"My long desired scheme of a Krsna Conscious daily newspaper is being implemented. Please do this work very nicely. It will be a very great step in the history of ISKCON movement."
~ Srila Prabhupada, Letter to Satsvarupa 1971
"Here in this world there are thousands of newspapers and magazines reporting the stale, repetitious happenings of this limited space. So for reporting the news of the unlimited spiritual realm, concerning the eternal, ever-fresh Supreme Personality of Godhead, we could publish a newspaper at every second, what to speak of daily."
~ Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura
"According to social conventions, it is said that one can speak the truth only when it is palatable to others. But that is not truthfulness. The truth should be spoken in such a straight and forward way, so that others will understand actually what the facts are. If a man is a thief and if people are warned that he is a thief that is truth. Although sometimes the truth is unpalatable, one should not refrain from speaking it. Truthfulness demands that the facts be presented as they are for the benefit of others. That is the definition of truth."
~ Bhagavad-Gita As It Is. Ch 10:4
Confidential Advice
Gita-govinda, Rajput
What Happened to Sundar?
BY: GAURASUNDARA DASA
Sep 02, USA (SUN) — I heard someone ask as I walked by, "I wonder what happened to Sundar?" All I could do was stare and keep walking.
Thirty-one years ago I joined ISKCON Denver, USA. I, like most devotees who have surrendered their lives to Srila Prabhupada, have seen many individuals embarrass Srila Prabhupada and His movement. By their reckless and stupid immoral behavior, these unholy individuals drain the life out of the good, honest, pure devotees of ISKCON, of which there are many. I used to love giving people the mercy of Srila Prabhupada by giving them a book and preaching His glories to others. Then one day a year after I joined, I was told of the former Temple President who looted the Temple funds and started his own real estate company.
So I thought that this was just one individual and he would be put in jail. He was not. I continued my service for four more years doing preaching work and collecting to pay the Temple's bills. So I collected in this way for five years total, living in a crowded room with eight other brahmacaris. Life was austere; sometimes there was no heat at night and I would wake up shivering from the cold. We took icy baths in lakes in the winter when we were collecting funds for the Temple, breaking the ice to get to the water, and we lived in small vans.
Sep 02, INDIA (SUN) — After reading Mahavidya Prabhu's tirade, "Hodge Podge", about English Hare Krishna pandits blessing automobiles of nouveau-riche Hindus at Bhaktivedanta Manor, our Sunday morning social circle had a chuckle over the irony. Even those with short memories need not be reminded that it was just over two generations ago when the British pucca sahibs were still wholesaling their white man's burden to the Indians. What would Clive of India think if he saw proper English Hindus blessing cars? Those were the days before India's biggest auto maker, Tata, wrenched the tights to the British icons of motorized luxury, Jaguar and Range Rover. Today, who is blessing who?
In many of the lectures I have listened to by Srila Prabhupada, some originating from the Manor itself, His Divine Grace upbraided the expat Indians for their blind imitation of the Western ways. Calling them "beggars" who had all but abandoned their culture, he compared the rising generation of Bollywood junkies in the West to "new crows" who eat the leftovers of the previous flock. In one talk, the Acarya called the materialistic Hindus of the West "pigs", but added that "only the big pigs can swim across." With the rise of car blessing pandits at the Manor nowadays, it looks like pigs can swim across both directions of the high seas. That which has been left as rejects by one society is a feast for the famished newcomer on either side of the ocean. Here's why:
Sep 02, TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA (SUN) — It's interesting to see that Rasaprema dasa considers himself to be "sincere and blessed" [Understood by the Sincere and Blessed (please link)], as evinced by his professed understanding of the importance of "the Vaisnava Diksa Samskara". Self-esteem can be a psychological virtue conducing to enthusiasm (utsaha) which, according to Srila Rupa Gosvami, fosters the perfection of bhakti. Yes, life certainly can be sweet if you're both sincere and blessed. And how could anyone who disagrees with such a fortunate person possibly be either sincere or blessed? Although the Vaisnava Acaryas (great realized souls and pure devotees, who teach Krishna consciousness by their own example) were ever loathe to even imply that they were sincere and blessed, they actually (really) were both sincere and blessed.
All Glories to His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktivedanta Thakur!
Reject all desires to imitate you, my beloved Spiritual Master, Srila Prabhupada… Just try to understand you.
I heard you speak a similar message to us in relation to Lord Sri Krsna.
Understanding: Your choice to appear on the request of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Lord Nityananda so that Their prophecy would become manifest, that the chanting of the Holy Names would take place throughout the world.
The Horoscope of HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
BY: DHARMAPAD DAS
Sep 01, BRAZIL (SUN) — The horoscope of Abhay Charan Bhaktivedanta Swami, Prabhupada, will serve as an example chart which allows us to bring together the component parts of Vedic astrology and see how it functions as a system of judgment. Hopefully, the reader will be able to recognize the correspondence of the life events of this saint to the astrological indicators.
A contention exists about which is the true horoscope of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, Prabhupada. More specifically, the contention centers on whether the true rising sign is Sagittarius or Capricorn. A little bit of background in relation to the contention helps to understand the controversy and sort things out. Towards the end of his life, there was some attempt by his disciples to identify the horoscope of their guru. They were concerned about his health and longevity as he had been sick. He was confronted with three different horoscopes, each with a different rising sign: Scorpio, Sagittarius and Capricorn.
Dear Srila Prabhupada, please accept my humble obeisances, all glories to your lotus feet.
Accepting Your Eternal Presence
We cry for joy in your service in spite of our muddy lives
Your ever expanding voice from Patala to Brahmaloka
Your words flowing sweet just as honey leaves the hives
Different but always constant are your books and every sloka
I haven't seen Krsna yet still trying to chant His name
Service to you expands and makes me feel the bolder
Teaching, talking and singing your words and you are the same
Mayas embrace, the holy name, makes the world shun to hold her
Aug 31, CANADA (SUN) — From Ananda Vrindavan Champu by Srila Kavi Karnapura, Translated by Bhanu Swami & Subhaga Swami, Published by Mahanidhi Swami.
Now we will discuss the truth about the transcendental birthplace of Bhagavan and the appearance of Lord Sri Krishna. Once upon a time, Bhumi, the predominating deity of the earth, felt overburdened by different demons posing as members of the royal order. Feeling aggrieved upon seeing her miserable condition, the lotus-born Brahma appealed to Ksirodakasayi Visnu, the maintainer of the universe, saying, "Please deliver Goddess Bhumi who is feeling greatly distressed by these demoniac kings. Only You can remove this terrible influence from the earth."
Aug 31, UK (SUN) — Just to follow on from what Bhakta George is stating, there are several axiomatic instructions concerning initiation that are worth pointing out. Firstly the question of qaualification. The reason that many disciples have had to take initiation on several occasions in the past from GBC authorised Gurus is because of lack of qualification.
From Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya 24.330, we have the emphatic axiomatic instruction concerning the qualification of the Diksa Guru thus:
"The Guru must be situated on the topmost platform of devotional service. There are three classes of devotees, and the Guru must be accepted from the topmost class."
Aug 31, BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA (SUN) — Hare Krsna. To any and all devotees connected with the Berkeley temple, as well as all ISKCON devotees worldwide:
If you are not outraged that a devotee has been sleeping on the altar; caught in the women's bathroom with his pants halfway down to his knees shaking his butt; urinating in the shower with the same clothes he wears on the altar; walking on the altar with his shoes on; cleaning his half-eaten plate in the shower leaving Tulsi leaves all over the floor…
If you are not outraged that another devotee is eating in Srimati Radharani's kitchen while preparing an offering; wearing his outside shoes in the pujari room; also washing his plate in the shower; throwing dirty toilet paper in the shower; spitting and blowing his nose in the shower; hanging out in the neighborhood streets late at nite hitting on women... in his devotional clothes; hitting on the women guests in the temple…
Aug 31, USA (SUN) — Dear Govinda Dasi, please accept my respectful obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. I would like to reply to your Letter "Monkey Poo, or Respect for One's Guru", published on Sampradaya Sun.
The same questions you where asking, I also have been asking all along for the past 34 years, but I never got any satisfactory answer yet from our so-called ISKCON authorities. But I did find the answers to all of our questions in Srila Prabhupada's books, which I would like to share with you.
Sep 02, CANADA (SUN) — "Bhaktivinoda Thakura organized this Krsna Caitanya's movement in pure form from Mayapur. He published many books and papers, Sajjana-tosani. When he passed away in 1914, at that time, he entrusted the matter to Siddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, that "I am going, my work unfinished, about this Caitanya Mahaprabhu's movement. You take charge of it." So he took very seriously the word of Bhaktivinoda Thakura. So since 1914 to '18, he was simply thinking that "How I can expand this movement?" So in 1918 he started this movement with the help of some disciples. Krsna sent him. So one of the disciples, he is now Tirtha Maharaja. Perhaps he is... He belonged to Rama Krishna Mission Society. So he is very ambitious. So he took the opportunity of starting this movement, finding out the saintly person. So apart from that point of view, with his help this Gaudiya Mission was started, and gradually it developed.
Sep 02, CANADA (SUN) — Book 12, Santi Parva, Part One - Rajadharma- nusasana Parva, Section 101.
Yudhishthira said. 'What are the well-known indications, O bull of Bharata's race, of the (future) success of an army? I desire to know them.' Bhishma said, 'I shall tell thee, O bull of Bharata's race, all the well-known indications of the (future) success of an army.
September 2, 1966, New York
Bhagavad-gita 6.1-4
"We commit mistake, we are illusioned. Sometimes we speak something
and at our heart there is something else. That means we cheat. And our
experience all imperfect because our senses are imperfect."
September 2, 1973, London
Bhagavad-gita 2.32
"A brahmana is employed, a ksatriya is employed, a vaisya is
employed. Otherwise, if they are unemployed, idle brain, then idle
brain will be devil's workshop. That is happening."
September 2, 1973, London
Room Conversation
"They have heard so many things about India's culture. Still, they
respect India's culture, spiritual culture. They are hankering after.
But unfortunately the so-called yogis, swamis, come and cheat them."
September 2, 1975, Vrndavana
Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.66
"This is the duty of the guru. He worships himself. Unless he knows
how to worship, how he will teach them? So he acts himself as brahmana,
and he teaches the disciple how to work as a brahmana."
Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada.
The Mughal Influence on Vaisnavism, Part 51
BY: SUN STAFF
Sep 01, CANADA (SUN) — A serial presentation of the Mughal effect on Vaisnava society.
Today we complete our presentation of narratives contained in the book, Hindu Temples: What Happened to Them by authors Shourie, Narain, Dubashi, Swarup and Ram Goel, who have done an exceptional job of surveying the long list of temples destroyed by the Muslims – and these are only the destroyed temples upon whose ruins Muslim monuments have been constructed. There are thousands more destroyed temple sites that have turned to rubble, then dust, over time.
Sep 01, CANADA (SUN) — Book 12, Santi Parva, Part One - Rajadharma- nusasana Parva, Section 100.
Yudhishthira said, 'Of what disposition, of what behaviour, of what form, how acoutred, and how armed should the combatants be in order that they may be competent for battle?' Bhishma said, 'It is proper that those weapons and vehicles should be adopted (by particular bodies of combatants) with which they have become familiar by use. Brave soldiers, adopting those weapons and vehicles, engage in battle.
Aug 31, CANADA (SUN) — A serial presentation of the Mughal effect on Vaisnava society.
Today we continue on with the narrative provided by authors Shourie, Narain, Dubashi, Swarup and Ram Goel in their book, Hindu Temples: What Happened to Them. Here they describe the Sufi influence that traveled into India with the Muslims, which we touched upon a quite a number of the early articles in this series. In fact, starting with Babur, each of the Mughal emperors were themselves influenced to varying degrees by Sufi spiritual leaders, and that influence had a direct impact on how they conducted their particular portion of the Islamic invasion of India.
Aug 31, CANADA (SUN) — Book 12, Santi Parva, Part One - Rajadharma- nusasana Parva, Section 99.
Yudhishthira said, 'Tell me, O grandsire, how kings desirous of victory should, O bull of Bharata's race, lead their troops to battle even by offending slightly against the rules of righteousness!'
Aug 31, UK (SUN) — In 1970, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada wrote the following to Jayapataka...
"Regarding the Hindu centres in the foreign countries, none of them are bona fide. There is similar hodge podge centre in London".
I am inclined to ask if "car blessings" fall into the category of "hodge podge"? If so... does the photo of a car blessing in progress at Bhaktivedanta Manor place it in the category of "Hindu" centre?
Aug 31, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (SUN) — Janmastami prabhu, As to your factually misleading article dated August 30, 2010:
1. You mistakenly attributed the Press Release language dated May 23, 2005, to me.
2. The Reorganization Plan calls for completion of compensation payments by December 31, 2011 -- not by December 31, 2010, the date you became hysterical over in your post.
Aug 31, LANCASTER, CALIFORNIA (SUN) — Dear friends, you are cordially invited to the Festival of India!! Never before in Lancaster, California. Date: Saturday, September 4th from 2 to midnight. Sunday September 5th, from 10 am to 4 pm. Place: Center for spiritual living 1030 L-8 Lancaster, Ca. 93536 (This is corner of 10th St West). Parking and entrance are free!
Enjoy the sounds, smells and tastes of India and also it's spiritual philosophy. We will have FREE food for 1,000! Henna tattoos and thread hair removal, music dances and exhibits!! See and hear how the soul travels from body to body to body in the "Changing Bodies" exhibit!! Indian literature and much more!
Bhaktivedanta Book Trust
Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada.
