50 years of Srila Prabhupada. From Guatemala. 9/27/15

Srila Prabhupada ki Jay !!!

Today is a special day because we are celebrating the 50th anniversary of Srila Prabhupada in the West. Srila Prabhupada gave us a wonderful gift and we can multiply it. Srila Prabhupada planted the seed of Bhakti, he gave us this gift. This seed is still present and is being replanted in different parts, so that we can continue to care and multiply, it is not enough just to sow the seed we must also take care of it and water it to finally reap the benefits and so we can give our respective offering to Srila Prabhupada.

We are fortunate recipients of these seeds that were planted in our hearts. Through this manner we came into contact with the transcendental as they were planted by the original sower. I'm referring  to the seed planted by Srila Prabhupada, the seed of Bhakti. This began with great devotion, the devotion of Srila Prabhupada himself, and he came to New York and started it all.

Srila Prabhupada wrote some songs when he came to Boston in the Jaladhuta, they are very beautiful songs:

"I emphatically say to you, O brothers, you will obtain your good fortune from the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa only when Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī becomes pleased with you."

"Oh Krsna, in truth I tell you: Radharani will give you Her grace, when my Guru is pleased, this I certainly declare."

This is something very pure. Who has such pure appreciation/judgment? Radharani will give grace when my Guru will be pleased ... and when will my Guru become happy ??? That is very difficult, after all the representative of Radharani, Prabhupada said; My Guru sent me to the West and if he is the representative of my Guru then Krishna help me to please Radharani, if you want to deal with Raharani then ignore my prayers, and to know how to please Radharani is our goal, this is the correct meaning.

"Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, who is very dear to Lord Gaurāṅga, the son of mother Śacī, is unparalleled in his service to the Supreme Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa. He is that great saintly spiritual master who bestows intense devotion to Kṛṣṇa at different places throughout the world."

By his strong desire, the holy name of Lord Gaurāṅga will spread throughout all the countries of the Western world. In all the cities, towns, and villages on the earth, from all the oceans, seas, rivers, and streams, everyone will chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa.

Now Prabhupada is telling the story of how he came to share Krsna with the world ...

"As the vast mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu conquers all directions, a flood of transcendental ecstasy will certainly cover the land. When all the sinful, miserable living entities become happy, the Vaiṣṇavas' desire is then fulfilled."

"Although my Guru Mahārāja ordered me to accomplish this mission, I am not worthy or fit to do it. I am very fallen and insignificant. Therefore, O Lord, now I am begging for Your mercy so that I may become worthy, for You are the wisest and most experienced of all."

"If You bestow Your power, by serving the spiritual master one attains the Absolute Truth-one's life becomes successful. If that service is obtained, then one becomes happy and gets Your association due to good fortune."

"My dear Lord, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, because of my association with material desires, one after another, I was gradually falling into a blind well full of snakes, following the general populace. But Your servant Nārada Muni kindly accepted me as his disciple and instructed me how to achieve this transcendental position. Therefore, my first duty is to serve him. How could I leave his service?"

"O Lord Kṛṣṇa, You are my eternal companion. Forgetting You, I have suffered the kicks of māyā birth after birth. If today the chance to meet You occurs again, then I will surely be able to rejoin You."

Srila Prabhupada says I want to be with my Lord. ..

"O dear friend, in Your company I will experience great joy once again. In the early morning I will wander about the cowherd pastures and fields. Running and frolicking in the many forests of Vraja, I will roll on the ground in spiritual ecstasy. Oh when will that day be mine?"

This verse of Prabhupada speaks to some devotees that he is a very close devotee of Radharani, he did so much service in Raman Reti, where wonderful things happen in Vrindavan, servant of Radharani, particularity of the school in Sri Vrindavan Dham.

"Today that remembrance of You came to me in a very nice way. Because I have a great longing I called to You. I am Your eternal servant and therefore I desire Your association so much. O Lord Kṛṣṇa, except for You there is no other means of success."

Thus, following the men fell into a dark pit, by associating with so many material desires, but Narada saved me to make me his disciple, therefore, how can I move away from your service?

Srila Prabhupada tells a beautiful story ... the second song that continues in this way of thinking which was also written on the Jaladhuta ...

My dear Lord Krsna, You are so kind upon this useless soul,
but I do not know why You have brought me here.
Now You can do whatever You like with me.

But I guess You have some business here,
otherwise why would You bring me to this terrible place?

Most of the population here is covered by the material modes of ignorance and passion.
Absorbed in material life, they think themselves very happy and satisfied,
and therefore they have no taste for the transcendental message of Vasudeva.
 I do not know how they will be able to understand it.

But I know Your causeless mercy can make everything possible
because You are the most expert mystic.

How will they understand the mellows of devotional service?
O Lord, I am simply praying for Your mercy
so that I will be able to convince them about Your message.

All living entities have become under the control
of the illusory energy by Your will, and therefore,
if You like, by Your will
they can also be released from the clutches of illusion.

 I wish that You may deliver them.
Therefore if You so desire their deliverance,
then only will they be able to understand Your message.

The words of Srimad−Bhagavatam are Your incarnation,
and if a sober person repeatedly receives it
with submissive aural reception,
then he will be able to understand Your message.

It is said in the Srimad−Bhagavatam (1.2.17−21):
"Sri Krsna, the Personality of Godhead, who is the Paramatma [Supersoul] in everyone's heart and the benefactor of the truthful devotee, cleanses desire for material enjoyment from the heart of the devotee who has developed the urge to hear His messages, which are in themselves virtuous when properly heard and chanted. By regular attendance in classes on the Bhagavatam and by rendering of service to the pure devotee, all that is troublesome to the heart is almost completely destroyed, and loving service unto the Personality of Godhead, who is praised with transcendental songs, is established as an irrevocable fact. As soon as irrevocable loving service is established in the heart, the effects of nature's modes of passion and ignorance, such as lust, desire and hankering, disappear from the heart. Then the devotee is established in goodness, and he becomes completely happy. Thus established in the mode of unalloyed goodness, the man whose mind has been enlivened by contact with devotional service to the Lord gains positive scientific knowledge of the Personality of Godhead in the stage of liberation from all material association. Thus the knot in the heart is pierced, and all misgivings are cut to pieces. The chain of fruitive actions is terminated when one sees the self as master."

He will become liberated
from the influence of the modes of ignorance and passion
and thus all inauspicious things accumulated
in the core of the heart will disappear.

How will I make them understand this message of Krsna consciousness?
I am very unfortunate, unqualified and the most fallen.
Therefore I am seeking Your benediction
so that I can convince them, for I am powerless to do so on my own.

 Somehow or other, O Lord, You have brought me here to speak about You.
Now, my Lord, it is up to You
to make me a success or failure as You like.

 O spiritual master of all the worlds! I can simply repeat Your message,
so if You like You can make my power of speaking suitable for their understanding.

Only by Your causeless mercy will my words become pure.
I am sure that when this transcendental message penetrates their hearts
they will certainly feel engladdened and
thus become liberated from all unhappy conditions of life

 O Lord, I am just like a puppet in Your hands.
So if You have brought me here to dance,
then make me dance, make me dance,
O Lord, make me dance as You like.

Jay Nimai! Jay Nitai! those songs are the heart of Srila Prabhupada and you will get that which he himself communicated.

Now, how about this general Srila Prabhupada? You do not imagine that you are a beggar of love, he is a beggar Radharani and Mahaprabhu, he told us more and more, double, double, triple, triple, quadruple and quadruple, a million and a million.

Srila Prabhupada was always on top of things, preaching and he always had the power of a humble beggar, of course preaching something you could only understand through the particularity of this appeal, to make us essentially Krishna's devotees and this is only by the grace of Srila Prabhupada and so we continue to preach.

Another 50 years are on its way and then we can come celebrate 100 years of Srila Prabhupada in the West, that is why it is a very nice celebration and that is why we have received it very well, celebrate, celebrate .. The Sunday of celebration, celebration of love, this is what I wanted to say in a few words. Amen to Srila Prabhupada, encourage people in the path of Srila Prabhupada, this is a unique opportunity.

Your always well-wisher
Swami B. A. Paramadvaiti

The Gift of Union in Diversity 3/29/15 Pt 2

Dear Devotees,

Srila Prabhupada Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur gave an instruction that comes to my heart. I think it is a wonderful occasion to discuss this issue in this day, where you can see the representatives of different Gaudiya Maths, celeberating today in this festival union of Sri Chaitanya Janmotsav (Appearance of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu). It is said that on birthdays we give gifts to the birthday person, but in this case Mahaprabhu is the one who gives us gifts daily. If we can give Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu the gift of union in diversity on this day, then this will definitely become a historic event that will not be forgotten in the future. It will not be just an event with prasadam, no! But an event of union in diversity that makes a difference for the future of Gaudiya Vaishnavism, which is a real need for the world.

The scientists, medical discoveries, they are not sectarian. As soon as they are discovered these medicines are applied anywhere in the world, no matter if it is in Russia, China or South America. In addition, if a discovery is accepted that it can cure any disease, it no longer remains the property of a person instead it belongs to all humanity. But Kali Yuga disease has been cured only by the contribution of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Therefore, the movement of Caitanya Mahaprabhu can not afford to have any sectarian element. Our dear Vaishnava acaryas and sannyasis have created diversity. This is very good. This diversity is the power that has been unknown in the past.

If Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, my Gurudev, has been in the Math of Srila Bhakti Saranga Goswami Maharaj driving his magazine, as he did for some time, he never would had founded ISKCON or even begun his travels around the world, as that was not the plan at the Math of Srila Goswami Maharaja. In a way he had to establish diversity.

 When Srila Swami Maharaja (Srila Prabhupada) came to India with his new Western disciples and white  followers, they called them "white elephants". Everyone in India was surprised: "What is this? How did they come here?  How is it possible that they dress in dhotis, wear tilaka and japa mala???" No, this is not possible they should be successful in the Western world," people said. Because, you know, crazy India follows the examples of the crazy West. By the way, Srila Prabhupada Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur said: "This materialistic society of the West must be crushed. The concept of happiness with money, fame, name and enjoyment, or the idea that we should be successful and that America is Heaven, is all a big lie and we must wake up from it." Because the wealth we have received from the rishis is of much value that if we look at the enjoyment of the West, we lose those gems of rishis, and thus lose the scope and characteristics of our future children in the educational system.

On the other hand, union in diversity is not a luxury, it is a necessity.Yes, we have diversity, we have many fantastic missions, they are considered as pluralistic concepts of the approximation of Guru Tattva, siksa gurus, diksa gurus, the vartma pradaksaka gurus, pita gurus and sannyas  gurus, many gurus named in scripture. That is quite pluralistic. It is said that there is only one guru, there are many gurus, but only one is the supreme guru, and that is the Supreme Lord. The Supreme Lord is the final Guru of all. Therefore, in union, that's the time when we get together for a common cause, which can not be separated, because while we maintain diversity, we see that there are erudite scholars, doctors, musicians, peots, many great people who have come to have contact with the Gaudiya Math from different missions.

When we project ourselves in our social, educational, environmental and spiritual responsibility, we can see that we need each and every one of them. We need them all to face the current situation of the Ganges and Yamuna. These issues concern us because it is about our sacred rivers. We need everyone to address this situation in which health is in great danger due to environmental pollution. You know, many senior devotees have sugar related diseases. Many other problems also exist. The environment is drowned in plastic. For example in Radha Kunda, in Govardhan or Varsana. Personally I spend most of my time in Vrindavan and I could see it in the Yamuna, one can just go there. It's full of trash and pollution and most of the pollution comes from the pilgrims themselves, not the vrajavasi farmers. If you go to the fields of crop farmers you can see that they are completely clean, but when the pilgrims arrive they became a great environmental disaster.We as leaders in diversity, we have a social responsibility in these matters. Now we have to unite, the above is just one of many other issues."yena tena prakarena manah krsne nivesayet." First of all we must think of Sri Krishna. That is the supreme order of Mahaprabhu. But should we avoid thinking of the Yamuna and the Ganges who are in a condition of despair? Lord Shiva himself sent the answer to that question: Some time ago back in Kedarnath, all the tourism in that area, was hit by a flood. That was an answer from the sky. Do not do this! Do not turn this sacred place in a crowded tourist spot of rubbish! Such places are meant to be places of worship and sacred life. Just as Vrindavan Dham, Puri Dham, and Mayapur dham. And what is the situation now in Mayapur dham? Sadly it is full of illegal trade across the street from Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Thakur, where they consume meat. We are not saying anything extreme. Meat!
While in Western countries people slowly become vegetarian in India more and more people started eating meat, even in holy places. It is our social responsibility to reverse these matters!And take action on them. Our children do not know the dangers of consuming meat, fish and all these products. 

We can see that all these problems are emerging and, by the grace of our guruvarga, we have the information on how to solve them.We can see that all these problems exist and, by the grace of our guruvarga, we have the information needed to address them. And thanks to the wealth of diversity we have there are many very capable scientists, PHD's, leaders of churches, sannyasis around the world, etc. When they all get together and establish unified statutes or join in a common effort, then it becomes something great. Just as the maha harinam sankirtan was done through the streets of Kolkata one day after the annual meeting of the World Vaishnava Association and one day before this same event. Or the decision taken by the sannyasis in the last meeting of the Vishva Vaishnava Raj Sabha, where they decided they would go to the streets with their followers to clean the streets in front of their temples, beautifying the sacred dham all around so it does not look like a dump. Those are some ideas where we have a lot of union in diversity, but we must not lose diversity; because diversity is the power of bhava (feeling) of the relationship, and that is where saranagati (surrender) takes place. That is very personal. 

Another issue is that our gurus have not taught man how the spiritual master must not have many disciples because it is impossible to properly care for everyone. However, we must all work together and establish the common ground to fight. A common cause. Scripture confirms this idea about the spiritual master and his disciples, however, at the same time, our guruvarga has shown us several examples at different times, places and circumstances. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur Prabhupada himself said: "My Mission is to establish temples in the hearts of everyone." So, Gaudiya Math means love, Gaudiya Math means to love everyone, to love and care is what we crave today, this is what we are doing. To love and appreciate that we are all singing together today, including the company of people with whom we had never chanted with before. All of us together for hours for two days of joyous festival. This is a new feature and should not be stopped. Rather we must set the beginning of what Srila Jiva Goswami desired when he mentioned the Vishva Vaishnava Raj Sabha, or the ideals that Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati embraced to deliver all of us the energy to come together. 

Today we have seen that in a very wonderful way.I appreciate all the posts of Vaishnava literature that have been assembled here on this day. We should reach the point of having these fairs where everyone can showcase what they have achieved for the preaching of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.We have a presence in movies, in art, in all different fields, and we should share the progress that other missions have achieved in different areas of social responsibility. For example, the initiative to keep the ISKCON Bhaktivedanta Hospice is something remarkable. One of my disciples left this world a few days ago there and was very fortunate to share their last moments with the association of devotees who looked after him very well and gave him constant access to hari katha and Krishna prasad. 

So, these initiatives have been established and have been great achievements in helping the devotees to create a wonderful future; who have come to the feet of Sri Caitanya seeking help and were able to become members of His Audarya Lila, the most magnanimous lila of all. The Supreme Lord Caitanya is Maha Vadanyaya, the most magnanimous of all and He has come here to give us what no one before has given us, and because of that it is our duty to make it a reality so that everyone who comes to this movement, to anyone that comes in contact with Gaudiya Vaishnava and Sanatan dharma. Therefore, I invite you all from the bottom of my heart, to be part of this union in diversity that comes from our common needs, especially considering the situation of Sri Vrindavan Dham. Where we need all people and the government to accept the importance of the sacred place and protect it as a world heritage site. Vrindavan is not a simple village, it is a global asset that was given to us by the Sri Krishna and Srimati Radharani. And it is to protect Their land that we need mercy and the participation of each of you.

Thank you,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur and all parsadas, among which can be found within each of you.

Your always well wisher,
B.A. Paramadvaiti Swami