Ultimate Self Realization

On Srila Prabhupada's disappearance day in Vrindavan the assembled ocean of devotees were privileged to hear so many disciples of Srila Prabhupada speak their offerings of love. The master of ceremonies, Dina Bandhu Prabhu, explained that because there were 85 Prabhupada disciples present that not everyone would get a chance to speak. So I sat peacefully for several hours relishing all the wonderful expressions of love from my Godbrothers and Godsistere thinking that I would not be speaking. Then when I was called to speak, although I was somewhat surprised, I took it as wonderful opportunity to glorify my spiritual master to a highly receptive audience. The sweetest nectar is to glorify Lord Sri Krishna, but sweeter still is to glorify ur beloved spiritual master, His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada. At Vrindavan's Prabhupada Disappearance Festival 30 October 2011: The Pandal Was Packed With Devotees Blessed With a Chance to Glorify Srila Prabhupada Bathing Ceremony fo...

Today is the day that Srila Prabhupada disappeared from this world in 1977 here in Vrindavan. To experience this day in Vrindavan is especially potent because here you can enter Srila Prabhupada's room and see and touch the very bed in which he was lying when he departed from this world on that fateful historic day in the most holy month of Kartik. His disappearance was an unthinkable devastating tragedy for us, his disciples. We were so much dependent on his personal guidance on how we can advance in Krishna consciousness and spread this sublime movement all over the world. We were thinking and hoping that Srila Prabhupada would recover and continue blessing us with his divine association here on the physical plane for many more years to come. But this was not to be because Krishna had a different plan for Srila Prabhupada and for us also. Just as when Lord Sri Krishna appeared to depart from Vrindavan but actually could never leave because of being bound hand and foot by the gop...

Oh my dear Lord Krishna, when will that day come when the entire world will be delivered from nescience by the sweet power of your divine holy names? When will that day come when the world is no longer disturbed by the sinful activities of demoniac men? When will all the cows, women, child (including the unborn ones) be protected from the torture of wicked men? My heart is greatly tormented to see the mad rampage of this materialistic age as it systematically more and more destroys the God consciousness of the human population. My dear Lord, I am humbly begging for your mercy that the powerful spiritual revolution, the Krishna consciousness movement, started by You in Your form of Lord Caitanya and spread world wide by my beloved spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, may now gain sufficient momentum to completely inundate this universe with pure Krishna bhakti as soon as possible. Krishna and Balarama in Vrindavan Answers by Citing the Vedic Ve...

We have returned now to Sri Vrindavan Dhama. Even though it appears that we are now in India, we are actually not in India, because Sri Vrindavan Dhama is non-different from Lord Sri Krishna's transcendental abode in the spiritual sky, Goloka Vrindavan. Anyone who comes to this place humbly in the mood of a pilgrim will be greatly blessed and uplifted by the amazing transcendental potency of this most sacred place. Krishna's pastimes are going on here even today for those who have the eyes to see them. Vrindavan Dhama-Lord Krishna's Home on Earth This Abode is Non-Different from the Spiritual Sky Ecstatic Kirtan in the Holy Dhama Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Chant Hare Krishna Before Hare Rama? Dear Sir, I have some doubts which I request you to clear: 1. In the Hare Krishna mahamantra what does "Rama" refer to? Does it refer to Lord Rama of Ayodhya or does it refer to Lord Rama (Balarama) the brother of Lord Krishna? How can th...

The secret to success in spiritual life is to have unflinching faith in the words of your spiritual master. His words must be absolutely trusted because he does not speak his own words. He simply delivers to his disciples the pure message coming from Krishna. How does he do this? He speaks without addition or subtraction the instructions that he has received from his spiritual master. For example, my spiritual master is His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. He is a bona fide spiritual master because he presents without any addition or subtraction the words of his spiritual master who, along with all previous spiritual masters, has done the same. In this systematic way perfect knowledge of the Absolute Truth has descended undeviatingly from the original spiritual master, Lord Sri Krishna. So, to not trust your spiritual master's words is to not trust Krishna. In other words, it is to commit spiritual suicide. Srila Prabhupada Transmits the Knowledge Received from...

The final instruction I gave to my disciple, Guru das, as we were departing from Riga, Latvia on 24 October 2011 was that he should always see Krishna in everything and everything in Krishna. I explained to him that if he will apply this principle in all aspects of his life, he will always be blissful. This principle is nicely explained as follows in the Sri Isopanisad Mantra 6: yas tu sarvāṇi bhūtāny ātmany evānupaśyati sarva-bhūteṣu cātmānaṁ tato na vijugupsate "He who systematically sees everything in relation to the Supreme Lord, who sees all living entities as His parts and parcels, and who sees the Supreme Lord within everything never hates anything nor any being." The fact is that Krishna is always acting everywhere in all times, places, and circumstances with unlimited benevolence. If we can simply learn to always see this, we will eternally be blissful, peaceful, and knowledgeable and will always be able to act expertly in all situations. Departure from Riga...

Now as we depart from the Baltic region of northern Europe to spend a few weeks in the holy land of India, I am absolutely astounded at how blissful this lecture/kirtan tour was. No matter how blissful Krishna consciousness gets, it keeps on getting more and more blissful without any end. Where will this ever-increasing nectar take me? It is inconceivable! There is so much bliss in Krishna consciousness that it can completely overflood your heart and come pouring out with such profusion that the entire universe can be drowned in it. And to think that I can go on living like this for all of eternity without every having to die staggers my imagination. Ecstatic Farewell from Kaunas, Lithuania 23 October 2011 Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Strength for Realizing Ultimate Truth Dear Gurudeva, Namaste. I would like to humbly ask the following question: It is said that the ultimate truth is not for the weak in body, or the weak in mind, for if the body is weak, it ha...

Saturday 22 October 2011 was one of those special days that will dance in my memory for a long time. Devotees came to Kaunas, Lithuania from many different countries to offer me their respects on my birthday. It was a wonderful opportunity to lead a hall full of devotees in super ecstatic kirtan. Srila Prabhupada said kirtan rasa is our only safe position in this world. So the more we can dive into kirtan, the more we will feel the bliss. We went deep, deep, deep, and it was oh so sweet, sweet, sweet. Then in the evening I initiated six disciples: Samika Rishi Das from Vilnius, Lithuania Anantakirti Das from Tallinn, Estonia Raghavendra Das from Kaunas, Lithuania Astasakhi Devi Dasi from Kaunas, Lithuania Tilakini Devi Dasi from Sovesk, Russia Tapasvini Devi Dasi from Helsinki, Finland The disciple who accepts their initiation vows with seriousness becomes deathless from the very day of his or her initiation. Therefore anyone who is serious about attaining the supreme destin...

On the evening of Friday 21 October 2011 our venue for spreading the light of Krishna consciousness to a world that is covered in darkness was a center in Kaunas, Lithuania which is known as the Light House. Even though their book table was loaded with so many varieties of speculative, non-authoritative books, at the end of the program when we encouraged everyone to visit the book table it was our books that were the hit of the evening. It was truly heart warming to see how the people preferred the books that accurately presenting the Vedic wisdom for the upliftment of the entire world society. The Light of Vedic Wisdom at the Light House Kaunas, Lithuania--21 October 2011 The Audience Deeply Pondered Our Words Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Best Way to Practice Krishna Bhakti? What is the best way to practice Krishna consciousness? Janna Claes Answer: Associate with Pure Devotees The best way to practice Krishna consciousness is in the association of...

The great preceptor and compiler of the Vedic wisdom is Srila Vyasadeva. He is known as the literary incarnation of God. For any spiritual master to be bona fide he must purely transmit without any adulteration the original Vedic teachings as given by Srila Vyasadeva. The seat from which the spiritual master gives discourses is known as the Vyasasana, the seat of Vyasadeva, because only sinless persons who are purely presenting the teachings of Srila Vyasadeva are allowed to sit on it. And the most auspicious birthday or appearance day of the spiritual master is celebrated by his disciples and followers as Vyasa Puja, the worship of Srila Vyasadeva, because when we worship the current link in the line of disciplic succession that worship is transmitted directly to Srila Vyasadeva. On this day the disciples assemble together to make offerings of praise to their spiritual master. They fast until noon and offer a feast, puspanjali, and arati to their spiritual master at noon. Then the d...

Forty miles (65 km) west of Kaunas, Lithuania is Šakiai. This small town of 6 to 7 thousand people was completely destroyed by the Germans in World War II, but it is now giving birth to the sublime life-giving process of Krishna consciousness. On 19 October 2011 we travelled there from Kaunas for an evening lecture program held in the health food store of a local devotee couple. In such a small town I did not expect much of a turn out. But I was pleasantly to see the store was completely filled up with people who were very happy to hear about the sublime process of awakening their dormant Krishna consciousness. Especially sweet was one small boy named Dainius (pictured below), who asked many questions. I also asked him a question. "Would you like to become a great saint?" His unhesitating answer was, "Yes." Šakiai Lithuania Inspiring Turnout in Such a Small Town "You Are Not That Body." The Boy, Dainius, Who Wants to Be a Great Saint Ans...

On 18 October 2011 we were happy to bring the light of real knowledge into the heart of academia by our lecture at the Vilnius Pedagogical University. There are so many thousands of universities all over the world. But where is that university which teaches the difference between the body and the self? Without this basic knowledge there is no question of giving anyone a real education. After all, if you don't even know who you are, how can you understand anything else properly? It is not possible. For your entire life you will simply be groping in the dark. And the result of your so-called education will be that at the time of death you will glide down into the animal kingdom. Therefore real education means to bring the student to the human platform by teaching him to inquire about the nature of the Absolute Truth. This was our humble attempt at Vilnius Pedagogical University. We pray to Krishna that the seeds of bhakti we planted there will bear fruit. Vilnius Pedagogical Unive...

The most highly advanced devotee is known as the mahabhagavata. His distinguishing quality is that he sees Krishna within everything and everything within Krishna. Such a devotee is the genuine well-wisher and best friend of all living entities. His only desire is that everyone can become happy by being reinstated in their original loving relationships with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. His pure heart is completely devoid of the tendency to criticize others, but like a compassionate physician he kindly points out the faults in others to help them become free from their material disease, which is keeping them entangled in the miserable cycle of birth and death. The Topmost Mahabhagavata, Srila Prabhupada, Initiates a Most Fortunate Soul as His Disciple Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Is Krishna Consciousness Science? Krishna consciousness seems to have the answer to all questions. So is it a science? I thank you for spreading Krishna consciousness to a mater...

Our last major program here in Kaliningrad was a public hall lecture on Sunday afternoon 16 October 2011. I was delighted to arrive to a hall packed full of local people, who had assembled simply to hear my lecture. After a leading a rousing Hare Krishna kirtan, I gave a thirty minute lecture, in which I described the absolute necessity of regaining our spiritual identities to become actually happy and to get free from the cycle of birth, in which we have been suffering for millions of births. The lecture was then followed by a lively thirty minute questions and answers session. Many of the audience came outside to give us a send-off kirtan as we drove away from the hall. I pray for the day when the entire world will become as interested in Krishna consciousness as the people were at this program in Kaliningrad. Sharing the Wisdom of the Bhagavad-gita 16 October 2011--Kaliningrad, Russia With Translator, Gopinath Das Interested, Receptive Audience Answers by Citing the V...

Here in Kaliningrad at one my lectures I was asked, "You are traveling all over the world and experiencing many different places. So which place do you like the best?" My immediate reply was that since Krishna consciousness is a process of ever-expanding bliss every place I go to is experienced as the best of all places. Especially after I remain in a place for a few days it becomes so sweet that I wonder why I would ever want to leave such a place. How can every place be so relishable here in this miserable material world? This is because anyone who is engaged 24 hours daily in Krishna's service is not living in this material world. They are constantly living in the ever-blissful association of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in his wondrous transcendental abode, the spiritual sky. Anyone in any part of the world can easily personally connect with God simply by chanting the Hare Krishna mahamantra. Wisdom that Opens the Door to the Spiritual World 15 October 2011--K...

Back in 1965 when I was a college student I couldn't stand the material world that I had been born into. It was way too miserable for me, unacceptably unpalatable. Since I intuitively understood that fate could not be so cruel to leave me stranded forever in a world like this, I began earnestly searching for a way to access the beautiful, blissful world that I knew must be on the other side of reality. I encountered many teachings that claimed to be the way to get there, and I tried their methods. But much to my disappointment, nothing liberated me. After three years of painful searching I was still stuck in the muck of miserable material existence. But one fateful evening in fall of 1968 in Denver, Colorado USA my arduous search bore the sweetest of all fruits. A friend of mine named Patrick Dolan handed me the key to open the door to that amazing transcendental world. He taught me an amazing mantra, which possesses unlimited potency for delivering those who chant it sincerely t...

Our short stop in Klaipeda, Lithuania on our way to Russia was another fantastic opportunity to share the sublime nectar of Krishna consciousness. After an enlivening kirtan I was very inspired to describe the glories of chanting Hare Krishna in great detail. There were so many questions coming from the enthusiastic audience that we did not have time to answer all of them. My greatest happiness was to see that so many people were inspired to purchase our transcendental literatures at the conclusion of the program. This ecstatic evening was another proof of the unlimited causeless mercy of my beloved spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Revealing the Mystical Power of the Mahamantra 13 October 2011--Klaipeda, Lithuania Making a Strong Philosophical Point Many People Purchased our Books Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: How to See Good and Bad Equally? How can a person remain indifferent to both good and bad at the same ...

The epitome of sweetness is to worship Krishna during the month of Damodar or Kartik, which began here in Lithuania on 12 October. It is instructed in the Hari Bhakti Vilas that during this month we should sing the Damodarastakam prayers and offer a lamp to the Lord on a regular daily basis. We were most fortunate to be in the presence of Lord Damodar while we sang this beautiful prayer to Him and offered Him our ghee lamps. And then on the way back to our residence on the bank of the Nemunas River we beheld the most beautiful sight of the full moon reflecting on the river reminding us of how Krishna stood on the bank of the Yamuna river at Kesi ghat on the beautiful full moon night of the month of Damodar and attracted the gopi girls with His beauty and the mellifluous sound of His flute. Sri Sri Radha Damodar Receive Our Worship 12 October 2011--Kaunas, Lithuania Devotees Sing Damodarastakam  and Offer Ghee Lamps to Sri Sri Radha Damodar Kedaranatha Prabhu, Kaunas Temple...

The more we gratify our material senses, the less we are satisfied. This phenomenon serves as a clear indication to thoughtful persons that our happiness is not based on sense gratification. Why invest our energy in a realm of diminishing returns? The smart thing to do is to invest our energy in such a way that we get ever-expanding returns. That way is to offer loving service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna. Warm Arrival Kirtan 10 October 2011--Kaunas, Lithuania Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: How to Follow the Vedas? Dear Gurudeva. Namaste. How can we always engage ourselves in actions which are totally in accordance with the basic teachings of the Vedas? Yours in yoga Janardan Mali Answer: Surrender to Krishna To become perfect in following the teachings of the Vedas one simply has to fully surrender himself unto Lord Sri Krishna. The ultimate goal of all Vedic wisdom is to know Krishna and surrender unto Him. Therefore one who surre...

Take shelter of Krishna's holy name as your only business, and your heart will be overflooded with a non-ending stream of amazingly sweet transcendental realizations. Just go on chanting, go on chanting, go on chanting as much as possible. You will taste the sweetest nectar and gradually as your heart becomes more and more purified, God will become more and more visible to you. Super Ecstatic Farewell Kirtan 10 October 2011--Riga, Latvia Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Should I Give Up Material Studies? Dear Gurudeva, Please accept my humble obeisances. I am studying in a college in secondary pre university. But the problem is that I have lost interest in studying the material subjects like science and mathematics and my mind is always in thought of Krishna and His teachings such as the Bhagavad-gita. So what should I do? Should I give up reading the material subjects or not? Your servant, Kowsthub Answer: Offer Such Studies in Krishna's Service It wil...

What is the purpose of life? It is sometimes said that the purpose of life is to ask such questions as this. The desire to discover life's purpose indicates that life does indeed have a purpose. Otherwise how could there be a desire to discover it? In other words, desires don't come out of nowhere. They are matched with that which satisfies them. So just as the hunger of the belly indicates the existence of food, the hunger to know the purpose of life indicates that life does indeed have a purpose. Our duty is to inquire about it's purpose. If we are determined to find the answer, we will be blessed with it. We will realize that we are meant to re-harmonize ourselves with the original source of our existence. Revealing the Ultimate Purpose of Life Sunday Feast Lecture--9 October--Riga, Latvia Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: How to Overcome Negative Thoughts? Dear Gurudeva, Please accept my respectful obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Wh...