Ultimate Self Realization

Srila Prabhupada explains in a question and answer session following a lecture on the Bhagavad-gītā given in Durban, South Africa on 11 October 1975: Indian man: Swamiji, I would like to ask you one question, and that is in this time of Kali-yuga, is it possible that a layman could see the Paramātmā with his naked eye? And if he can, what he has to do or what? Prabhupāda: So the Paramātmā cannot be seen with your naked eye. You cannot see anything with your naked eye. You are very much proud of your eyes, but you do not see things as they are. Just like you are seeing daily the sun. You see it is just like a disk, but it is not a disk. It is fourteen hundred times, fourteen hundred thousand times bigger than this planet. So you cannot see God, Paramātmā, by these eyes, these material eyes. You have to create your eyes. That is said, premāñjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena santaḥ sadaiva hṛdayeṣu vilokayanti yaṁ śyāmasundaram acintya-guṇa-svarūpaṁ govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi I...

 Srila Prabhupada explains in a Bhagavad-gita lecture given on 4 September 1973 in London: "When the gopis were crying in separation from Krishna, that is greater happiness than meeting Krishna. This is Krishna philosophy." We can also understand this from our experience in this material world. When we are with persons we love there are loving feelings in our dealings with them. But when we are separated from them our loving feelings are magnified greatly in the pangs of missing them. This is why the highest ecstasy of Krishna consciousness is to feel separation from Krishna. Therefore the Six Goswamis kept themselves always in this mood of feeling separation from Krishna constantly searching for Him as described in this prayer by Śrīnivāsācārya. (Ṣaḍ-gosvāmy-aṣṭaka 8): he rādhe vraja-devike ca lalite he nanda-sūno kutaḥ śrī-govardhana-kalpa-pādapa-tale kālindī-vane kutaḥ ghoṣantāv iti sarvato vraja-pure khedair mahā-vihvalau vande rūpa-sanātanau raghu-yugau śrī-jīva-go...

The following conversation took place on a morning walk in Melbourne, Australia on 22 May 1975: Madhudviṣa: The question was, Prabhupāda, is it possible for a person to return to the spiritual world without taking initiation from a bona fide spiritual master? Prabhupāda: No, that is not possible. Therefore Rūpa Gosvāmī said, ā dau gurv-āśrayam. First business is to accept spiritual master. Ā dau gurv-āśrayam. Who will train him? He is already fool, rascal. He must be trained up. So he must be trained up by the representative of Kṛṣṇa. Therefore anyone is serious about escaping the cycle of birth and death and returning to the spiritual world must take initiation from the bona fide spiritual master. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Srila Prabhupada Giving Initiation Answers According to the Vedic Wisdom Request for Blessings Dear Srila Gurudeva,   Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet All glories unto you and Srimati Guru Mataji All glories to Srila Prabhpada I can't than...

Today I am sharing with you the most wonderful song by Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur, Kabe Ha'be Bolo Se Din Amar (When Oh When Will that Day Be Mine?). For the benefit of my readers who do not know the Bengali language I have sung it in English. It is truly one of the most inspiring, uplifting devotional songs ever written in the history of the universe. I have uploaded it to YouTube so that it is available for many people to hear and be inspired. Here is the link: https://youtu.be/SOLkt67fdWQ And here are the lyrics in Bengali and in English: Text One kabe ha'be bolo se-dina āmār (āmār) aparādha ghuci', śuddha nāme ruci, kṛpā-bale ha'be hṛdoye sañcār TRANSLATION When, oh when will that day be mine? When my offenses ceasing, taste for the name increasing, when in my heart will your mercy shine, when, oh when will that day be mine? Text Two tṛṇādhika hīna, kabe nije māni', sahiṣṇutā-guṇa hṛdoyete āni' sakale mānada, āpani amānī, ho'ye āswādibo nāma-rasa-sār ...

Watch this video of the super ecstatic Sunday feast program at ISKCON Austin on 7 March 2021: https://youtu.be/3jOih0GrWyQ . Sankarshan Das Adhikari Watch this Ecstatic Video! Answers According to the Vedic Wisdom Question: How to Find a True Guru? How can we find a true guru for sadhana? Narendra Yadav Answer: Who Teaches Bhagavad-gita As It Is Find that spiritual master who is teaching the Bhagavad-gita as it is. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Sankarshan Das Adhikari is one of the spiritual masters of the worldwide Hare Krishna Movement. He has dedicated the last 50 years of his life for bringing a spiritual revolution to planet earth by spreading the teachings of Lord Sri Krishna all over the world. He is based in Austin, Texas and when there is no pandemic he regularly travels all over the world teaching his audiences how to attain Krishna consciousness, the highest stage of spiritual awakening. He is available for media interviews and to speak to groups and organizations either in per...

The diksha guru is the initiating guru, the guru who initiates you, and the siksha guru is the instructing guru, the guru who instructs you. Since the diksha guru also instructs you he is both your diksha and siksha gurus. Others who instruct you in accordance with the instructions of your diksha guru are siksha gurus for you. If they instruct you differently from your diksha guru, they are not your siksha guru. In this connection Srila Prabhupada has described as follows in a Bhagavad-gita lecture given in Honolulu, Hawaii USA on 7 July 1974 as follows: "A siksha guru who instructs against the instruction of the spiritual master is not a siksha guru. He is a demon. Siksha guru, diksha guru means... Sometimes a diksha guru is not present always. Therefore one can take learning, instruction, from an advanced devotee. That is called the siksha guru. Siksha guru does not mean he is speaking something against the teachings of the diksha guru. He is not a siksha guru. He is a rascal....

Today is the most glorious appearance day of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami, the spiritual master of our most beloved, Srila Prabhupada. On this most auspicious day in 1975 I was blessed with the topmost mercy of being able to sit at the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada when he gave the following lecture at ISKCON Atlanta, Georgia, USA 2 March 1975. (The Vaisnava calendar is different from out modern calendar. That's why the date is different.) This is the most wonderfully inspiring lecture. Hear it carefully, apply it, and your life will be unlimitedly sublime: Click here to hear a recording of the lecture . Prabhupāda: Today is the most auspicious day, 101 years ago, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, he appeared on this day. So Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura is gaura-śakti. Gaura-śakti means empowered, empowered by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, He wanted His mission to be broadcast... (aside:) What is that sound? ...all over the world. He des...

 The 28 December 2020 edition of Thought for the Day entitled "Which side of the bars are you on?" describes when I was put in jail for preaching Krishna consciousness in Leesburg, Florida. Now I have a poem describing that most glorious adventure: Which Side of the Bars Are You On? I was a young monk out to the save the world By teaching pure love of God Distributing a magazine, “Back to Godhead.” Do you find that to be quite odd? At a mall in Leesburg Florida Showing folks how to attain the divine. But the police came and put me in jail For committing this most heinous of crimes. Which Side of the Bars Are You On? Which Side of the Bars Are You On? They gave me a solitary cell, But I did not feel all alone Because I knew that God is with me In my newly attained humble home. I didn’t touch their garbage food Not prepared as an offering to God. I was happily serving His mission Even though they considered me slipshod. Which Side of the Bars Are You On? Which Side of th...

Beware of the charlatans and mental speculators who want to convince you that their false propaganda is factual truth. When the blind lead the blind everyone falls into the ditch. Is that where you want to be? Sankarshan Das Adhikari Blind Leading the Blind Answers According to the Vedic Wisdom Question: Fake Gurus? What is the rise of fake gurus? Ihteram Ul Haq Answer: Our Pathetic Status Quo That’s what is happening right now. The world is flooded with fake gurus who will take away your money, but cannot take away your anxiety. To be properly guided on the pathway of spiritual perfection a bona fide guru is required. The bona fide guru takes away your anxiety. He does not take away your money. I was blessed with such a bona fide spiritual master whose teachings are delivering me from all the anxieties of this material existence. If you like, I will share those teachings with you at no cost. If you are interested write me at sd@worldleader.com Sankarshan Das Adhikari Sankarshan Das...

At first I tried to become Krishna conscious without accepting initiation from the bona fide spiritual master. But then I realized one morning that the devotees who had accepted initiation were experiencing an inconceivably nectarean feeling of pure love that was completely beyond my reach. I was futilely trying the taste the honey by licking the outside of the jar while they were fully relishing the honey by sticking their tongues inside the jar. Once I realized this I immediately asked to get initiation. I was accepted by Srila Prabhupada as his disciple on 12 August 1971 via a letter he wrote to me and two other boys from London. Sankarshan Das Adhikari P.S. Here's that most wonderful letter: London 12 August, 1971 71 My Dear Sons, Please accept my blessings. Upon the recommendation of His Grace Visnujana Maharaja I have gladly consented to accept you three as my duly initiated disciples. Your beads are duly chanted on by me and are enclosed herewith. I have given the spi...

Jesus Christ is a great Vaisnava acharya who preached God consciousness 2,000 years ago. He taught that we should fully surrender ourselves unto the will of God. Unfortunately even though the Bible teaches "Thou shalt not kill," in the Christian world the killing of innocent animals and the eating of their flesh is extremely popular. In other words the modern day Christians are actually only so-called Christians because they are not truly following the teachings of Lord Jesus Christ. It was the teachings of Lord Jesus that inspired me to surrender to Krishna when I ready his prayer to Krishna, "Father, not my will, but Thy will be done." This is why I sometimes describe myself as a "Christian Hare Krishna." We ardently hope now that the millions of so-called Christians in the world will become real Christians so we can save the lives of the 156 million innocent animals that are murdered every day in the world's slaughterhouses. Sankarshan Das Adhik...

The material ocean is very agitating. It is roughly tossing us through birth, death, old age, and disease like a stormy sea. But if you dive deep within that material ocean seeking its very source, you will joyfully discover a spiritual ocean of unlimited peace and happiness in which you can blissfully live forever without being disturbed by material ocean ever again. So come on in now. The "water" s most sublime!! Sankarshan Das Adhikari Answers According to the Vedic Wisdom Question: Why Unhappy While Chanting? I 'm chanting Hare Krishna but always unhappy and coming into bad situations. Why? Tharinda Dharshana Answer: You're Not Going Deep Enough If we remain on the surface of the ocean, we will always be bounced on the waves up and down and up and down. But when we go deep into the ocean we no longer experience the waves. So you need to go deep into the chanting. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Sankarshan Das Adhikari is one of the spiritual masters of the worldwide...

Here is the most beautiful, inspiring song by Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur: (1) kabe ha'be bolo se-dina āmār (āmār) aparādha ghuci', śuddha nāme ruci, kṛpā-bale ha'be hṛdoye sañcār (2) tṛṇādhika hīna, kabe nije māni', sahiṣṇutā-guṇa hṛdoyete āni' sakale mānada, āpani amānī, ho'ye āswādibo nāma-rasa-sār (3) dhana jana āra, kobitā-sundarī, bolibo nā cāhi deho-sukha-karī janme-janme dāo, ohe gaurahari! ahaitukī bhakti caraṇe tomār (4) (kabe) korite śrī-kṛṣṇa-nāma uccāraṇa, pulakita deho gadgada bacana baibarṇya-bepathu ha'be saṅghaṭana, nirantara netre ba'be aśru-dhār (5) kabe navadwīpe, suradhunī-taṭe, gaura-nityānanda boli' niṣkapaṭe nāciyā gāiyā, berāibo chuṭe, bātulera prāya chāriyā bicār (6) kabe nityānanda, more kori 'doyā, chārāibe mora viṣayera māyā diyā more nija-caraṇera chāyā, nāmera hāṭete dibe adhikār (7) kinibo, luṭibo, hari-nāma-rasa, nāma-rase māti' hoibo bibaśa rasera rasika-caraṇa paraśa, koriyā mojibo rase anibār (8) kabe jībe do...

In the Bhagavad-gita, Chapter 10, Verse 8 Lord Sri Krishna reveals why we exist: ahaṁ sarvasya prabhavo mattaḥ sarvaṁ pravartate iti matvā bhajante māṁ budhā bhāva-samanvitāḥ 'I am the source of all spiritual and material worlds. Everything emanates from Me. The wise who perfectly know this engage in My devotional service and worship Me with all their hearts." We exist not because of the so-called Darwinian evolution or because our mother and father wanted to have a baby. We exist because Krishna is emanating us from Himself for the purpose of enjoying a sweet, loving intimate relationship with each and every one of us. This is we need to reconnect with Krishna. And we need to do it now! Right now! Otherwise we are simply cheating ourselves, big time. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Answers According to the Vedic Wisdom Question: Will I Go Back to Godhead? Hare Krishna Guruji, Please accept my humble obeisances. I have one doubt because I am visiting ISKCON since 7 years, but s...

In the Nectar of Devotion Srila Prabhupada wonderfully describes as follows how Arjuna protected Krishna from the arrows of Aśvatthāmā by acting as a human shield: "There is a nice example of the friendship between Krishna and Arjuna on the Battlefield of Kuruksetra. When the fighting was going on, Asvatthama, the son of Dronacarya, unceremoniously attacked Krishna, although according to the prevailing rules of chivalry one's chariot driver should never be attacked by the enemy. Asvatthama behaved heinously in so many ways that he did not hesitate to attack Krishna's body, although Krishna was acting only as charioteer for Arjuna. When Arjuna saw that Asvatthama was releasing various kinds of arrows to hurt Krishna, he immediately stood in front of Krishna to intercept all of them. At that time, although Arjuna was being harmed by those arrows, he felt an ecstatic love for Krishna, and the arrows appeared to him like showers of flowers." In a similar way, if we are ...

Since now is the time of democracy on this planet we need to educate the general population to elect Krishna conscious leaders. Until that day comes more and more hell will continue breaking out on this planet. In this connection Srila Prabhupada explains in a room conversation on 12 December 1970 in Indore, India: "And when the Krishna conscious people will elect Krishna conscious leaders there will be peace and prosperity. And now, because the minority is Krishna conscious, they cannot elect Krishna conscious leaders and therefore havoc is being played." Therefore we must continue educating as many people as possible in the science of Krishna so that as soon as possible the majority of the population will be Krishna conscious and they will only vote for Krishna conscious leaders. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Answers According to the Vedic Wisdom Question: How Do We Know that Krishna is God? How can we be sure that Krishna is God? Anonymous Answer: Parasara Muni's Defintio...

How we see your attitude determines your altitude: After the great fire of 1666 that leveled London, the world’s most famous architect, Christopher Wren, was commissioned to rebuild St Paul’s Cathedral. One day in 1671, Christopher Wren observed three bricklayers on a scaffold, one crouched, one half-standing and one standing tall, working very hard and fast. To the first bricklayer, Christopher Wren asked the question, “What are you doing?” to which the bricklayer replied, “I’m a bricklayer. I’m working hard laying bricks to feed my family.” The second bricklayer, responded, “I’m a builder. I’m building a wall.” But the third brick layer, the most productive of the three and the future leader of the group, when asked the question, “What are you doing?” replied with a gleam in his eye, “I’m a cathedral builder. I’m building a great cathedral to The Almighty.” Similarly, if we ask someone who is new to Krishna consciousness, "What are you doing?" when he is chanting japa, he ...

Loren Sperry has very favorably reviewed my song "The World Peace Formula" as follows on the Music Existence web site:   Sankarshan Das has a lot to say in his new single “The World Peace Formula,” and when it comes to getting it off of his chest, he’ll use whatever melodic weaponry is handy to make sure we get the point. Armed with a guitar and a voice that is both familiar and warm amidst these quarantine times, Das doesn’t attempt to adorn his music with a lot of flamboyancy here, but instead gets down to the nitty gritty of folk-pop’s melodic framework with the purpose of making his lyrics the primary focus from start to finish here. Though I have nothing against big budget videos when they strike the right tone beside that of the music’s deeper narrative, the simplistic look Das went for in “The World Peace Formula” seems more genuine and heartwarming when I compare its style to that of a mainstream pop singer on either side of the Atlantic this winter. Social justice h...

When we are little babies we are nourished by our mother's breast milk. Then when we are a little older we are nourished by the cow's breast milk. So the cow is our second mother. How we can be so cruel to kill and eat our second mother when her breast milk dries up? Do we do that to our first mother? It's time to stop all of this nonsense, sinful cow killing! Answers According to the Vedic Wisdom Question: Suffering Momentary or Longer? Hare Krishna!! Please accept my respectful obeisances unto your lotus feet. When we derive momentary pleasure from sense gratification, of course we will suffer in the future. Will the suffering also be momentary or would it be longer? Your servant, Mrutyunjay Mallik Answer: It Can Be Eternal My Dear Mrutyunjay, Please accept my blessings. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. As long we as engage in material sense gratification we will go on suffering like anything for all of eternity. I hope this meets you in the best of health and in a l...

According to the philosophy known as existentialism life has no meaning and thus we are compelled to invent or create what is the meaning of life according to our imagination. But if life truly has no meaning, why would we feel compelled to invent some meaning? In this regard consider this example: The thirst for water exists because water exists. If there was no such thing as water, the thirst for water would not exist. Similarly, the thirst for the meaning of life exists because the meaning of life factually exists. Therefore instead of denying that life has meaning, we should try to find out what is the meaning of life. The answer is very simple. Lord Krishna is emanating from Himself for the purpose of enjoying a personal loving relationship with each and every one of us. Thus the purpose and meaning of our existence, our life is simply to love Krishna. Answers According to the Vedic Wisdom Question: How Does It Feel to Have Sex? Dear Sir, My sex desire is finished. But still I w...