Ultimate Self Realization

Suffering is the pastime of fools. Those who are enlightened with transcendental knowledge always realize the highest happiness within their hearts. Even in the midst of the most disturbing and turbulent situations they relish the greatest peace and happiness by taking shelter of Krishna. So why remain in ignorance? Is there any good reason to do so? It is better to become enlightened in transcendental knowledge by taking guidance from guru, sastra (scripture), and sadhus (devotees). This is real intelligence. Revealing the Secrets of Real Intelligence Bhaktivedanta Ashram, USA-29 July 2012 Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Who is the Most Elevated Vaisnava? Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Thank you for your service, it is very difficult in this Kali yuga to find someone to answer questions so freely, accurately and quickly. I only have one question today: Who is currently the most elevated Vaisnava on this planet, one who i

In a world where untruth is predominant and as a result the entire world population has been cast in into pandemonium, there in only one solution for the ocean of problems. Untruth must be boldly defeated by truth. The devotees of the Lord cannot tolerate seeing the entire world in a suffering condition. Therefore they full dedicate their lives for enlightening the world population in the science of Krishna consciousness. Srila Prabhupada Boldly Speaks the Truth Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Ruination in Srila Prabhupada's Absence? I have a question. A lady told me: "If your spiritual society's founder is alive, you are lucky because he can enlighten you. When the founder is present many wonderful things will happen. But when he is no longer living his successors will ruin the society. It will not be as good as it is was when the founder was alive." I told her that our Guru Maharaja can enlighten us and she said that the guru and the founder

Lord Brahma, the predominating demigod of this universe, has a lifespan as long as the duration of this universe, which is 311 trillion 40 billion years of our earthly years. But compared to eternity Brahma's incredibly long life span is as a brief of flash of lightening. What then can we said about our miniscule life spans of a mere maximum 100 years? Lord Brahma Offers Obeisances to Lord Sri Krishna Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Is there a Constant Number of Souls? Dear Srila Gurudeva, Please accept my humble obeisances All glories to Srila Prabhupada. 1) Is the number of souls constant? Given that each soul is individual and eternal, this would mean that the number of souls must be constant. If not, then this would imply that some souls are not eternal? Please clarify. 2) If nitya-siddhas (eternally liberated souls) never choose to forget Krishna, then why couldn’t nitya-baddhas (eternally conditioned souls) also never choose to forget Krishna? I.e., w

While a small amount of light can illuminate a very large area of darkness, no amount of darkness can destroy even a small amount of light. In a similar way truth always wins in the end over untruth, although temporarily it make appear that untruth holds sway over truth. Therefore we should always stick to the truth even if is unpopular, as it often is in this Kali Yuga. Srila Prabhupada Receives Bhagavad-gita Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Why Do I Have to Chant? Why do I have to chant? What is the reason for chanting? Why do you give so much emphasis on chanting? I know that by not chanting I have become a materialistic person. However still I want to know the reason. I know Srila Prabhupada has said that chanting is a conversation with God. But how? I also want to know why the disciples of Srila Prabhupada sometimes fall down from Krishna consciousness? Shashank Answer: Chanting is the Yuga Dharma The reason that chanting is so much emphasized is that chant

To seriously take up the process of Krishna consciousness is to declare war against maya or illusion. Everywhere around us the enemy of material attraction is trying to lure us away from devotional service to the Lord into the trap of material sense gratification, which will keep us forever entangled in the cycle of repeated birth and death. It takes a herculean effort of the aspiring devotee to sever the hard intricately tied knot of material attraction. Therefore he must fight just like a soldier during wartime to ward off the influence of the material energy if he wants to win the war against maya. Meeting with Leaders of ISKCON from Riga, Latvia Baltic Summer Vaisnava Festival-19 July 2012 Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Will the World Problems Ever Be Solved? Dear Gurudeva, Please accept my humble obeisances. All Glories to you and Srila Prabhupada. In the below quoted mission statement from Thought for the Day why has it been claimed that awakening Krishn

At every moment of our lives we are at a crossroads because at every second we have the choice of either doing what is pleasing to our senses or what is pleasing to Krishna. Doing what pleases our senses is death, and doing what pleases Krishna is an eternal life, full of bliss and knowledge. Therefore, everyone has a choice whether they prefer repeated birth and death within the 8,400,000 species of life or an eternal blissful existence in the transcendental kingdom of God. Reminding a Young Boy of His Eternal Existence Baltic Summer Vaisnava Festival-19 July 2012 Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Involuntary Offenses are Excused? Please accept my humble obeisances All Glories to Srila Prabhupada Please tell which are the offences to avoid during chanting the mahamantra Also tell that if a person commits any of the offences involuntarily, then are the offences pardoned? Regards, Sunil Answer: Ignorance is No Excuse Ignorance is no excuse. If one is ignorantl

Everyone is enthusiastic. The distinguishing factor for different types of people is what they are enthusiastic about. Some are enthusiastic about sleeping. These are the persons in the mode of ignorance. Others are enthusiastic about gaining money, prestige, and power. These are the persons in the mode of passion. Then there are those who are enthusiastic about humanitarian activities or the cultivation of knowledge. These people are in the mode of goodness. And finally on the highest level are those who are enthusiastic about rendering devotional service to Lord Sri Krishna. These are the liberated souls, transcendentally situated beyond the three modes of material nature. So enthusiasm must exist. It is simply up to us whether we want to enthusiastic about Krishna by always engaging in His devotional service or enthusiastic about maya or illusion manifested within the three modes of material nature. Enthusiasm within the modes leads to rebirth in this material world, while enthusi

There is no loving feeling in this world that can compete with the love that a disciple feels for his spiritual master. In fact, it is that unique flavor of the disciple's love for his spiritual master that convinced me to surrender myself fully at the lotus feet of my eternal spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Way back in 1971 when I first took up residence in the Hare Krishna temple in Austin, Texas I knew that Krishna was God and that I am His eternal servant. But still, I did not want to give up my false sense of independence that I could continue trying to be the enjoyer of this material world. So even though the devotees repeatedly requested me to surrender and become the disciple of Srila Prabhupada I continued refusing to do so. But then one supremely wonderful fateful morning when I heard a recording of the London Hare Krishna devotees singing to Srila Prabhupada the Gurvastakam prayers, eight prayers glorifying the spiritual master,

At the Baltic Summer Vaisnava Festival after a super ecstatic kirtan that sent us flying through the stratosphere to the spiritual plane I asked the devotees, "Why be a Hare Krishna?" And then after a brief pause I gave the answer, "Because it is more fun." It is a fact. It is not exaggeration. There is truly nothing more enlivening than Krishna consciousness in all the three worlds. It is indeed a thrill at every moment! Ecstatic Memories of Summer Vaisnava Festival 20 July 2012 How to Connect with Krishna in Love 24 Hours Daily Many Devotees Stayed in a Tent Village The Oxcart Ride Was a Big Hit with the Kids Questions and Answers on the Supreme Science Distributing Prasadam after Seminar Meeting with Leaders of ISKCON Riga Meeting with Disciples Meeting with B.B. Govinda Swami Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: How to Transcend the Modes of Nature? Dear Gurudeva, Namaste. I would like to ask the following question: Lord Kris

What is more auspicious than rising early in the morning to attend mangala arati, the early pre-dawn religious service held in all ISKCON temples? To rise early in the morning and attend mangala arati will one thousand devotees as we are doing here every day at the Baltic Vaisnava Summer Festival. Even though is unseasonably cold here with temperatures going to the mid forties (Fahrenheit) or 8 degrees Celsius, the devotees spirits are very warm and enlivened. There is nothing more sublime than reconnecting with the original identity of the self qualitatively one with God. Super Ecstatic Multi-Pujari Mangala Arati at the Baltic Summer Vaisnava Festival-20 July 2012 Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Does Krishna Create Evil? Dear Guru Maharaja, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. I humbly ask you to enlighten me on these questions. Thank you. 1. Krishna is ultimately good. On the other hand, Krishna is the source of everything, in

I, along with my wife, have made a special trip coming all the way from the USA to Lithuania to give a series of lectures at the Baltic Summer Vaisnava Festival. It is being held in a retreat center in the Lithuania forest. One thousand devotees are in attendance from many different countries. And also many of the leading spiritual masters of ISKCON are here. In such a sublime atmosphere one can very easily relish the bliss of Krishna consciousness. It's too bad that all the people of world have not yet woken up to Krishna consciousness, because as soon as they do all the world's problems will be solved. Diving Deep into Kirtan Rasa Leading Kirtan Baltic Summer Vaisnava Festival-12 July 2012 Higher Taste Through Bhakti Seminar Baltic Summer Vaisnava Festival-12 July 2012 Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Using Good Looks in Krishna's Service If a person is good looking and popular in professional and social circles, how can the person utilize these g

Srila Prabhupada says in his purport to Srimad Bhagavatam 2.2.32: "If one does not follow the authoritative version of the acaryas, he will vainly search after the truth mentioned in the Vedas." Therefore if we want to properly understand the truth of the Vedic wisdom, we must understand it as it has been so authoritatively explained by the great Vaisnava acaryas. Sanskrit scholarship and mental speculation will not give us access to the Vedic wisdom. Only the merciful, enlightened words of the acaryas will give us clear Vedic vision. Srila Prabhupada Perfectly Explains Vedic Wisdom Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Is Krishna Imprisoned by Technology? Dear Guru Maharaja, If Krishna is fully present in His holy name, in the kirtan, and in the words of pure devotees, how is it that He can be recorded, saved in a computer’s memory, and played at will? Begging your mercy, Virendra Kumar Trivedi Answer: Krishna is Freely Available Everywhere Krishna's

Tune in to higher consciousness. Turn on your soul. And bliss out for all of eternity in the sublime dimension of loving devotional service to Lord Sri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. There is truly nothing better than this. This is the supreme perfection of lifestyle. Krishna Awaits Your Return to His Abode Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Pray to Radha or Krishna? Who should we pray to? I heard in a class that to get to Krishna one has to get the mercy of Radharani and I have also heard that we are actually followers of Radharani. I read an email lately that Radharani is the jewel of our movement and that Radharani is to be only looked upon by Krishna's eyes. Maharaja, then how do we get to Krishna? Your servant, Kishan P. Answer: Pray to Radha and Krishna Beware of anything you hear that is not confirmed in Srila Prabhupada's books. The perfect prayer given to us by Lord Caitanya and Srila Prabhupada is the Hare Krishna mahamantra: Har

We are heading out today for the Summer Baltic Krishna Conscious Festival in Harmony Park, Lithuania. If you would like to hear and see my seminars live on 19 and 20 July, you can do so at: www.ultimateselfrealization.com On Thursday 19 July from 12:30pm to 2pm I will be giving a seminar: "How to Give Up Material Sense Gratification by Developing a Higher Taste." And then on Friday 20 July from 5:30pm until 6:45pm I will be giving a seminar: "How to Stay Connected with Krishna 24 Hours a Day." If are going to be at the festival, I hope to see you there, and if you are not, I hope that you will tune via the internet. Sri Krishna, the Supreme Center of Attraction Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Temples and Feeding the Poor Dear Guru Maharaja, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Recently i met school friend after a long 12 years gap. He is one my best friends. He lives in the US and is currently in Indi

If we are to be successful on the path of self realization, it is absolutely essential that we must be guided by a bona fide spiritual master. Just as a ship cannot cross the ocean without a rudder, similarly we cannot cross over the ocean of birth and death unless we are guided by a bona fide spiritual master. Since this material world is so full of charlatans, we must therefore be very, very cautious before accepting someone as our spiritual master. We must make sure that the prospective guru is purely conveying the teachings of Krishna as they been handed down through the guru parampara system. In other words, we should never accept a mental speculator as our spiritual master. We should only accept as our spiritual master someone who has unflinching faith in the words of his spiritual master. This is the bona fide spiritual master, the person who can save us from the repetition of birth and death. The guru is supposed to be an acharya, one who teaches perfectly by his example. If t

On 13 July 2012 CNN reported on its website: "Authorities have declared more than 1,000 counties as natural disaster areas as the worst drought in a quarter-century spreads across the United States this summer." The leaders are helpless to end the drought. They do not realize that drought is natural when the citizens do not engage in sankirtan yajna, the congregational chanting of the holy names of God. If they would just take our advice and organize massive daily sankirtan in every town and village, the drought will quickly come to an end. But because they do not take our advice the population suffers. Drought Causes a Shrinking Lake Wooly Hollow State Park, Arkansas USA Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Is there Faith in the Three Modes? I have a question. Is faith in three modes? I mean is there faith in the mode of goodness, faith in the mode of passion, and faith in the mode of ignorance? Your servant Ankit Vora Answer: Perfect Faith is Beyond the

The Absolute Truth is realized through the system of disciplic succession, not by mental speculation. Krishna revealed it to Brahma, who revealed it to Narada Muni, who revealed it to Srila Vyasadeva, etc. In this way the revelation has come down over thousands and thousands of years through an unbroken chain of bona fide spiritual masters. If someone thinks that they can realize the Absolute Truth by mental speculation, they are wrong. This is confirmed as follows in the Mahabharata (Bhisma-parva 5.22): acintyāḥ khalu ye bhāvā na tāṁs tarkeṇa yojayet prakṛtibhyaḥ paraṁ yac ca tad acintyasya lakṣaṇam “Whatever is beyond material nature is thus inconceivable to persons within it, and cannot be grasped through mundane reasoning.” Therefore an intelligent person takes shelter of a bona fide spiritual and immediately solves all the problems of his life. Srila Prabhupada Enlightens the Devotees Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Differing Views on Origin of the Uni

Should devotees wear Vaisnava dress as much as possible, or should they go undercover? Srila Prabhupada introduced us to Vaisnava dress by his dhoti, shaved head, neck beads, and tilaka. It was because Prabhupada was wearing Vaisnava dress that he was recognized on the street as a holy man by Howard Wheeler, who along with his friends soon thereafter became a disciple of Srila Prabhupada. It was because of the Vaisnava dress of Shyamasundar Das that George Harrison recognized him as a devotee. George then approached Shyamasundar and befriended him. This contact with George Harrison became one of the greatest turning points for the expansion of the Krishna consciousness movement all over the world. Srila Prabhupada asked his female disciples to wear saris and personally gave them saris as gifts. Although Srila Prabhupada never told his male disciples that they had to wear dhotis, he clearly expressed his pleasure with their doing so and stated that the devotees with the shaved heads a

If one is to gain a proper understanding of the Vedic wisdom, he can only do so by having unflinching faith in the words of the spiritual master and Krishna. This is confirmed as follows in the Svetasvatara Upanisad: yasya deve parā bhaktir yathā deve tathā gurau tasyaite kathitā hy arthāḥ prakāśante mahātmanaḥ “Only unto those who have unflinching faith in the words of the spiritual master and the words of the Supreme Personality of Godhead are the imports of the Vedic knowledge revealed.” --Svetasvatara Upanisad 6.23 Those who find fault with the spiritual master's teachings become covered by the material energy and cannot realize the Absolute Truth. Therefore we must be very careful to free our hearts from any lingering doubts by inquiring submissively from Sri Guru and advanced Vaisnavas. We Must Have Unflinching Faith in Srila Prabhupada Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: How to Maintain Family Without Material Desires? Thank you for answering to me. You

Krishna instructs us in the Bhagavad-gita that we should fully surrender ourselves unto the bona fide spiritual master. Therefore, if we want to become a devotee of Krishna, we must do this. It is not optional. Taking a spiritual master is not a matter of show. Accepting a spiritual master superficially without full surrender is a useless waste of time. We must therefore accept the spiritual master with full surrender by taking his instructions as our very life and soul. Srila Prabhupada Reveals the Absolute Truth Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Did the Higgs Boson Scientists Find God? Dear Gurudeva, My humble obeisances at your feet . With reference to the Thought For The Day dated 6-July-2012, which mentioned the possible discovery of the Higgs Boson, my question is: Is the Higgs Boson or the God particle Garbhodakashayi Vishnu who permeates every atom of every universe giving it mass and weight? Hare Krishna, Your Student J.K. Answer: Atom Smashers Can

If we will have mercy on the animals and animal-like men of this Kali Yuga, mercy will be given to us. What goes around comes around. We should be merciful to the animals by not slaughtering them and giving them all protection. We should allow them to live peacefully and happily. And we should be merciful to the animal-like men by giving the knowledge of Krishna consciousness. This will liberate them from all the miseries of material existence. The more we give mercy to others, the mercy will be given to us. Nitya-Gaura Das Gives the Mercy of Srila Prabhupada's Books in San Diego, California, USA Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: How to Become Initiated and Liberated? Dear Gurudeva, I was wondering how does one achieve liberation from the cycle of rebirth? Also what must I do to become your formal disciple? Must I go through a ceremony? Thank you. Sincerely, JB Answer: Get Solidly Fixed in Krishna Consciousness One becomes liberated from the cycle of birth

We should not waste our lives by simply pursuing temporary materialistic goals. These will never satisfy the self within. Instead we should focus our consciousness on attaining the supreme goal of pure love of God. This is not to say that we should neglect our bodily necessities such as eating, sleeping, mating, and defending. It is within our quota to take care of our material comforts. But when we over-emphasize these comforts to the point of extravagance, we are violating the laws of nature, polluting our consciousness, and polluting the global environment. Therefore we should simplify our lives by regularly chanting the holy names of God, subsisting on a simple vegetarian diet of foodstuffs offered to the Lord before being eaten, and by limiting our sex life to the propagation of saintly children. If we live such saintly lives, the entire global atmosphere will be wondrously transformed. This place will become heaven on earth. Greedy Lifestyles are Destroying our Environment An

Krishna never neglects those who have taken complete shelter of Him. Even if they are in the midst of the greatest dangers, they have nothing to fear because the most merciful Lord Sri Krishna always protects them in all circumstances. Those who do not take shelter of Krishna foolishly think that they are protected by their bank balance, their insurance, their family members, etc. But no matter how many of these so-called protectors one may have, not one of them is competent to protect him at the time of death. The only real protector is Krishna or God. The Most Merciful Supreme Lord Sri Krishna Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Is it Better to Stop Chanting? If one cannot chant without offense to the holy name (i.e. if one cannot follow the regulative principles or doesn't concentrate properly), is it better to not to chant at all, or to chant still, even if chanting is impure? Your fallen servant, S. Answer: Offensive Chanting Gradually Becomes Offensless N

Our readers often write us asking how they can surrender to Krishna. Srila Prabhupada has very wonderfully informed us in this regard in his preface to the Sri Caitanya Caritamrita Srila Prabhupada wherein he lists the six guidelines for how one can surrender to Krishna: "In the surrendering process, one should (1) accept things favorable for discharging devotional service, (2) reject things unfavorable, (3) always believe firmly in the Lord's protection, (4) feel exclusively dependent on the mercy of the Lord, (5) have no interest separate from the interest of the Lord, and (6) always feel oneself meek and humble." We encourage our readers to very seriously adopt these six guidelines and thus achieve the ultimate perfection of human existence, pure devotional service. Come Back to Krishna and Achieve Unlimited Bliss Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Is Darkness an Independent Power? Dear Guru Maharaja, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glori

The scientists now feel that they may have discovered the Higgs Boson or God particle and that they have thus now gained new access to the secrets of the universe. What they do not realize is that the innermost secrets of the universe have already been revealed by the creator of the universe. Their attempt to understand the universe is compared to someone trying to understand how a machine works by taking it apart. They don't realize that the simple way to understand how this universe works is to read the detailed manuals in the form of the Vedic wisdom, which have a long time ago been bestowed upon us by the creator of the universe. Simulation of the Higgs Boson Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Is this the Real God Particle? I was interested in knowing the Vedic perspective on the very recent discovery of the Higgs boson particle also called as the God particle. Scientists say that this discovery would help answer the fundamental questions on the evolution of t

The Lord's devotee is described as an ocean of mercy because without restriction or discrimination he distributes the unlimited mercy of Lord Sri Krishna to the suffering, ignorant souls of this universe to save them from their precarious position within the cycle of repeated birth, death, old age, and disease. He thus awakens them to their original, enlightened state of consciousness, which is eternal, full of bliss, and full of knowledge. Srila Prabhupada is an Ocean of Unlimited Mercy Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Respecting Guru or Krishna First? If Krishna were to appear in His actual form in front of you and your guru were to appear at the same time, to whom would you bow first? Ravishankar Answer: Respect Krishna by Respecting Guru Lord Krishna explains in the Adi Purana: ye me bhakta-janāḥ pārtha na me bhaktāś ca te janāḥ mad-bhaktānāṁ ca ye bhaktās te me bhakta-tamā matāḥ “Those who are My direct devotees are actually not My devotees, but thos

In this material world the powers of darkness have almost completely conquered the human society. Therefore it is very difficult to find anyone who is willing to serve Krishna or God. Everyone is eager to serve their senses, but practically no one is eager to serve God. Therefore those who have realized God should accept it as their sacred duty to dedicate their entire lives for delivering the human population from their ignorance of the spiritual nature of the self. In other words, it is the sacred duty of the fortunate to make the unfortunate also fortunate. Srila Prabhupada Bestows the Greatest Good Fortune Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Fixed in Krishna Consciousness. How? How to be fixed in Krishna consciousness like a lotus flower not being diverted? Subhkrit Das Answer: Accept Guru's Orders as One's Life and Soul The key for being solidly fixed in Krishna is to accept the orders of one's spiritual master as one's very life and soul. Sank

Krishna is God, the ultimate authority, the source of perfect knowledge. His perfect teachings have been carefully passed down over the ages through an unbroken chain of disciplic succession beginning with Krishna Himself. By hearing His teachings from a spiritual master, such as Srila Prabhupada, in the authorized disciplic succession, a spiritual master who perfectly represents Krishna, we gain a perfect understand of Krishna, our relationship with Krishna, and how to attain Him as quickly and easily as possible. Srila Prabhupada Gives Us Perfect Knowledge Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Is Krishna the Force of Love? You've given me much to think about, bless you. I suspect somewhere inside of myself that there is a force of love and good and beauty in the spiritual realm beyond what we can see and that the birds and the sea and the sky are aspects of that force of love. Is that Krishna? Forgive my ignorance. Edward B. Answer: Krishna is the Source of Lo

Krishna has come to save us. He is blessing us with His unlimited mercy by which we can achieve unlimited happiness. Yet we are so foolish that instead of taking advantage of His mercy we run away to take shelter of a false sense of happiness in a place where no one has ever become truly happy. It's time we stop being so foolish and try to develop at least a little intelligence. Krishna Awaits Our Return to His Kingdom Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Is Krishna Nice? Is Krishna nice? Edward B. Answer: He Must Be Krishna must be nice because He is the original source of all niceness. In other words, niceness exists only because of Krishna's unlimited kindness. Without Krishna there would be no niceness. Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Sometimes foolish persons consider Krishna consciousness to be something sectarian, that it is another sect of religion. But this is not a fact. It is the original pure essence of existence itself. In other words when we strip away all of the myriad of misconceptions that have been heaped upon us for our entire lives by this overly materialistic society, we will return to our original pristine consciousness, Krishna consciousness. Religion, the process of re-linking with the Supreme, is one, to awaken one's dormant love for the Supreme Person. There cannot be many religions because religion is one. The concept of many religions is an illusion propagated by misguided, confused men. Prabhupada Explains the Pure Essence of Religion Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Why We Avoid Mayavadi Philosophy? First of all let me thank you from the bottom of my heart for your great teachings. Although I subscribed to "Thought for the Day" very recently, I have gained