Ultimate Self Realization

There is a great increasing concern nowadays about the impending petroleum crisis, how we as a global society are quickly running out of petroleum, even though the world civilization functioned successfully without petroleum for thousands of years. But when it comes to water shortage we are dealing with something far more dangerous indeed. A human being can survive without petroleum, but he cannot survive without water. Food crops can grown and harvested without petroleum, but they cannot survive without water. When we landed at the Brisbane, Australia airport I was warned by a prominent sign not to use much water because Brisbane is experiencing a drought. This is not the most encouraging way to be welcomed to a city. And even here at the ISKCON temple there is a government mandated warning sign posted in the bathroom limiting us to four minute showers. But since I've arrived and we've had some enthusiastic kirtans, as I write this, it is raining like anything. In fact it ...

29 May 2008--After two wonderful days out here in the clean air and open spaces of New Govardhan with the wonderful devotees, ecstatic kirtans, enlivening classes, cooing peacocks, and contentedly mooing cows, we are returning to the city, in this case Brisbane, Australia, for the all-important task of pushing forward the Krishna consciousness movement. The entire world is suffering due a lack of Krishna consciousness so we cannot just think of our own enjoyment forever remaining in the paradise of New Govardhan. We have to go to where the people are to give them Krishna consciousness, to give them the opportunity to get the information they need for escaping the cycle of birth and death and returning to their original state of enlightened consciousness in the transcendental existence far, far beyond the realm of repeated birth and death. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Beautiful New Govardhan Panorama Flowers at Dawn Peaceful New Govardhan Cows will not be Slaughtered New Govardhan B...

Our mission is to turn on the whole world to Krishna consciousness because Krishna consciousness is the one switch that will immediately illuminate the entire world. At the present moment the entire world is in the darkness of ignorance. People have no idea who they are, where they are coming from, where they are meant to go, and how they are to get there. They are simply wandering aimlessly in the cycle of birth and death foolishly dedicating all of their energy to serving their material body, the covering of their actual self, instead of serving their actual self, the spirit-self, which is factually served through the sublime method of serving the Supreme Self, just as we water the leaves and branches of a tree by watering its root. Some people argue that there is no Supreme Self. But everywhere we see that different persons possess varying amounts of the opulences such as power, beauty, renunciation, knowledge, wealth, and fame. Since we all possess varying quantities of thes...

It is 27 May 2008 at 11:16 am. We have just flown overnight from Hong Kong and are due to land in one hour in Brisbane, Australia where my disciple, Syamasundar Das, will meet us and drive us to the beautiful, rural ISKCON community known as New Govardhan. New Govardhan is situated in a beautiful mountainous area of Australia laden with forests, rivers, and tropical fruits. It is a wonderful place for getting some sunshine, fresh air, and beautiful vistas. However, I am not going there for fun in the sun. I am going to there to lecture on the amazing transcendental science of Krishna consciousness, which transports the serious practitioner far, far beyond this material existence into the most amazing transcendental abode known as the paravyoma, the spiritual sky. The beauty and the majesty of that paravyoma far exceeds any of the most idyllic wonder spots of this material world. And there you will find that birth, death, old age, disease, terrorists, and escalating food and petrol p...

On Sunday evening 25 May, our host, Vignesvara, drove us 45 minutes outside of Kuala Lumpur to Klang, Malaysia where there is a wonderful ISKCON center. There was a glorious kirtan, out of this world prasadam, and the devotees received my lecture very nicely. We studied from the Bhagavad-gita how the living entities in this material world are fallible while those in the spiritual world are infallible. I was very happy to meet some subscribers to my e-course who were in attendance at my lecture. This is a very common and wonderful experience I often have when making my around-the-world lecture tours. I meet persons who are regularly reading and very much appreciating my humble attempt to serve the mission of my beloved spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, through this e-course. I take this as the great kindness of Srila Prabhupada upon me, that he has sent me so many souls who are eager to hear from me the science of Krishna consciousness. This...

The other day someone sent me an email indicating that because I am acting as an acharya I am most sinful and that at the time of death I will go to hell to be punished by Yamaraja for my heinous crime of acting as an acharya. So am I guilty as charged or am I innocent? That I am acting as an acharya is a fact. So this is not the issue. The issue is this: Is my acting as an acharya authorized by my spiritual master, or I am doing it without my spiritual master's authorization? If one acts as an acharya without his spiritual master's authorization, it is a great offense. But if one acts as an acharya with his spiritual master's authorization, it is the most auspicious and glorious activity. So am I am authorized by Srila Prabhupada to act as an acharya or am I not authorized by Srila Prabhupada to act as an acharya? This is the question. In a lecture delivered in Mayapur, West Bengal, India on April 6, 1975 Srila Prabhupada instructed us, his disciples, that he wanted and ...

Yesterday I wrote about bowing down,. and I showed a photograph of devotees bowing down to our founder-acharya, His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada. Today I received an email from one of my readers who cancelled his subscription because in his view we should only bow down to Krishna and no one else. He has written me as follows: "I am interested in the Bhagavad-gita and Lord Krishna. I do not want to know about anything else or anybody else. You show people bowing to your Prabhupada, not to Lord Krishna, and I do not feel comfortable bowing to a person. I bow only to the creator of the universe." But bowing down to Krishna means to follow the instructions of Krishna. Without following the instructions of Krishna there is no meaning to bowing down to Krishna. Krishna instructs in the Bhagavad-gita that we should bow down to the spiritual master with humility, submission, and surrender. So if my disgruntled former reader was truly understanding what it means to bow down to Kri...

In the Vedic culture bowing down is part of one's regular daily life. Is a way of showing great respect. One regularly bows down to one's superiors such as one's parents and one's spiritual master. Also upon entering and leaving the temple one bows down to the Lord. Outside of the circle of devotees we nowadays rarely see this bowing down. So this morning here in Japan I was pleased to see that in this country this custom of bowing down to offer respect is still going on. We had to go to the Japan Airlines customer service desk to get our boarding passes reprinted. When we were finished and were walking away from the counter the two Japanese ladies who had serviced us both bowed down. Now if we can just get everyone to bow down to Krishna the entire planet will become non-different from the spiritual world. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Devotees Bow Down to Srila Prabhupada Answers According to the Vedic Version: Question: Why Does Krishna Give Pain to Us? I unders...

We are fully dedicated to the spiritual enlightenment of the entire human society. Because the entire world civilization is based on the false premise that we are this body we are facing so many unsolvable problems. If we want peace at all, a new outlook we must call, that we are not these bodies, that we are instead pure spirit-souls in quality one with Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and constitutionally meant to always render loving service unto Him. If we can simply understand and realize who we are and then act fully in this enlightened capacity, the entire world atmosphere will become quickly and easily transformed into a very wonderful and pleasing atmosphere for everyone. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Answers According to the Vedic Version: Question: Why Avoid Onions and Garlic? Why we should avoid onions and garlic? I know that onions and garlic are not meant to be eaten by the devotees of Lord Sri Krishna, as they cannot be offered to Him. But I want to know wh...

In this material world there are so many dualities. Sometimes we are honored. Sometimes we are dishonored. Sometimes we are healthy. Sometimes we are sick. Sometimes we are wealthy. Sometimes we are poor. Sometimes we are young. Sometimes we are old. Sometimes we are born. Sometimes we die. If we allow ourselves to become affected by these dualities, we will never have peace of mind. Therefore Krishna advises that we must tolerate these dualities without being disturbed. The easy way to rise beyond all these dualities is to fix our mind in Krishna consciousness. And then once we are situated in the eternal bliss of Krishna consciousness, the dualities will no longer faze us because we will situated far, far beyond them. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Answers According to the Vedic Version: Question: Why Did Krishna Create the Universe? Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! I have a small question to ask you, which one of my friend asked me and I coul...

It never ceases to amaze me how living a life in harmony with the Supreme keeps getting sweeter and sweeter and sweeter, on and on and on, ad infinitum. The ecstasy of Krishna bhakti never gets maxed out because there is always an unlimited capacity for the heart to grow and mature further and further into an ever-increasingly loving, intimate relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna. What this means is that the devotee's life is experienced at every second as the greatest, thrilling, vanguard adventure on the cutting edge of world history in the making. In this way a life of Krishna consciousness is never dull, drab, or humdrum. Sankarshan Das Adhikari "Who Are You?" Lecture Riga, Latvia 19 May 2008 Answers According to the Vedic Version: Question: How to Counter this Argument? Hare Krishna. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Please accept my obeisances. Argument for the the existence of the soul 1) The cells in your body are constan...

One of the most auspicious features of our 2008 spring tour of Europe is that we have held four initiation ceremonies bringing eight new members into Srila Prabhupada's family. I initiated two disciples in Germany, one in Estonia, two in Latvia, and three in Lithuania. There is nothing more auspicious than the moment of initiation because that is the moment when the disciple fully enters into eternity. Then if he or she faithfully executes their initiation vows, they remain eternally in their deathless position as servants of Krishna. At initiation the disciple vows to chant at least 16 rounds daily of the Hare Krishna mantra on japa beads as well as strictly avoiding illicit sex life, meat eating, intoxication, and gambling. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Ecstatic Initiation Ceremony in Kaunas, Lithuania 18 May 2008 Initiates (front row left to right): Rupanuga Das Sankirtan Das Krishna Caitanya das Abhinanda Das (2nd Initiation) Vygintas (seated behind and between Sankirtan and ...

Today we are beginning the finish up of our Baltic tour. It has been several weeks of incredibly sweet nectar spreading Krishna consciousness here in the Baltic countries: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Oblast (Baltic portion of Russia). My disciple Damodar das will be driving us today to Riga, Latvia. Tomorrow he will be driving us from Riga, Latvia to Tallinn, Estonia from where we will travel by ship to Helsinki for a two day layover before we fly out to Malaysia. No matter how sweet Krishna consciousness becomes it amazingly becomes more and more sweet. We are looking for people who would like to dedicate themselves to striving their very best to become ideal examples of Krishna conscious devotees. Such Krishna conscious persons will have a powerful impact on the global consciousness for counteracting the influence of the Kali yuga and nudging the world step by step into the golden age of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Loving Farewell in Vilnius, Lithuani...

On 17 May 2008 we headed out on all day trip to Visaginas, Lithuania where there is a small group of very wonderful devotees. It was a three hour drive from Kaunas, which gave me a lot of time to catch up on my emails. (Going and coming I was able to complete 71 emails and almost get caught up.) The devotees fed us a wonderful lunch and for the evening program they had rented a hall and publicly advertised my lecture. We got a packed hall. I explained to the audience how we can make the entire world prosperous and peaceful by the wide scale introduction of the Krishna consciousness movement. I then invited to join us by purchasing our books and attending our regular meetings in Visaginas. Many people purchased our books. Some of them traveled all the way to Kaunas to hear my lecture there. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Introducing Krishna Consciousness in Viaginas, Lithuania Visaginas Farewell Answers According to the Vedic Version: Questions: Soul and Conservation of Energy ...

The secret of spiritual success is to live your life in such a way that it completely filled up with Krishna. Make all of your life's goals Krishna conscious, and then fully dedicate yourself to achieving all of them. This is thousands of times more enjoyable and satisfying than being even the most successful sense gratifier in this world. Design your day in such a way so that at every moment you are somehow or other connecting with Krishna. Be creative. Have fun. You are embarking on the supreme adventure. It will do nothing but get better and better for all of eternity. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Answers According to the Vedic Version: Questions: Accept Guru Out of Sentiment? A common saying is "Listen to your heart." But, how can the heart be trusted as long as you are under the modes of material nature and are a conditioned soul subject to the 4 defects? The modes of nature extend to the heart, and so listening to your heart could be acting upon lustful prop...

The ocean of Krishna bhakti is so unlimitedly sweet and deep that there is no limit to how much you can relish it. Here in Kaunas, Lithuania we are diving deeply into that ocean. There are unlimited waves of ecstasy in that ocean and each wave is more amazing than the wave that came before it. The key to remaining always in this ocean is not allow any selfishness, lust, or greed to enter into your heart. You've got to always remain in a loving, giving, sharing, caring mood. This is not difficult when we always remember and try to model ourselves after the wonderful, unlimitedly loving example of our most beloved Founder-Acharya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Answers According to the Vedic Version: Questions: Hare Krishna Mantra a Placebo? Dear Gurudeva, Is the Hare Krishna mantra a placebo (it works because the person doing it thinks it is going to work)? My friend asked me this and I wasn't sure what to say to him. He ...

Here in Kaunas my disciples have arranged a wonderful series of lectures in different colleges and halls. I have spoken on how to solve the environmental crisis, how to develop fully one's talents, how to make the entire world peaceful and prosperous, how to enter permanently and immediately into a land of transcendental bliss, and many other topics. It was enlivening for me to see halls packed capacity for my lectures and to see so many customers for our transcendental literatures at the end of the lectures. Our Vedic wisdom is so vast and so deep that it touches upon and indeed perfects every field of knowledge that exists within the universe. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Speaking on Solving the Environmental Crisis Happy Book Customers after a Lecture Answers According to the Vedic Version: Questions: Pleasure from Power? How can I derive pleasure from power? I have started believing in power. How can I have the power to make wealth so I can make promotion to my donation...

Beyond this universe, beyond the realm of time and space there exists another dimension, a land of unlimited bliss and knowledge, where everyone lives an eternal life free from the pangs of birth, death, old age, and disease. One does not have to wait for death to enter into that transcendental realm. One can enter into it right now by fully entering into the highest stage of enlightened consciousness, known as Krishna consciousness. This consciousness is to be learned by taking completely shelter of Lord Sri Krishna under the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master. There is no reason to live one temporary term of misery and illusion after another such term again and again ad infinitum. If one will adopt the simply process of bhakti yoga under the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master, he will quickly regain his eternal all-blissful, full-of-knowledge existence. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Answers According to the Vedic Version: Questions: How to Recognize One's Guru? It is...

12 May 2008--Today we are leaving Russia heading back to Lithuania. As I write these words we are being driven by Lila Avatar Prabhu from Kaliningrad to Sovetsk, where we will walk across the border by crossing the bridge over the Neman River to be picked up by my Latvian disciple, Damodar Das. These few days in Russia were truly the sweetest nectar. We had the most enlivening kirtans, the most enlivening classes, and the most enlivening association. Now with joyful anticipation we are already planning our next visit in October from the 17th through the 20th. This is how life should always be, filled to the brim with ecstatic Krishna consciousness. And this indeed is how it can always be. All we have to do is make a little endeavor each day to plug ourselves into Krishna, just as a lamp becomes illuminated when it is plugged into an electrical outlet. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Hare Krishna Kirtan from Russia with Love Sweet Transcendental Russian Farewell Answers According to...

In Krishna consciousness we are not lacking in anything. We have the best music, the best food, the best clothing, the best philosophy, and the best friends. We get the best possible life style in this world, and then at the time of death we attain the supreme destination of going back home, back to Godhead. When one fully dives into Hare Krishna culture he enters into an eternal existence, full of knowledge, and full of blis. Anyone with even half a brain who understands what is the difference between material consciousness and Krishna consciousness will always opt for Krishna consciousness because it is far, far superior to material consciousness in every conceivable and inconceivable way. Therefore out of kindness upon the suffering souls of this world, who are blinded by the darkness of ignorance, the members of the Krishna consciousness movement should now through educational and cultural conquest take the leadership role on this planet for the deliverance of all. Sankarsha...

10 May 2008--I am relishing every minute here in Kaliningrad, Russia as the sweetest nectar. This morning's Srimad Bhagavatam class enabled all of us, speaker and hearers alike, to dive deeply into an unlimited ocean of bliss and sport enthusiastically in its waves. It was so enlivening and there were so many sincere questions coming from the devotees that I considered the idea of continuing the class all day long letting it roll uninterruptedly into the evening's class. But then remembering that I am one week behind on answering my emails I opted to end the class on time and return to my quarters for a day of writing before the evening lecture. I offer to you, my beloved readers, this following verse from the Srimad Bhagavatam which can be recited daily for the deliverance of the entire world from chaos: svasty astu viśvasya khalaḥ prasīdatām dhyāyantu bhūtāni śivaḿ mitho dhiyā manaś ca bhadraḿ bhajatād adhokṣaje āveśyatāḿ no matir apy ahaitukī "May there ...

9 May 2008--Kaliningrad, Russia. Our crossing into Russia was the smoothest ever. After Damodar Das drove Mataji and me for one and half hours from Kaunas, Lithuania to the Russian border we then crossed by foot with our luggage across the wide Neman River. It was a beautiful spring day. Our trek across the bridge was made easy by the help of Damodar and Madhuri who joined us on the walk to help us with our luggage until just before the customs check. Within minutes we cleared customs and there on the other side of the gate were Gopinath Das and Lila Avatar Das waiting to drive us to Kaliningrad. Now having reached Kaliningrad and having gotten some prasadam and a little rest, I am ready for an evening lecture. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Crossing into Russia Answers According to the Vedic Version: Questions: Proof of Spiritual World? How can one know for sure there is an eternal spiritual world? Could you tell me the meaning of Hare Krishna mantra and who has brought forth thi...

Today is a very sweet day because today we are crossing the border into Russia. There is a lot of red tape and we have to walk across a long bridge with our luggage. But it is well worth it. There is no story more heart warming than the story of the Soviet Hare Krishna devotees who suffered unspeakable persecution including imprisonment and death at the hands of the cruel godless former communist regime to establish the Krishna consciousness movement in Russia. Here is their story told by them: PLANTING THE SEED OF KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS ON THE RUSSIAN SOIL During the eleven years of his preaching in the West, Srila Prabhupada [Founder Acharya for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, ISKCON] traveled around the world fourteen times. Among other countries he also visited Soviet Russia which at that time was behind the Iron Curtain. The four days visit of Srila Prabhupada to Moscow in 1971 miraculously brought many changes to that country of atheism. During his visit he ...

We're back in Kaunas, Lithuania now relishing the sweet, loving association of the devotees here. It's amazing how we can travel to so many different places in the world where the devotees are enthusiastically practicing Krishna consciousness and in each and every location feel that we have returned to our home. Why is it like this? The reason is that wherever Krishna is the center that place is not in the material world. Such Krishna centered places are existing in the spiritual world. So whenever we enter such an atmospheres we are re-entering the spiritual world, our original home. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Kaunas, Lithuania--Radio Show Interview 7 May 2008 Answers According to the Vedic Version: Three Questions I have improved my chanting of japa. What are the other expectations? Is there more than one type of energy of Krishna? I understand I must submit to a spiritual master. Do I require to be directly in contact with him? Viraj Answers: Improving the quali...

In this world there will always be calamities. They are an unavoidable concomitant factor of material existence. Learned transcendentalists wisely deal with these calamities in such a way that they are not disturbed by them. Rather they utilize them in such a way as to enhance and strengthen their position in transcendental Krishna consciousness. Just as an expert businessman uses both an up market and down market to enhance his business, the expert transcendentalists ride all varieties of waves of the material existence in such a way to carry them faster and further along the pathway of spiritual perfection. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Answers According to the Vedic Version: Question: Why is Krishna Reluctant? Krishna Himself can take all souls to Him by empowering their free will towards Him. Why is He reluctant? -your servant -Gayathri Answer: It's We Instead Who Are Reluctant Krishna is not reluctant to bring us back to His eternal abode. He is most eager to do so. It ...

On Sunday 4 May 2008, Ananda Govardhan Prabhu organized the most ecstatic home program in the outskirts of Riga. The large living room of the home was full of guests and we were all blessed with the most enlivening and uplifting opportunity to dive deeply into the Hare Krishna kirtan and Bhagavad-gita philosophy. Such events a very encouraging sign of how Krishna consciousness can inundate the world even where there are no temples. Every home can become a temple. Simply we must gather together and chant the sublime holy names of the Lord: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare Sankarshan Das Adhikari May 4, 2008--Home Program in Riga, Latvia Ecstatic Chanting Ecstatic Chanters Ecstatic Philosophy Ecstatically Distributing Bhagavad-gita Answers According to the Vedic Version: Question: Krishna Consciousness a Philosophy? Why is Krishna consciousness a philosophy? Marisol Answer: The Perfection of Philosophy ...

On Saturday 3 May 2008, the most auspicious ceremony was held at Riga, Latvia's Hare Krishna temple. Two devotees were initiated by me and two devotees received formal shelter from me. The new initiates were Guru Das, owner of two of Latvia's leading radio stations, and Damodar Das, his highly trusted assistant. Vita, the wife of Guru Das, and Madhuri both took formal shelter, the preliminary step to initiation. It was a celebration of great spiritual bliss for everyone--initiates and the temple room full of guests alike. The atmosphere reverberated with cheers of joy when I gave the initiates their new names and formally accepted them as my disciples. The ancient Vedic fire sacrifice ceremony (agni hotra yajna) performed in conjunction with the initiation created an awe-inspiring atmosphere. This initiation ceremony marks the most auspicious turning point for those who have taken initiation and for those who are preparing for initiation. Sankarshan Das Adhikari May 3, 200...

While radio listeners all over the world are tuning in to hear the greatest hits in different musical genres, Krishna conscious persons are hearing every morning the Srimad Bhagavatam class. These Bhagavatam classes are truly the greatest hits in the entire universe. There is nothing more powerful, enlivening, or exciting than the daily recitation of the glories of Lord Sri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. No matter how big of a hit the previous morning's Srimad Bhagavatam class was, today's class is even a bigger hit. How can this be? Once we are fully connected in love with Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the topmost enjoyer in all of existence, we enjoy ever-increasing pleasure on an equal level with Him at every moment. There is no easier or more sublime way to lovingly connect with Him than to attend the morning Srimad Bhagavatam class every day. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Srimad Bhagavatam Class in Riga, Latvia Answers According to the Vedi...

Here in Riga we are getting a very nice turn out every day at both the morning and evening classes. It is so enlivening to describe the amazingly sublime glories of Lord Sri Krishna that once we dive into this ocean we don't want to come out. This is real happiness. This is nirvanaa-paramam, the supreme nirvana. The whole world is hankering to taste such nectar. Now we have to teach them how to swim in this ocean. Question: How to Conquer Depression? I am an avid reader of this course. I am in a problem. I frequently I find myself in depression. I try to overcome it, but I am not getting any permanent solution. I know that without proper guidance I cannot get rid of it, so please guide me. Indira Answer: Transform It Into Transcendental Bliss If you will accept whatever depression you are experiencing as the special mercy of Krishna to help you become detached from the false, illusory happiness of this temporary material world, your depression will become transformed into ...

I can think of nothing sweeter than being on the road for the spreading the glories of Lord Sri Krishna all over the world. When we make Krishna the center of all of our relationships, there is no limit how much they can become deeper and sweeter. So all over the world I am tasting ever-increasingly wonderful relationships with so many great saintly Krishna conscious persons. This ever-expanding network of Krishna conscious relationships, in which the members of the Krishna consciousness movement participate, will grow more and more and more until it eventually engulfs the entire world. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Answers According to the Vedic Version: Question: Who is the Next Spiritual Master? In the Bhagavad-gita As It Is Srila Prabhupada stresses the importance of following the bona fide spiritual master and the line of disciplic succession, which starts with Krishna and runs up to himself. Please forgive my ignorance for not being aware of the current situation with ISKCON...