May 17, CANADA (SUN) — A study of the confluence of three separatist move- ments: the DOM, ISKCON Inc. and Ritvikism.

Over the course of the last year, as part of an extensive project the Sun editors are working on, we've had to become better educated on issues surrounding the Direction of Management (DOM) and Topmost Urgency documents, and how they are being represented and promoted. We have over the years published many articles on the subject: from DOM adherents, from challengers, from the GBC, and our own preliminary comments. Prior to this year, having been absorbed in completing Defeat of Ritvik-vada, we had not yet taken the time to study the matter as carefully as needed, and therefore had not taken a position one way or the other, for or against the DOM position.

In addition to making a study of the DOM and Topmost Urgency, we looked carefully at the history surrounding these documents and circumstances present in the Society that appear to be relevant to their issuance by Srila Prabhupada. And, we studied how the DOM is being presented to the devotee community as a 'silver-bullet' solution for ISKCON's woes. Towards that end, we engaged in a lengthy and extensive exchange with two leading proponents of the DOM position -- Nara Narayana Viswakarma das (ACBSP) and his wife, Roupa Manjari devi dasi.

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BY: ROCANA DASA

May 17, CANADA (SUN) — Studying Srila Prabhupada's conversations with ISKCON leaders.

Today's Talks is inspired by Srila Prabhupada's Morning Walk of January 7, 1974 in Los Angeles. You can listen to the audio or read the transcript for this conversation here.

I find this particular Morning Walk interesting because the two main characters talking with Srila Prabhupada are Bali Mardana and Karandhara. At the time, Bali Mardana was in charge in New York, while Karandhara was in charge in Los Angeles. They shared various duties related to the BBT and printing which, of course, was Srila Prabhupada's main focus. It was well known that these two were not only rivals, they also strongly disliked each other.

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Pray Like Prahlada Celebration!

BY: RASIKANANDA DASA

May 17, SRIDHAM MAYAPUR (SUN) —

An exciting Kuli-Powered event is coming up this Nrsimha Caturdasi, May 24th in Sridhama Mayapura!

We are on the verge of a new phase of the Sankirtan movement, embracing our individual responsibility for personal purity. We are feeling the urgent need for shelter and rejuvenation. Lord Narasimhadeva desires all to come together on His appearance day. Please join us in Global Prayer this Nrsimha Caturdasi, in the first annual Pray Like Prahlada Celebration!

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Sri Isopanisad - Part Fourteen

BY: SUN STAFF

May 17, CANADA (SUN) — Part 14 of a 20-part presentation of Sri Isopanisad, narrated by Sriman Amal Bhakta dasa. Included along with the introduction, invocation and 18 verses of Isopanisad are the Sanskrit slokas, English translations and Bhaktivedanta purports by HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada.

It is said that one result is obtained by worshiping the supreme cause

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ISKCON's Culture
of Abuse

BY: DEVI DEVI DASI

May 16, USA (SUN) — After thinking about my previous article about the assault of a female disciple by Ravindra Svarupa dasa, I am still dumbfounded by the GBC's lack of action in his removal from the leadership. I think any rational outsider would probably wonder why an organization like ISKCON would risk the liability and danger of having a person like him in a leadership position. Not only does it seem like the ethical and moral thing to do, but wouldn't other leaders be scared of implicating themselves in the condoning of abuse?

Well, it doesn't take much research into ISKCON's recent and past history to see that there is a substantial culture of abuse by leaders and a lack of response from ISKCON authorities. Not only is there a lack of response, but leaders who perpetrate vast amounts of abuse are given high positions of leadership, are publicly venerated and allowed to openly interact with children!

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Asvamedha-yajna in the Vakataka-Gupta Age

BY: SUN STAFF

May 16, CANADA (SUN) — In Srimad Bhagavatam Sixth Canto, verses 13.3-23 is the story of how Lord Indra absolved himself of the sin of killing a brahman when he dispatched the demon, Vrtrasura. As instructed by the great sages, Indra became purified of this sin by performing asvamedha-yajna. The great horse sacrifice, although generally thought of in the context of very ancient Vedic history, was also performed in relative modern times, as recently as 460 A.D.

The period of ancient Indian history known as the Vakataka-Gupta Age, from 250 A.D. to 500 A.D., is discussed at length in The Vakataka-Gupta Age by R.C. Majumdar and A.S. Altekar (1946). The authors document numerous examples during this time of the performance of asvamedha-yajna. 'Even in Dravidian south, the sacrificial post (velvittuna) of the Vedic ritual figures as a thing of common knowledge in popular Tamil literature. A number of Vedic sacrifies were performed by rulers of the period, the asvamedha among them.

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Sri Isopanisad - Part Thirteen

BY: SUN STAFF

May 16, CANADA (SUN) — Part 13 of a 20-part presentation of Sri Isopanisad, narrated by Sriman Amal Bhakta dasa. Included along with the introduction, invocation and 18 verses of Isopanisad are the Sanskrit slokas, English translations and Bhaktivedanta purports by HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada.

Those who are engaged in the worship of demigods darkest

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Gopala-campu, Part 51

BY: SUN STAFF

May 16, CANADA (SUN) — A serial presentation of Gopala-campu, the transcendental literary jewel of Srila Jiva Goswami.

Twenty-ninth Purana - Rahah-kutuhala-vaha-bahala-rahah-krida (Secret Pastimes With Many Secret Wonders and Pleasures) Excerpted.

Proshita-bhartrika (A Gopi Distraught Because Krishna Has Gone to a Faraway Place)

64. On another day the gopis' good fortune described in these words: In the forest noting that dear Radha was determined to dominate Krishna, a smiling gopi placed sleeping Krishna's flute in Radha's hand and Krishna's peacock-feather crown on Her head. To this gopi Radha said: "Dear girl, while My lover sleeps on this pleasant forest bed, you robbed His flute and brought it to Me. I see You can walk on a path even I dare not tread."

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Religion – Material
and Spiritual

BY: SUN STAFF

May 15, CANADA (SUN) — By His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Back To Godhead, Vol. 01, No. 67, 1974.

In 1971 Srila Prabhupada lectured at a series of Krsna conscious festivals held in a huge pandal, or exhibition tent, in downtown Delhi, India. This is one lecture from that series.

According to our Vedic system, there are two kinds of religion. First we must try to understand what religion is. Religion refers to our constitutional position. Religion is different from faith. A faith can be changed. One may be a Christian or a Mohammedan or Hindu, but according to the Vedic system, religion cannot be changed. Religion is dharma, the constitutional position of the living entity It is to the living entity what sweetness is to sugar or heat is to fire. Everything has some essential characteristic, and the essential characteristic of the living entity is his eternal religion, sanatana-dharma.

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BY: ROCANA DASA

May 15, CANADA (SUN) — Studying Srila Prabhupada's conversations with ISKCON leaders.

Today's "Talks With the Sampradaya Acarya" is inspired by Srila Prabhupada's Morning Walk of June 28, 1975 in Denver, Colorado. You can listen to the audio or read the transcript for this conversation here.

When listening to the recordings of Srila Prabhupada's morning walk conversations, it's interesting to note that those in attendance on the walk are often the same devotees, regardless of what the location is. Srila Prabhupada normally traveled with an entourage that included one GBC man. Each month of the year, a different GBC member took his turn spending a month with Srila Prabhupada. In this way, he trained up his men.

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Jai Srila Prabhupada!

BY: SUDARSHAN DAS

Bhaktivedanta Book Trust

May 17, SINGAPORE (SUN) —

"Just like when I came to your country, there was no friend, there was no relative, but assurance was there that "I am going for Krishna's business. So there is some provision, never mind where it is." That much faith we must have."

(Srimad Bhagavatam 5.5.1-2 - Stockholm, September 7, 1973)

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Gopala-campu, Part 52

BY: SUN STAFF

May 17, CANADA (SUN) — A serial presentation of Gopala-campu, the transcendental literary jewel of Srila Jiva Goswami.

Twenty-ninth Purana - Rahah-kutuhala-vaha-bahala-rahah-krida (Secret Pastimes With Many Secret Wonders and Pleasures) Excerpted.

Proshita-bhartrika (A Gopi Distraught Because Krishna Has Gone to a Faraway Place)

75. Hearing these words, Krishna appeared before Vrnda and the gopis.

A Song
Refrain

radha harir api pulaki-vasantam
gayati nija-mudam anu vikasantam

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Prabhupada Padma-vakya

BY: SUN STAFF

May 17,
CANADA (SUN)

Audio files with transcripts recorded on this day.

Please visit PrabhupadaVani.org for audio files and transcripts.

May 17, 1973, Los Angeles
Morning Walk At Cheviot Hills Golf Course
" One rascal comes and says, "I am incarnation of God." Another rascal accepts. It is not like that. "Ramakrishna is God." We do not accept. We must see the inconceivable mystic power. Just like Krsna, as a child, lifted a hill."

May 17, 1973, Los Angeles
Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.9.3
"Even a brahmana is also under the control of material nature. But the same brahmana, when he becomes a Vaisnava, a devotee, he the best of the brahmanas."

Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada.

Caitanya Mahaprabhu's Tirtha-yatra, Part 11

BY: SUN STAFF

May 16, CANADA (SUN) — A serial exploration of the holy sites visited by Lord Caitanya.

Dandakaranya Forest

In the summary of Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya lila 9, we read about Lord Caitanya's travels to the famous tirtha of Dandakaranya:

"The Lord then visited Tapti, Mahismati-pura, Narmada-tira and Rsyamuka-parvata. He entered Dandakaranya and liberated the seven palm trees. From there He visited a place known as Pampa-sarovara and visited Pancavati, Nasika, Brahmagiri and also the source of the Godavari River, Kusavarta. Thus the Lord visited almost all the holy places in South India."

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Jai Srila Prabhupada!

BY: SUDARSHAN DAS

Bhaktivedanta Book Trust

May 16, SINGAPORE (SUN) —

"The Lord is equal to everyone, but a devotee of the Lord is more glorified because he is always in touch with the all-great."

(Srimad Bhagavatam 1.8.6)

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Caitanya Mahaprabhu's Tirtha-yatra, Part 10

BY: SUN STAFF

May 15, CANADA (SUN) — A serial exploration of the holy sites visited by Lord Caitanya.

While the details of Lord Caitanya's travels are very interesting from the standpoint of the routes He traveled, tirthas He visited, and personalities He gave darshan to along the way, the primary purpose for Mahaprabhu's extensive travels was to preach the glories of Sri Krsna, and to open the floodgates of love of God by spreading His glorious Sankirtana mission. Along the way, he debated and defeated many pandits, from the Mayavadis to the Buddhists. Today we offer this excerpt from the BBT publication, Chant and Be Happy – the Power of Mantra Meditation, Chapter 5, regarding Mahaprabhu's exchanges with the Mayavadis in Benaras.

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Jai Srila Prabhupada!

BY: SUDARSHAN DAS

Bhaktivedanta Book Trust

May 15, SINGAPORE (SUN) —

"An iron rod kept constantly within a fire will ultimately become fire, and whatever it touches will burn. Similarly, the pure devotee is in the fire of spiritual existence, and therefore his body is cin-maya; that is, it is spiritual not material, because the pure devotee has no desire but transcendental desire to serve the Lord."

(Srimad Bhagavatam 10.1.69)

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Sri Isopanisad - Part Twelve

BY: SUN STAFF

May 15, CANADA (SUN) — Part 12 of a 20-part presentation of Sri Isopanisad, narrated by Sriman Amal Bhakta dasa. Included along with the introduction, invocation and 18 verses of Isopanisad are the Sanskrit slokas, English translations and Bhaktivedanta purports by HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada.

Only one who can learn the process of nescience

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Gopala-campu, Part 50

BY: SUN STAFF

May 15, CANADA (SUN) — A serial presentation of Gopala-campu, the transcendental literary jewel of Srila Jiva Goswami.

Twenty-ninth Purana - Rahah-kutuhala-vaha-bahala-rahah-krida (Secret Pastimes With Many Secret Wonders and Pleasures) Excerpted.

Proshita-bhartrika (A Gopi Distraught Because Krishna Has Gone to a Faraway Place)

48. Now will be described the Kahalahantarita gopi, who openly speaks to Krishna the averse she feels to Him in her heart.

Kalahantarita-bharrtrika (A Gopi Separated from Krishna Because of a Lover's Quarrel)

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