Ultimate Self Realization

Our Saturday 28 April 2012 was very well spent. We took a two hour drive from Kaunas to a remote small town on named Telsiai nicely situated on the bank of a big lake. It was a beautiful drive through forests and small villages just as spring with it's newly blossomed flowers was just starting to appear. Along the way there were storks sitting high in their huge nests. There were many lakes both big and small. One small village had a creek of crystal clear water profusely flowing through the center of town. In one remote forest pond I spotted a swan majestically gliding through the water. So the countryside journey was quite pleasant. But what was even more pleasant was arriving in Telsiai to find a meeting room packed full of people interested to learn about Krishna consciousness. We started off with a magic carpet Hare Krishna kirtan ride and then came in for landing with a mantra yoga lecture followed by questions and answers. As usual many people purchased our hard bound books

As we were preparing on 26 April 2012 for my evening lecture on Mantra Yoga at the Vilnius Pedagogical University, my disciple Sankirtan Das informed me that the devotees here have a policy of not bowing down to the spiritual master in public because people will find it strange and not want to hear anything from us or take our books. I found this policy to be questionable because when Srila Prabhupada was here with us we always bowed down to him either in the temple or in public places without the slightest bit of hesitation. After all, it is a sastric injunction that as soon as see your spiritual master you should immediately bow down on the ground offering him your humble obeisances. At the same time I did want to rock the boat by challenging the local ISKCON policy. So I proposed that we make an experiment. All the devotees should bow down to the spiritual master when he enters the lecture hall, and then we will judge by results of the program whether it was good thing or not. I al

On 25 April I gave a lecture on the science of mantra yoga at the Vedic Culture Center in Kaunas, Lithuania. No matter how much bliss we experience in Krishna consciousness, there is always even more bliss out there that we can experience. This program at the Vedic Culture Center was no exception to this principle. This ever-expanding ocean of bliss that we are experiencing every day will one day inundate the entire universe with unlimitedly sweet transcendental happiness. Ecstatic Mantra Yoga Lecture-Vedic Culture Center Kaunas, Lithuania-25 April 2012 Deep Sea Diving in the Mantra Ocean with Kirtan Serious Presentation of Philosophy Sharing the Bliss of Krishna Consciousness Distributing Delicious Prasadam Cookies This Little Boy Wanted to Shake Hands Farewell Kirtan Joyful Throng Gives a Loving Sendoff Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Is Capital Punishment Proper? Dear Srila Gurudeva , Please accept my obeisances. In case of suicide, the person

A very special devotee of Lord Krishna named Tulasi Devi has appeared in the form of plant so that we can get the special mercy of personally serving and worshipping her for attaining pure love of God. Therefore tulasi worship is a standard part of our daily morning devotional program. After rising early no later than 4am, attending mangala arati, and singing prayers to Lord Nrsimhadeva the devotees then worship this most sacred of all plants. Tulasi is so special that Krishna will not accept any offering of foodstuffs unless it is accompanied by a tulasi leaf. The tulasi plant is of the topmost importance in the ultimate self realization process of devotional service and is thus described in the Skanda Purana as follows: "Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto the tulasi tree, which can immediately vanquish volumes of sinful activities. Simply by seeing or touching this tree one can become relieved from all distresses and diseases. Simply by offering obeisances to and pouri

Every living being has an eternal rasa or relationship with Lord Sri Krishna in any one of five primary rasas: neutrality, servitorship, friendship, parenthood, or conjugal. In the conditioned state the living entities of this material world have forgotten what is their rasa. Through the purificatory process of Krishna consciousness they will gradually become free from all the dirt of material contamination accumulated over many thousands and millions of lifetimes and awaken to their eternal relationship with Krishna. One should carefully note in this regard that as long as one possesses even the slightest tinge of material desire within his heart he is not qualified to know what is his rasa with Krishna. So instead of prematurely trying to figure out what is his rasa, an impossible feat which detrimental for the attainment of pure bhakti, the neophyte devotee should concentrate on being fully absorbed in devotional service to Lord Sri Krishna 24 hours a day. This will gradually bring

The rapidly expanding and developing world civilization is in a predicament. Acute shortages of all varieties are being predicted: food shortage, water shortage, petroleum shortage, and the list goes on and on. If one studies the statistics of supply and demand, it become obvious that the world civilization is heading for a disaster of unprecedented magnitude. However, what the foolish people don't realize is that the earth is withholding her resources because they have become too sinful. If they can simply learn how to live in harmony with the governing principles of the universe and the supreme governor of all existence, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, there will be sufficient resources to comfortably maintain even ten times the current world population. Arrival in Kaunas, Lithuania-24 April 2012 Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: What is a Devotee's Recreation? According to Bhagavad-gita "He who is regulated in his habits of eating, sleeping, recr

The red tape hassles that we had to endure for going in and out of Russia were more than worth it because chanting Hare Krishna and discussing the teachings of Krishna with the Russian devotees was oh so sweet. We had three mangala aratis at the home of our host, Gopinath Prabhu. There were four lectures at the home of my Russian disciple, Bhaktilata devi dasi. And the icing on the cake was a hall program which was arranged by Lila Avatar Prabhu and his wife, Alexandra. Such sweet memories we will always carry within our hearts. Memories of our Russian Transcendental Excursion: Audarya, Daughter of Gopinath Prabhu and Nadia Kirtan at Home Program Kaliningrad, Russia-21 April 2012 Speaking from Scripture at Home Program Kaliningrad, Russia-21 April 2012 Public Hall Lecture Kaliningrad, Russia-22 April 2012 Devotees Asked Me to Lead Kirtan with a Guitar Kaliningrad, Russia-22 April 2012 Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Too Late for Krishna Consciousness?

Krishna consciousness or Krishna bhakti is transcendental and thus universally practicable. It does not matter, where one may be situated in this material world. Wherever you are, you can practice Krishna consciousness because if you are tuned into Krishna, you are transcendentally situated beyond this material existence in the timeless realm of eternity, knowledge, and bliss. In other words, if you tune into Krishna, you will always feel the bliss. With Our Saintly Host, Sriman Gopinatha Das Kaliningrad, Russia-21 April 2012 Relishing the Sweet Holy Names of Krishna Kaliningrad, Russia-21 April 2012 Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: If Everything is Brahman, Why Do Bhakti? Thank you for sending the newsletter of the Ultimate Self Realization Course. I hope this message finds you in good health In his purport to Srimad Bhagavatam 1.5.33 Srila Prabhupada says. "When everything is used in the service of the Lord, we can experience that there is nothing ex

My heart weeps to see what a mess the modern day leaders have made out of the world. These misguided fools have done nothing except to worsen the situation more and more. I wonder when they are coming to down off their false ego trips and wake up to the reality that they don't know what they are doing and that they are turning this world into more and more of a hell every day. Unless they become a little humble, they will never be able to take any good advice. Teaching the Science of Mantra Yoga Klaipeda, Lithuania-19 April 2012 Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: How to Make Children Krishna Conscious? If we want to train our children to be in Krishna consciousness from the very childhood, what is the process? Amritha Answer: Be Ideal Models of Krishna Consciousness The first thing is that you must get rid of your TV, if you have one. You must always engage in devotional service and always engage your children in doing devotional service along with you

Meeting Krishna or His representative, the bona fide spiritual master, is the ultimate bliss. But it is super bliss, in other words even more blissful, to be away from Krishna and Guru and serving them in separation. Just as the intensity of love experienced by a boy for his girlfriend is many times increased when he is separated from her, in the same way a devotee's ecstasy of devotional love of God is greatly increased by separation from Sri Guru and Sri Krishna. Ecstatic Farewell from Riga, Latvia-19 April 2012 Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Is a Siksha Guru Required? Do we need to look for a siksha guru as well in addition to our diksha guru? What is his role? Your eternal Servant, Girish Answer: Yes and You Already Have a Siksha Guru Because one needs to be trained in the science of bhakti, a siksha guru or the guru who trains you, is required. If one has a bona fide diksha guru (initiating spiritual master), that spiritual master will also be his sik

18 April 2012--After a wonderful week of sharing the sublime science of Krishna consciousness we are now heading out to Lithuania and Russia for more of the same. The beauty of Krishna consciousness is that it never gets old or hackneyed. It just keeps getting better and better over time with no limit to how sweet or ecstatic it can be. Distributing Prasadam to Damodar Das Riga, Latvia-13 April 2012 Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Are Pure Devotees Subject to Destiny? Please tell me what destiny is. Is it the same as fate? Prabhupada once said that one cannot change one's destiny in a discussion with Hayagriva Das. What role does fate, destiny or such subtle vibrations and all play in the life of a devotee? In this regard, Dasarath Maharaja is a pure devotee, surrendered to Lord Rama, but he was affected by the curse of the blind father of the boy who was killed by Dasarath Maharaja. Are even pure devotees subject to all these factors? Please clear my doub

Just as counterfeit money indicates the presence of real money, in a similar way counterfeit gurus indicate the presence of real gurus. In other words, you can't have a fake version of something unless there is real version of that thing. One avoids counterfeit money and only uses real money. In the same way, one avoids counterfeit gurus and takes advantage of those who can honestly teach him something. We cannot deny the necessity of having a teacher or a guru. How did we learn to speak and do so many things? We learned from our parents who were our first gurus. Similarly, anyone who teaches us what we do not know is our guru. If one categorically states that there is no such thing as a guru, he is contradicting himself because he is taking the position of guru to state that there is no such thing as a guru. Therefore the bona fide guru must exist, and the ultimate guru is the one who one teaches us life's ultimate lesson of how to escape the cycle of birth and death and go

The material conception of happiness is based on so many requirements. If all of the requirements are not meant, one is unhappy. But happiness in Krishna consciousness is much simpler and uncomplicated. The only requirement is that you have to remember Krishna. Nothing else is required. If one can simply remember Krishna, he will taste unlimited happiness. This happiness is perfect and complete, while material happiness is imperfect and incomplete. Bringing the Message of Supreme Happiness Riga, Latvia-15 April 2012 Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Can a Pure Devotee Neglect Sadhana? My humble obeisances to Gurudeva. All glories to Srila Prabhupada Dear Gurudeva, In the 16 April 2012 "Thought for the Day" second paragraph of the answer, Your Grace has mentioned the following : “When one has developed such attachment, he can spontaneously serve the lotus feet of Krishna even without following the regulative principles. This stage is called raga-bhakti,

On 15 April 2012 we had a wonderful program in Riga, Latvia at the home of Ineta and Oskars. It was a wonderful opportunity to share the ecstasy of Hare Krishna kirtan and Bhagavad-gita philosophy with a house full of receptive people. The kirtan transported us like a magic carpet ride. And the philosophy was an exciting exploration of the amazing nature of the Absolute Truth. Blissful Home Program in Riga, Latvia-15 April 2012 Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Did We Go to the Moon or Not? Dear Srila Gurudeva, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. I read so much about moon in our scriptures and so many instances where Prabhupada says that modern civilization will not be able to reach the moon. But we've seen many countries sending their astronauts, including India, which sent their first pilot-less vehicle sometime back and brought back soil samples. One of the devotees in the temple said all the flights to moon are bogus, that

It you want to experience the ultimate in sweetness, that which is the most relishable, beyond which there is nothing more relishable, you have come to the right place. This sweetest of all sweet things, the epitome of sweetness, is described very beautifully and poetically by Bilvamangala Thakur in text 92 of his Krishna-Karnamrita (as quoted in the Caitanya Caritamrita): madhuraṁ madhuraṁ vapur asya vibhor madhuraṁ madhuraṁ vadanaṁ madhuram madhu-gandhi mṛdu-smitam etad aho madhuraṁ madhuraṁ madhuraṁ madhuram “The transcendental body of Krishna is very sweet, and His face is even sweeter than His body. But His soft smile, which has the fragrance of honey, is sweeter still." Krishna's Smile is the Sweetest of All Sweet Things Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Should I Follow a Particular Vrajavasi? Dear Srila Gurudeva, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. I read today morning the below paragraph from the Teachings o

There is no question of awakening our dormant enlightened consciousness unless we cultivate loving relationships with awakened souls, the devotees of the Lord. Since by nature we require the association of others, it is essential that we satisfy this need by getting the association of transcendentalists. This will very much facilitate our coming to the transcendental platform and remaining on the transcendental platform. Here in Riga from 11 through 13 April 2012 we had a three part well-attended and appreciated seminar on the importance and techniques of how to properly associate with devotees. Sandhu Sanga (Devotee Association) Seminar 13 April 2012-Riga, Latvia Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: If One is Not Destined to Go Back to God? I seek your blessings to advance materially and spiritually in life. Please let me know that what can someone do if one is constantly not able to chant properly due to disturbances, be they of any kind. If all his attempts at chant

The perfection of our existence is to connect with Krishna, the Supreme Energetic, because when we are connected with Krishna we are connected with everything and fully energized. There is no reason to suffer for even a minute longer in material existence. All we have to do is connect with Krishna by chanting His holy names with love. There is no cost. Simply we have the pay the price of faith, and we will then reap the supreme reward. Try it. You'll like it. Connecting with Krishna and Srila Prabhupada 12 April 2012-Riga, Latvia Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: How to Make Sex Divine? You said, "While sex with one's wife according to the guidelines of the scriptures is divine, non-procreational sex with one's wife is illicit sex. In fact, it is so undesirable that Srila Prabhupada describes it as prostitution his purport to Srimad Bhagavatam, Third Canto, Chapter 14, Text 33, 'In other words, sex life with one's wife is equal to prostit

Relief from the anxiety-ridden horror movie of material existence is easily within the reach of everyone. One just has to know and apply the simple technique for opening the door to that amazingly wondrous other side of reality. That's all. There is an astonishingly good looking, supremely powerful, totally renounced, knowledgeable, wealthy super star out there who is the source of all existence. He is inviting you into His transcendental realm of eternal bliss. And He has given the secret passwords that unlock the door so that you can enter into that most amazing realm: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare With Guru Das at Riga, Latvia Airport Arrival 9 April 2012 Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: How Can I Stop Sexual Urges? Hare Krishna, Maharaja, Please accept my humble obeisances, Please forgive me should if I mention anything inappropriate, but I am really trying hard to stop my sexual urges

After a three hour drive from Pune to Mumbai, an eight hour flight from Mumbai to London, an overnight stop in London, a three hour flight from London to Helsinki, and a one hour flight from Helsinki to Riga, plus many long hours of waiting time in three different airports--we finally arrived on Riga, Latvia on 9 April 2012. Even though difficult, it is a great joy to travel on behalf of Srila Prabhupada for serving his worldwide mission of awakening everyone to Krishna consciousness. The entire world is suffering due a lack of Krishna consciousness. It is most sublime and wonderful that Srila Prabhupada has given us the solution. Hrishikesh Prabhu-Riga Temple President Welcomes Us to Riga, Latvia-9 April 2012 Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: How Can I Stop Sexual Urges? Hare Krishna, Maharaja, Please accept my humble obeisances, Please forgive me should if I mention anything inappropriate, but I am really trying hard to stop my sexual urges and am unable to.

Material life is not always pleasant. Sometimes we are attacked by various kinds of material miseries. Actually, if we examine our position here minutely, we will see that we are always under attack from one type of material misery or another. So how to be happy in the midst of so many difficulties? We simply have to always remain firmly fixed in Krishna consciousness. By doing so we will not be shaken even by the greatest difficulties. This is confirmed as follows in the Bhagavad-gita: yasmin sthito na duḥkhena guruṇāpi vicālyate "If one is situated firmly in Krishna consciousness he is never shaken even in the midst of the heaviest difficulty." --Bhagavad-gītā 6.22 Ideal Grihastha Life Seminar Pune, India-8 April 2012 Final Instructions to Devotees Before Departing Pune, India-9 April 2012-5:30am Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: What are Next Lives for Married Couple? Honorable Guru Maharaja, Please accept my humble obeisances. I'd like to kn

If one wants to be successful in this human form of life, he must stick to the point of what this human life is all about. Human lie is not a facility for sense gratification. If one wants sense gratification, animal life is the most suitable facility for that. The point of human life is to become self-realized, to realize one's eternal spiritual identity beyond the temporary all-devouring clutches of the material energy. Therefore those who are actually learned do not allow themselves to be deviated any amount of sense gratificatory propaganda. They stick the point of this human form of life and go back to home, back to Godhead. Sunday Feast Lecture-8 April 2012 Sticking to the Point at ISKCON Pune, India Sunday Feast Lecture-8 April 2012 Speaking on Behalf of Srila Prabhupada Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: A Tendency Non-Existent in God? Srila Prabhupada states in the Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi-lila, 5.89: "The tendency to lord it over mater