HOW IMPORTANT IS HEARING?

Awesome verse. SB 3.5.13

Vidura is on pilgrimage having given up his position in the royal court at Hastinapura after being aggressively threatened by Duryodhana. He first meets Uddhava who is the only person surviving Dwarka after the Yadus have all been annihilated. And Lord Krishna has also left the planet. 

Vidura is desiring so intensely to hear more about the Lord. There is nothing left for either Uddhava or Vidura. Only Lord Krishna in the mood of separation. But Uddhava refuses to instruct him considering Vidura a father figure and instead refers him to Maitreya Muni. 

Both Uddhava and Maitreya muni were present with Lord Krishna as the Lord was disappearing. The Lord instructed Uddhava in such a way that Maitreya muni could understand higher levels of devotional service. 

Here Vidura is inquiring of Maitreya. He wants to hear only of Lord Krishna. He has already heard so many things for the upliftment of human society. Now he wants to simply hear about Lord Krishna. 

"For one who is anxious to engage constantly in hearing such topics, kṛṣṇa-kathā gradually increases his indifference towards all other things. Such constant remembrance of the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa by the devotee who has achieved transcendental bliss vanquishes all his miseries without delay." SB 3.5.13

In the purport Srila Prabhupada stresses the absolute nature of the Lord:

"We must certainly know that on the absolute plane kṛṣṇa-kathā and Kṛṣṇa are one and the same. The Lord is the Absolute Truth, and therefore His name, form, quality, etc., which are all understood to be kṛṣṇa-kathā, are nondifferent from Him."

To further make the point Srila Prabhupada states:

"Bhagavad-gītā, being spoken by the Lord, is as good as the Lord Himself. When a sincere devotee reads Bhagavad-gītā, this is as good as seeing the Lord face to face in his personal presence....The pure devotee of the Lord enjoys life by constantly remembering the lotus feet of the Lord by hearing kṛṣṇa-kathā. For such a devotee there is no such thing as material existence, and the much advertised bliss of brahmānanda is like a fig for the devotee who is in the midst of the transcendental ocean of bliss."

So how important is hearing?
If Srila Prabhupada had not made the effort to reach out to us and deliver these messages of Godhead we would know nothing at all.

LIKE A CAROUSEL

Lord Krishna has created this entire material world like a giant amusement park for us. We can stay as long as we want to. Like the carousel....wheel of samsara...

When we have had enough... dizzy, not satisfied and want to get off... He is there to make arrangements to take us home.

JUST LET US HEAR

In the mirror.
A skeleton looked back at me.
How is there life in this thing?
Some bones covered with a bag.
Ludicrous!

All time spent how to keep it comfortable.
Fed, decorated, rested, cleaned and repaired.
And in the end...
Some bones covered with a bag.
Sound depressing?

No. It's not. Not at all. We just get to ride around in these things for a little while at the amusement park we call planet earth. 
And when it's over we can go home. 

Just let us hear, hear, hear.... the pure messages of Godhead. 

If Srila Prabhupada had not reached out to us we would know nothing at all.

NO CARD PLAYING HERE

Card playing is very popular among senior communities. But this division of the nursing home is way beyond card playing. Way beyond. Just getting the basic functions of existence under control is a major effort. The care is very good in many ways.

It's funny to see how everyone is dressed like they always dressed. The dining room is like a restaurant. If they were 30 or 40 they would be doing these same things. But now they are like skeletons and emaciated, insane people being dragged through the same activities they did on their own. 

Some of them have to be hand-fed meat by someone else that they willing ate by themselves before. So now there is no choice. Someone else is forcing it into their mouth. Some of them don't want to eat at all and have to be coaxed and coaxed to open their mouths so they can put the meat in it. 

From this scene I am reminded that everything is based on desire not "abilities." That is why we have to purify our desires.

WANT A PIECE OF CAKE?

Dinner time at the nursing home.
Dorothy wheeled over to our table in her wheel chair. She speaks in a strange language. Some think it may be Polish. But she chatters non stop. No one has the faintest idea what she is saying but she keeps going very authoritatively. 

Mrs Bentley may have a had stroke because she has difficulty with motor functions. But she is able to eat with silverware. Spaghetti is a challenge though. She has such a lovely smile. It is like the sunshine. Melts my heart every time. She is really a lovely person. 

Dorothy is chattering and coming in close to Mrs. Bentley who is trying to eat her meal. It takes Mrs. Bentley a long time to process if someone speaks to her. Dorothy is demanding attention. Mrs. Bentley takes a piece of cake with her fork and offers it to Dorothy. I've never heard Mrs. Bentley speak but she says loud and clear, "Want a piece of cake?" to Dorothy. Such a sweet humble offering. Exactly like a child.

Dorothy stops for a minute but then resumes full speed. Since the cake was not accepted Mrs. Bentley tries again, "Want a piece of cake... with frosting?" Maybe adding the frosting will help.

No. Dorothy is chattering on and on unintelligible. 

Mrs. Bentley is working hard to come up with something. Dorothy must want something. She offers her a drink of juice from her glass. Dorothy accepts the glass, drinks and smiles. Mrs. Bentley then drinks from the glass and smiles.
It is quiet.

SOME THINK THE GOAL OF LIFE IS TO BECOME PERFECT

Collecting Tulsi devi's leaves and flowers. Being there with Maharani. There are only two plants left out of the eleven or so over the last few years. The remaining two are huge but fading. They will be gone in the next little while too. 

The thought came and I had to laugh.

Some think the goal of life is to become perfect.
Then I really had to laugh... out loud.

There is only one perfect person. And that is Lord Krishna. This desire to become perfect is another Maya. 

What will you do if you become perfect, compete with Lord Krishna?
"Now I am perfect!!!"

Very funny, No. I will never ever become perfect.
"Oh. Then I cannot be happy. Let me do away with myself. I hate myself. Ech! I can't become perfect what is the use of living?"
"Ha Ha," More laughter.

"I want to become perfect" is the same as saying, " I want to become God."
Now there is very loud laughter. Like peels of thunder echoing throughout the whole universe. 

I'm so sorry. I know this comes as some really bad news for some people. Better the goal of life... to simply learn to love Lord Krishna. He is already perfect in everything.

THAT WAS THE END OF PRALAMBASURA

My very favorite!!! This demon Pralambasura tried to steal Lord Balarama in order to kill Him. He was afraid to actually try to kill Lord Krishna so he decided to kidnap Lord Balarama who is the servitor godhead in the mood of brotherly friendship. The spiritual master is an incarnation of servitor godhead. This is the business of the demons. To attack Lord Krishna and His empowered servants and associate.

Pralambasura disguised himself to appear as if he were a cowherd boyfriend of Krishna. Srila Prabhupada explains, " Actually, all these boys were demigods descended from higher planets to assist Kṛṣṇa in His pastimes." KB 1.18 Lord Krishna knew Pralambasura was not a demigod... that he was actually a demon come to attack and kill Him and Balarama.

They began a mock fight and the losing team had to carry the winners on their backs. Children play games similar to this game even now. Pralambasura carried Balarama and ran away with Him off into the forest in order to kill Him in a lonely place. 

Of course the plan did not work. Balarama smacked a good one on Pralambasura's head and that was the end of Prambhasura. 

The boys were astounded to see the real ghastly form of the demon, so-called cowherd boy 

"... the demon's body expanding up to the limits of the clouds, his eyes dazzling like blazing fire and his mouth flashing with sharpened teeth." now lying dead with his head smashed by the powerful fist of Lord Balarama.

"Well done, well done." All of them began to embrace Balarāma with great affection, thinking that He had returned from death, and they offered their blessings and congratulations."

http://prabhupadabooks.com/kb/1/18?d=1

HOW TO PRESERVE SOMETHING OVER TIME?

Here's the problem...
How to preserve something over time?

People have tried carving in stone. Can someone please decipher?
Building pyramids... okay what are they for? Take a guess.

How will you preserve valuable information?

Krishna's solution is the best. A living line of disciplic succession. Passing the important information down without changing it from generation to generation.
But now there is another problem. 

"This supreme science was thus received through the chain of disciplic succession, and the saintly kings understood it in that way..."BG 4.2
In order for that to work each link in the disciplic success must be pure. They cannot add anything or take anything away. That means they must have fully assimilated the information themselves. Fully realized the information. They must be living the message. Not so easy.

From time to time the succession gets broken.
"...But in course of time the succession was broken, and therefore the science as it is appears to be lost." BG 4.2

All it takes is a little sand in the sweet rice or salt instead of sugar in the charanamrta and the whole thing is spoiled. If the candidate for disciplic succession place-holder is not fully purified in devotional service he is sure to have the four defects of the conditioned soul.
" In the introduction of the Sri Isopanishad, Srila Prabhupada lectured about the four kinds of defects of the conditioned soul namely: 1. he must commit mistakes 2. to be illusioned 3. cheating propensity 4. imperfect senses."

What to do? What to do? Ever and always there are no material solutions, no mechanical means that can ever contain, limit or control spirit. We are fully dependent on the mercy of the Supreme Being. He can empower anyone to perform the needed service. He can and does. 

He empowers Arjuna to carry on the disciplic succession. Why Arjuna? Was he a scholar? A brahmana? Here's why:

"That very ancient science of the relationship with the Supreme is today told by Me to you because you are My devotee as well as My friend; therefore you can understand the transcendental mystery of this science." BG 4.3
"... You are my devotee as well as my friend..."
That is how we have Bhagavad gita As It Is (1972)

BHAKTI DEVI OR MAYA DEVI

Early morning musings...

The name of the game is bhakti, devotional service. There is no other way.
"My dear Arjuna, only by undivided devotional service can I be understood as I am, standing before you, and can thus be seen directly. Only in this way can you enter into the mysteries of My understanding. " BG 11.54

Where else do we see this? The only way.. No other means....
"harinama harinama harinama eva kevalam
kalau nastyeva nastyeva nastyeva gatir anyatha

“‘In this Age of Kali there is no other means, no other means, no other means for self-realization than chanting the holy name, chanting the holy name, chanting the holy name of Lord Hari.’ Brhannaradiya Puranam (38.126)

Where else?
Christ has said I am the way...
Which one is it right? They can't all be the only way.. They're all different right? Wrong. They are not different.

The spiritual master is the incarnation of bhakti, devotional service.
The servitor godhead.

Hari Nama Hare Krishna mantra is the sound incarnation of Godhead in the mood of servitor.

They are all incarnations of bhakti.
Who or what is bhakti?
She is an energy of the Lord. The energy of pure devotion.
When we take shelter of bhakti another energy of the Lord, Maya devi, the energy of illusion, cannot have influence. It is just like sunshine and darkness. Where there is sunlight there is no darkness. This is the path of Back to Godhead.

WHEN YOU ARE THROUGH THERE

Busy doing so many things. Practical things. Things that need to be done in the course of a day. I am not forgetting Krishna. the Name is there in the back of my head somewhere and comes out when I say it. 

Talking to someone a lot. Out loud. I am alone so I can indulge in talking out loud. I'm asking them questions? "Where are my glasses?" "What is there to eat?" "What time it is?" Or I am chastising someone. "Oh crap. Why did that pot have to fall on the floor and make such a mess?" Or threatening someone. "I'm not going to put up with that nonsense." Or laughing at a good joke with someone, that we obviously both got.

Then I sit down and read something Srila Prabhupada wrote about Krishna. And everything is transformed. The sky opens. It is no longer a reflection of something.. It is real. All the planets are there within reach. And the spiritual world beyond the material sky is calling, "Yes. Come here. When you are through there come home. It won't be long. Be patient. Keep hearing from Srila Prabhupada. Everything is there in the sound of pure Krishna katha."

WHY DOESN'T REPRESSION OR SUPPRESSION WORK?

Why doesn't repression work or suppression?

"Even a man of knowledge acts according to his own nature, for everyone follows his nature. What can repression accomplish?" BG 3.3

Because unless someone actually transcends the modes of material nature they are still under the grip. Just stopping some external behavior does not make someone free from the influence of the modes of material nature.

Passion for example. Someone may adopt celibacy. But if they do not engage in devotional service they are not free from the modes of nature. Sex is especially connected to the mode of passion. So it will come out in other ways. The desire for wealth (lust) and to be distinguished above others.. adored... vanity (lust) or the power to control (lust for power) These are all associated with the mode of passion. Lust and the mode of passion go together.

So they have managed to stop external sexual activity but the mode of passion still has them firmly under its grip. 

Repression or suppression does not work.
Celibate or not celibate that is a personal choice. What does work is offering everything to Lord Krishna.

AS IF WE ARE IN CONTROL

David McFarland I always knew people to be inherently insane creatures. They have that human (self righteous) condition...

Meena Devi Dasi Actually everyone is incapable of maintaining themselves. It only appears they are capable. The demigods are maintaining every aspect of our material situation. There are millions of demigods. Even one is in charge of eyelid blinking. How am I even typing this? 

In the dementia unit you see how the people act as if they are in control. But like the demigods maintain us, the patients have to be fed.. many of them, and diapers changed. They have be bathed and dressed and then entertained. They can't walk some of them and have to be wheeled here and there. 

But they bark out orders and make demands and talk all nonsense. How they have some important business appointment or they imagine so and so came to visit them. Or even that they are leaving tomorrow and start to pack up their clothes. One man yesterday was walking around with something very valuable and was afraid others would try to steal it... a large woman's pocket book full of old shoes.

WHAT DEMENTIA PATIENTS FIND NORMAL

I think everyone should spend some time touring and visiting people in a dementia care unit. It is very interesting what dementia patients find normal. Also educational in how they are managed. Logical does not work with them. Actually they become even more obstinate when something is explained to them logically.

ALL COINS... WHAT A NUISANCE...

While everyone is celebrating all their victories, successes and prosperity. I am very happy for you. But I prefer to struggle. I am not interested in prosperity. Family. Friends or anything else.
I'm funny that way. When these things approach I say, "Shoo Shoo, Go away. You are not attractive to me." I would rather suffer and be forced to think of Lord Krishna than to enjoy so many amenities and become complacent.
I remembered one incident that I have not considered for a long time. In San Francisco after Srila Prabhupada disappeared and all the intense confusion, chaos, was enveloping everything I tried to hang on to the one service I felt confident of. Book distribution. Srila Prabhupada's books. This must have been around 1990. I didn't know anything about book changes then. 

I would go out for a few days or weeks at a time by myself in my van and just distribute books all day. I had small books, Beyond Birth and Death, the Reincarnation book and some Higher taste cookbooks. I was immersed. All day everyday. I ate dried fruit and yogurt, chanted, read Bhagavatam and distributed the books.I truly believed in the service. 

"Please take one of these books and give a donation. Whatever you can offer. They help us understand our relationsjhip with God a little bit better."

One time after two weeks I came back with a big bag of laksmi. There was paper currency in the bag but mostly it was coins. It was very big, maybe $500. I must have approached every man woman and child within a hundred mile radius on behalf of Srila Prabhupada. I was so happy to have that to offer. I entered the treasurer's office and put the bag before them on their desk. They looked up and said, "What's this? We don't want this. All coins. What a nuisance."

 

SIDE-TRACKED

The demigods are devotees of the Lord. Persons who perform all sorts of pious activities and worship the Lord, perform sacrifices and austerities can go to the heavenly planets. There is no old age, no disease and the life span is very very long... thousands of years. 

There in the heavenly planets the sense gratification is beyond anything we can even imagine. Total and complete sense gratification. Sex indulgence as much as anyone could possibly desire, intoxication with powerful mixtures undoubtedly there are games and competitions and what is eaten is so delectable as to completely satisfy the sense of taste. But they are not demons. They are servants of the Lord for managerial affairs of the universe. The sun department, the rain department, the wind department, the water department. There are millions of demigods each in charge of something. There is even a demigod in charge of the blinking of eyelids.

So it is possible to become sidetracked. On the way back home, back to Godhead many will want to stop off in the heavenly planets. Don't want to miss anything, do we! But it is the material world. It is not the spiritual world and there is death eventually. No old age... No disease... but there is death. It does come to an end. Then what? Back down to earthly planet to try to build up pious credits again for a return to the heavenly regions. 

Godhead is something else. Godhead is not material has nothing to do with the material creation at all. The pleasures in the spiritual world are not material. For entrance to the spiritual planets there cannot be any material desires. Not everyone is going to the spiritual world. At least not right away.

WRITE YOUR OWN BOOKS

"Write your own books." That is the way. And put your name on it. "This is my book" based on the teaching of my spiritual master. If he is a fool it can been seen right away and then what is the use of such a book. Fools may be attracted. That is their problem. 

Many people do not agree with or accept the direction Hridayananda maharja has taken with his Krishna West. Agree or not agree... that is something else. The "way" he is doing it is honorable. He has written his own guide to the Gita and preaching fully responsible for what he is saying and doing as a disciple of Srila Prabhupada. If he is wrong, then he will have to accept the chastisement. If he is right then he deserves whatever glory might come.That is the way to do it.

These others are out and out "envious snakes in the grass." Srila Prabhupada did not choose Jayadvaita s. to edit anything just like Srila Prabhupada did not choose anyone to be diska guru. 

When the Gita was being prepared. Jayadvaita s. was there. He was doing some of the typing. "Srila Prabhupada chose Hayagriva." He could have chosen Jayadvaita but didn't! There is a lot of envy built up and it is coming out in this way. The shock is how the "leaders" of the society remain silent. They are complicit...useless parasites. Who has "chosen" them to lead anyway!

 

MAYBE I AM DREAMING

Attacking the books like this, is more than just changing a few grammatical errors, it is the ultimate destruction. I can't get my head around it. 

The disciples who are actually advanced should simply write their own books not rewrite Srila Prabhupada's books. It's disastrous. A laughing stock actually.
But the "leaders" have done so many horrendous things. And they have turned the other way and done nothing to correct even common sense transgressions of basic human dignities. Disgusting.

The books is the last straw. They are the very foundation of everything. Very Hellish. Maybe I am dreaming and it is only a nightmare.

 

ISKCON IS NOT SRILA PRABHUPADA

The body is not the soul. ISKCON is not Srila Prabhupada.

Here is proof:

"If, as soon as he thinks in his own way, then there may be mistakes, because he is imperfect, finite. But when Kṛṣṇa says directly that 'Within this body the soul is there,' so if we accept God's instruction, then immediately we understand that the soul is different from this body. Exactly just like if somebody inquires, 'Where is Prabhupāda?' If somebody says that 'He is in this room,' it does not mean this room is Prabhupāda; Prabhupāda is within this room...So immediately the false impression that 'I am this body,' the fool's conclusion...."

Srila Prabhupada is not even in ISKCON anymore. He is in His unrevised books.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN INSTITUTION AND ITS FOUNDER?

Over the top on book changes being allowed, supported and encouraged within the institution.
Spiritual life means being able to tell the difference between the matter and spirit. It also means being able to tell the difference between an institution and Srila Prabhupada.

Here's how.

Can an Institution be contaminated by sinful activities like child abuse, illicit sex, nonsense ideologies, even cases of murder? Yes.
Could Srila Prabhupada be contaminated or is there ever any record of him becoming contaminated? No.

Can an institution make mistakes like disposing of properties unnecessarily, producing educational literature that are seriously deviant, allowing unqualified leaders to continue in their posts even after proving their disqualification? Yes.
Could Srila Prabhupada make mistakes or is there ever any record of him making any mistakes? No.

Can an institution deviate from the ultimate goal Krishna consciousness like focusing on mundane social welfare? Yes.
Could Srila Prabhupada deviate from the ultimate goal or is there ever any record of him deviating from the ultimate goal, Krishna consciousness.? No.

Can an institution misappropriate funds and assets like out-and-out theft? Yes.
Could Srila Prabhupada misappropriate funds and assets or is there ever any record of him misappropriating funds and assets? No.

The body is there as a facility for making advancement when used under the guidance of a pure representative of Lord Krishna.
Similarly an institution is a social body and is also a facility for making advancement in Krishna consciousness on a societal scale when under the guidance of a pure representative of Lord Krishna.
.
Just like the body can deviate and be misused and drag the occupant to hell so also the institution can be misused and drag the occupants to hell.

A body without a head is dead.
A body without a heart is also dead.
A body with deranged head is insane. 

Srila Prabhupada's trusted managers are the head. His books are the heart.
The soul can leave the body if it is no longer functioning properly.

Srila Prabhupada has left ISKCON.
He is in His (unrevised) books.
.

CAN SRILA PRABHUPADA BE INSTITUTIONALIZED?

Can Srila Prabhupada be institutionalized?

Here are some ways institutionalization can be understood.

Institutionalize and related word forms may refer to:

Placing someone in a psychiatric hospital (voluntary or involuntary commitment)

"Institutionalized" may mean having the institutional syndrome, the psychological and mental health effects of living for a long time in an institution or similar Institutionalization in sociology.

In business administration, institutionalization means that a company can survive and function without its founders

BE SURE NOT TO FORGET

OMG. I couldn't remember my favorite snack so I couldn't access my credit card to make a payment. It took 45 mins and 5 reps to verify I was who I said I was in order to make the payment?
We had a great time with it though. They were all from Guatemala. I changed my password on the account to my favorite teacher..They told me to be sure not to forget. I told them I would be in a lot of trouble if I ever did. Jaya Srila Prabhupada.

JUST TO CATCH A GLIMPSE

We are individuals and Lord Krishna is an individual. He is supplying everything He is the creator of everything. But that is really no big deal for Him. He can do like that effortlessly actually. We maybe can do a little teeny tiny something but only with huge effort. However we are individuals. 

What fun it must for the Lord to play with us. To hear us laugh at His jokes, to see us run towards Him with smiling happy faces.

He agrees to stand in the temple just to catch a glimpse.

POURING GASOLINE ON A FIRE TO PUT IT OUT

When we see that all our activities in the material world are really just controlled by the three modes of material nature there is no need to beat ourselves up if we slip or make a mistake this way or that in judgment. The real battle is simply transcending the modes. 

The mode of passion is especially powerful now. Getting more. More. and more. Somehow it will satisfy me. But there is never any relief. Only more and more and more. Like pouring gasoline on a fire to put it out. Srila Prabhupada was fond of comparing like that.

So what to do when the mode of passion floods in? First of all recognized what is happening. That it is simply the mode of passion. That's 99% of the solution. That intelligence comes from the Lord within the heart. No need to berate one self, or pound how stupid or useless, etc. The modes are very difficult to overcome. 

They are designed like that by the Master Designer, the Lord Himself. Without acknowledging the Lord the Controller of the controllers it is not possible to become free from the control of the material energy. 

"Oh My master, I take shelter of You. Please lever let me forget You. You are the controller of the controllers of the modes of material nature. You alone can protect me from the modes of passion and ignorance and even the bewildering material mode of goodness with it's false sense of happiness and security. I am Yours. I wouldn't have it any other way now that I have met your Pure Devotee His Divine Grace."

THE SKY AND THE STARS REFLECTED ON THE WATER

In this verse Maitreya muni is answering Vidura's plea for him to speak about Lord Krishna. Here Maitreya is relating prayers the demigods offer to the Lord.
"O great Supreme Lord, offensive persons whose internal vision has been too affected by external materialistic activities cannot see Your lotus feet, but they are seen by Your pure devotees, whose one and only aim is to transcendentally enjoy Your activities." SB 3.5.45 

Srila Prabhupada discusses in the purport who these offenders are. The out and out materialist who denies the existence of God is one class of offenders. "I am everything." 

Another class of offender is the mayavadi who does not distinguish between the soul and the supersoul. They go through painstaking processes of realization with the goal of becoming one with the Supreme Being. Merging. All individuality gone. Theirs as well as the Lord's. 

Srila Prabhupada gives the illustration of the sky and the stars reflected in a body of water. In the reflection on the water it appears they are on the same level. The sky and the stars. But the actual sky and stars are uniquely different. They have their individual identities. 

The impersonalist cannot distinguish who is a devotee. Absorbed externally they kill the internal vision. 

"Offenders have to wait until they receive the mercy of devotees, and then they can become eligible to see the lotus feet of the Lord within themselves. But due to their offenses and their extreme materialism, they cannot see even the devotees of the Lord. Engaged in external activities, they kill the internal vision." SB 3.5.45 purport

Srila Prabhupada reveals the extra ordinarily merciful nature of the pure devotee. 

"The Lord’s devotees, however, do not mind the offenses of the foolish in their many gross and subtle bodily endeavors. The Lord’s devotees continue to bestow the blessings of devotion upon all such offenders without hesitation. That is the nature of devotees." SB 3.5.45 purport