Ultimate Self Realization

My dear godbrother, Sriman Shyamasundar Das Adhikari who had many years of personal association with Srila Prabhupada in the early days of ISKCON has written a wonderful book "Chasing Rhinos With the Swami." It is described as follows: A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada changed the world. When he came to America from India in 1965, few Westerners knew the deep spiritual truths behind ancient Vedic culture and civilization. Within a decade most humans on the planet had heard the Hare Krishna mantra. Shyamasundar Das (Sam Speerstra) was one of Bhaktivedanta Swami's earliest disciples, helping him shape the Krishna Consciousness Movement around the world. Volume One of Shyamasundar's long-awaited memoir is now available in paperback. This is the most detailed and exciting account yet of Bhaktivedanta Swami's amazing adventures in the dawn of the Hare Krishna movement. Volume One describes the Swami's halcyon days in the Haight-Ashbury district of San Fran

My song "The Peace Formula," which is a poetic expression of Krishna's peace formula as given in Bhagavad-gita 5.20, and was very much appreciated by former US President Obama is now also being appreciated in the media. For example here is an article that appeared in the 15 November 2017 issue of Music Talkers: Music Talkers Peace Formula Article We are hoping and praying for that day will come soon when the whole world will appreciate, accept, and follow our beloved Lord Sri Krishna's perfect peace formula. Srila Prabhupada Reveals Krishna's Peace Formula to Dr.Patel Video For the Day: Take Full Advantage of Human Life Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Why Do You Practice Krishna Consciousness? Hello, I have been reading a bit of what has been emailed. I have been so busy with closing down the station I have really not had much time to myself. I had hopes of exploring inner peace in moving here, so as life maybe slows down I can f

Lord Sri Krishna has so kindly blessed us with such wonderful liberating knowledge. Bhagavad-gita 5:20-21 is especially profound and enlightening: na prahṛṣyet priyaṁ prāpya nodvijet prāpya cāpriyam sthira-buddhir asammūḍho brahma-vid brahmaṇi sthitaḥ bāhya-sparśeṣv asaktātmā vindaty ātmani yat sukham sa brahma-yoga-yuktātmā sukham akṣayam aśnute "A person who neither rejoices upon achieving something pleasant nor laments upon obtaining something unpleasant, who is self-intelligent, who is unbewildered, and who knows the science of God, is already situated in transcendence. Such a liberated person is not attracted to material sense pleasure but is always in trance, enjoying the pleasure within. In this way the self-realized person enjoys unlimited happiness, for he concentrates on the Supreme." By training ourselves to always be equipoised in this way by taking complete shelter of Guru and Krishna we will enjoy unlimited happiness at every moment. What could be

You've got nothing to lose and everything to gain by fully giving your life to Krishna right now. So why not do it? What is holding you back? Kick out all the impediments and fully surrender to Lord Sri Krishna at this very moment! You'll be unlimitedly glad that you did it. This our philosophy, the cream of all philosophies. Krishna Awaits Your Full Surrender Video For the Day--Mission: Global Spiritual  Revolution Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Why Should I Please Krishna? Dear Guru, Please explain me why should I please Krishna? Just because I'm his creation, I don't feel like pleasing him. There should be something more. Please let me know what is it. Hare Krishna, Shreyansh Answer: It's the Only Way You Can Be Pleased From: ISKCON Austin, Texas USA My Dear Shreyansh, Please accept my blessings. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Why does the hand serve food to stomach? To get the nourishment it needs. It cannot get the

Lust is our enemy. It destroys our Krishna consciousness. But it can easily by conquered by one who cultivates deliberate spiritual intelligence by seeing everything through the eyes of the scriptures. Lord Krishna kindly blesses us regarding deliberate spiritual intelligence in Bhagavad-gita 3.43 as follows: evaṁ buddheḥ paraṁ buddhvā saṁstabhyātmānam ātmanā jahi śatruṁ mahā-bāho kāma-rūpaṁ durāsadam "Thus knowing oneself to be transcendental to the material senses, mind and intelligence, O mighty-armed Arjuna, one should steady the mind by deliberate spiritual intelligence [Krishna consciousness] and thus—by spiritual strength-conquer this insatiable enemy known as lust." If we take advantage of this profound instruction of Krishna, our lives will be unlimitedly sublime. Krishna Enlightens Arjuna Video For the Day Seeing Through the Eyes of Scripture Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Sex Outside of Procreation? My husband and I have be

Sometimes we are asked, "Since Krishna is the origin of everything, and since envy must therefore originate in Him, then does not Krishna also have envy?" The answer to this question has been wonderfully given by Srila Prabhupada when he gave his disciple the name, "Madhudvisa Das." In this regard Madhudvisa remembers as follows: He said, "Your name is Madhudvisa das." The way he said it, it became genuine. When he said, "Madhudvisa das," everybody said, "Wow, Madhudvisa das? What does that mean? Who is that? What did he say?" Then I forgot my name right away. Although I heard him say it clearly, I forgot it. Later on I asked Prabhupada what the name meant. He said, " 'Dvisa' means to be envious and 'Madhu' is a great demon. So 'Madhudvisa das' means one who is envious of Madhu." I said, "Prabhupada, how can Krishna be envious of anyone?" Prabhupada said, "No. Krishna can be envious

The entire global civilization is lost deep in the dense darkness of bodily consciousness. Because of this no one is tasting the genuine sublime happiness of their eternal spiritual identity. Everyone is being tossed on the waves of the ocean of birth and death, sometimes thinking themselves happy and sometime feeling very sad. Even the happiness they feel is not the real happiness of the eternal spiritual being. It is instead maya-sukhaya, illusory happiness. Because of this our mission is to ignite a global spiritual revolution that will awaken everyone to their original divine consciousness. For this purpose we have many programs and strategies for attracting the general populace and educating them about their actual eternal identities. One such program is my initiative to attract and educate the global society through the form of popular music. Having been a popular singer/songwriter before I came to Krishna consciousness I thought, "Why not introduce the world to Krishna

Here are the lyrics to my song "Tranquility," which is attracting admiration even from non-devotees: Tranquility Here is the key That will set you free From all misery For eternity. Are you ready now to open up the door That will take you to the other shore? Chorus: Just give your love to the Supreme. You’ll attain tranquility. Spoon fed with lies For your many lives Tricked by disguise, Your true self you madly despised. Are you ready for your consciousness to mend, To bring ignorance and misery to their end? Chorus preceded by “Then.” Drowning in Illusion, With confusion in profusion Kill delusion by existential transfusion. Are you ready for your true identity, Empowered to absolutely be? Chorus preceded by “Yes.” Dylan made it clear: “There’s some way out of here.” So kick out all fear, Embrace the place that is most dear. Are you ready now to fly beyond the sky, To that world where no one ever dies? Chorus There’s something amiss

Srila Prabhupada predicts in his purport to Sri Caitanya Caritamrita Adi Lila, Chapter 13, Text 32 that the whole universe will in due course of time become Krishna conscious: "Since the sankirtana movement was first set in motion five hundred years ago by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's desire that it spread all over the universe, the Krishna consciousness movement, in continuity of that same motion, is now spreading all over the world, and in this way it will gradually spread all over the universe. With the spread of the Krishna consciousness movement, everyone will merge in an ocean of love of Krishna." Anyone who fully dedicates himself to Lord Caitanya's mission by assisting Him in delivering all of the fallen, conditioned souls in this universe naturally becomes very dear to Him. And there is truly nothing more sublime, divine, and wonderful than to become dear to Lord Caitanya who is Lord Sri Krishna Himself in His most merciful and magnanimous incarnation as Hi

I just received the sad news from my dear Godbrother, Amarendra Prabhu, that his beloved wife, Srimati Gayatri Devi Das has departed from this world. Here is what he has written: Gayatri dd and I joined Krishna consciousness when Gargamuni Prabhu [then a sannyasi] came to Gainesville, FL in November, 1970. We were living together in a small duplex a couple of blocks from the University of Florida campus, where we were going to school. A short time after meeting Gargamuni, we invited him to move in with us. By mid-January, 1971, over 100 students a day were coming to the original “Krishna House” for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. About ten students soon moved into the living room of the duplex, and another six or seven were camping in the back yard. That program, of course, went on to become one of the most successful college preaching centers in the history of ISKCON, in no small part because of Gayatri’s dedication and loving disposition. Gargamuni, who was one of the original e

The entire world is in a suffering condition, and we have the formula how to solve all of the world's problems. Therefore simply as a matter of compassion we must now be very eager to make the whole world Krishna conscious. Since there is no other solution besides Krishna consciousness for the world's ever-increasingly devastating problems, we must become now very eager and aggressive to flood this entire planet in the tidal wave of Lord Caitanya's most sublime causeless mercy. Lord Caitanya's Tidal Wave of Causeless Mercy Video For the Day: Make the Whole World Krishna Conscious Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: Origin of Lord Shiva? My Dear Srila Gurudeva Please accept my humble obeisances All glories to you Srila Gurudeva and Srimati Gurumataji In SB 4.8.21, Rudra is mentioned as Lord Shiva's incarnation. In that case, what is the origin of Lord Shiva? Your servant, Srivatsa Das Answer: Krishna is the Origin of All. My Dear

It's time to get serious about Krishna consciousness as the prime goal of our lives. We can fail in every other way, but if we are successful in Krishna consciousness, our lives are a grand success. Or we can be successful in so many ways in this material world, but if we fail to become Krishna conscious, our lives are a dismal failure. Therefore in all times, places, and circumstances we must remain completely focused on awakening our dormant Krishna consciousness as the prime goal of our lives. Srila Prabhupada Trains Us Video For the Day: Reject Illusory Happiness Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: Life After Death? Is there life after death? Your student Answer: We Never Die Life is eternal. We never die. We just change bodies, which are just like garments that we are wearing. They are not us. When we become perfect in love of God we go back to the spiritual world and regain our original spiritual forms that never get sick, get old, or die. S

Krishna explains very nicely in Bhagavad-gita 2.69: "What is night for all beings is the time of awakening for the self-controlled; and the time of awakening for all beings is night for the introspective sage." So one can wake up late for engaging in material sense gratification, or one can rise early for self-realization. The devotees prefer to rise early before the sunrise to utilize the most valuable early morning hours for intensely focusing their minds on Krishna. The materialists sleep as late as possible, sleeping until they have to wake up to make it to work on time. When you wake up and for what purpose you wake will determine your future. ISKCON Austin-Mangala Arati Video For the Day: Blessed by Prabhupada's Books Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: Why Should I Please Krishna? Dear Guru, Please explain me why should i please Krishna? Just because I'm His creation, I don't feel like pleasing him. There should be someth

Krishna's devotee is naturally friendly to everyone. He is the best well-wisher of all because he desires that everyone shall become free from their entanglement in the cycle of birth and death and go back home, back to Godhead to regain their original position in the transcendental pastimes of Krishna in that most wondrous spiritual sky. Indeed, no one else is actually a genuine friend of all because everyone in this material world is self-interested. They only ultimately care about their own sense gratification. So, indeed it is only Krishna's devotee who is the true friend of all living beings. Srila Prabhupada Is Merciful to All Video For the Day: Friendly to All Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: How to Attain Samadhi? Hare Krishna, What does fully absorbed in Krishna Conscious and Samadhi state of mind means? What is the path to attain Samadhi state of mind? Is it difficult to attain? Thank you, Anita Answer: Fully Dovetailed with Krishn

Our beloved spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, has blessed us, his followers, that one day we will be the leaders of the world. Here is what he wrote in this regard from Bombay on 26 November 1974 to his disciple Saurabha Das: "So it is up to you Europeans and Americans to push it all over the world, and one day you will be the leaders of the world. It is not difficult. You just have to work sincerely and intelligently. Krishna will do everything." So there it is. We have the blessing to be the world leaders. Now we simply have to work sincerely and intelligently, and one day Srila Prabhupada's most sublime, divine prediction will come true. We will factually be the leaders of the world. This does not necessarily mean political leaders, although that could also be true. In Vedic culture the brahmanas, the priestly class, are the factual leaders of

'Tis truly a disgrace The sorrow you embrace. That's no way for you to be Trapped in misery. So I want to set you free From all despondency Being all that you can be Throughout eternity. Loving Krishna's the solution. It cuts the shackles of illusion Destroying confusion and pollution Bestowing all-blissful resolution. Arjuna Fully Surrenders to Krishna Video For the Day: Don't Punish Yourself. Reward Yourself Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Glorifying the Lord? Srila Gurudeva, Hare Krishna! What does glorifying the Lord mean? Seeking Your mercy, Bhargavi Answer: Chant His Name Without Offense From: ISKCON Austin, Texas USA My Dear Bhargavi, Please accept my blessings. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Glorifying the Lord means to chant His holy name without offense. By doing so one can be freed from all sins and thus can attain the highest perfection of life by returning home, back to Godhead. I hope this mee

Why be in anxiety? Anxiety is the pastime of fools who mindlessly misidentify themselves with their temporary material bodies which are nothing more than a coverings of the actual self, the spirit-self within. Those who are wise tune in to their actual selves beyond matter and relish unlimited bliss celebrating their eternal identities. Connect With Your True Self by Chanting Hare Krishna Video For the Day: Plug Into Krishna Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: Why the Soul Falls Again? Hare Krishna. My respectful pranam to Srila Gurudeva, It is said that after liberation the soul lives in bliss eternally in the spiritual world in the abode of the Supreme Lord Krishna. Also in bhagavat dharma there remains no karma or its effect on the soul. If that's so, then why some action by the soul like envious of the Supreme Lord cause it's fall to this material world again. Kindly advise. With respectful obeisances, Your ignorant student, Alekh Answer:

In the mental state known as depression one may feel that this life is completely useless and hopeless, that there is no way that he can ever find any real happiness in this world. Depressed persons sometimes develop suicidal feelings and may even sometimes foolishly commit suicide. Why do such thoughts and feelings arise when the soul by it's very nature is full of bliss? Depression happens due to the ignorance of bodily misidentification. If one thinks that he is his temporary material body, which is constantly tortured by three types of miseries, he will naturally feel miserable and may go into a state of deep depression. Therefore the solution for depression is to realize one's eternal spiritual identify beyond his material body as a servant of Krishna and then to practically engage oneself 24 hours a day in loving service to Krishna. This will completely defeat his depression, and put him into a state of unadulterated, uninterrupted transcendental bliss. Devotees Reli

My song, The Peace Formula, which is a musical presentation of Lord Krishna's perfect peace formula given in Bhagavad-gita, Chapter 5, Text 29 has played again on UK radio (Source FM 96.1) by Sophie Sweatman. Here is a recording of her speaking about the song and playing it on 10 November 2017. Peace Formula on Radio. Here's where her show is described: https://www.thesourcefm.co.uk/whats-on/sophies-springboard-show/ Kindly go to the radio station website and express your appreciation for he Peace Formula being played and requesting to hear more of my songs. https://www.thesourcefm.co.uk/contact/ com Only do so if you have listened to the show segment that has been posted above and here: Peace Formula on Radio. Sophie Sweatman Video For the Day: Don't Cheat Yourself Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Why Did Krishna Make Me? Dear Gurudeva, Certain doubts have assailed me which, by your mercy, I would like them to be resolved: Why do

Real happiness comes when we always put Krishna's pleasure first in all of our thoughts, words, and deeds instead of our own. Our unhappiness is due to putting our pleasure first instead of putting Krishna's pleasure first. Unfortunately we are habituated since time immemorial to think of our pleasure first instead of Krishna's pleasure. This is the difficulty. Old habits are hard to break. Krishna is the Supreme Enjoyer Video For the Day: Formula for World Happiness Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: Praying While Chanting Japa? My Dear Respected Spiritual Master, Please accept my humble obeisance. All glories to Spiritual Master of the Universe, Savior of the Fallen souls. Is it OK if I make a prayer in my mind while chanting Hare Krishna Mantra on lips? If I ask Krishna to give me some power to control my nasty senses, or if I ask for Krishna's guidance in my life, or if I ask for knowledge of Krishna and realization of that knowledge.

Tune in to Lord Krishna, turn on your real identity as His eternal servant, and completely bliss out by fully engaging yourself in His service 24 hours a day under the guidance of His pure representative, the bona fide spiritual master. This is our super ecstatic process known as Krishna consciousness. There Is Truly No One More Glorious than Lord Sri Krishna Video For the Day: Paradigm Shift Mission Answers by Citing the Vedic Version Question: Depend on Astrology and Krishna Or Depend Only on Krishna? Please accept my humble obeisances. This is a humble request to you to clarify my doubt about astrology. An astrologer is like a weather man who can tell if it is going to rain. If I take an umbrella or postpone my travel then I will not get wet. Going by the simple rain and umbrella analogy, I tend to believe that an astrologer's prediction can reduce the effect of our karmic reaction or in other words has the power to change our fate or course of life. So I h

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 th

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 Visvanath

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 wi

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