Ultimate Self Realization

Sometimes when cultivating Krishna consciousness the neophyte devotee becomes depressed or discouraged in his practice and loses all enthusiasm to continue. For a devotee in such a situation Srila Prabhupada very nicely writes in his purport to Narada Bhakti Sutra, Text 5 as follows: "When one becomes disappointed in his service to the Supreme Lord, that disappointment must be rejected and replaced with confidence in attaining the ultimate goal, love of Godhead. The devotee should patiently follow the rules and regulations of devotional service so that the day will come when he will achieve, all of a sudden, all the perfection of devotional service. He should not lament for any loss or any reverse in his advancement in spiritual life." Heeding these wonderful words of Srila Prabhupada the depressed neophyte devotee should kick out his depression and enthusiastically and confidently continue cultivating pure devotional service within his heart. Srimad Bhagavatam Lecture

Our desire is to pull off a spiritual revolution that will inundate planet earth and our entire universe in a tidal wave of Krishna bhakti and then break through the coverings of this universe to engulf all the universes of Devi-dhama, this material world, which is the one-fourth portion of Lord's Sri Krishna's creation. We cannot tolerate seeing the souls of this material world unnecessarily suffering like anything simply due to their lack of Krishna consciousness. Since we know that this deliverance mission is a purely spiritual desire blessed by all of the great Vaisnava acharyas, we are begging Krishna that we can now be successful in pulling off this multi-universal spiritual revolution. If by Krishna's grace we can do this, if will surely be one of the most astoundingly sublime paradigm shifts in all of history. So Lord Krishna, again and again we are praying that you kindly bless us with success in our multiversal deliverance mission. Krishna's Spiritual and M

Offending a Vaisnava destroys our spiritual life because it in only through loving relationships with devotees that we become connected with Krishna. Therefore Vaisnava aparadha, offending a Vaisnava, is called the mad elephant offense. When a mad elephant enters your garden by the trampling of his feet he destroys all the plants. Therefore we should always be in the mood of falling down at the feet of the Vaisnavas and begging for their mercy that we can always be engaged in lovingly serving them with all of our thoughts, words, and deeds for all of eternity. This is how we will become strongly fixed in Krishna consciousness and will never fall down. Mad Elephant Video For the Day: How to Become Perfect Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: Who is Prabhupada's Successor? Please inform me, who is the bona fide spiritual master after Srila Prabhupada to carry on his succession. There were many direct disciples who came to him from different countries. Among

Back in the 60's due to frustration with the material way of life instead of choosing a normal career in the material society I decided to become holy beggar in India. However one evening when I was in process of getting ready to go to the holy land I had a profound realization. At the time I was on the philosophical pathway of denying or cutting out all material attachments. I so impressed with what I realized that I wrote it down: I denied and I denied until I could deny no longer, and then I had to start accepting. In other words if you deny everything you have to ultimately also deny denial. At this point one must find something transcendental beyond this material existence to accept. So at this point into of resolving the leave or renounce the world I resolved to stay within the material society to save the world. So instead of going to India I felt I was being called to San Francisco to be part of a spiritual revolution. So I went to San Francisco where the first perso

We've lost touch with reality. At the present moment we are living in a dream state considering ourselves to be these bodies and foolishly thinking ourselves to be the center of all existence. Because of this illusion we are very much caught up in the most entangling network, the cycle of repeated birth, death, old age, and disease. It is time now that we stop foolishly punishing ourselves by our misguided attempts to become happy in a way that is completely artificial. It is time now to revive our actual all-blissful, fully cognizant natures as the eternal servants of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna. Let us not hesitate for a moment. Let us do it now with complete, total focus of mind, intelligence, and soul. Come Back to Krishna for Unlimited Bliss Video For the Day: We Must Be Humble Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: Meaning of Surrender? Dear Maharaja, All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Please enlighten me what it means to su

I have been ordered by my spiritual master to become a pure devotee and deliver the world. Therefore my life is fully dedicated to becoming fully awakened in Krishna consciousness and to making a spiritual revolution on this planet that will completely transform the human society. So I need your help. Please help me make the world Krishna conscious. Please fully dedicate yourself for this purpose. Remember that the more you give Krishna, the more you get Krishna. So by fully dedicating yourself to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's world deliverance mission you are guaranteed to become fully awakened in perfect Krishna consciousness. Lord Caitanya Wants Everyone to Be Happy Video For the Day: From Vyomasura's Cave Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: Sinless Vegetarian Food? Haribol, Srila Gurudeva, Please accept my humble obeisances onto your lotus feet. Please guide me in this aspect. We know that killing animals and eating them is sinful and hence Lord Kr

You owe it to yourself to not cheat yourself by foolishly relegating yourself to an eternal hellish existence of birth and death in the material world, looping the loop through the 8,400,000 species of life again and again and again. Why do I say this? I say this because you are actually an eternal spiritual being qualitatively one with the Supreme Lord, who is the source of all existence. You are not a citizen of this nasty place. Krishna Invites Us to Come Home Video For the Day: Sunrise in Your Heart Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: Sudras Can Get Initiated? Respected Sir, How are you. Thank you for taking time in reading this email I came to Krishna consciousness a few years back. I have the below questions which I afraid to ask any one a) Will Krishna accept the service irrespective of the race, religion and sub-caste? By birth I came from a sudra family. Sometimes I feel guilty in doing the service because of my caste. b) By taking initiatio

In this world we try to enjoy in so many ways. Some even go so far as to change their gender to try to enjoy in that way. But no matter what we may do to try to enjoy here, we can never be successful because this is not our natural environment. We are creatures of the spiritual world, not of this material world. All we have to do to become unlimitedly happy is get back to our original home in the spiritual world. This is easily done by chanting Lord Sri Krishna's name with love. It's as simple as that. Krishna Katha at Kusum Sarovara Video For the Day: Appearance of Govardhan in Vraj Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: Devotee Serves Everyone? Dear Srila Gurudeva, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to you! All glories to Srila Prabhupada! How to understand a statement in the purport to Bhagvad-gita 2.41 that by acting in Krishna consciousness one can render the highest service to everyone? Srila Prabhupada in this connection give

Today is a day of great lamentation. This is the day when my beloved spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, departed from this world in 1977. He is greatly missed. When he was here any controversies or deviations within our movement could immediately be resolved simply by his word. Now even though some of his instructions are being regularly disobeyed nobody, not even the GBC, is able to do anything about it and the deviations continue. For this reason I cry deeply on this day of his departure praying that by His Divine Grace the deviations that have crept into his movement can be rectified as soon as possible so that his movement can very soon lead the entire world out of chaos. Srila Prabhupada is Very Dear to His Disciples Video For the Day: Srila Prabhupada's Disappearance Day Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: No Feeling to Take Initiation I am Chandra Prakash Maurya from Mumbai, India. I am following Krishna consci

On 21 October 2017 we were blessed by Lord Krishna with a visit to one of His places of transcendental pastimes in Sri Vrindavan Dhama. We went to Sakara Gully (Sankari Kor), that narrow gully on the foot path between Barsana Town and Citra Village. It was here in the narrow passageway that Krishna would block the path to prevent Radharani and her gopi girlfriends from passing through unless they paid a tax of yogurt. If they would not pay the tax, Krishna would break their clay yogurt pots. While in the gully we stopped for a few minutes and I told the devotees about these wonderful pastimes of Krishna that took place here 5,000 years ago. Or course, these pastimes as still going on here for those who have the eyes to see them. In remembrance of this pastime some local village boys demanded that we pay a tax for passing through the gully and we obliged by tossing them a few coins. Krishna Katha at Sakara Gully Video For the Day: You Are the Driver, Not the Car Answers by

The most thrilling of all adventures is to awaken your dormant Krishna consciousness. There is truly nothing more exciting than this. So why cheat yourself by remaining in illusion? Nothing in this material world can even begin to compare with the bliss of being Krishna conscious. Even if you were awarded the post of Lord Brahma, the demigod in control of our universe, having that post would be nothing compared to experiencing the super sweet flavor of being engaged at the eternal servant of Krishna. Krishna Eagerly Awaits Your Return to His Kingdom Video For the Day: Existential Consciousness Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: Mayadevi and Durga? Can you please explain if Mayadevi is Durga? There’s mahamaya and yoga-maya but I’m unclear on the details. I know you can kindly remove my ignorance about this. Your servant, Pritha devi dasi Answer: Durga is Mayadevi Durga is one of the names of Mayadevi. Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Don't cheat yourself. You are an eternal spiritual being full of bliss and full of knowledge. So do not make the mistake of misidentifying yourself with your temporary material body, which is just a garment you are temporarily wearing at the present moment. Just as you would not think that you are your shirt because it is a garment you are wearing, in the same way you should not think that you are your body because it is simply a garment that you are wearing. Misidentification with your temporary material body will relegate you to a life of ignorance and misery, while identification with your actual spirit-self will bless you with a life full of bliss and knowledge. So now you should decide what you want and do the needful. Go Back to Krishna and Your Eternal Identity Video For the Day: Transcendental Bliss at Brahmanda Ghat Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: What Does Surrender Mean? Hare Krishna Gurudeva, Respectful obeisances, What does it mean to

Krishna's devotee is a transcendental minuteman. He is willing to do at a moment's notice with no prior warning whatever needs to be done in Krishna's service. It does not matter what he was doing or what he was planning to do. If all of sudden something needs to be done, he is willing to lay everything aside and immediately do the needful. This is what it means to be fully surrendered to Krishna, and it makes the devotee totally ecstatic. Super Blissful Hare Krishna Devotees Video For the Day: The Light Within Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Chant in Mind or With Mouth? Hare Krishna. My respectful pranam to Srila Gurudeva, Kindly advise me whether the Hare Krishna Mahamantra Japa should be done through mind or mouth. Also how many mala I can start with. With respectful obeisances, Your student, Alekh Answer: Both The Hare Krishna mahamantra is meant to be audibly chanted. Each syllable should be distinctly chanted and heard. This cle

Lust is the all-devouring enemy here in this material world. It keeps us locked eternally in the horrendously horrible cycle of birth and death traversing the 8,400,000 species again and again. There is no absolutely no reason to be carried by this dirty perversion of pure love masquerading itself as pure love. Real love is unlimitedly beautiful, a thrill at every moment. Real love means to love God and to love everyone and everything else in relation to God. This is the only thing that gives true satisfaction to the self. Lust, Anger, and Greed Degrade One's Consciousness Video For the Day: Early Morning Bliss Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Ecstasy Connected with Suffering? Why ecstasy is connected with suffering? Your servant Gandharvika Answer: 100% Ecstasy--0% Suffering Suffering and ecstasy are inter-related in this way: The more you are Krishna conscious, the more you are ecstatic and the less you are suffering. And the less you are Krish

The secret of how to always enjoy ever-increasing happiness is that instead of trying to be the enjoyer, try to always give pleasure to that person who is the Supreme Enjoyer, Krishna or God. Just as when you water the root of a tree all the leaves and branches are nourished, when you give your loving service to Krishna or God you become satisfied because you are perfectly giving your love to all living beings within all of existence. What could be more satisfying or thrilling than this? Vishnujana Swami: "Just Give Your Love to Krishna" Video For the Day: Be Yourself https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1494173267332023 Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: First Birth as Lord Brahma? Dear Gurudeva Please accept my humble obeisances All glories to Srila Prabhupada and all glories to you and Gurumata. Now that I am an aspiring disciple, what should I call you? Did we first became Brahma after we fell down from the spiritual world? Your servant

There is truly nothing sweeter than talking about Krishna. Because His glories are unlimited one can continue talking about Him for all of eternity and never run out of fascinating things to say about Him. No one else has such amazingly ever-expanding glories. So may the entire universe now become completely overflooded with the glories of Lord Sri Krishna, the most stupendously dazzling Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Most Amazing Krishna Video For the Day: Reconnecting With Krishna Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: Scientific Proof for Krishna's Existence? How can you justify existence of Krishna to modern science? Your Student, Apurva Gupta Answer: The Universal Machine Operator It is scientifically verifiable that every machine requires an operator. Therefore we can understand that the gigantic universal machine also requires an operator. Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Today, here in Vrindavan I have given initiation to twenty-four sincere souls who are very eager to get out of this material world and go back to home, back to Godhead. Taking shelter of the bona fide spiritual master, getting initiated by him, and being fully obedient to him are absolute necessities for anyone who wants to be truly happy. May all thoughtful persons all over the world now take seriously to this process of self-awakening. Initiation Ceremony--15 October 2017--Vrindavan Video For the Day: How to Achieve Spiritual Perfection Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: How to Make Whole World Krishna Conscious? What according to you should be done to make the whole world Krishna consciousness at both macro and micro level? Your Student, Apurva Gupta Answer: Become Pure Devotees The only hope for making the whole world Krishna is if we come to the highest level of spotless devotion. This is described as follows in the Sri Caitanya Caritamrita Madhya

Today, the tenth day of the most holy month of Kartik, is the day when all over the world my disciples will be celebrating the day of my birth in this material world in my present body. I was born on 7 November 1947 in St. Louis, Missouri USA. For religious observances Vaisnavas go by the lunar calendar instead of the solar calendar. That's why my birthday is being celebrated on 14 October instead of 7 November. In 1947 the tenth day of Kartik in St. Louis was on 7 November. Since my first birthday was in 1947 today is my 71st birthday, and thus even though I am eternal, my present body is 70 years old. Being born in a Christian family I was taught to believe in God, not as that person to whom I must surrender, but as that person whom I should approach to fulfill my material desires. Such a rudimentary level of God consciousness did not satisfy me. So in 1971 I sought to attain the pure, divine consciousness of complete surrender to the will of God, as taught by Lord Jesus in t

This material world is hell, and there is not much more to be said in this connection. We are not meant to live here in this nasty place. We are meant to live with Krishna in the spiritual world. Therefore we should get out of here and go back to home, back to Godhead as soon as possible. Govardhan Parikrama Bliss--12 October 2017 Video For the Day: Ecstasy on Govardhan Parikrama Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: Diet and Daily Routine? What diet and what daily routine would you suggest? Your Student, Apurva Gupta Answer: Regulative Principles and Initiation Take only Krishna prasadam as your food. Krishna prasadam means fruits, vegetables, grains, and dairy products offered to Lord Sri Krishna with love a devotion. No meat, fish, eggs, onions, garlic or mushroom should be offered to Krishna and thus should not eaten by you. You should rise early every morning at least 1 and half hours before sunrise and chant at least 16 round daily of the Hare Kri

11 October 2017--Today we were blessed with the most auspicious opportunity of bathing in the River Yamuna. In this regard Srila Prabhupada writes as follows: "The Lord sanctified the River Yamuna from the beginning of His transcendental pastimes in the world. While His father Vasudeva was crossing the Yamuna with the baby Lord Krishna for a safe place at Gokula on the other bank of the river from Mathura, the Lord fell down in the river, and by the dust of His lotus feet the river at once became sanctified. It is especially mentioned herein that Maharaja Pariksit took shelter of that particular river which is beautifully flowing, carrying the dust of the lotus feet of Lord Krishna, mixed with tulasi leaves. Lord Krishna's lotus feet are always besmeared with the tulasi leaves, and thus as soon as His lotus feet contact the water of the Ganges and the Yamuna, the rivers become at once sanctified. The Lord, however, contacted the River Yamuna more than the Ganges. According

It just does not make any sense that anyone would have to suffer unnecessarily being cruelly whipped by the material modes of nature here in the cycle of birth and death when factually they are all eternal spiritual beings, associates of the Supreme Lord in His transcendental pastimes in the spiritual world. Therefore we are requesting everyone to kindly take up the pathway of Krishna consciousness to get back as soon as possible to that place where they eternally belong. Go Back to Home, Back to Godhead Video For the Day: Darshan of Lord Govinda in Jaipur Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: Liberation in the Age of Kali? Is it really possible to achieve moksha (liberation from the cycle of repeated birth and death) in this age of Kali? Your Student, Apurva Gupta Answer: By Taking Shelter of Guru and Krishna Even though it is the age of Kali, the most degraded and materialistic age, anyone who takes complete shelter of Guru and Krishna will be delivere

The world desperately needs qualified leaders because the present day cannot even properly control their own senses, what to speak of being able to properly guide anyone else. Until we have leaders who have mastered the art of controlling their senses this world is going to become more and more of a hell. Teaching Srimad Bhagavatam 7 October 2017--Sri Vrindavan Dhama Video For the Day: Reconnect with Your Actual Identity Now Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: Define Karma? How would you define karma and reincarnation to the western world? Your Student, Apurva Gupta Answer: What Goes Around= What goes around, comes around. Sankarshan Das Adhikari

The Krishna consciousness movement can lead the world out of its present ever-increasingly chaotic quagmire. Therefore the world's leaders must now be convinced to take guidance from the leaders of the Krishna consciousness movement how to manage their respective nations in a way that will be beneficial for all everyone who resides there including the unborn babies and the animals. Their material formulas of the world's leaders will not solve the world's problems. Only through Krishna consciousness can the world now become happy, peaceful, and prosperous. Teaching Srimad Bhagavatam 7 October 2017--Sri Vrindavan Dhama Video For the Day: Don't Cheat Yourself Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: Why You Become a Guru? What life experience turned you to full time spirituality, and what made you become a guru? Your Student, Apurva Gupta Answer: On the Order of My Spiritual Master I embraced a life of pure spirituality because I realized that t

The key to unlimited happiness is to awaken the dormant Krishna consciousness that is sleeping within you. No one can force you to do this. It is totally up to you if you would like to do this or nor. I hope you make the right choice, because I cannot stand to see anybody needlessly suffering. Relishing Krishna's Damodar Pastimes 6 October 2017--Sri Vrindavan Dhama Video For the Day: At Madan Mohan Temple Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: Who Is Your Guru? Who is your guru and how did you meet him? Your Student, Apurva Gupta Answer: Srila Prabhupada My spiritual master is His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. I met him by the causeless mercy of Lord Krishna because I was begging my beloved Lord how I could become His perfect servant. Sankarshan Das Adhikari

If we work together co-operatively to execute Srila Prabhupada's order to save the world, there is a great hope that we can in fact be successful in saving this ever-increasingly troubled world from its darkest hour of despair. So let's not only talk about it. Let's do it. Let's try to make the whole world Krishna conscious. This planet is becoming increasingly more and more chaotic with every passing. So let's work together now to revolutionize this place. Our Planet is Becoming More and More a War Zone. Video For the Day: The Night of Krishna's Rasa Dance Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: How to Define Krishna to an Atheist? How would you define Krishna or God to an atheist? Your Student, Apurva Gupta Answer: Scientifically I would scientifically tell him like this: Your atheistic theory that everything comes out of nothing is illogical and scientifically unverifiable because factually nothing comes out nothing. Verifiable

We exist to relish unlimited happiness in a pure loving relationship with the Supreme Person, the source of all existence. So why should we cheat ourselves any longer by remaining here in this rotten world of birth and death. It's time to go home. Krishna Awaits Our Return to His Transcendental Abode Video For the Day: How to Conquer Death Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: How to Reach Krishna? My Dear Respected Gurudeva. Please accept my humble obeisances All glories to Srila Prabhupada. I would like to love such a person as Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who comes millennium after millennium just to call me back to His transcendental abode, who speaks the Bhagavad-gita again and again just to let me know how much He misses me there. I just don't know how to reach Him. Sincerely Kaspars Answer: Call His Name With Love All you have to do to reach Him is call His name with love. It’s as simple as that. Plus since He is fully

People take intoxicants because they want to enter into another state of mind beyond their present suffering existence. They can't stand their present miserable situation and they are thus trying to find something better by getting intoxicated. However, what they don't realize is that their miseries are all simply due to their misidentification of their actual self with the material body, which is only a temporary, deteriorating covering of the self, a costume that their true self, the spirit-soul within the body, is only wearing and utilizing right now. The end result of intoxication is that because it is a stimulation of their material body the act of getting intoxicated increases one's bodily consciousness and thus increases his suffering instead of decreasing it. Although there may a temporary impression of relief from the suffering, the end result is an increase of suffering. So the conclusion is that if they will stop misidentifying with their miserable material bod

Don't cheat yourself by continuing to misidentify with your material body, which you are not. To continue to do so would be sheer idiocy. So why be a miserable idiot when you can instead be an unlimitedly blissful self-realized soul? This is real intelligence. This art is what you can learn from the revealed scriptures and the bona fide spiritual master. So, do yourself the ultimate favor and revive your original pure state of Krishna consciousness as soon as possible. You'll be unlimitedly glad that you did. Return to Your Original Home in the Spiritual Sky Video For the Day: From Vrindavan With Love Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Is Suffering a Blessing? Is it not so that sometimes that what looks as suffering is actually a blessing? If some so-called bad happens to a devotee, it's also Krishna's arrangement, isn't it so? Thank you Your insignificant servant Lila Manjari devi dasi Answer: Yes, For Those Who Are Realized For a

I am writing this on 2 October at 5am. After a wonderful few days of preaching here in the New Delhi area we are this morning heading to Sri Vrindavan Dhama, the transcendental abode of Lord Sri Krishna here in this material world. What could be a greater blessing than this? We are therefore fervently praying that we can actually enter into Krishna's abode by being completely in the mood of pure devotion, not that we enter only a shadow of Krishna's abode by coming to Vrindavan in the mood of our tourist, a sightseer. Vrindavan Video For the Day: One-Pointed Hearing Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Is this Fair? We fell down from the spiritual world before billions of years ago and had millions of births, but we only got the guidance to surrender to Krishna just before 5,000 years ago. Moreover, only Srila Prabhupada clarified the meaning of the Bhagavad-gita just 50 years ago. Thus the message of Krishna remained dormant during such a long time

Here is an urgent appeal for help from His Holiness Guru Prasad Swami: ISKCON Puerto Rico Gurabo – New Govardhana Hill Hurricane Maria broke most of the roof and caused severe structural and internal damage (see photos). The temple grounds, trees and landscaping were totally destroyed. We need to rebuild the temple for Sri Sri Radha Krishna. The building is old and the structure is not solid, not able to withstand the heavy winds, much less a permanent roof, which is essential in a hurricane alley. The value of rebuilding the place with electricity, plumbing, etc. could be anywhere from USD 150,000 to USD 350.000. We are awaiting for a professional appraisal, and will post it here. The devotees of Puerto Rico need your help to continue preaching Krishna consciousness in Puerto Rico. Fixing the structural damage is one urgent and important aspect. However, the situation in the country is extremely difficult. Food is scarce and gas lines are 80-100 cars long. Very few places, if a