Ultimate Self Realization

If you want to realize the wonderful, sublime, all-blissful reality which lies beyond the covering cloud of this material existence you have to burn away the blinding fog of illusion by the brilliant sun of Vedic knowledge received by submissively hearing from the bona fide spiritual master as much as possible, by inquiring from him, and by rendering service unto him. This is the verdict of Lord Sri Krishna as He clearly states in the Bhagavad-gita (4:34): tad viddhi praṇipātena paripraśnena sevayā upadekṣyanti te jñānaṁ jñāninas tattva-darśinaḥ "Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth." Those who are intelligent and philosophically inclined follow this sublime instruction of Krishna and make their lives perfect. Srila Prabhupada Teaches College Professors Answers by Citing the Vedic Versio...

The most important thing to achieve in Krishna consciousness is a taste for Lord Sri Krishna's holy name. To get this taste one must meditatively not mechanically chant the holy name. One can go on chanting mechanically for millions of lifetimes and not achieve spiritual perfection. Or one can meditatively chant the holy name and achieve spiritual perfection in this one lifetime. So one has to realize the important of meditative chanting and endeavor to chant meditatively on a regular daily basis. Then one will make very rapid progress on the ultimate self realization pathway of Krishna consciousness. Srila Prabhupada Deeply Meditates on Krishna Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Convert Other Religions to Krishna Consciousness? Should we try to convert the Christians, Jews, and Muslims to Krishna Consciousness? I have some friends who believe in Jesus as the Absolute Truth, some people believe in Allah as the Absolute Truth and so on. So is there is conflict wit...

If you always hope for the best while being prepared for the worst, you will never be disappointed. Always hoping for the best keeps you upbeat and optimistic. And being similarly prepared for the worst keeps you rooted in the reality that this material world is a miserable place in which old age, disease, and death are unavoidably being forced upon everyone. The devotee is always happy even in the worst case scenario because he knows that this material world is simply a temporary covering of the eternal, all-blissful reality which lies beyond it. By always remembering Krishna he fully qualifies himself to enter that higher reality, and his every moment takes him a step closer to that ultimate destination. Devotees Chanting Hare Krishna in Ecstasy Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Difference Between Spirit and Soul What is difference between the spirit and the soul? Lakshya A. Answer: They Are the Same Thing The spirit and the soul are the same thing. That...

To simply chant Hare Krishna for one's own deliverance ignoring the helpless plight of the billions of conditioned souls who are caught up in the cycle of birth and death suffering like anyone is another type of selfishness. How I can simply think of feeding myself when all around me everyone is starving to death? Therefore the Vaisnava, the devotee of the Lord, is compassionate. He wants to save the suffering people of this world from their misery by giving them Krishna consciousness. He fully dedicates his entire life for the world deliverance mission of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu for inundating the entire universe in a tidal wave of love of God. By tightly embracing this mission within his heart he always revels in the unlimited bliss of Krishna consciousness. Blissful Hare Krishnas Out to Save the World Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Krishna's Beauty Described in Other Scriptures? As God's most attractive form is as Lord Krishna then is Lord Krishna...

How to break free from our love affair with Maya that has gone on and on for millions and millions of lifetimes? The answer is very simple. You just have to give your love to Krishna. Love we must because it is our nature to love someone. Therefore the only way to permanently break free from loving Maya or illusion is to love Krishna. This is not at all difficul because there is no one more adorable than Krishna. Krishna the Supreme Most Adorable Personality of Godhead Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Do You See Krishna Face to Face? Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to you. I have read your Thought for the Day since 2004, and I like it. You are my eternal well wisher. I feel happy to think of you as my spiritual master. This thinking is a real source of bliss. Questions: Do you see Krishna face to face? How do you think I will see Krishna face to face in this life in spite of my big and many sins done? R...

Srila Prabhupada explains as follows in his purport to Srimad Bhagavatam 5.8.8: "From this we can understand how we have to be very cautious in executing our spiritual duties by observing the rules and regulations and regularly chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. If we neglect doing this, we will eventually fall down. We must rise early in the morning, bathe, attend mangala-arati, worship the Deities, chant the Hare Krishna mantra, study the Vedic literatures and follow all the rules prescribed by the acaryas and the spiritual master. If we deviate from this process, we may fall down, even though we may be very highly advanced. " Therefore everyone who is serious about awakening their dormant Krishna consciousness should rise early in the morning before sunrise, bathe themselves, offer mangala arati at their home altar or attend mangala arati at the temple, chant Hare Krishna japa, and study the Srimad Bhagavatam as a regular daily affair. Such a program may se...

The three types of misery in this material world, although seemingly our enemies, are actually our best friends. These three types of misery are: 1. Miseries of the body and mind 2. Miseries caused by other living beings 3. Miseries caused by natural disturbances has as hurricanes, tornados, drought, and flooding. These three classes of suffering remind us that this material world is not our real home and thus give us impetus to attain the pure, unadulterated happiness of the spiritual world. If it were not for these miseries, we would continue being lulled into a false sense of complacency here in this place of pseudo happiness, where Lord Sri Krishna and His transcendental pastimes are conspicuous by their absence. So we have these miseries to thank for helping us achieve unlimited happiness. Srila Prabhupada Teaches Us How to Defeat All Miseries Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Why Meat Eaters Are Not Punished by God? Most of the population in the wor...

You'd think that being yourself would be the easiest thing that you could ever do. But in today's crazy, misdirected world nothing could be further from the truth. Nowadays it is extremely difficult, almost impossible to be yourself.  Why is this? It's because nobody knows who they actually are. Everybody is mistakenly basing their sense of identity on their temporary material body, which is only a mere covering of real self who resides within the body. And what makes it even worse is that everywhere we are being bombarded from all sides with false propaganda which reinforces the false, bodily conception of the self. This makes it extremely difficult to come out of illusion and realize our actual self. Teaching the Self Realization Science in Riga, Latvia Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Why Renounce the World? Gurudeva, What is the rational ground for our renouncing the world? Is it because we want God? your humble servant Anil S. ...

Don't be a miserable silent cog in the machine of the materially conditioned society. Find yourself a niche where you can be an ecstatic fighter for bringing in a new age of spiritual enlightenment for the suffering humanity. Otherwise, of what value is your life? It will be no better than an animal's life of eating, sleeping, mating, and defending until you die and vanish into oblivion. If, on the other hand, you dedicate your life fully in service of the Lord's divine world deliverance mission, you will be the best servant of the human society, and you will attain glorious immortality. Now the choice is yours. Do what you like. I hope you make the right choice! Hare Krishna Distributes a Gita to a Most Fortunate Soul Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: How to Not Be Affected By Others? How to avoid being affected by others consciousness? How to subdue the desires? In presence of unnecessary desires I forget everything else. On what instruction s...

Our world society is hopelessly drowning in an ocean of selfishness and greed caused by its disconnection from that person who is the source of all that exists. Therefore the world's greatest welfare activity is to reconnect everyone with that most astoundingly amazing person. We say "reconnect" because originally everyone was connected with that Supreme Person. Thus real education teaches one how to reconnect with Krishna or God, and anyone who teaches this topmost science is the greatest teacher in the world. Jagat Guru--The Spiritual Master of the Universe--His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Different Incarnations of God Are Different Persons? In millions and millions of times of Rama and Krishna avatars, will the inner soul indwelling within these forms be the same or different? Your humble servant Anil S. Guwahati, India Answer: They Are All Krishna No matter how many millions of times...

There is truly nothing sweeter than hearing and chanting the glories of Krishna in the association of His devotees. Our just completed visit to Lithuania was overflowing with such amazing opportunities. Krishna mercifully blessed me with the chance to give so many lectures and question-and-answer sessions with so many enthusiastic and receptive audiences. We sang the Lord's holy names together in so many kirtans that became so sweet that they could melt your heart. And there were so many stirring loving exchanges with so many different devotees on so many different occasions. Because of the sum total of all this nectar, on our way to the Vilnius airport to take our flight out of Lithuania I could not help but feel some sadness in my heart, some pain or dread of the soon-to-be-coming separation from the devotees in Lithuania. Such feelings are welcome in Krishna consciousness because such feelings always keep us tightly packed together in each other's hearts. Departure from Li...

When one takes to the path of bhakti, in order to get its result of pure love of God initiation by the bona fide spiritual master is required. In support of this point Srila Prabhupada quotes from the Hari-bhakti-vilasa (2.6) and (2.10) as follows: adīkṣitasya vāmoru kṛtaṁ sarvaṁ nirarthakam paśu-yonim avāpnoti dīkṣā-virahito janaḥ "Unless one is initiated by a bona fide spiritual master, all his devotional activities are useless. A person who is not properly initiated can descend again into the animal species." ato guruṁ praṇamyaivaṁ sarva-svaṁ vinivedya ca gṛhṇīyād vaiṣṇavaṁ mantraṁ dīkṣā-pūrvaṁ vidhānataḥ "It is the duty of every human being to surrender to a bona fide spiritual master. Giving him everything--body, mind and intelligence--one must take Vaisnava initiation from him." In light of above we can see the fallacy of thinking that one can attain the spiritual world at the time of death without taking initiation. The conclusion is th...

In the prison of this material world many people speak of freedom without knowing what freedom really means. They imagine that all kinds of things are freedom. For example, they say that the right to vote is freedom. They say that the right to travel anywhere is freedom. Or they say that the right to murder their baby by abortion is freedom. Their freedom is only being able to act in a less restricted within this prison. It is not real freedom. Real freedom means to be liberated from the chains of birth, death, old age, and disease. But the mass population is so deluded by the material energy that they consider the idea of escaping this material to be the crazy dream of a lunatic. Thus their freedom is nothing but slavery. Happy Krishna Conscious Family Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: If We Go Vegetarian, Will We Be Overrun With Animals? When I tell many of my friends who are non vegetarian that eating meat is not recommended in the scriptures they say that if we ...

Like a lamp that cannot radiate light because it is not plugged into electric power, the entire human population is in darkness because of not being connected with Krishna. These poor souls are confused and disoriented because they do not know who they are. They have not a clue as to what is the purpose of their existence. What a pathetic, pitiable plight! We must help them. We must save them by somehow or other attracting them to Krishna.  Krishna, please help us to be successful in bringing the human civilization out of the darkness of ignorance and misery into the soothing light of Your causeless mercy. Bhagavad-gita Lecture--Vilnius, Lithuania--14 May 2014 Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: In Challenges Does Truth Ultimately Win? Dear Gurudeva,  Is it true that in every challenge only truth ultimately wins? Amit G. Answer: Only If You Are Surrendered to Krishna Because we are proud and we do not take shelter of Krishna, usually ignoran...

It is indeed shocking to witness the speed at which the world society is descending deeper and deeper into godlessness, degradation, immorality, and less than animalism. The world leaders should be leading humanity to higher consciousness. But instead of doing this they are grossly neglecting their duty and doing just the opposite. They are stupidly and irresponsibly leading the foolish people into increased depravity. How disgusting they are. It's time for a new paradigm for the entire world society, a paradigm based on the spiritual identity of the living being. Only a 180 degree paradigm shift can bring true, lasting peace and happiness to the entire society. It's time they model the human society on the advice of the bona fide spiritual master. We are hoping that they will wake up and take our guidance on how to solve all of the world's problems. Nrsimha Caturdasi Lecture--Kaunas, Lithuania--13 May 2014 Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: By ...

Without Krishna's love life would be a meaningless void. In fact because Krishna is the ultimate source of everything life would not exist at all if it were not for Him. Everything beautiful and wonderful that exists is all due to the boundlessly sweet love of Krishna. The only reason that sometimes things appear ugly and miserable is that we forget Krishna. Therefore instead of forgetting this glorious Krishna we should take all of this pure love that is coming from Krishna and offer it back to Him. What do we have of our own to offer this person who owns everything? Nothing, really. Even the very love we feel in our hearts is nothing but a tiny particle of His fathomless ocean of love. So what we can we do? Just as we can take a small mirror and beam by reflection the sunlight back to the sun, all we can do is give back to Krishna whatever is already His. In this way we will be liberated from our debilitating thief mentality and our hearts will melt in the transcendental bliss o...

Although presently deeply asleep in the modes of material nature, the whole world is waiting to be awakened by the Krishna consciousness movement. Meanwhile the politicians continue their relentless propaganda that they will solve our problems while they continue making things worse and worse. Until that wonderful day of global spiritual awakening happens the chaotic age of Kali will continue to tighten its stranglehold on the suffering humanity. So may that day of awakening come soon. May it come soon. Srila Prabhupada Can Lead the Entire World Out of Chaos  Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Is One's Time of Death Predetermined? Dear Srila Gurudeva, Could you please explain to me about death? Is a living entity's exact date, time and place of death predetermined, or could it be prolonged by other means? Your devotee, Jaanvi Answer: For Non-Devotees Yes And For Devotees No Everyone's exact moment of death is strictly predetermined by their past...

On Saturday 10 May 2014 I lectured to a large Russian audience in Kaliningrad, Russia in a public hall. The final question which came from them was, "How to solve the crisis in the Ukraine?" I explained to these eager listeners that such crises occur because we are self-center instead of God-centered. The politicians then take advantage of our self-centeredness, stimulating it through nationalistic propaganda to propel themselves to power. When I informed them that the solution is to make the politicians Krishna conscious I got an enthusiastic round of applause from the audience. Public Hall Program--Kaliningrad, Russia--10 May 2014 Book Table Flooded With Eager Customers After Lecture Happy Recipients of Krishna Conscious Literature Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: How to Develop Steadiness and Determination Please accept my humble obeisances, All glories to Srila Prabhupada, How can I become so steady and determined in Krishna consciousness...

Crossing the border into Russia is usually troublesome as the customs officials often want to take a close look at our belongings to see if we are trying to bring any contraband into Russia. Our 9 May 2014 crossing was no exception. The officer even wanted to look inside my harmonium to see if I was trying to smuggle anything into Russia inside of it. But then when he realized that we are Hare Krishna, he stopped his probing and immediately let us go informing us that his friend is a Hare Krishna. Therefore I can understand that the more we make the world Krishna conscious, the more it the people will become peaceful, loving and happy. Spreading the Bliss in Kaliningrad, Russia--9 May 2014 Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Will I Meet My Friends and Relatives After Death? Dear Sir, After the death of the body where does the soul go? Is there a possibility to meet my friends and relatives? Will I forget my past life after death? Thanks and Regards, Hari...

Anyone who takes seriously to Krishna consciousness is destined for greatness. They achieve greatness in this world as an esteemed saintly person. And then they achieve the ultimate greatness of being reestablished in an intimate loving relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the spiritual sky. So why should anyone endeavor for so called greatness in the material society, which is simply temporary and a useless waste of time? Transcendental Bliss Tidal Wave in Klaipeda, Lithuania--8 May 2014 Counseling Disciples Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: I Hate Chanting. What's Wrong? Of late I hate chanting. I feel like throwing away my japa beads and bag. What could be wrong with me? I am worried. Please help. Hasmukh U. Answer: Cleansing Period You are going through a cleansing of the heart. Keep chanting, and the holy name will become unlimitedly sweet. Sankarshan Das Adhikari

There was so much love flowing through our hearts upon our arrival in Kaunas, Lithuania that even hearts made of stone would melt. There is so much bliss even here in this material world in this Hare Krishna movement that I cannot even begin to understand how much bliss is inundating the hearts of the devotees in the spiritual world. The conclusion is that you don't have to go back to Godhead to taste unlimited oceans of nectar. All you have to do is fully absorb yourself in Krishna consciousness. Ecstatic Arrival in Kaunas, Lithuania--7 May 2014 Arrival Lecture--Kaunas, Lithuania--7 May 2014 Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Is Playing Sports Bad? Is playing sports, and outdoor games such as football, basketball, and soccer bad? I have heard that playing games of any kind is bad for Krishna Consciousness.  Kartik P. Answer: Devotees Relish the Ultimate Sport Just as children who play with marbles become disinterested in...

What the world desperately needs now more than ever is powerful leadership to fill the present humongous leadership vacuum which is destroying the human society. It's very sad to say that none of our current day leaders are competent to give proper leadership to anyone. Proper leadership means to guide one's dependents how to become free from the cycle of birth and death. It's no wonder that we see ever-increasing chaos enveloping this planet. The world's most urgent and burning need is a leader or a group of leaders who can by enlightened, perfect, pure guidance and spotless behavior inspire and educate the mass population for achieving the actual purpose of the human form of life, which is to awaken the dormant love of God sleeping within one's heart and to thus become fully qualified for going back to home, back to Godhead. May such leadership now become manifest on this planet and take the world by storm. Srila Prabhupada Trains Leaders Answers by Citing th...

There is no reason for you to suffer any longer in this miserable material existence because now there is a way out of here. There is a mantra-vimana, a mantra airplane, on which you can fly back to your original home in the paravyoma, the wondrous spiritual sky. If you will faithfully chant the Hare Krishna mantra, you will be transported back to that dimension beyond the realm of birth and death. You will awaken in that land of eternity, knowledge, and bliss inhabitated by Lord Sri Krishna and His pure devotees. It is not at all difficult. Chant it now: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare Ecstatic Home Program--5 May 2014--Riga, Latvia Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: What If I Can't Reach a Spiritual Master? If one is unable to reach a spiritual master by any means, how do they advance in Krishna Consciousness? (I can't go to the Krishna temple, but I do pray at home) I have learned t...

Plagued by ever-increasingly rampant sectarianism the human civilization is gradually disintegrating more and into complete total chaos. All attempts to bring about peace and unity on the material platform will ultimately prove to be a failure because there is no such thing as equality on the material plane. Equality is only present on the spiritual plane. Therefore to bring true peace, happiness, and prosperity to the human society we must elevate everyone to the spiritual plane. And thus a worldwide spiritual revolution, a massive global awakening of consciousness, is absolutely essential. Without it human society is doomed to devolve into total anarchy in due course of time. Ecstatic Harinam Sankirtana Party--Surat, Gujarat India Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: What Should Be Done About Atheists? I have a query regarding atheists. When they don't believe in God it is not a problem. But when they insult God with such words that we are even unable to think of...

This material world is a world of conflict and party spirit. There will always be different groups of people vying for supremacy over the other groups. They justify their pursuit of power by propagating that they are right and the other party is wrong, that their party is more morally righteous than the other party, that God is on their side, not on the side of the other party. This party spirit arises from one's false identification with his material body. Politicians take advantage of this tendency and catapult themselves into power by fanning the fire of party spirit within the hearts of the people. Therefore those who are thoughtful do not allow themselves to be carried way by the party spirit, which perennially ravages this material world wreaking havoc on the peace and prosperity of the people. It is the selfishness of the politicians that they pit one group against another people even to the point where so many people are killed, just so they can continue enjoying a tempora...

Don't be a less intelligent fool who gives his imperfect mind more credence or plausibility than the Supreme Person, the source of all existence, and the great Vedic authorities who have guided the human civilization for millions of years. What can you realize with your imperfect senses and your imperfect mind? As long as you accept them as your authorities you must necessarily remain in a state of illusion and suffering. So do yourself a favor. Don't be so proud as to not listen to those who are more realized than you. Seek out a person who has realized the Absolute Truth. Hear and inquire from him submissively and serve him with love. He will reveal the Absolute Truth to you, and you will become a liberated soul. Bhagavad-gita Lecture--Riga, Latvia--2 May 2014 Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Where Does Krishna Call the Non-devotees Rascals? Please accept my respectful obeisances. I truly appreciate your guidance everyday through the questions and ans...

You've been caught up in the cycle of birth and death for countless eons endlessly suffering the pangs of material existence. There is no need for you to continuously go on punishing yourself in this way. It's time now for you to break free from your conditioning and come back to your original pure identity in the transcendental realm situated far, far beyond the realm of ignorance and misery. Stop artificially trying to be the center of the universe, which you are not. Come back to your original position as the dedicated servant of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the source of all existence. Rejoin Krishna and Balarama in Goloka Vrindavan Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Does One's Name Affect His Destiny? Dear Gurudeva, Please accept my humble obeisances. Thank you for your love and compassion for all of us. You are so kind for us, by spreading this everyday Krishna's message full of bliss and knowledge. Could you answer some que...