Trying to use them as a mirror of myself somehow... always a negative. Something less than ugly is reflected back. 

On the other hand I don't even have to "do" anything to feel loved, valuable and even useful in Krishna consciousness. It's just a given when I appreciate Lord Krishna which automatically includes me and everyone else. 

Hearing about Lord Krishna from Srila Prabhupada more and more means appreciating Lord Krishna more and more. The Lord appreciates our simply appreciating Him.

I WILL PARTY LATER

Holiday season in the West. People are running around here and there preparing for guests, parties and gift giving. There is a kind of pressure that if someone is not engaged in the same way as so many people then they are useless or something less than human. It can be a very depressing time for many people, who feel left out and alone. It's an illusion. 

I have been through so many holidays. It is not my position to celebrate. I am fine. Everyday is the same for me. Holiday or no holiday. It doesn't matter. The great mercy of Hare Krishna.
I have no desire to jump into the melee and thrash around.
None. Zero. Zip. Zilch.

But I do not decry those who are caught up in festivities.
It is for them. It is not for me. 

Up at 2am in the still and quiet. Chanting japa along with Srila Prabhupada mp3 visions of the spiritual world. I will party later.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRQYPyyC054&t=118s

MINI REVIVAL

Great time sitting with my father at dinner in the nursing home. He is feeling a little better and they are reassuring me it is not MRSA.

One woman at our table cannot move, I think she may have had a stroke. She was a school teacher. She can move her eyelids and every now try to say something like, "Thank you." Her attendant was feeding her. 

The attendant was fired up about Jesus and the Holy Spirit. The eternal world beyond this temporary one. Angels. And just could not contain herself in her excitement. Serving others here is preparation for serving the Lord there. She was trying to explain everything from the Bible but none of it made any sense. But we had a great time. Her conclusion, "God really does exist. And He can hear you when you talk to Him." A lot of Hallelujahs. A mini revival.

The other lady at our table also cannot speak. But she is able to feed herself and has a beautiful smile. She was very active in charities.

My father's friend was not there. She was in the hospital. But no one noticed. She was feeling very, very cold and sick. No one knows what is wrong with her. I hope she will be alright. I want to visit her tomorrow. She really brightens my father's day. It is like they have known each other forever. 

I brought little sugarless candies for everyone. 

One of the woman cannot come into the dining room. She curses everyone. and calls everyone foul names.

Another woman continually cries out very loud, "Help. Help. Someone help me."

One of the men is busy planning out business deals, talking to himself.

UNBEARABLE

When Lord Krishna's mission for His appearance was accomplished He disappeared along with all of the Yadu dynasty. Uddhava alone was left on the planet. His feelings of separation were unbearable. Lord Krishna, just before leaving, instructed Him to remain, travel to Badarikashrama and instruct the sages and even Nara Naranaya rshi in the mood of separation. Uddhava was also the only resident of Dvarka Lord Krishna sent to Vrndavan to be instructed by the residents, specifically the gopis.

JUST SEE

Just see... The Lord is within the heart of every living being and every living being is within the heart of the Lord. 

"He [Lord Krishna] lies down on His own heart spread in the form of the sky, and thus placing the whole creation in that space, He expands Himself into many living entities, which are manifested as different species of life. He does not have to endeavor for His maintenance, because He is the master of all mystic powers and the proprietor of everything. Thus He is distinct from the living entities." SB 3.5.6

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YESTERDAY, IN A LOW MOMENT

Yesterday, in a low moment
I thought... "What is all this Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna? Who really knows if there is even any God what to speak of being blue? Srila Prabhupada was a very nice old Indian man but who really knows if any of this is actually true. Maybe it is just a big fairy tale!"

A picture of Krishna "peeped out" at me from a stack of papers on the book case.

"You rascal, Krishna! You can't hide from me! I have no qualifications whatsoever for Your service. My everyday life is eating, sleeping, mating and defending... mentality. I am 100% useless in this world and the next. I am still stuck in 'I am this animal body consciousness' but You just won't let me forget You...will You!"

TON OF BRICKS

Like a ton of bricks. This hit me. I have been asking for a more personal realization of the the Supreme Personality of Godhead. and here is Tulsi devi...I have been worshiping Tulsi in a small garden and the plants are almost five years old and have grown very large. They are leaving now. So I am saving the wood for beads. 

I have been sorting the wood in different sizes and mixing the wood from the different plants in piles according to size. But yesterday when one of the plants had definitely left. I took the wood inside and prepared to process according to size but something extraordinary happened. 

She jumped out at me and said, "No. I want to be your japa beads and neck beads. You have worshiped me for five years. We have a relationship. I am not just another Tulsi tree. I am a specific Tulsi tree. Don't mix me all up with the other plants. You really shouldn't have mixed them all up like that either. But it is too late now. Keep my wood separate and let me give you shelter. Me. A specific tree." String my beads in the exact way they appear now.

"Oh Tulsi devi. I worship your form. You are saving me from impersonalism... formlessness."

CANNOT POSSIBLY UNDERSTAND

I don't post this to be mean or arrogant or anything of the sort.... but those of us who were there with Srila Prabhupada while He was personally present, traveling and preaching experienced something anyone who was not there cannot possibly understand. Yes Srila Prabhupada is in His books. But it is not the same. Sorry folks. It is just not the same. We were part of a pastime.

I was considering this morning how we were just like dolls or puppets. He pulled all the strings and we danced and danced and danced. He has written that beautiful poem about , "Make me dance, make me dance, make me dance." so it must be that the Lord was making all of us dance. Srila Prabhupada wanted to dance for the Lord and Lord Krishna Chaitanya sent him a lot of souls to dance with Him.

You need to respect that we are experiencing separation in a way you cannot understand.

SOLAR MINIMUM

Wondering about something..

We all know there is a huge karmic debt for all the sinful activity. Just the cow slaughter alone is enough to reek all sorts of havoc, wars, droughts... you name it. I was just reading how it is Lord Krishna's style to wait to punish offenders. He especially likes to to get everyone all at once... like in big war, or natural disaster or plague or something. Don't hold it against Him. Something has to be done to stop the nonsense. This what He did with the Battle of Kuruksetra. Got everyone together and in eighteen days... problem solved. Bas... finished.

This winter is predicted to be record setting cold. The warm air stream El Nino is gone and the arctic freezing air is free to come south.

The scientists say is in connection with what they call a solar minimum....an extended period of time where the sun's rays are weaker than usual. It can be years even centuries and it is beginning now this year. They are calling it a mini ice age.

If we combine the difficulties something like this can cause along with the world wide economic problems, we could be heading into some very, very difficult times.

I'm in Florida and I am seeing the plants very unhappy. Not like other years. The banana grove is very pale and weak...All yellow leaves. Same with the papayas. Tulsi devi is leaving. Someone suggested chem-trail chemicals, but I am thinking now it may be related to the solar minimum. This has not happened in the last five years that I have been here.

If the solar minimum affects agriculture there could be food shortages, add that to the economic problems... unpayable government debts... which means defaults.. perhaps on pensions, retirement funds, social security, etc. This could be the start of something very, very difficult.

Enjoy the holiday, because I think in January and from here on out it's going to be very challenging times to say the least.

SOLAR MINIMUM.. WIKI

CAN GOD'S PLANS EVER BE THWARTED?

In case anyone was wondering if the Lord's plans can ever be thwarted.... Here is proof positive.... No! They cannot.

"The embryo of Pūru’s descendant begotten by the great hero Abhimanyu in the womb of Uttarā, his wife, was burnt by the weapon of the son of Droṇa, but later he was again protected by the Lord." SB 3.3.17

As we know Aśvatthāmā, launched the brahmastra to destroy Maharaja Pariksit as he was developing in embryo. And we know also that Pariksit was given audience of Lord within the womb of his mother. 

What we may not be aware of is that the body that was forming was in fact destroyed by the brahmastra. It was burnt. Since Lord Krishna had chosen that particular living entity to become the descendant of the Pandavas and heir to the throne, Lord Krishna was not to be thwarted.

"The particular living entity who was selected to be the descendant of Mahārāja Pūru, or the Pāṇḍavas, was not an ordinary living entity, and by the superior will of the Lord he was destined to be the successor to Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira." SB 3.3.17 purport

Lord Krishna simply supplied a new body...right there within the womb. A whole new embryo for Maharaja Pariksit.

"By His appearance within the womb, the Lord encouraged the child and gave him complete protection in a new body by His omnipotency." SB 3.3.17 purport

HOW WILL THEY FIND THEIR QUEEN?

Doctor appointment. What to wear? As if it was the very first day I ever had to put clothes on. There wasn't anything I wanted to wear. I have to wear something. Okay. The brown pants and the long sleeve gold shirt. Oh dear, this looks so masculine. 

Oh well it's time to go. Concerned and feeling very "self conscious" ...I look like a man dressed like this. Try not to think about it. Where is Lord Krishna?

Open the door to the crowded waiting room and all the women are dressed exactly the same way. They all look like men. 

Poor men. How will they find their queen?

NOT DUE TO LACK OF KNOWLEDGE

Boy is my head spinning on this.
Srila Prabhupada explains that the entire Yadu dynasty, offspring of Lord Krishna and His sixteen thousand one hundred and eight queens queens...sons, grandsons, etc... numbered in the millions. They were direct plenary expansions of Himself. They were not ordinary human beings. 

"The large numbers of family members [Yadus] born of Lord Kṛṣṇa counted to some millions and were certainly a great increase in the population of the earth, but because all of them were expansions of the Lord Himself by His transcendental plenary expansions, they were a source of great pleasure for the earth." SB 3.3.14 purport

Uddhava laments that the although this was the case they were not able to actually realize Lord Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. They simply thought pf Him as an incarnation of the supersoul. It was not due simply to the lack of knowledge. They were scholars of the Vedas.

"The Yadus were all experienced devotees, learned and expert in psychic study. Over and above this, they were always with the Lord in all kinds of relaxations, and still they were only able to know Him as the one Supreme who dwells everywhere." SB 3.2.9

and 

" The Yadus, therefore, accepted Lord Kṛṣṇa as the Supersoul incarnated in their family, and not more than that." SB 3.2 9 purport.

It was due to their misfortune only:
"This lack of knowledge was not due to their insufficient erudition; it was due to their misfortune." SB 3.2.9 purport

MAKING THE MEANING CLEAR

We can understand from this verse purport how the pure devotee makes the meaning clear. If I were to just read this I would not see it. This is a perfect example. This is Uddhava remembering the activities of the Lord and relating them in ecstasy to Vidura:

"[After the end of the Battle of Kurukṣetra, the Lord said:] The abatement of the earth’s great burden, eighteen akṣauhiṇīs, has now been effected with the help of Droṇa, Bhīṣma, Arjuna and Bhīma. But what is this? There is still the great strength of the Yadu dynasty, born of Myself, which may be a more unbearable burden." SB 3.3.14

It sounds to me that the Yadu dynasty is a burden on the earth. The demonic kings have all been killed. They were a burden and now the Yadus, there were millions of them, are also a burden. That's what I hear.

But Srila Prabhupada's explanation is completely different. And after hearing His explanation I can see it. But not on my own.

"All the members of the family of Lord Kṛṣṇa were incarnations of different demigods, and they were to disappear from the surface of the earth along with the Lord. When He referred to the unbearable heaviness on the earth in connection with the Yadu dynasty, He was referring to the burden of their separation." SB 3.3.14 purport

It would be more unbearable to lose the Yadus than it was to have been ruled by the demonic kings.
There was no other way for the Yadus to disappear and return to their higher planets. They could not die a "natural death" since they were all direct expansions of the Lord Himself. So there was a mock fight.

PICK IT UP IT'S A ROPE

Pick it up it's a rope
Put it down it's a snake.

Srila Rupa Goswami's simple instructions:
Accept everything favorable for Krishna consciousness.
Reject everything unfavorable.

It is said that this is the only regulative principle for developing Krishna consciousness. The only two "rules!"

Money...
Yes pick it up it's a rope.. buy bhoga for offerings, pay for a place to live, buy paraphernalia for serving the Lord....
No no. Put it down.. it's a snake...thinking too much about money. How can I get money, if I do this then I can get money. If I do than then I can get money. I need more and more money. Where did Lord Krishna go?

Friendship..
Yes. Pick it up.. It's a rope..Here is some nice prasadam my friend. I will tell you something I heard today about Lord Krishna from Srila Prabhupada. Let's chant Hare Krishna. Here is Tulsi devi let's offer Her some water.
No. No. Put it down it's a snake. What? You want tell me about how you are eating chicken and think it is okay? You want to tell me about your son and how he likes to drink beer. You want to tell me about your animal pets? You want me to be your friend? Where did Lord Krishna go? 

Sex..
Yes. Pick it up. Let me marry. Raise nice children for Lord Krishna.
No.No Put it down. It's a snake.. anytime. anywhere. anyone. 

Easy to see for the individual. But also for the society, the culture the community... if there is going to be a Krishna conscious community...a movement... if there is going to be a Krishna consciousness movement. 

These are only the two rules. It's a wild ride for sure and wide open...completely dependent on the mercy of the Lord in the form of His pure devotees.