Ultimate Self Realization

If you are serious about experiencing the unlimited nectar found in Krishna's name, you have to always remain in a humble state of mind thinking yourself to be lower than the straw in the street. If you are proud of your so-called greatness, the holy name will not be nectarean for you. It will instead taste like poison. So do yourself the greatest of all favors: Always remain humble. Srila Prabhupada Humbly Bows Before Krishna Video For the Day: Spiritual Revolution Now Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Illicit Sex With One's Wife is Sex in Mode of Goodness? Dear Gurudeva, I heard a lecture given in Mayapur by a Prabhupada disciple. He said that having sex with one's wife for procreation as per Srila Prabhupada's instructions is transcendental, in other words beyond the modes of material nature. This I know. But then he said that having sex with one's wife outside of regulative principles is in the mode of goodness because even though illic

Why be a fool who cheats himself out of his constitutional position of eternity knowledge and bliss? Be kind to yourself by reviving your Krishna consciousness. There is really nothing else that makes any sense. Any other sort of lifestyle is sheer idiocy. Hare Krishna Kirtan Bliss Video For the Day: Fly Hare Krishna Airlines Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: What Else Must I Know and Follow? Dear Gurudeva, Hare Krishna Please accept my humble obeisance unto your lotus feet You have been very, very kind to me always and as such you have accepted me as you disciple. Now I think it is my only duty to protect the seed of Bhakti you have mercifully planted in my heart. I follow the four principal rules and regulation and chanting 16 rounds of Hare Krishna Mahamantra. I would like to know - is there anything else which I must know and follow, in addition to the above factors. Please suggest . Hare Krishna Your very, very insignificant servant, Abhayashray Das Ans

What could be a more exciting adventure than to be engaged in the mission, that we have been given by our spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, of delivering the entire world from suffering and illusion? What could be a greater thrill to wake up to every morning? Even if we are not successful in pulling it off, this endeavor itself is so exhilarating that we could spend many lifetimes happily mediating and working in this way. And if, in spite of all odds against our victory, we are somehow or successful in pulling it off, this will be the most celebrated miracle in all of world history. So either in victory or not in victory what lifestyle could be ecstatic than this: to try to pull of a global spiritual revolution by bringing Krishna back to the center of the world civilization, where He belongs. Ecstatic Spiritual Revolutionaries Heading Out For Street Chanting Video For the Day: Krishna Sent Srila Prabhupada Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Why No Mustaches

To make a stand against the modern day materialistic world civilization is an act of courage. One has to be very bold to defy the authority of the modern day scientists whose speculative theories regarding the origin of the universe are nowadays being accepted as gospel all over the world and paving the royal road to hell for those who accept them. It is much easier to not rock the boat and just go along with the flow of the materialistic society. But you will not find heroes among such cowards. The heroes are those courageous souls who boldly dare to defy the status quo by teaching the principles of factual truth as it is for saving the poor souls of this world from gliding down to the animal kingdom in their next lives. Srila Prabhupada Boldly Reveals the Highest Knowledge Video For the Day: Fly Hare Krishna Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Who is Srila Prabhupada's Successor? Who is Srila Prabhupada's successor, the next acarya in the line of disci

We have been wandering throughout all of material existence for countless millions and billions of lifetimes taking one form after another within the 8,400,000 species of life. But in each and every lifetime we have not been satisfied or truly gratified because we have not understood what is the real principle of enjoyment. The titillation of our material senses has never satisfied us because we are not these bodies. Foolishly serving our material senses we have been unsuccessfully trying to enjoy since time immemorial. But now if we fortunate enough to be enlightened by a bonafide spiritual master by the simple act of giving our love to Krishna we can experience unlimited bliss at every minute. Ecstatic Kirtan in Union Square Park--New York City Video For the Day: Super Ecstatic Harinam in Kansas City Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Why Can't We Surrender Immediately? Dear Srila Gurudeva, what can I do at every moment, what should be my mood every momen

Srila Prabhupada explains as follows in his purport to Bhagavad-gita 2.40: "But any work begun in Krishna consciousness has a permanent effect, even though not finished. The performer of such work is therefore not at a loss even if his work in Krishna consciousness is incomplete. One percent done in Krishna consciousness bears permanent results, so that the next beginning is from the point of two percent, whereas in material activity without a hundred percent success there is no profit." This is great encouragement for us to sincerely focus our lives on spiritual advancement. Even if we are not able to become highly advanced in Krishna consciousness, whatever progress we do make, even if only paltry, is our eternal asset. Every Mantra You Chant is Your Eternal Treasure Video For the Day: Help Us Krishnize the World Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: How to Complete Our Karma My humble obeisances to you. Generally we have been told that we take birth i

Today we are heading out for a spiritual revolution retreat in Kansas City, Missouri USA arranged by my dear disciple, Dvijamani Gaura Das Brahmacari. Stay tuned for updates. Our mission is indeed urgent. We do in fact need to spiritually revolutionize this planet as soon as possible to keep the world social order from degrading into total anarchy. Our revolution is very simple. We want to put God back into the center in every sphere of human activity: political, social, agricultural, educational, business, entertainment, etc. This will bring true peace and happiness to everyone. Kindly fully dedicate your life for assisting in this most urgent of all missions. Srila Prabhupada's Spiritual Revolution Began 500 Years Ago In India Inaugurated by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Video For the Day: How to See Krishna Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Comment: It Is Not Sinful to Eat Meat It is not sinful to eat meat because in the Bible God has provisioned it for us. Anthony J

For the the eternal living being to misidentify himself with a lump of temporary gross matter is the height of insanity and the cause of unlimited pain and suffering both on the individual level and the societal level. But yet being grossly misguided by the so-called scientists, this is the illusion is that the entire world society is now tightly embracing. Therefore there is an urgent necessity of global spiritual revolution to enlighten and awaken the entire human population to the actual reality which is as true as their actual selves. This is our mission. Prabhupada Launches a Global Spiritual Revolution New York--Tompkins Square Park--1966 Video For the Day: Proving God's Existence Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Comment: Hoping that Light Conquers Darkness When I encouraged you to keep up the good fight. You wrote me back: "It’s a fight indeed. But the good news is that sooner or later we will win because light is more powerful than darkness!" I ho

There is no greater hero than Krishna's devotee, because the devotee has no other business in this world except to save everyone from their illusion and suffering. By fully embracing the Lord's world deliverance mission as his very life and soul the devotee is sometimes put into great danger and difficulty. But he takes this as the greatest blessing to help him increase his feelings of dependence upon the Lord. The notable example of this is Jesus Christ, who was crucified because he was preaching the message of God. But in spite of the danger the devotee does not hesitate to push forward boldly in executing the Lord's world deliverance mission. Therefore there is no one more dear to the Lord than he, nor will there ever be anyone more dear. Jesus Christ Let Nothing Stop Him from Preaching Video For the Day: Krishna, the Ultimate Thrill Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Order of Listing Four Fold Miseries Dear Gurudeva, All Glories to Guru and Gaur

There are so many difficulties that we routinely face here in this material world. This is to be expected because this is Martyaloka, the world of death. The way for finding actual happiness is to attain the platform of deathlessness by taking complete shelter of Guru and Krishna. This will bring us genuine relief from all material miseries by elevating us to the spiritual platform. Srila Prabhupada Delivers Us From This World of Death Video For the Day: Beyond the Ups and Downs Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Does the Living Being Have Free Will? Does the living being have free will? (Question from Sunday Feast Lecture at ISKCON Austin) Answer: Yes Just as a citizen is under the government laws either as law-abiding free citizen or as a convicted criminal who is forced to obey the laws of the prison, the living being always must act under the laws of God. He cannot avoid doing this. His free will is his choice of whether he wants to directly serve God in

Recently I met a gentleman named Pravin. When I asked him what is his occupation he told me that he is an environmental engineer engaged in water purification. Considering his occupation I realized that I am also an engineer. While his duty is to purify the water, the duty I have been given by my spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, is to spiritualize the atmosphere of this entire universe. So I told him that I am a spiritualization engineer. A man standing nearby who overheard our conversation ecstatically laughed out loud and told me that the world really needs spiritualization engineers. Actually spiritualization engineer is the ultimate career, to be working for the deliverance of all living beings who are presently suffering in the vicious cycle of birth and death. There are unlimited full time and part time positions available in this industry. Lord Caitanya is requesting everyone to enter into this field. Srila Prabhupada--the Topmost Spiritu

As long as we are here in this material world it is sure and certain that we will have to face calamities. So how to deal with them so that we are not devastated? This is a very important art that every devotee must master in order to become solidly fixed in Krishna consciousness. The simple and sublime method is to always remember that everything is happening within the plan of Krishna for bringing His devotees back to home, back to Godhead as soon as possible. Therefore, because Krishna's mercy is always acting there is never reason to become emotionally devastated in any situation. Queen Kunti is the great acharya or world teacher regarding how to cope with calamities. She prayed to Krishna asking for more calamities because she found calamitous situations to be most beneficial for her Krishna consciousness by dint of their intensifying her mood of taking shelter of the Lord. Queen Kunti Prays for More Calamities Video For the Day: Wonderful Early Morning Answers by C

In material life falling in love is considered to be the most wonderful thing or sometimes the most torturous thing. You become completely infatuated and enamored by another person. You then always want to think about them, be with them, and serve them. Because such love is on the mundane platform after a while the infatuation wears off and you then fall in love with someone else. Spiritual life is quite different. We fully give our love to Krishna and remain steady in this love. And then through Him we love all living beings equally and perfectly seeing them all as part and parcel of Him. Such love is steady and increasing. It is not temporary and flickering like the mundane so-called falling in love. Krishna is the Most Lovable of All Persons Video For the Day: Perfection of Existence Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Difference Between Buddhism and Vaisnavism? Dear Guru, Hare Krishna. What is the difference between Buddhist and vaisnava philosophy? Shreyan

Bhakti, giving your love to the Supreme, is simply amazing. Just as when you water the root of tree you automatically water all of its leaves and branches, similarly when you give your love to the Supreme that love is automatically distributed to all varieties of living beings throughout all of existence, even the animals, plants, and microbial germs. And because the more you give love the more you feel and experience love, there is nothing more exciting, more satisfying, more fulfilling, and more relishable than bhakti. Tasting the Bliss of Bhakti Through Kirtan Video For the Day: Sunrise Meditation Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: What Does Spiritual Mean? I just wanted to follow-up with you after meeting you last night. You mentioned the word "spiritual" a few times when you talked to me, and I find it to be an interesting word. You see, by profession, I am an engineer, and recognize that in our lifetimes, with the advent of computers, science ha

Before joining this Hare Krishna movement I was an up-and-coming singer/songwriter who had written 300 songs and attracted many people by my music. After meeting His Holiness Vishnujana Swami in Austin, Texas in the spring of 1971 I gave up my position as the house musician at the Sattva restaurant and took up residence in Austin's ISKCON center at 2906 Dancy Street. I threw my 300 songs into the temple's garbage can because they were not Krishna conscious and resolved that from then on I would only write Krishna conscious songs. Since Austin, Texas currently has a very active music scene, I decided to introduce my Krishna conscious songs to the Austin public to see how they would be received. On the evening of 14 November 2016 I sang at Threadgill's, a popular music venue, and got a very enthusiastic response from the audience, more than any of the other musicians, who were all non-devotees, who sang during the program. After my set, a local singer/songwriter named Wayne

Our philosophy is very simple: Know who you are, and be who you are. This is the simple formula how to achieve unlimited peace and happiness within your heart and how to become fully empowered to render the highest service to all living beings by reconnecting them with their actual selves. I am therefore praying intensely to Lord Krishna that everyone in the world can now understand that they are the eternal servants of Krishna and become practically engaged in His pure devotional service. Know that You are the Eternal Servant of Lord Sri Krishna Video For the Day: Blessed by Tulasi Devi Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Krishna Consciousness in Thailand? Hare Krishna, Srila Gurudeva, Kindly accept my humble obeisance Humble obeisance to Srimati Gurumataji also And all glories to Srila Prabhupada, Thank you for the daily Ultimate Self Realization broadcasts. Right now I am at a trip to Thailand with my family, and I have a curiosity question. This place is a l

In his purport to Srimad Bhagavatam 5.18.9 Srila Prabhupada explains that we should pray to Lord Nrsimhadeva to sit in the core of our hearts killing all of our bad propensities so that with clean minds we can peacefully worship the Lord and bring peace to the entire world. Thus Krishna's devotee wants to become 100% pure within his heart, completely peaceful with absolutely no material desires, so that he becomes fully absorbed in pure love of Krishna and can successfully bring peace to the entire world by flooding it with Krishna consciousness. One Pure Devotee Can Deliver the Entire Universe-- Thus He is Called Jagad-Guru: Spiritual Master of the Universe Video For the Day: Make Your Life an Amazing Miracle Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: How to Handle Distress? Dear Srila Gurudeva, Hare Krishna! Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to you. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. I came to know that the amount of sensual happiness and distress we

On 12 November 2016 we crossed a major milestone. We have now have more than 20,000 subscribers for our e-course. Of course, considering that there are over 1 billion people on this planet who speak English this is a very, very small percentage, a mere drop in the bucket. But still we are happy to see how our enrollment is steadily growing. This is most auspicious. To reach our goal of 100 percent we now need to enroll another 999,980,000 people in our course. When we reach this goal the entire world will be transformed into a beautiful spiritual atmosphere. So please help us reach this goal by encouraging everyone you meet to sign up for this course at: www.joincourse.com We have a wonderful video produced by my disciple Damodar Das, which has been very effective at attracting people to join the course. Kindly help us promote this video. If you are on Facebook, you can promote it through Facebook. This can be done free or even more powerfully with paid advertising. Until 19 November

Most people sleep as late as possible every morning and then finally get up giving themselves just enough time to arrive punctually at their jobs. They labor very hard in this way for their entire lives simply for the maintenance of their temporary material bodies, ignoring what is actually beneficial for their actual spiritual selves. Contrarily, we devotees are super inspired to rise as early as possible every morning (I am writing this at 2:12am) because we are on a mission to save the entire world population from illusion and suffering. This is a far more exhilarating and exciting thing to wake up to every morning. Therefore I would never dream of trading this unlimitedly adventurous life of Krishna consciousness for a humdrum so-called existence of material drudgery. Srila Prabhupada on His World Deliverance Mission Video For the Day: Invest Your Inheritance Wisely Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Why Is It Necessary to Have a God? I thank you for the ar

We cannot stand to see how much the conditioned souls are suffering here in this material world. They are all citizens of the spiritual world who due to misuse of their independence have ended up in this most deplorable of all circumstances. There is no reason for all of this madness. It is simply due to their ignorance that they are now being repeatedly born, getting sick, getting old, and dying, lifetime after lifetime after lifetime. So we want to save them. This is our mission. We want to take all of the fallen, conditioned souls back to home, back to Godhead. But we cannot do this most important work alone. We require your help. Therefore please dedicate your life fully for assisting us in our world deliverance mission. Radha and Krishna Await Your Return to the Spiritual World Video For the Day: Help Save the World Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Disturbed If Someone Speaks to Me Harshly Hare Krishna Prabhuji, Please accept my humble obeisances, All

Sometimes our readers point out to us the typos that occasionally appear in our daily Thought for the Day broadcasts. We truly appreciate them for doing this. Our endeavor is that every broadcast should be 100% typo free. But sometimes due to time intensive circumstances involved in sending out a daily broadcast even while we are simultaneously engaging in so many other activities including traveling all over the world, typos do creep in. In this regard we request our readers to note Srila Prabhupada's statement regarding writing frailties in his composition of the Srimad Bhagavatam as follows: "I must admit my frailties in presenting Srimad-Bhagavatam, but still I am hopeful of its good reception by the thinkers and leaders of society on the strength of the following statement of Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.5.11): tad-vāg-visargo janatāgha-viplavo yasmin prati-ślokam abaddhavaty api nāmāny anantasya yaśo 'ṅkitāni yac chṛṇvanti gāyanti gṛṇanti sādhavaḥ "On the other hand, t

Now after a most exciting adventure of traveling in Europe and India for almost two months to teach the science of Krishna, we are back home in Austin for a month for another most exciting adventure of teaching the science of Krishna consciousness here. The point is that it does not matter where we are. To teach the science of Krishna is the most exciting adventure wherever you are anywhere within the vast totality of existence. Lord Krishna Loves the Animals Video For the Day: Your Choice: Heaven or Hell Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Difference Between Verses? My Dear Respected Gurudeva, Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories to His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada. Today I read the Introduction of Bhagavad-gita As It Is. The first mantra tells how the spiritual master opens the disciple's eyes. This reminds me of the verse from the Brahma-samhita how one's eyes become anointed with the salve of love of God. Is there any d

Krishna's pure devotee is the most fortunate person in all of existence because just as he has fully given himself to Krishna, Krishna also fully gives Himself to him. When you possess God you possess everything. So who can measure the unlimited good fortune of that person who has fully given himself to Krishna. The extent of his good fortune is inconceivable. So who is that person is all of existence who would not want to fully give himself to Krishna? That would be only the most ignorant of fools. Truly No One More Amazing and Beautiful Than Lord Sri Krishna Video For the Day: The Ultimate Airplane Ride Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: How to Please You? Dear Srila Gurudeva, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to you. All glories to guru Mataji. Is there something I can do to please you? Begging your mercy, Your insignificant servant, Visvanatha das Answer: Beg Krishna to Be His Pure Devotee From: London My Dear Visvanatha, Please accept

Srila Prabhupada describes our mission: "That is our mission we want to see everyone happy. Sarve sukhino bhavantu. People do not know how to become happy. They do not take the standard path to become happy. They manufacture their own way. That is the difficulty. Therefore, Risabhadeva gave this advice to his sons: 'My dear boys, just undergo austerity for transcendental realization.' Everyone is performing austerity. This boy I know -- he had to go to a foreign country to learn commercial management. Now he is well situated. In this way. everyone must undergo some austerity for future life. So why not take that austerity for permanent happiness? You have to purify your existence and your body. As many times as you accept a material body, you will have to change it. But as soon as you get a spiritual body, there is no question of change. You already have a spiritual body. Now, due to our material contamination, we are developing the material body. But if we associate with

Today, 6 November, we are returning to the USA via two flights: Mumbai to London and London to Austin. After spending a wondrous seven weeks in the holy land of India it is amazing how it seems as if we have always lived here, that we never lived anywhere else. This reminds us how in a higher sense, we have always been devotees of Krishna. We have never been anything else. Only for a limited amount of time we were dreaming that we were something else. So now is time for us to fully be who we actually are, the devotees of Krishna, and stop trying to be what we are not, citizens of this nasty material world. Teaching Srimad Bhagavatam in Pune, India--5 November 2017 Video For the Day: Attract the Whole World to Krishna Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: How to Solve My Problems? Your Grace, I have problems. One, I am not fortunate in anything I do. I have very bad luck. And, two, financial problems. How can I come out of these? Entigha Effiong Answe

Krishna's devotee tolerated seeing a a world completely entangled in darkness. Therefore he fully dedicates his life for making the world Krishna conscious. Even if he is not successful his spiritual perfection is assured and anyone who follows him will also become perfect. What could be more sublime than this? Teaching Bhagavad-gita in Pune, India Video For the Day: All Problems Solved Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: How to Overcome Challenges? Dear Gurudeva, Hare Krishna! All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Please accept my humble obeisance. Hoping and praying for your good health. Thank you for your kind guidance through your daily mails and videos. In one of the lectures here, I heard that the mother's womb is one of the filthiest place on earth, which is filled with urine, stool, bile, phlegm and other impurities. I was unable to digest the fact that a place where a life is created can be as filthiest as described. Is there any mention about this

Krishna's peace formula can indeed transform the entire world ushering the most wonderful metamorphosis the world has ever seen. Therefore we must make it easily available now for the entire world population to hear, understand, and implement. If this can be accomplished it will truly be the greatest paradigm shift that has ever transpired in all of universal history. Krishna states His peace formula very simply in Bhagavad-gita 5.29: bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasāṁ sarva-loka-maheśvaram suhṛdaṁ sarva-bhūtānāṁ jñātvā māṁ śāntim ṛcchati “A person in full consciousness of Me, knowing Me to be the ultimate beneficiary of all sacrifices and austerities, the Supreme Lord of all planets and demigods, and the benefactor and well-wisher of all living entities, attains peace from the pangs of material miseries.” In this connection Srila Prabhupada explains as follows: "When people know that the Supreme Lord, Krishna, is the supreme enjoyer, the supreme proprietor and the most intimate well-wi

2 November: This morning when I told my Godbrother that I am leaving Vrindavan he said, "You are going back to the material world." I disagreed with him because I am going to ISKCON Pune, which is also very much the spiritual world. Then I considered that by traveling and preaching Krishna consciousness all over the world I am always in the spiritual world wherever I go. This is the beauty of being Krishna conscious. One is no longer living in the material world. He is living in the spiritual world at every minute. Farewell to Vrindavan--the Land of Krishna Video For the Day: Amazing Vrindavan Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Advanced Devotee is Also Enjoyer? The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the Supreme Enjoyer. Can the advanced devotee in Krishna consciousness also be the rightful enjoyer? Zila Answer: He Enjoys More than Krishna From: Sri Vrindavan Dhama, India My Dear Zila, Please accept my blessings. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. One w

My song, "The Peace Formula," which was very much appreciated by former US President Obama has been selected to play on FM radio in the United Kingdom starting on 3 November 2017. It will play on the Sophie's Springboard Show: https://www.thesourcefm.co.uk/whats-on/sophies-springboard-show/ Her show will be on the air from 2pm to 3:30pm UK time this coming Friday, 3 November. If you are in the Falmouth-Penryn area in the UK, you can hear it by turning to 96.1FM radio. Otherwise, if you are outside of this area, you can tune in via the internet at: https://www.thesourcefm.co.uk Here are the timings adjusted for different parts of the world: 07:00am to 08:30am in Los Angeles (Pacific Time) 09:00am to 10:30am in USA (Central Time) 10:00am to 10:30am in NYC, Toronto, Santiago (Eastern Time) 11:00am to 12:30pm in Mendoza, Argentina and Santiago, Chile 02:00pm to 03:30pm in London 03:00pm to 04:30pm in Copenhagen, S. Africa 04:00pm to 05:30pm in Latvia, Bucharest 06:00pm to 07

In his purport to Srimad Bhagavatam 1.9.6-7 Srila Prabhupada describes Vasistha Muni as follows: "The great celebrated sage among the brahmanas, well known as the Brahmarsi Vasisthadeva. He is a prominent figure in both the Ramayana and Mahabharata periods. He celebrated the coronation ceremony of the Personality of Godhead Sri Rama. He was present also on the Battlefield of Kuruksetra. He could approach all the higher and lower planets, and his name is also connected with the history of Hiranyakasipu. There was a great tension between him and Visvamitra, who wanted his kamadhenu, wish-fulfilling cow. Vasistha Muni refused to spare his kamadhenu, and for this Visvamitra killed his one hundred sons. As a perfect brahmana he tolerated all the taunts of Visvamitra. Once he tried to commit suicide on account of Visvamitra's torture, but all his attempts were unsuccessful. He jumped from a hill, but the stones on which he fell became a stack of cotton, and thus he was saved. He ju