Ultimate Self Realization

When you have as your best friend the most powerful, influential, person in all of existence without whose sanction nothing at all can happen, you have nothing to fear under any and all circumstances. That person is none other than Sri Krishna. This is why Krishna's devotees are fearless. And that is why those who distribute Krishna consciousness are the best friends of the human society. Hare Krishna Chanting Party Bestows Fearlessness Upon the World Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: How to Be Blissful When Materially Burdened? Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Dear Gurudeva, I would like to know how can a devotee be blissful when he has a heavy material commitment. I have seen devotees having financial difficulties who are forced to work hard to make money to support their family in many ways. Although we know we are not this body and everything is temporary, some are still forced to struggle materially according to their...

The Srimad Bhagavatam calls for a revolution of spiritual awakening throughout the entire universe: svasty astu viśvasya khalaḥ prasīdatāṁ dhyāyantu bhūtāni śivaṁ mitho dhiyā manaś ca bhadraṁ bhajatād adhokṣaje āveśyatāṁ no matir apy ahaitukī "May there be good fortune throughout the universe, and may all envious persons be pacified. May all living entities become calm by practicing bhakti-yoga, for by accepting devotional service they will think of each other's welfare. Therefore let us all engage in the service of the supreme transcendence, Lord Sri Krishna, and always remain absorbed in thought of Him." --Srimad Bhagavatam 5.18.9 This is what is needed on this planet now more than ever, more than anything else. Therefore all the world leaders should meet together and discuss how this entire planet can be inundated with Krishna consciousness as soon as possible. In this way all the problems that are besieging the human population will be saved in one simple ...

Due to an increasing disgust with the dogmas and abuses of sectarian religion, there is now a strong rising interest in spirituality, a non-sectarian approach to spiritual awakening. People are seeking spiritual enlightenment outside of the constraints of sectarian religious organizations. They want to get the pure essence of religion, to have their own personal experience of God. They see that sectarian religion has fomented ignorance, disunity, hate, and cruelty, and they want out. They are now turning away from sectarianism in ever-increasing numbers seeking spiritual enlightenment in a universal, non-sectarian concept of spiritual unity far removed from the sentimentalism and fanaticism of sectarian religion. The Bhagavad-gita is the perfect book for them. It very wisely teaches the perfection of spirituality by advising the spiritual seeker to eschew all sectarian conceptions of religion and come to perfectional platform of perfect harmony with the Supreme Being through comple...

As a young child I was taught by my parents to believe in God. We regularly went to church every Sunday without fail. But because my understanding of God was very vague and unclear I was not able to tangibly connect with God in such a way that I could become uplifted from the realm of material miseries. But when I discovered God's personal identity as Krishna my life was radically and wonderfully transformed. It is common sense. If I am going to fully devote myself to someone I need to know who he is. If God is a person, He must certainly have a name. This is God! Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Different Scriptures For Persons in Different Modes? Please clarify the confusion. Are there different scriptures for persons in different modes of nature? If yes, is it easier and better for one to advance on path of bhakti, by following scriptures according to the mode of nature in which one is situated? Regards, Sunil Answer: Yes, But You Should Follow Srimad...

In material life we regularly experience psychological instability while we face varieties of circumstances, some of which are pleasing and some of which are unpleasing. The key to being psychologically stable is to always take shelter of Krishna in all circumstances. What stands in the way of doing this is our false pride. When things go right we want to take credit, and when things turn out wrong we want to blame someone else. What we have to do instead, if we want to enjoy true peace of mind, is give all credit to Sri Guru and Sri Krishna when things go right and accept full responsibility when things go wrong. In this way we will always remain on the liberated platform in a psychological state of perfect stability. Stability at the Lotus Feet of Srila Prabhupada ISKCON San Francisco--1967 Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Why Isn't Everyone Getting Krishna's Mercy? We are getting the nectar of Krishna Consciousness. This is Krishna's will. Isn't ...

Krishna consciousness means to become completely fascinated by Krishna, to experience everything about Him in a complete state of wonder: His unlimited names, His supremely glorious fame, His countless qualities, His phenomenal pastimes, His wonderful associates, His amazing abode, His most profound teachings, and His transcendental paraphernalia. The more we become fascinated by Krishna, the more He reveals Himself to us. He does not reveal Himself to those who do not deeply admire Him. Fabulous Fascinating Krishna Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: What Does Individuality of the Soul Mean? Can you please tell me about the individuality of soul. What does that mean when we say that we are individual souls? Please remove my ignorance and bless us. Shilpi Assam, India Answer: We Are All Unique Persons Individuality of the soul means that you and I are not the same person. You are a separate person, and I am a separate person. That's why we have different nam...

Our lecture tour schedule has now been finalized for 2014. You can find it posted at: http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com/schedule We are ecstatic about another year of spreading the glories of Krishna all over the world both via the internet and through traveling. There is nothing the world now needs more than Krishna consciousness, and we are most happy that our spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, has engaged us full time in this topmost of all welfare activities of sharing Krishna consciousness with others. To be Krishna conscious is undoubtedly the supreme lifestyle, no matter whether you travel or you stay in one place, because there is nothing sweeter than remembering Krishna at every moment. We hope to get a chance to meet all of our readers as we traverse the globe. Kindly attend as many of the lectures as possible and make sure to come up and introduce yourself as one of our readers. Writing While Circling the Globe Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: ...

The current material civilization is a patent fiasco because it has ludicrously and completely failed to bring genuine happiness to anyone. All it has to offer is an artificial sense of happiness based on the false concept that the self is the body. In this way it is duping and deluding over seven billion people on this planet right now keeping them tightly bound up in the cycle of repeated birth and death. The Krishna consciousness movement has been started as a glorious attempt to save these poor suffering souls from the quagmire in which they have become so deeply entrenched and entangled. We pray that the world's leaders will all now recognize and appreciate the unlimited value of the Krishna consciousness movement. The Krishna Consciousness Movement Can Save the World Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: How to Be Motivated for Chanting All the Time? Dandavat Pranam, Thanks for your guidance each item I write to you. Kindly advise how to be motivated to do...

We are inviting the entire world to take to Krishna consciousness. By becoming Krishna conscious everyone will become perfect. In whatever position they are situated they will become perfect in that position. The parents will be perfect parents. The teachers will be perfect teachers. The leaders will become perfect leaders. The philosophers will all be perfect philosophers. The scientists will become perfect scientists. All religionists will manifest perfection in their particular religions. In short, the entire earth planet will become a paradise. Therefore everyone should join this Krishna consciousness movement as soon as possible after thoughtful deliberation. Srila Prabhupada--The Spiritual Master of the Universe Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: What Is an Everlasting Asset in this World? What is an everlasting asset in this world, and what assets are temporary and illusory? Amit Gupta, New Delhi, India Answer: Pure Devotional Service The only everlastin...

Our special thanks to the devotees of ISKCON Scarborough in Ontario, Canada for posting a video of my lecture given there on 10th Jan 2014: http://youtu.be/zVIkpFT2asg They chose a very good lecture topic: Stop Worrying and Start Living. This is a good piece of advice for everyone. Stop Worrying and Start Living Lecture ISKCON Scarborough, Canada--10 January 2014 Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Redemption of Deeply Ignorant Souls Revered Guru Maharaja, Bhagavan Sri Krishna says in the Bhagavad-gita, "My devotee never fails." And He also says that tamasic people (those are who deeply in ignorance) will go deeper and deeper into terrific hells and will never reach Him. Is there any remedy/solution for such tamasic souls for redemption? Can they also reach Godhead? Or such souls will not be redeemed? What solutions Lord Krishna can offer to them? Eternal Servant of the Lord, R.Sekar Answer: Mercy of the Lord's Pure Devotee Is...

Since Krishna is the source of all power, nobody or nothing is more powerful than Krishna. He can thus give perfect, flawless protection to anyone of His choosing. Krishna's devotee knows that no one is a better protector than Krishna. Because Krishna's devotee has taken shelter of Krishna he is sure that Krishna will always protect him in all circumstances. Therefore the devotee is free from anxiety in all situations. Those who are not Krishna conscious do not enjoy the same anxiety-free existence. Srila Prabhupada Describes the Glories of Krishna Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Why Birds and Animals Cannot Speak? Why is it that the birds and animals cannot speak? Why Krishna has made them mute? Geeta Answer: They Can Speak The birds and animals do they speak. Just because you do not understand their language does not mean that they are mute. Every species has its own language. We cannot understand their languages, but Krishna can understand the lan...

The Krishna consciousness movement, under the expert guidance of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, is launching a global revolution for the respiritualization of the entire human society. This spiritual revolution is the greatest innovation the world has ever seen. Some may argue that the light bulb, the internet, Google, or the IPhone are the world's greatest innovations, but this is not a fact. How many people has any of them saved from the cycle of birth and death? Not even one. It is the Krishna consciousness movement which is having the greatest impact on world history. All those who take advantage of this movement will reap the supreme benefit of awakening the dormant love of Godhead within their hearts. And all those who neglect it will be at a great disadvantage for their future happiness. This movement does not require quitting one religion and joining another. This movement teaches one how to become spiritually perfect no matter which religious or phi...

By dint of his complete surrender unto Krishna, Krishna's pure devotee has Krishna as his only possession. And because Krishna is the possessor of everything, when the devotee possesses Krishna such a pure devotee's position is as good as being the possessor of everything. Therefore the pure devotee has unlimited resources at his command to engage in the Lord's service. He cannot be lacking in any way. This is confirmed in the following verse from the Bhagavad-gita: ananyāÅ' cintayanto māṁ ye janāḥ paryupāsate teṣāṁ nityābhiyuktānāṁ yoga-ká¹£emaṁ vahāmy aham "But those who always worship Me with exclusive devotion, meditating on My transcendental formâ€"to them I carry what they lack, and I preserve what they have." --Bhagavad-gita 9.22 For those of us who are not yet completely pure devotees the Lord gives us as much resources as we can properly engage in His service. Contented Cows Protected by ISKCON Answers by Cit...

Hearing about Krishna is so wonderful that through it you naturally awaken your transcendental identity as His eternal servant in His transcendental kingdom. The reason that hearing or reading about Krishna is so powerful is that Krishna is personally present in topics regarding Him. Therefore the more you hear about Krishna, the more you associate with Him. This is why you should hear and read about Krishna as much as possible 24 hours a day. This absorption in the topics of Krishna gives you the highest possible benefit because the more you associate with God, the more you become godly. And the more you become godly, the more you become free from all anxiety, not just temporarily, but permanently. Realize Krishna by Hearing from Srila Prabhupada Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: How to Deal With Pride? Recently I have started listening to your Srimad Bhagavatam lectures during work and listening to kirtans. At home I watch movies about Krishna's pastimes. I ha...

Sometimes we encounter the argument that those born in brahmana families are by birth more qualified to be spiritual masters than those not born in such a family. Someone may argue this on the basis of a statement in the Hari-bhakti-vilasa that if one bona fide spiritual master is born in a brahmana family and another, who is also qualified, is born in a sudra family, one should accept the one who is born in a brahmana family. Our spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, has commented on this statement in his book Teachings of Lord Caitanya as follows: "This statement serves as a social compromise, but it has nothing to do with spiritual understanding. This injunction is only applicable for those who consider social status more important than spiritual status. It is not for people who are spiritually serious. A serious person would accept Caitanya Mahaprabhu's instruction that anyone -- regardless of his position -- conversant with Krishna sc...

Don't waste your time trying to find a ideal place of residence within this material existence. There is no such place. Anywhere you may go within this vast universe from the higher planets all the way down to the lower planets, you will find that every place is a place of misery. So if you want to find a place where you can be truly happy, perpetually free from all anxieties, you have no option but to return to your original home in the spiritual sky. There are an unlimited number of wonderful planets in the spiritual sky. Out of all of them there is one planet which is most special. That planet is called Krishnaloka. It is the personal residence of Lord Sri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If you become His pure devotee, that abode will be your destination upon leaving your present material body. You will reside with Krishna eternally there as a full participant in His unlimitedly sweet transcendental pastimes. Teaching the Amazing Bhakti Science of Krishna Bhakti L...

If you want to become perfect in Krishna consciousness and escape the cycle of birth and death, you must on an ongoing basis hear the teachings of Lord Sri Krishna from the lotus mouth of the bona fide spiritual master in complete submission along with whatever inquiries are necessary to clarify your understanding. By this sincere hearing and inquiring all the material dirt that has accumulated in your heart over millions of births will be removed, and you will gain entrance to the direct association of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Srila Prabhupada Leads His Disciples in Kirtan Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: In Spiritual Life Is Everything the Same? Srila Gurudeva, by the mercy of your disciples many of us were able to get the link telecasting your current Srimad Bhagavatam lecture live on www.lalive.com I had the following doubt: It was mentioned that books are the primary basis and lectures the secondary. How in this material world or even among ...

To always be blissful in Krishna consciousness is not at all difficult. All you have to do when you find yourself in a miserable situation is follow Krishna's instruction to tolerate the dualities of material existence. In this way by connecting yourself with Krishna's instruction you are immediately connected with Krishna and you enter into His wonderful world of transcendental bliss beyond the dualities of material existence. Defeating the Impersonalistic Misunderstanding of the Vedas ISKCON Brampton, Ontario, Canada--12 January 2014 Distributing Radha Damodar Mahaprasadam ISKCON Toronto, Ontario, Canada--12 January 2014 Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Difference Between Life and Soul? Is there any difference between life and soul? Motwani Answer: The Experiencer and the Experienced The soul is the experiencer of life. And life is what is experienced by the soul. The soul fully surrendered unto Lord Sri Krishna relishes an eternal life in ...

If you want to be sane in today's world, you have to be willing to be a nonconformist. You have to be willing to be seen as someone who is different. Why? The entire world civilization is based in the false conception that the body is the self. There is no mentality more insane that this. It is impossible to have true happiness as long as one clings to the bodily conception of the self which gets old and dies. So you have your choice. You can be a miserable conformist or a blissful nonconformist. So now you decide what you want. "Finding Sanity in a Crazy World" Lecture Toronto, Ontario, Canada--11 January 2014 Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: First Kali Yuga When Hare Krishna Was Chanted? There have been many yuga cycles, and in each yuga cycle there has been a Kali yuga. Has the Hare Krishna mahamantra been chanted in each Kali yuga? Or is the present Kali yuga the first time the Hare Krishna mahamantra has been chanted? Mukesh Doshi ...

How to get free from addiction? Giving up one addiction and replacing it with another addiction is no solution at all. I have seen one gentleman who was addicted to smoking but wanted to give it up. So he replaced his smoking habit with a candy eating habit. The result was that he become very fat. By replacing one kind of slavery with another kind of slavery he simply remained the slave of his senses. Since by nature we are creatures of habit who naturally get habituated in this way or that way, the only solution is to find an addiction that liberates from all anxiety and illusion and make that our habit. In other words instead of being the slave of our senses, we have to become the masters of our senses. That supreme addiction is an addiction to Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. When you become addicted to Krishna you automatically become free from all material addictions because Krishna is more attractive that anything or anyone else. Once you become addicted to Krishna...

9 January 2014--Our current around-the-world lecture tour has been especially revealing in regards to the dualities of the material world. Yesterday we left Mendoza, Argentina where the thermometer was hitting 100 degrees Fahrenheit/ 38 degrees Celsius. And now today we are here in Toronto where tonight it will dip to 12 degrees Fahrenheit/ minus 11 degrees Celsius. Krishna instructs us that we should be tolerant of such dualities. Our travels in the service of Krishna give us a great opportunity to follow Krishna's instruction of tolerating such fluctuations of temperature. Connecting with Lord Sri Krishna's instructions puts one into a state of transcendental bliss. Extreme Cold Weather in Toronto, Canada Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Higher Planetary System or Goloka? Please accept my humble obeisances. In Srimad Bhagavatam 8.23.30 it is stated: ya idaṁ deva-devasya harer adbhuta-karmaṇaḥ avatārānucaritaṁ śṛṇvan yāti parāṁ gatim "If ...

Although our stop in Mendoza, Argentina was very brief, only two days (January 6 through January 8 2014), it was sweet indeed. We relished enlivening kirtans, tasty prasadam, enlightening classes, and wonderful association. And what was especially ecstatic was the last few minutes at the airport before we departed. After we checked in the security gate had still not opened. So while waiting for it to open we took the golden opportunity to have a wonderful kirtan which magically transformed the mundane atmosphere of airport into the spiritual world. All of us singing together created a powerful kirtan which attracted the attention of everyone purifying them with the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Just Before Departing from Mendoza, Argentina--8 January 2014 Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Should I Pray for My Friends' Material Benefit? Whenever I pray to Sri Krishna, I always ask for Him to strengthen my devotion towards Him and to provide me with the stre...

The guru within is the Lord within your heart known as the Supersoul. He has been accompanying you for countless billions of lifetimes of your sojourn in the cycle of birth and death as the witness of your activities. When you become inclined to become self-realized for escaping the cycle of birth and death, that Supersoul appears externally as the guru without, the spiritual master who enlightens you and guides you step by step how to attain the perfectional self-realization stage. These two gurus are described as follows in Srimad Bhagavatam 11.29.6: naivopayanty apacitiṁ kavayas taveśa brahmāyuṣāpi kṛtam ṛddha-mudaḥ smarantaḥ yo 'ntar bahis tanu-bhṛtām aśubhaṁ vidhunvann ācārya-caittya-vapuṣā sva-gatiṁ vyanakti ''O my Lord! Transcendental poets and experts in spiritual science could not fully express their indebtedness to You, even if they were endowed with the prolonged lifetime of Brahma, for You appear in two features-externally as the acarya and internally as...

When we arrived in Mendoza, Argentina on 6 January 2014 we were among the first to clear customs. But when we got to the luggage claim carousel it was a different story altogether. We waited and waited and waited, and still our luggage did not come. Round and round the carousel went again and again, but still our luggage did not manifest. As seasoned travelers whose luggage has been lost many times we were emotionally prepared to deal with the prospect of lost luggage. But still to feel my connection with Krishna and not let my consciousness get totally engrossed in the duality of luggage/ no luggage, I started chanting the Hare Krishna mahamantra. I was not chanting asking Krishna to please make sure that my luggage comes. If I had done so, this would have been a offense because instead of my asking the Lord to engage me in His service, I would have been asking Him to engage in my service. Therefore I was chanting in the mood of begging Krishna to always keep me engaged in His servi...

In the material world we see that so many musicians come and go, some of them being prominent and influential for some time until they vanish into oblivion and are completely forgotten. But there is one type of music which never loses its power and is so potent that it impacts the entire universe. That music is the congregational chanting of the Hare Krishna mahamantra. It is so powerful that simply by Lord Caitanya's performance of it 500 years ago in the area of Navadvipa in India a wave of love of God was introduced which will gradually inundate the entire universe. Srila Prabhupada describes this as follows in his purport to Sri Caitanya Caritamrita, Adi Lila, Chapter 13, Text 32: "One may raise the question how all three worlds became inundated with love of Krishna, since Caitanya Mahaprabhu performed kirtana only in the Navadvipa area. The answer is that Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Krishna Himself. The entire cosmic manifestation results from the Lord's first...

From the highest planet down to the lowest planet, every place in this material world is a place of distress. Some places are more distressful and some places are less distressful. But in each and every place distress is unavoidably present. So what to do? Is there any way out of here? The good news is that there is a way out of this world of distress. Amazingly, there is a world where distress is conspicuous by its absence, in other words, a world which is completely 100% free from all kinds of distress. That world is called the paravyoma in Sanskrit or the spiritual sky in English. That world is attained by those who fully absorb themselves in loving devotional service to the Supreme Person. And what is even more amazing is that even while one is still in the world of distress he can transcend all material miseries by totally absorbing his mind in Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the lord of that sublime spiritual sky. In this way even while one is physically situated in...

Krishna consciousness is not a religion. Rather, it is the perfection of spirituality because Krishna orders us to give up all religions and simply take to the path of perfect spirituality. Perfect spirituality means to be in a state of perfect harmony with the supreme source of all existence. When you are in harmony with the supreme source of all existence you are naturally in harmony with everything that exists. This perfect science of spirituality has been passed down from great enlightened teachers who lived in the ancient times going back way before modern recorded history. If one is fortunate to come in contact with a bona fide teacher of this science, he can easily become perfect in spirituality. All he has to do is carefully hear from the bona fide spiritual master and faithfully follow his instructions. In this way he will quickly and easily become situated in the highest perfectional stage of spiritual enlightenment. Teaching the Science of Perfect Spirituality ISKCON Santi...

The leaders of today's world are a pack of unenlightened fools possessing not even an ounce of a clue of how to solve their own life's problems, what to speak of anyone else's. Under their gross misguidance the human population faces the hopelessness of a life that leads nowhere except to old age, disease, and death. The great tragedy of the modern civilization is that these billions of human beings who have only after great difficulty in the lower species attained this human form of life could have utilized it to become self-realized and thus escape the cycle of birth and death but are now instead being dragged back down the animal kingdom in their next life. Therefore in an attempt to save these poor suffering people the Krishna consciousness movement has been started to bring everyone back to their original transcendental identity, which is eternal, full of bliss, and full of knowledge. Our mission is to make everyone happy. Ecstatic Arrival Greeting--ISKCON Santiago, ...

The future of Krishna's devotee is unlimitedly bright. He is leaving aside all material miseries to enter into the abode of unlimited spiritual bliss. Therefore he is very tolerant of whatever miseries he has to experience along the pathway back to home, back to Godhead because they are only temporary. He knows that they will soon fade way. Krishna Awaits His Devotee's Return to the Spiritual World Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Is the Krishna Consciousness Movement a Cult? Is the Krishna consciousness movement a cult? (Question asked during a class in Melbourne, Australia) Answer: The Material World is a Cult The Krishna consciousness movement is not a cult. To the contrary, it is the material world which is a gargantuan brainwash cult that has duped the entire human society into taking the material body to being the actual self, not the spirit-soul within. The highly sophisticated educational system of this cult has programmed everyone to believe i...