Ultimate Self Realization

If we want to taste the bliss of Krishna consciousness, we must not mechanically chant and serve. Instead we should chant and serve with feeling. What is the difference? It's a matter of common sense. We can immediately tell the difference in the way that others deal with us. If someone deals with us in a cold, mechanical, impersonal way, we do not like it. On the other hand, if someone deals with us in a loving, kind-hearted, friendly way, we feel energized and enthused. So we have to remember that Krishna or God is a real person who has feelings too. He is very pleased when we lovingly serve Him and chant His names. And He is displeased when we ignore Him or chant His name or serve Him in a disinterested, impersonal, cold-hearted way. When we please Him we will taste the sweetest pleasure. And when we do not please Him, we are not able to experience genuine happiness. Therefore if we are intelligent, we will always try to please Krishna or God by chanting His names and serving H...

Krishna is inviting us to regain our original, eternal identities in His unlimitedly sweet transcendental pastimes, which are going on eternally in the most wondrous spiritual sky. Now it is up to us to decide whether we want to continue suffering in the cycle of birth and death or we would prefer to relish an eternal life, full of knowledge of bliss in Lord Sri Krishna's realm far, far beyond all the anxieties of material existence. Krishna and Balaram in Goloka Vrindavan Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Surrender Robs Us of Our Individuality? Does surrender to Krishna take away one's freedom and individuality? B.A. Answer: Surrender to Krishna Restores Individuality Freedom and individuality in this material world are myths because everyone here is a slave who is simply being manipulated by the three modes of material nature just like a puppet on a string. In spite of this everyone falsely thinks themselves to a free individual who makes their own de...

Krishna consciousness means to be absorbed in the ecstatic mellows of devotional service to Krishna. It is the original unadulterated form of existence. It is unlimitedly sweet, free from all defects, and eternal. Under the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master, that person who has become fully Krishna conscious, one can learn how to also enter into this state of super ecstatic consciousness and always remain solidly fixed in it for all of eternity. There is no greater attainment or success than this. Special Class for the Brahmacaris Los Angeles, California USA-26 June 2012 Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: How Can I Please You? You put things in such a clear manner that even the most fallen soul will be able to understand very difficult topics. I was hoping to receive some instruction from you. I want to be engaged in Caitanya Mahaprabhu's service, and I believe that you are His eternal associate. Please tell me what is the best way to please you. Your Asp...

On Thursday 14 June 2012 one of our readers, Bhakta Brian, dressed as a devotee, was out distributing books on a crowded sidewalk on Santa Monica Boulevard in Santa Monica, California when all of a sudden former US President Bill Clinton chose him out of the crowd, walked up to him, shook his hand, and gave him a warm hug. Listen now to an interview with Bhakta Brian how he gave the Bhagavad-gita to this world famous celebrity: http://www.backtohome.com/audio/Bill.Clinton.gets.Gita.mp3 We hope and pray that this Mr. Clinton, who does not eat meat, will carefully study Srila Prabhupada's Bhagavad-gita As It Is. If the general population and such prominent and influential persons can take to the proper understanding of the Bhagavad-gita, the entire world atmosphere will be transformed into Vaikuntha. Therefore we encourage Bhakta Brian to continue distributing Srila Prabhupada's books, and we request that all of our readers should as much as possible dedicate their lives for d...

In a nutshell Mayavadi philosophy is the concept that everything is one, that this oneness is a formless, impersonal God, and that nothing exists except for God. It propounds that any perception of anything else besides pure undifferentiated oneness is an illusion. The individual selves do not actually exist. Only the Supreme Self exists and it is not a person and it does not have any form, any qualities, or any activities. Mayavadi philosophy is attractive to a certain class of men because according to Mayavadi philosophy the individual is actually God Himself, simply he has forgotten that he is God, that's all. And then according to any one of the various self-realization systems he can reclaim his position of God when he becomes perfectly self-realized. For example, the Mayavadis say that through bhakti yoga one can become God. Their idea is that while in the neophyte stage of bhakti yoga there is the worshipper and the worshipable, in the perfectional stage of bhakti the worsh...

Just as a fish is meant to swim in the water and as a bird is meant to fly in the sky, human life is meant for spiritual awakening, for self realization. Therefore there is no question of being happy if one remains in ignorance. Sometimes it is said that ignorance is bliss, but this is only true for the ignorant fools who like asses imagine suffering to be enjoyment. Those who desire genuine ananda or unlimited bliss must take to the pathway of self-realization for realizing the Absolute Truth and thus always tasting brahma-sukham, absolute happiness. Guiding Youth on the Necessity of Self Realization North Sydney, Australia-23 June 2012 Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: How to Bring Others to Krishna? Dear Gurudeva, Namaste. I would like to ask the following questions: Who are qualified to study and follow Srimad Bhagavad-gita? Around me I see most of the people who are not pious and reverent, do not control their senses and do not sincerely perform their daily ...

The absolute necessity for every living being to be happy is the awakening of pure bhakti, pure devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead within his heart. This is his original pure nature before he become contaminated by coming into contact with the material atmosphere. Because of this necessity the ultimate welfare activity is the distribution of pure bhakti to the souls of this material world, who are greatly suffering due to their lack of Krishna consciousness. Whatever one has realized about Krishna, he should distribute to those who do not have Krishna consciousness. And then Krishna, being exceedingly pleased with him, will give him even more realization, which he can then distribute and become qualified for even more realization. In this way by realizing and distributing pure bhakti, the devotee becomes ever-increasingly more advanced in Krishna consciousness and more and more empowered to deliver the fallen, conditioned souls of this universe. Distributing Pu...

It is indeed very wonderful and sublime to be back here in Sydney in the presence of the most beautiful Sri Sri Radha Gopinatha. These deities are very special because they were personally installed by Srila Prabhupada in May of 1971 when he greatly surprised his disciples by coming to Australia for the first time. The devotees in Sydney are unlimitedly blessed by the opportunity to see Sri Sri Radha and Gopinatha daily, to serve Them daily, and to sing and dance for their transcendental pleasure every day. Sri Sri Radha Gopinatha, the Deities of Sydney Srila Prabhupada Installs Sri Sri Radha Gopinatha Sydney, Australia-May 1971 Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Why is Krishna the Supreme Lord? Why is it that Krishna is positively the Supreme Lord of all followers of the worlds religions and schools of thoughts? Yours in Yoga Janardan Mali Answer: Because Everything Emanates from Him Krishna is the Supreme Lord of everyone because He is the source of everythi...

On 20 June 2012 I was the guest speaker at Melbourne, Australia's Urban Yoga Center. I was asked to speak on the secret wisdom of the Bhagavad-gita. It was wonderful opportunity to give my audience the information they need on how to become free from anxiety for all of eternity. There is truly no reason for anyone anywhere in the universe to be in anxiety, even for one minute. It is due to ignorance only that people are suffering like anything. Revealing the Secret Wisdom of the Bhagavad-gita Urban Yoga Center-20 June 2012 Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Chanting Tips and Soul Consciousness Please accept my respectful obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Are there any tips for effective chanting? (I chant up to 10 rounds only.) How to develop the understanding that we are not this body but soul? Pranav. Answer: Concentrate, Increase, and Analyze Try to feel the presence of Krishna when you chant your rounds, and increase your rounds to at least 1...

Being overwhelmed by anger is no fun. It is a miserable state of mind, which is not good for your Krishna consciousness. You can't peacefully chant the holy names of the Lord when you are angry. The simple way to overcome anger is to forgive the person that has angered you. All you have to do is to forgive him is remember how many people have so kindly forgiven you even when you did not deserve to be forgiven. Mercy is contagious. Spread it around. It will come back to you in the most amazing and wonderful ways. Program at Home of Neeraj and Rashmi Gupta Point Cook, Australia-19 June 2012 Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: If a Grihastha Couple is Infertile? Grihastha ashram is a system for devotees to have regulated sex life. But what if a devotee couple, for medical complications, are unable to ever conceive a child? Does this mean that although married, they can never have sex? Thank you very much, Bhakta Daniel Answer: They Will Have No Interest in Sex A...

Srila Prabhupada explains in his purport to Srimad Bhagavatam 2.5.37, "The mercantile class is also required to give protection to the cows in order to get sufficient milk and milk products, which alone can give the proper health and intelligence to maintain a civilization perfectly meant for knowledge of the ultimate truth." And he taught us by his example the importance of drinking milk by personally taking hot milk every evening as part of his standard diet. So milk is that very special food given by God that helps us to develop our brains for understanding the subtle science of Krishna consciousness. Therefore it is recommended that all devotees should regularly take milk as part of their daily diet. Sharing Bhakti Bliss with an Overflow Audience Bhakti Bhavan-Melbourne, Australia-18 June 2012 Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Does Individual Human Cell Have a Soul? As a biologist, I grow human cells in glass dishes everyday. These cells were derived f...

On 17 June 2012 I was a guest speaker at a Ratha Yatra festival in Hoppers Crossing, Australia. Although we did not see any kangaroos hopping through the area, we were blessed with the most auspicious opportunity to see Lord Jagannath, who is Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Lord of the universe. It was a wonderful opportunity to share my recollection of the first time I heard my most beloved spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, speak. It was at the Ratha Yatra festival held on 27 June, 1971 in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. Srila Prabhupada told us on that most glorious occasion that if we would simply remember that Krishna is the taste of the water, we would immediately become Krishna conscious. He said that becoming Krishna conscious is not a difficult job; it simply requires practice. Srimad Bhagavatam Lecture at ISKCON Temple Melbourne, Australia-17 June 2012 Lecture at Ratha Yatra Festival Hoppers Crossing, Australi...

The media is currently awash with multitudinous reports of horrific brutality in Syria. It is psychologically devastating to learn of so many atrocities committed by human beings against other human beings. It is natural for the inquisitive mind to wonder why this is going on, especially in such proportion. For the answer we do not have to go very far. Such things are clearly explained in the Vedic wisdom. Because we are daily committing so many unspeakable atrocities against the cows and other innocent animals in the slaughterhouses, it is only natural that the brute mentality, which allows us to murder these animals and relish their blood and flesh, allows us to also be brutal with other human beings. Therefore if we want world peace, it is absolutely imperative that we shut down all of the slaughterhouses all over the world. But the difficulty is that the foolish people want world peace while they continue to brutalize the innocent animals in the slaughterhouses. It will never be p...

Do not hesitate to join the Hare Krishna kirtan thinking that participation is simply some kind of cultural convention. Meditating on the Supreme Lord, the foundation of all existence, is the prime necessity for all of those who would like to conquer over death. Even if you do not feel any attraction for chanting, just dive into it anyway and the feelings of attraction will come. What will you gain? The feeling of attractive for the holy name of God will empower you at the time of death to attain a type of bodily existence that is eternal, full of knowledge, and full of bliss. Greeting Kirtan at Home of Ankit and Bhumija Bhatt Tarneit, Australia-15 June 2012 Kirtan at Tarneit Home Program Lecture at Tarneit Home Program Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Should I Distrust Other Faiths? Gurudeva, does being Krishna conscious mean that I should distrust all other faiths? Abilasha Answer: Krishna Consciousness is Not a Faith Krishna consciousness is not another ...

Why waste time hearing and discussing rubbish political news when we can become spiritually uplifted and enlightened by absorbing our consciousness in studying the pastimes and teachings of the greatest enlightened sages in the history of the universe? No one ever became liberated from birth and death by meditating on mundane politicians. This is why I took it as the greatest blessing when I was asked to give a seminar on the amazing life and teachings of the great sage, Sri Narada Muni, on the evening of 14 June 2012 in the theatre room at the ISKCON temple in Melbourne, Australia. Because Srila Narada Muni is one of the greatest acharyas in our Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya sampradaya (disciplic succession) to describe and hear about him bestows the greatest benediction upon all those who are involved with such discussions. I described three of his lifetimes and how he became the great liberated sage astronaut who can travel anywhere at will to any planet or universe within either the mate...

The most important requirement for making spiritual progress is to associate regularly with others who are on the path of self-realization. This is the advantage of being part of a family of souls who are also striving to become spiritually perfect. Thus in my humble attempt to help spread the most sublime ultimate self-realization science of Krishna consciousness all over the world I am very happy when more and more sincere souls come forward to join our spiritual family, which was named by my spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, as ISKCON, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. It is most auspicious that more people are joining our society every day. There is truly nothing more enlivening than this. We hope that this spiritual family will continue growing so much so that one day it will engulf the entire human society. With Disciples and Aspiring Disciples Shah Alam, Malaysia-12 June 2012 Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: How to Not Doubt Krishna's...

Srila Prabhupada has wonderfully described why the spiritual master is very dear to Krishna in a lecture that he gave in Los Angeles on 28 December 1973: "Why the spiritual master is very dear to Krishna? Because his only anxiety is how Krishna will be known all over the world. That's all. He has no ambition, pounds, shilling, pence. He only wants to know, only wants to see that everyone is devotee of Krishna and they are happy." The spiritual master is so merciful that he is willing to take birth after birth to deliver the suffering souls of this material world. This is why he is described as an ocean of mercy. The All-Merciful Srila Prabhupada Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Spiritual and Material Familial Affection Dear Guru Maharaja, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Sometimes I pray to Lord Krishna for the good health and long life of my near and dear relatives. Then I wonder that maybe it is a materialisti...

Why spiritual master is very dear to Krsna? Because his only anxiety is how Krsna will be known all over the world. That's all. He has no ambition, pounds, shilling, pence. He only wants to know, only wants to see that everyone is devotee of Krsna and they are happy. >>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.15.51 -- Los Angeles, December 28, 1973 Devotees Asked Their Questions in Written Form Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia-10 June 2012 Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Instruction Needed to Take Prabhupada's Shelter? If I understand correctly, one's guru can advise him to take shelter of Srila Prabhupada, and that will not be an offence. However, if one directly takes shelter of Srila Prabhupada without getting one's guru's instruction, is that considered to be offensive because it is jumping over the head of one's spiritual master? Sunil Answer: Instruction or No Instruction. Take Shelter. Either approach is correct. Someone can rea...

If we want to taste the real nectar of the holy names, we must become very, very humble. One cannot maintain a sense of "I am great" and at the same time relish the sweet flavor of Krishna's holy names. We must consider ourselves to be lower than a blade of grass, and we must be more tolerant than a tree and always willing to offer all respect to others even if they are disrespectful to us. In such a state of mind we can constantly swim in an ocean of transcendental bliss while chanting Krishna's unlimitedly sweet holy names. Devotees Eager for the Supreme Nectar Klang, Malaysia-10 June 2012 Revealing the Supreme Nectar to the Devotees Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Is Krishna Hiding in His Devotees' Hearts? Dear Srila Gurudeva, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! Is it true that Krishna is hiding within His devotees and if our vision is enough purified and sharp we will be able to see His presence in thi...

If you want sanity, you have to be transcendental to the madness of this material world. Here even on the slightest provocation, because their minds are not peaceful, people will engage in fighting for no legitimate reason Especially in this age people will commit murder or nations will go to war simply due to frustration over their miserable existence. They foolishly think that by exerting their so-called supremacy they can find satisfaction. Because they are not the supreme, by this method they will never be successful. If they would like to take our advice, we can inform them to stop artificially trying to be the supreme. Acknowledge that you are subordinate to the supreme and fully surrender yourself unto Him. This will give you genuine lasting happiness, not your attempts to be supreme. Teaching Real Sanity at ISKCON's Jagannath Mandir Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia-10 June 2012 Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Muslim Halal Food and Krishna Prasadam Muslims kill a...

There is an unstoppable killer epidemic that is currently ravaging the entire universe destroying all living beings in its path. No one can escape it. All will be mercilessly killed. There will be no survivors. There is nowhere to go to escape this juggernaut known as death. There is, however, one solution for those who are bold enough to take advantage of it. One can revive his original pure identity as a deathless spiritual being. This and only this can save one from the epidemic. Those who scoff at the idea of a spiritual self will be helplessly crushed. And those who are open-minded enough to hear from the bona fide spiritual master and follow his instructions will be joyfully liberated. They will reactivate their original, spiritual, ever-youthful, death-proof, all-blissful, all-knowing identities, which will never be touched by birth, death, old age, and disease. Enlightening the Youth in the Science of Bhakti ISKCON Center-Klang, Malaysia-9 June 2012 Answers by Citing th...

The Vedic scriptures implore us that if we want real knowledge, real happiness, and deliverance from the cycle of birth and death we must take shelter of the bona fide spiritual master. It is not optional. It compulsory. The bona fide spiritual master is described in the Srimad Bhagavatam as that person who has realized the conclusions of the scriptures by deliberation and is thus able to convince others of those conclusions. Without such a bona fide spiritual master we are hopelessly lost in the cycle of birth death. And if we follow strictly that bona fide spiritual master, this will be our last lifetime in the material world. Upon leaving our present bodies by his divine grace we will go back to home, back to Godhead. Revealing the Highest Truth on 7 June 2012 Sathya Sai Baba Temple-Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Stuck in an Occupational Rut I have been searching for almost half my life (17 years) for a financially viable, interesting a...

The living being in his natural healthy consciousness is always fully absorbed in serving Lord Sri Krishna, the transcendental source of all existence. As soon as he forgets Krishna he is plunged into an ocean of misery. This fall down of the living is nicely explained as follows in the Prema-vivarta: kṛṣṇa-bahirmukha jīva bhoga-vāñchā kare nikaṭa-stha māyā tāre jāpaṭiyā dhare "Turning his face away from Krishna, the jiva develops the desire to enjoy. Standing nearby, Maya slaps him and seizes hold of him." If we find ourselves in this unhealthy situation of having been captivated by Maya, the material energy, we should regularly chant the holy names of God under the guidance of the bona fide spiritual master. In this way we can gradually regain our original, healthy state of pure love of God and return to an immortal, youthful existence in the Lord's abode, Goloka Vrindavana. Sri Sri Radha Damodar Accept Our Service Shah Alam, Malaysia-7 June 2012 Answers b...

Bound by the chains of illusion, the entire world society is suffering in an endless cyclical quagmire of repeated birth and death. Even though we have been blessed with the knowledge that can save them, they are so much intoxicated by their false sense of happiness that our liberating message remains for them the most secret of all secrets. Therefore our lives are dedicated to somehow or other attracting them to hearing and understanding the most sublime teachings of Lord Sri Krishna by which they will become awakened. Our mission is that the entire world may now become awakened. Revealing the Most Secret of All Secrets Home Program-4 June 2012-Pretoria, South Africa Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: We Created God According to Our Form? One of my friends recently asked me this question: "Why is it such that we describe God with a human figure? If dinosaurs ruled this planet, they would have imagined God like a dinosaur. Right?" I humbly request yo...

The mission of the great liberated spaceman, Srila Narada Muni, is to deliver all the distressed souls of this universe from their misery. He plays on his transcendental instrument, a veena which was given to him by Lord Krishna, to glorify the transcendental activities of Lord Krishna and to give relief to all of the miserable living entities who are rotting in the cycle of birth and death in the universe. In order to enlighten the miserable inhabitants he wanders everywhere. His mission is to deliver all the conditioned souls of this universe back to their original home in the spiritual sky. All genuine devotees of Lord Krishna follow in Narada Muni's footsteps by adopting the same mission. The Liberated Spaceman, Srila Narada Muni Deliverer of the Distressed Souls of this Universe Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Should We Read the Previous Acharyas' Books? Srila Gurudeva, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. We say we ...

Krishna consciousness is so transcendentally sweet that it can be relished in any and all circumstances: the good, the bad, the beautiful, and the ugly. In all times, places, and circumstances if one simply remembers the resplendent, all-merciful, lotus-eyed Supreme Personality of Godhead, he will be fearless, flawless, full of bliss, full of knowledge, and perfectly situated in equanimity tasting his eternal spiritual identity as a spirit-soul servitor of the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna beyond the cycle of birth and death. Sharing the Bliss of Bhakti-Sunday Feast Lecture Lenasia, South Africa-3 June 2012 Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Can Sex Urge Be Conquered by Our Own Strength? My question is as fallen conditioned souls can we give up sex desire (illicit sex) by our own endeavor, or do we need the mercy of a guru and the mercy of Krishna? Your humble servant, Jay Answer: Mercy of Guru and Krishna is Required The great Vaishnava acharya, Srila Visvanatha Cak...

June 3, 2012--Today in Pretoria South Africa two sincere souls took the most important step of their millions of lifetimes sojourn in this material existence. They attained deathlessness by fully surrendering themselves to Guru and Krishna. They became my initiated disciples and vowed to chant at least 16 rounds of Hare Krishna japa everything day on their japa beads and to strictly avoid illicit sex, meat eating, intoxication, and gambling. These two fortunate souls, who were known as Prithesh and Premisha Sookraj, are now designated respectively as Padasevana Das and Premabhakti Devi Dasi. Explaining Deathlessness in Initiation Lecture Pretoria, South Africa-3 June 2012 Premabhakti Devi Dasi Receives Her Beads and Name Initiation Fire Sacrifice Ceremony Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Peace by Accepting Divine Arrangement? Dear Srila Gurudeva, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! If we accept whatever comes as an arrangement...