Ecstatic Retreat Reflections

Sunday 9 May 2010--We have just returned from an ecstatic retreat in the Lost Pines Forest of Central Texas. Now we have one day to get ready to head out again in resumption of our around-the-world lecture tour. It was really wonderful how all the participants in the retreat were able to connect with each other and with Krishna through kirtan, aratis, lectures, prasadam, and service. There needs to be more and more such retreats all over the world. By expanding the Krishna consciousness movement more and more all over the world, all of the modern day society's problems will be solved.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Vishnupriya Mataji Teaching Krishna Bhakti
Lost Pine Forest Retreat-- 8 May 2010Vishnupriya Mataji Teaching Krishna Bhakti

Devotees Relishing Topics of Krishna in the Forest
8 May 2010Devotees Relishing Topics of Krishna in the Forest

Sankarshan Das

Answers According to the Vedic Version:

Question: Different Supreme Lords in Different Puranas

According to the philosophy of ISKCON (the International Society for Krishna Consciousness) besides Krishna all other gods and goddesses are considered as demigods. But according to the Shiva Purana, Shiva is the Supreme. And the Vishnu Purana says Vishnu is the Supreme Lord. And the Brahma Purana says that Brahma is the Supreme Lord. Please help me understand this. Can you clarify this?

Asha

Answer: The Purana Beyond the Modes of Nature

It is not ISKCON philosophy that Krishna is the Supreme. It is rather the philosophy taught by all the great sages such as Narada, Asita, Devala, and Vyas, who have guided the Vedic civilization for thousands of years. ISKCON teaches this philosophy because this is what has been confirmed by all of the great Vedic authorities.

The statements in the various Puranas putting forward other great personalities as being the Supreme Lord are to encourage people who are situated in the various modes of nature how to progress gradually within the modes in their understanding of who is the Supreme Lord until they can gradually fully transcend the influence of the material modes of nature and realize that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Thus there are thus Puranas for those in the mode of ignorance, Puranas for those in the mode of passion, as well Puranas for those in the mode of goodness. The Bhagavata Purana, also known as the Srimad Bhagavatam, is described as the spotless Purana because it is completely free from any tinges of the modes of material modes of nature. It is specifically for those persons who want to become completely free from influence of the material modes of nature in this lifetime in order to be able to go back to home, back to Godhead at the time of death.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

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