Ultimate Self Realization

Srila Prabhupada writes that faith is the complete conviction that simply by serving the Supreme Lord, Sri Krishna, one can achieve all perfection. He says that this is called real faith. So we must all have this faith if we want to become truly free from all distress, because for a doubting person there is neither happiness in this world or in the next. Because faith is contagious by associating with and serving those who have this real faith, we will also develop it. So this is what we must do if we want actual relief from distress. Association with Srila Prabhupada Gives Faith Video For the Day: Only Solution for a World in Chaos Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Meaning of Surrendering Works to Krishna? In Bhagavad-gita Chapter 3, Text 30 Krishna tells Arjuna to fight, surrendering all works unto Him. Could you please elaborate what does it mean? With kind regards Your student, Ruta Answer: Result of All Actions is for His Pleasure Working for Kr

This material world, by its very nature, is an unsafe place where there is danger at every step. In this connection Srila Bhaktisiddhanta used to say that this material world is not a fit place for a gentleman's living. However, if we take complete shelter of Krishna, understanding that not a blade of grass can move without His sanction, we will be completely free from all anxiety knowing that Krishna is protecting us at every minute in spite of our being in such a dangerous place. Vrindavan Morning Rush Hour Traffic Serene Vrindavan Scene--Cows by Yamuna River Video For the Day: From Brahmanda Ghata Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: What is Causeless Mercy? Dear Guru Maharaja, Thank you for your wonderful daily lessons. Please explain what is meant by causeless mercy. Thank you very much. Hare Krishna Govarde Answer: Undeserved Mercy Causeless mercy means that we did not earn or deserve to receive the mercy of Guru and Krishna. Simply out of their kindn

Without being carried away by jubilation or lamentation the pure devotee of the Lord continues undauntedly in his world deliverance mission given to him by his spiritual master, by dedicating every minute of his life to liberating the fallen souls of this material world back to home, back to Godhead. Because he sacrifices everything to serve the Lord's mission there is no one more dear to Lord than He, nor will there ever be anyone more dear. If we can get the shelter of such a pure devotee of the Lord and we always remain in that shelter our pathway to liberation, our going home, back to Godhead is absolutely assured. Srila Prabhupada Perfectly Teaches the Science of Bhakti Video For the Day: From Krishna Balarama Temple Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: How Can I Please You? Hare Krishna Gurudeva, Please accept my humble obeisances, All glories to Srila Prabhupada, Gurudeva, how can I progress in my spiritual life. I'm doing 16 rounds chanting every

Who could be more foolish or flaky than the atheist? He dogmatically affirms that everything comes out not nothing. But the scientifically verifiable fact is that everything comes from something, nothing comes from nothing. Therefore the atheist is indeed the flakiest of all people. Bhagavatam Class on Yamuna Bank--26 September 2016 Video For the Day: From the River Yamuna Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Request: I Would Like to Become Like You Dear Maharaja, Please accept my humble obeisances unto Your lotus feet, all glories to Srila Prabhupada. Yesterday I have finished to read your wonderful book "Stop Worrying Start Living". For me it is very amazing book. You must have inherited this talent of Srila Prabhupada-I mean to explain all the topics with such a lightness. I appreciate this and I am very grateful. I also have read your book, "Truth works." It is very nice. Thank you very much for your efforts. Still trying to be servant of your serv

You are the architect of your own destiny. So choose your thoughts, words, and deeds wisely. They are taking you to your next destination. If your absorb yourself in matter, your next existence will be material. And if you absorb yourself in spirit, your next home will be spiritual. So you decide where you want to go and adjust your thoughts, words, and deeds accordingly. Choose wisely. Lecture to Gurukula Boys--25 September 2016 Video For the Day: You Have to Be Renounced Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Why Can't I Chant Hare Krishna? Sri Adhikari Guruji, I would greatly appreciate, if you could enlighten me, why I am unable to chant "Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare" but only "Sri Rama Rameti" though I have nothing negative or less respect for the Hare Krishna mantra. Further, please also enlighten me what would be the difference in chanting either of the mantras. Pro

You've thought you were matter Your consciousness scattered Smeared out and splattered Identify shattered. So, come out of illusion. Say goodbye to confusion. Freed from delusion You'll taste bliss in profusion. Awaken your true nature. Become free from all danger. Realize who you are And you'll go really far. I've taken the journey To the other side of reality It's not near, but one thing's clear. It's really blissful over here. So when you're ready to be free To swim in peace endlessly Don't you be dumb. Just ask me how to come. Srimad Bhagavatam Lecture--24 September 2016 Video For the Day: Keep Krishna in the Center Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: How to Conquer over Lust? How to conquer over lust? (question asked in Srimad Bhagavatam class) Answer: Simply Learn How to Love Krishna Lust is easily conquered. All you have to do to awaken your love for Krishna is to chant Hare Krishna, serve Krishna, and serve His devot

When Srila Prabhupada came to America in 1965 he did not think he would be successful. But still he make the sincere endeavor to establish this movement because this was the order of his spiritual master and also a manifestation of his intense compassion for fallen, suffering souls of this age. I was blessed with the greatest good fortune of being with him in Atlanta on March 2, 1975 when he described to the assembled devotees as follows: So when I was seventy years old I decided, "Now I must do and execute the order of my Guru Maharaja. And thus this movement was started in 1965 from New York. And I was not very much hopeful because it is very difficult task, just opposite the European and Western culture. I came. When I first came, I had no money. So I got a free passage through some Indian steam navigation company. So I came by ship. So when I was on the ship at Boston port, Commonwealth port, I was thinking that "I have come here. I do not know what is the purpose becaus

Formerly the entire world population was living very happily in perfect peace and harmony under Krishna conscious government. In those glorious days of bhagavat-dharma even nature was in a state of perfect balance. So now we are praying for that happy day when the government leaders will again be Krishna conscious. Until that time the people of this planet will suffer under incompetent leadership. Lecture to Indian Government Employees at India Gate Lawn New Delhi, India--21 September 2016 Video For the Day: Connecting with Krishna in Sri Vrindavan Dhama Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: What is the Brahmajyoti? Dear Guru, A jnana yogi is also eligible for liberation. However, since he believes that God is impersonal he is eligible to enter the spiritual world but not one the planets there. He goes into brahmajyoti, which is called merging with brahman. Can you explain me in detail about brahmajyoti? Hare Krishna. Shreyansh Answer: The Effulgence of Krishna'

You have transmigrated through 8,000,000 different species to finally get a human birth. So your present position is a very rare and special opportunity. This is why you should not waste it by running after sense gratification like an animal. You should fully utilized your human birth for self-realization to get out of the cycle of birth and death. This is real intelligence. The Cycle of Birth and Death Video For the Day: Fully Utilize Your Human Life Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Is a Little Krishna Consciousness Better Than None? Gurudeva, is a little Krishna Consciousness better than nothing, so that when we come back to do it all over again, we will pick up where we left off? Thank You David Answer: Yes, But Why Cheat Yourself? Yes, a little bit of Krishna consciousness is much better than none. Whatever advancement you make on this path, even if only a little bit, is your eternal asset. You will pick from where you left when you resume Krishna cons

Srila Prabhupada explains as follows in the Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Chapter 11: "The living entity, transmigrating through 8,400,000 species of life, is sometimes likened to a log which is gliding down a river. Sometimes, by chance, a log washes upon shore and is thus saved from being forced to drift further downstream. There is a verse in Srimad-Bhagavatam (SB 10.38.5) which encourages every conditioned soul in this way: 'No one should be depressed by thinking that he will never be out of the clutches of matter, for there is every possibility of being rescued, exactly as it is possible for a log, which is floating down a river, to come to rest on the bank.' This fortunate opportunity is also discussed by Lord Caitanya. Such fortunate incidents are considered the beginning of the decline of one's conditional life, and they occur if there is association with the pure devotees of the Lord. By associating with pure devotees, one actually develops attraction for Krish

False pride is the greatest stumbling block on our pathway of spiritual advancement. Thus by removing it we get very good facility for rapid and smooth spiritual advancement. This is why we should always understand and feel that we are incompetent fools, while not acting as such, and we should seek out the association of those who always remind us how foolish we are. Srimad Bhagavatam Class--New Delhi--18 September 2016 Video For the Day: Saving the World from Total Anarchy Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: How Did You Meet Srila Prabhupada? How did you meet Srila Prabhupada? (a question asked in a class given in Greater Noida, India) Answer: I Was Praying to Become God's Perfect Servant Because I was sincerely and repeatedly begging God in prayer to please reveal to me how I could become His perfect servant, that all-merciful Supreme Person revealed to me that I should become a disciple of Srila Prabhupada. I was then blessed with meeting Srila P

In his purport to Srimad Bhagavatam 4.8.54 Srila Prabhupada describes the importance of initiation and how by the process of initiation the entire world can become Krishna conscious: "Sanatana Gosvami says that as bell metal can turn to gold when mixed with mercury in a chemical process, so, by the bona fide diksa, or initiation method, anyone can become a Vaisnava. One should take initiation from a bona fide spiritual master coming in the disciplic succession, who is authorized by his predecessor spiritual master. This is called diksa-vidhana. Lord Krishna states in Bhagavad-gita, vyapasritya: one should accept a spiritual master. By this process the entire world can be converted to Krishna consciousness." In pursuance of Srila Prabhupada's order I initiated five new disciples on 17 September 2016. The ceremony was held at ISKCON's Dwarka Delhi temple. We encourage all those who are serious to become free from the pangs of material miseries by entering into the subl

Srila Prabhupada wonderfully describes the glory of devotional service in his purport to Bhagavad-gita 10.11 as follows: "Only by devotional service is the Supreme Truth, Krishna, pleased, and by His inconceivable energy He can reveal Himself to the heart of the pure devotee. The pure devotee always has Krishna within his heart; and with the presence of Krishna, who is just like the sun, the darkness of ignorance is at once dissipated. This is the special mercy rendered to the pure devotee by Krishna." Therefore let us all be fully absorbed in pure devotional service so that Lord Sri Krishna becomes fully revealed to us within our hearts. Like Krishna--A Beautiful Sunrise Drives Away Darkness Video For the Day: Auspicious Arrival in the Holy Land Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Why Everyone Cannot Understand Krishna? Why can’t everyone understand transcendental subject matter? Your lowly servant, Dharmaraja Das Answer: Most People Are Very Stupid

It is not easy to become a pure devotee and go back to home, back to Godhead. But it becomes easy if we take shelter of the association of devotees. Therefore we should always associate with Krishna's devotees as much as possible. This make our process of spiritual awakening very, very sublime and blissful. Blissful Sendoff From Lithuania--15 September 2016 Video For the Day: Power of Devotee Association Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Does Reading the News Attract Negativity Into My Life? I read the news everyday, but a lot of it is very negative - homicides, murders, bomb killings, etc. By reading these articles, am I attracting negativity into my life? Tom Answer: Better to Read the Scriptures While there is no prohibition against reading the ordinary news, a devotee limits his exposure to these mundane topics. While it is helpful for preaching and our practical activities to know what is going on in the world, we should not overindulge in these top

You are an eternal spiritual being, qualitatively one with God Himself, the source of all existence. So why should you cheat yourself by misidentifying with this temporary rotting material body? Come out of illusion and do yourself the greatest good by reviving your original pure state of consciousness, your Krishna consciousness. In this way, even in the midst of the heaviest calamities, you will be able to relish the sweetest happiness at every minute. Ecstatic Sendoff from ISKCON Kaunas--13 September 2016 Video For the Day: Connecting with Krishna Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Problem: I Couldn't Finish My 16 Rounds in the Morning Good day Gurudeva, I have woken up early enough to chant 16 rounds on Monday and Tuesday. Today, it slipped my mind that I have to drop my brother off at work early so I have not finished 16 rounds. Is it okay to finish my daily 16 rounds later in the day, maybe even at night before bed? I say at night because I know I will more tha

Sex attraction is the binding knot that keeps us imprisoned in the cycle of birth, death, old age, and disease. Therefore sex should be completely given up and one should focus his consciousness fully on awakening his dormant Krishna consciousness. If one is not able to come this highest standard of completely giving up sex, then he may utilize sex only for producing Krishna conscious children, and not otherwise. Besides using sex for procreation any and all forms of sex are illicit, they are most sinful. Sometimes even in the society of devotees we hear the false propaganda that householders are not required to strictly avoid illicit sex. Whoever is spreading this false propaganda should be reprimanded and stopped from doing this because anyone, householder or otherwise, who engages in illicit sex will not be qualified to go back to home, back to Godhead. They will be forced to take birth again here in this material world to fulfill their stupid sexual desires. Teaching Krishna Bhak

Krishna consciousness is a most exciting, adventurous, and thrilling work in progress. Within we are cultivating pure love of God to qualify ourselves to regain our original identities in relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna, in His eternal pastimes in the spiritual sky. And simultaneously externally we are in the process of completely transforming the human society with an all-encompassing spiritual revolution. Even though on both transformational fronts we are presently only at the infantile stage, we are still super enlivened because of the transcendental vision of what lies ahead that has been bestowed upon us by Srila Prabhupada and the Vedic scriptures. Teaching Krishna Bhakti--Vilnius, Lithuania--12 September 2016 Video For the Day: Global Respiritualization Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Problem: Chanting Disturbs Me I have been chanting for 12 years now. But the more I chant, the more I get disturbed. Thus is it difficult fo

What to do about the present world situation, a global society which is rapidly deteriorating, gravitating at an alarming pace towards total anarchy? If there were no solution, we could only try to ignore this impending disaster by burying ourselves in sense gratification, or if we were more thoughtful, we could helplessly, just try to tolerate this hopeless, intolerably nightmarish catastrophe. However, the good news is that there is a solution. We don't have to languish in a pitiable condition. We can proactively campaign to implement the simple solution, which is to put God back into the center of the human society. The difficulty is that the material scientists are now making propaganda that there is no God, there is no soul, and that we are only a combination chemicals. This materialistic world view must now be staunchly defeated. Otherwise the human civilization is finished. This is why the science of God must now be propagated very aggressively all over the world to counter

While remain a miserable rascal when you can instead be a blissful devotee? But the general mass population of this planet is so much in illusion that they would rather be miserable rascals instead of blissful devotees. This reveals how grossly foolish they actually are. They are totally blinded by false pride. What be done to save them? It is very difficult indeed. But still we must keep trying to save them because this our duty, an often most thankless task Teaching Krishna Bhakti--Vilnius, Lithuania--10 September 2016 Video For the Day: Give Hare Krishna a Try Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Should I View this Planet As Beautiful? Good day Gurudeva, I will do my best to put my feelings into question form: I used to think this material world/ universe/ planet was a beautiful place and an incredible creation. When the sun goes down and the moon comes out, I feel peaceful looking at the stars in the night sky. It makes me think of Krishna and how He is the c

On 9 September 2016 under the leadership of my disciple, Sankirtan Das Brahmacari, the devotees in Kaunas arranged a wonderful Radhastami celebration. A large hall was rented to accommodate the large number of devotees who attended. I was asked to speak for an hour. After I spoke for about 40 minutes I opened for questions of which there were many. During the arati ceremony we had the most enlivening experience of 200 people dancing and singing together in ecstasy. Then there was a feast of the most amazing prasadam you have ever tasted in your entire life. This is real happiness. This is Krishna consciousness, to dive deeply into the ocean of unlimited rapture. May the whole world now taste this bliss. Radhastami Festival Altar Questions and Answers After the Radhastami Lecture Ecstatic Hare Krishna Chanting Ecstatic Transcendental Dancing Video For the Day: Center the World on Krishna Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Should I View this Planet As Beauti

Srila Prabhupada explains in his purport to Sri Caitanya Caritamrita, Adi Lila, Chapter 7, Verse 83 as follows: "A sincere student aurally receives the holy name from the spiritual master, and after being initiated he follows the regulative principles given by the spiritual master. When the holy name is properly served in this way, automatically the spiritual nature of the holy name spreads; in other words, the devotee becomes qualified in offenselessly chanting the holy name. When one is completely fit to chant the holy name in this way, he is eligible to make disciples all over the world, and he actually becomes jagad-guru. Then the entire world, under his influence, begins to chant the holy names of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra." Inspired by this most amazing purport, my vision for ISKCON is a worldwide team of jagad-gurus, pure chanters of the holy name whose combined instrumental spiritual potency can in an amazingly short period of time pull off a complete, total globa

It has been said that the music of the Beatles was the sound track of the 20th century. My ambition is that the Hare Krishna mantra as chanted and sung by Krishna's pure devotees should now become the sound track for the 21st century. May everyone throughout the world now recognize Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead and thus engage themselves in His pure devotional service. May Hare Krishna kirtan now become the most popular song in every town, village, city, and hamlet throughout the entire world. This will bring a new era of unparalled peace and prosperity for all. Bhagavad-gita Lecture--Bhaktivedanta Manor--7 September 2016 Video For the Day: Fly Hare Krishna Airlines Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: How to Worship Radharani? How can we worship Srimati Radharani? Yours in service, Mohan dasa Answer: Tell Everyone You Meet About Krishna Radharani is not to be worshipped alone. To worship Radharani, worship Lord Caitanya, who is the combin

As soon as we speak of sunshine, the energy of the sun, we are automatically acknowledging the existence of the sun planet, the source of the sunshine. Similarly, as soon as recognize the existence of the energy of which our universe is composed, we must naturally acknowledge that there is an energetic source for all of this energy. The perfection of our existence is to live in a state of perfect harmony with that source of all the energy. That Supreme Energetic is Krishna, and living in a state of perfect harmony with Him is called Krishna consciousness. Harmonize Yourself with Krishna For Unlimited Bliss Video For the Day: History's Greatest Paradigm Shift Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: How to Get Addicted to Krishna? Dear Srila Gurudeva, in this material world when one gets addicted to something it's very difficult to get rid of that addiction, even if mind is of flickering nature it can still stick onto that single addiction. Similarly although

Unlimited bliss awaits us at this very moment. All we have to do is fully surrender unto Lord Sri Krishna right now as His eternal servants. The difficulty is that we have so much false pride that we are hesitant to do this. We foolishly and stubbornly hold onto our so-called independence and thus relegate ourselves to a miserable ignorant existence birth after birth. When are we going to wise up and become a little intelligent? Hopefully, right now. Is there any better time to do this? Gain Intelligence by Hearing from Srila Prabhupada Video For the Day: Whatever Krishna Does Is All Right Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: My Mom Asked Me, What Religion is This?" My mom asked me, "What religion is this?" How do I answer this question? Pablo Answer: Sanatana Dharma This is the one universal religion taught by all the great spiritual teachers before ignorant men sub-divided religion into this religion and that religion and fought with one anot

A devotee of Krishna lives in the world of ever-increasing bliss because no matter what happens to him he experiences every turn of events to be an even more exciting and thrilling chapter of existence, better than what he has ever relished before. Nobody in the material world can even begin to imagine what is the unlimited, ever-expanding bliss tasted by Krishna's devotee, because there is only way to come this platform. One must fully surrender to Krishna under the expert guidance of the bona fide spiritual master. It's very, very rare to find even one person who is willing to do this. This reveals how stupid and uninformed the general population of this planet is. Devotees Relish the Bliss of Krishna Consciousness Video For the Day: Come Back to Pure Bliss Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Sleepy During Japa Thank you very much for your blessings and kind reply. I want to ask one more question related to japa with a hope that you will not mind my si

We are blessed to be living at the most exciting time in human history, a time when Lord Caitanya's sankirtana movement is going to inundate the entire world and bless everyone with pure love of God. Therefore do yourself the supreme favor of serving Lord Caitanya by telling everyone you meet about Krishna. In this way you will become an empowered agent for turning the tide of the times away from materialism into the realm of pure spirituality. A Devotee Teaches How to Chant Hare Krishna Japa Video For the Day: Thanks to Our Viewers Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Tired While Doing Devotional Service Dear Srila Gurudeva, While doing devotional service, after sometime I get physically tired, so that I feel irritated and my service becomes a matter of duty only. Everyone is asking that I should help them in their service. How to curb this feeling of irritationin such situation? Thank you Your insignificant servant, (name withheld for confidentiality) An

You have always existed. This means that there was never a time in the past when you did not exist. Nor will there ever be a time in the future when you will not exist. Therefore your present life is not the all in all. But in spite of this, your present life is most important because now you are in the human form of life with sufficient intelligence to take up the process of spiritual awakening for escaping the wheel of birth and death and returning to your original position as Krishna's eternal servant in His transcendental kingdom. That you are now reading this means that not only do you have a human form. You are also now in contact with the all-liberating Vedic wisdom. So take advantage of your unlimited good fortune by fully surrendering yourself to Lord Sri Krishna right now under the guidance of the bona fide spiritual master and making your life perfect. Surrender unto This Person for Perfect Happiness Video For the Day: Resolute in Purpose Answers by Citing th