Your seventh question, “How is it that there is so much material “advancement” in the USA even though there is no formal demigod worship? ” Prabhupada: Actually there is no material advancement in the USA. Material advancement means there is amply opportunity for eating, sleeping, mating, and defending. Superficially, itContinue Reading
In 1942 Srila Prabhupada experienced the ”UNIVERSAL FORM-VISVARUPA” of the Supreme Personality of Godhead KRSNA and heard the deafening sound ” chiiiii-goww ”— Devotee: Prabhupada, we were reading earlier this morning in Bhagavad-gītā on the universal form of Kṛṣṇa, when He revealed Himself to Arjuna, and He said that theContinue Reading
Danavira: I’m in charge of the New Bhakta program in Los Angeles, and yesterday one boy called up the temple, and he was seventeen years old, and he said, “Five years ago, when I was coming out of a store, I received this Back to Godhead magazine. So I tookContinue Reading
“So śāstra-cakṣusā. Everything we have to take from the śāstra. Because we are blind now. Śāstra-cakṣusā. Our, the śāstra-jñāna, because the spiritual master enlightens the disciple with śāstra-jñāna, therefore he is spiritual master. If the spiritual master bluffs the disciple, then he is not spiritual master. Bluffing. No. om ajñāna-timirāndhasyaContinue Reading
The more one feels imperfect in Krishna’s service, the more he is advancing in Krishna Consciousness. Even the topmost devotees feel they are inadequate in their service to the Lord. So it is good to feel inadequate, and to try harder to please Krishna with better service. But one shouldContinue Reading
Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī describes pure devotional service as anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyaṁ jñāna-karmādy-anāvṛtam. One should not worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead to fulfill some material desire for success in fruitive activities or mental speculation. To serve the lotus feet of the Lord means to serve Him exactly as He desires. The neophyte devotee isContinue Reading
In the Age of Kali, a man is considered high class, middle class or low class merely according to his financial status, regardless of his knowledge, culture and behavior. In this age there are many great industrial and commercial cities with luxurious neighborhoods reserved for the wealthy. On beautiful tree-linedContinue Reading
During the present age, Kali-yuga, practically all desirable qualities will gradually diminish, as described in this verse. For example, dharma, which indicates a respect for higher authority that leads one to obey religious principles, will diminish. In the Western world, theologians have been unable to scientifically present the laws of God or,Continue Reading
There are five branches of irreligion, appropriately known as irreligion [vidharma], religious principles for which one is unfit [para-dharma], pretentious religion [ābhāsa], analogical religion [upadharma] and cheating religion [chala-dharma]. One who is aware of real religious life must abandon these five as irreligious. Any religious principles opposed to the principleContinue Reading
jñāna-niṣṭhāya deyāni kavyāny ānantyam icchatā daive ca tad-abhāve syād itarebhyo yathārhataḥ One involves jñāna-kāṇḍa and karma-kāṇḍa, and the other involves upāsanā-kāṇḍa. Vaiṣṇavas never want to merge into the existence of the Supreme; rather, they want to be everlastingly servants of the Lord to render loving service unto Him. In this verse, the words ānantyam icchatā refer to personsContinue Reading