“The so called Progress”. 15th July, 2012. From Mallorca

Dear devotees,

Greetings from Palma, Mallorca


Today I want to tell you about a very important topic that may be called “The so called progress”.

This so called progress is developed in a society of depressed people, that has lost the ability of smile. This is the profile of the modern human being: is surrounded in anxiety, fights, crimes. The human being has sacrificed their values and human sensibilities for something called “progress”. You might say that this so called progress is the karma of the actual world. Because:

How is it possible that the human beings support this “progress” and at the same time harm the Earth in a unscrupulous way? The water is the truth treasure of Earth... Without water the Earth turns desert.

But nowadays, the human being is not capable of taking care of his own water. The same Earth and water are together, if I harm Earth I am also harming the water. This happens in the case of the agrochemical industries and mining. The human being is in the illusion believing that the resources we have renew itself automatically.

In the ocean there are islands of plastic and apparently it looks that this plastic is easelly burned and desintegratable, but it does not work this way. The people and the gases produced from burning plastic does not integrate with nature, but they mix with nature and contaminating it.

Also, the human being create forms to kill his brothers and sister trees. But, nowadays, who has this vision of seeing the trees as brothers and sisters? Imagine, entire woods destroyed by the harm of industries. How far can get the exploitative mindset of the mines that use cyanide, pure poison, to extract the mineral from the Earth? What does the modern human being in the name of progress is a huge impact on Earth that explores it with no regards. For this reason, who sees it all and does not agreed with it, must become a revolutionary by law! How? With the total boicot of all the companies or products that point to this harm of the Earth.

Sometime ago we transformed a cocaine laboratory in a beautiful sanctuary for Krsna called Goloka. From coca to Goloka. This place is in Santa Marta, hidden in between the nature. When the police found this place, set bombs everywhere and when we bought the place all equipments they used to use to refine coca leaves where still there. The cocaine is a very large business, because there are a lot of people in the world that want to consume cocaine because doesn't stand life. This way billions of dollars are produced to make the rich richer, the unhappy drug addict unhappier, and the poor Earth more destroyed. It is something so dirty and contaminating... And who suffers with that? The Earth. This is our world's reality.

I don't know if you are waiting now for me to talk about Universal Love and the Bhagavatam and about the beautiful pastimes, but are not waiting for me to open your eyes about how human being is turning Earth into a short term business, because tomorrow all this will cause very hard consequences. The materialistic people have no fear in destroying mountains, glaciers, entire rivers to get a bit of gold to pay the politicians that soon support the exploitative industries lies.

What is the stability of the human beings? To sell their conscience. We must take this into account for the developing of our conscience: our responsibility with Mother Earth, with the creation of Krsna. This is true love. The sell of your conscience shows the weakness of the human being. These days, everybody: men, women, kids, rich people, all their conscience is sold. This means that one sells his conscience to get something now, no matter what chaos is generated tomorrow. The only thing that matters to people is their momentary gain. Is a complete horror. For this reason, Srila Prabhupada said clearly that we should get out of here. This is the only thing we should do, prepare ourselves get out of here.

He also said: there are bosses everywhere. In every job there is a boss, in every city there is a mayor, in every country, a president, and also in every temple there is a leader. We ourselves would like to be bosses, but we don't want to have one. But the devotee said: I want to have a eternal boss. It is Krsna and His representatives is the Spiritual Master, and if the Guru say something I say: Kay Gurudeva. This is very hard, right? To accept a boss is not easy. But it is necessary, if you do not accept this you cannot enter the spiritual chain and submit to Krsna. So there is no progress.

To follow on Srila Prabhupada's way we must become revolutionaries against the abuse of Mother Earth, a revolutionary against animal killing... a revolutionary against the intoxication of the body that makes people without power of discrimination. Because nowadays everything was converted into a deal against the universal values. The deal is to intoxicate people based on they miseries to take their money and to make them go from their own misery to a worse misery. It is a sin. We don't know who is the worse sinner: if it is the one who intoxicates or the one who negotiates with all this. And on this context, are the Vaisnavas to save their life and give you the Holy Name, the Prasadam, give you the Dham of Krsna and get into your heart with the knowledge of the soul, and guarantee you a new positive and progressive life based on devotional service. In the selfless work to Krsna. Like said Caitanya Caritamrta:

Nitya-siddha Krsna-prema sadhya kabhu naya
sravanadi-suddha-citte karaye udaya

The love for Krsna is forever established in the heart of the living entities. It is not something that you get from any font. When the heart is purified by hearing and singing, this love awakes naturally. For this reason we must do something successful in life, something great with your devotion. To make art for Krsna, without a drop of intoxicants. And just by the devotional service that starts with hearing, that one can get closer to the Supreme Personality of God. So said Sril Prabhupada. The devotee of Krsna is liberated from all evil thanks to Krsna and the Maha Mantra.

I could go on talking about this and over more, is a constant theme, but more valuable than this problem is that we have a triple attack to conquer the souls: the Maha Mantra, the Hari Katha and the Prasadam. And this way we can turn into a genuine soul, into someone truly compassionate, someone that understand that we are here to serve and NOT to serve ourselves. We wish to turn into servants of the endless Lord of Mercy. This way we are always on the battle. Revolution or self-destruction? And only the love and heart revolution will allow us to access a new perspective full of enthusiasm.

Today I wanted to share these topic with you because by getting to know us better we can appreciate more and get more attached to the spiritual process. Let's fight to keep the solidarity. For this reason we cannot go far from the devotees, because they have the solidarity and they don't sell their conscience.

I let you all my affection from Spain. As I want to die on the battle I go forward with all those who also want it fight. The battle against the injustice with the Holy Name, the Harikatha and the devotees of the Lord. This way we convert this life into a glorious life. This is our philosophy. Remember that over solidarity it is love, and this is the goal of our life.

Jay Srila Prabhupada!

With affection.


Your always well-wisher
Swami B. A. Paramadvaiti

Who are the devotees? From Hungary 7/29/12

Conference from Hungary

Dear devotees,

Please receive my affection from Nandafalva. Radha Gopiballabha Ki Jay. Today I want to ask a question. Who are the devotees?

We know that the devotees are servers. But they are servants of the Truth, not the illusion. There are many questions about it. For example, what is the main duty of a devotee? The main duty is to serve others. Although we are of divine nature, we go through identity crisis and suffer from contact with material nature. This is due to the fact that we have taken a false identity and we have become consumers of this world, we stop paying attention to spirituality and fall into crisis. But the ideal of a devout life is simple living and high thinking as taught by Srila Prabhupada. Living in a healthier, more conscious life and not so artificial. And that service to others, which is our main task, is our therapy against selfishness and false identification.

The ideal life of a devotee is to interact with the environment without damaging it. It is an ideal. It is similar to how the Arhuacos live in the Sierra Nevada of Colombia. It is amazing how for thousands of years they live like this and are still that way. And Srila Prabhupada taught that when he established organic farms. He taught us to live with what the earth gives you. Simple living means to appreciate all we have because we were given it by Mother Earth.

Being part of our eco-village is a very nice identity. The eco-villages are havens where there are open doors to all people to benefit from Bhakti Yoga. For our eco yoga villages provide that union that is more than a simple organic farm. It is so that the people who come to them can benefit and help the world with the guiding light of Bhakti Yoga. Then the devotee who is part of this eco yoga village becomes a living example for the world. The devotee can get people to visit an eco village so they can become vegetarian, and then become excited by philosophy or to be more environmentally conscious and want to do something similar in their life. It is therefore very important to keep a country lifestyle focused on serving humanity. That really makes sense.

It is not the idea that our eco yoga villages become large hotels with many amenities, but must we remain rather austere, very clean and very welcoming to others. We must also give exceptional classes, organized art programs, exemplary monastic lifestyle that is coherent with ecological consciousness like Vrinda Bhumi. Vrinda Bhumi is a perfect place to study and meditate. Thus, the devotees always offer a friendly attitude and universal heart. And it is not possible to have this open heart if you still possess biases inside.

The most important part of our communities both within our eco yoga villages, our temples and monasteries are that they are sanctuaries based on love. In the love of Mother Earth, who is Krishna Himself. We must therefore consider that we have a commitment to Mother Earth, we must protect her. And protection means an active rejection of everything that is abusive. A devotee never hurt others, much less Mother Earth. We must put it into practice. How? Put it into practice by becoming conscious activists of spiritual love. Devotees should be known to be guardians of the Earth. They are promoters of Universal Love. For that we have many tools at hand that we can use. But first we must become conscious consumers and consistent. Stop using products that have some connection with the mistreatment of other beings. We have many materials and programs that can link people in this spiritual activism. Maybe it's different in shape, but the essence is one: that people become aware and start being vegetarian and become more sensitive to the environment.

Therefore we have vegetarian restaurants, which are not merely distributors of food ... but providers of prasadam, spiritual food that comes from Krishna Himself. We have hundreds of okis with different messages about these issues. What for? To reach the hearts of people, make them more sensitive and awaken their consciousness. The Spoon Revolution is NOT our goal. But it is an important tool to connect to more people, because people today do not want to hear from spirituality, they do not want to hear from God. What is our goal then? It is to take the holy name of Krishna to every town and village. We follow just as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu taught. For that we spare no effort. Of course, so long as it is not contrary to our ideals. Never lose sight of that goal. A true yogi is one who respects all living entities. A place of yoga is one where all are welcome. A guardian of nature is one who believes and practices all these messages. So our task is to preach, preach and preach. It is to bring people to our communities and to know the simple life with high thinking. For that we must be aware, consistent and steady. That is the answer to the question of the beginning of this message.

What is our identity? It is to be servants of humanity. And what is the nature of a servant of humanity? They are one who is a living testimony of Universal Love. What does this server do? They are looking to share with all this knowledge that has been so mercifully given, that is our goal. So there are many ways that devotees can serve humanity. Essentially, it is to help others and feel happy doing it. Devotees are promoting wisdom and thanks to Krishna, all of which expands continuously every day. If a devotee does not know what to do with their life or they do not have a service already where they can pour their heart, they are in danger ... and must turn on the alarm alert. This alarm is to report to your leader or spiritual master to find ways to serve wholeheartedly. That's our philosophy, our religion. Our religion is union with God. Krishna is present in every moment of the life of surrendered devotees, the devotee who longs to serve.

           Therefore, my dear, I appreciate all of you that have read this message today. For you are the living representatives of this. You are those who put this into practice and who will educate future generations. There is plenty to do in this life to fulfill the statement of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.          

pritivite ache yata nagaradi grama
sarvatra pracara haibe mora nama

"In every town and village, the chanting of My name will be heard." (Caitanya-bhagavata, Antya 4.126)

This Sankirtan movement will be known in every corner of every village and city. If we do nothing for it, then our life becomes meaningless. We must break the ice of illusion and ignorance for what? To share with people the treasure we have received from our spiritual master. I leave my affection with you all from Nandafalva. Srila Prabhupada Ki Jay.

Your always well-wisher,

Swami B. A. Paramadvaiti.

VaniVapuh from Prague,Czech Republic 7/22/12

Dear devotees

Good morning to all the pilgrims present. I send my greetings from Prague.

Today we gather here at a very important meeting for the grace of Sri Sri Gopinath, sannyasis, prabhus, and matajis.Why is this a very important meeting? Because we have been brought together by vapuh and we appreciate this very much.

In the cross paths of life, sometimes we find ourselves within the incredible cosmic arrangements of the Lord. We are all individual units, moving around the planet, for our respective mission, and if for some reason we know each other and develop all the desire to remain united together, and that’s very, very special; although physically we cannot stay together for long. Children can be with their parents, but at some point they start moving in their direction.

Sometimes we meet people and feel very connected to them, as one heart, one soul. This idea of ​​one heart and one soul means that there is something that connects you to a higher level beyond the physical association. Physical association is a beautiful thing and it is called vapuh. Oh there you are, I can touch you and can tell you I love you! There is closeness, we are very fortunate that there is this close proximity, because when we are born vapuh is there, incredible.

We can drink breast milk from our mother and we are attached to this. The son and mother are attached to each other. The child comes from the womb of the mother, and is now being fed by her; what an amazing system. However, the child is independent and wants to go his own way, because he is a pilgrim at heart.

What does it mean to be a pilgrim? He goes around the world, looking for something, but not only for food, as animals do. Vani and vapuh.

The Sunday Chat is a mela and we can take it to heart every week. We meet, we read. We wonder: What did our Guru speak of today? What is the message for life? We are connected through the heart, and thus we get the message to live life with full excitement. To do service, you need a lot of enthusiasm, to concentrate your senses and service need to be very humble. Our idea is to be humble and obedient, to be voluntarily happy through service to the Lord.

Vani is the verbal expression; the instructions given by the siksa guru. They are the directions of our life which comes from a reliable source. So when we say Gaura-vani it means instruction given by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. And our vani-Gurudeva tells us what he is doing, and what this means to us. Maybe there are some practical instructions, maybe he says; when you're in Czech do this, when you are in South America do this because of time, place and circumstance.

The acaryas have to teach what the Vedas are offering, but the acarya applies it to a local situation. Of course many instructions can be applied to many places and some not. Some can be applied in only one place, so the Acarya is very important. He has to adjust to time, place and circumstance. This is because the acarya has great freedom in accordance with what he finds, and one thing cannot be valid for all circumstances. Preach in Communist countries, is a very different thing to preaching in New York or at a military base or even in a Muslim country. You have to find a way. Preaching is different in different cities because they are all different communities.

So wherever you go, you have to adjust things according to each site. This requires adhikari: practicing what you are teaching. For example, we are looking for a spirituality that inspires; we are not looking for a ritualistic spirituality. We are not looking for a structured spirituality, for practical purposes, although there's nothing wrong with this, if the subject is correct. We are seeking a spirituality of happiness, humility and sweetness to dedicate ourselves to God and be compassionate to the conditioned souls. This is what we seek.

We do not want to see religious dictators. In fact there are no religious dictators. Dictators are not religious; they are big ego. Religion means to love and respect everyone. Set a good example and not be unjust or violent. Like deities, they are always there and they are dancing. Krishna is always playing his flute, sometimes taking a bath, or something else, but always friendly and always giving darshan. He never changes his attitude, always ready to greet you. But if you have no desire to see Him or serve Him, you're losing the blessings to serve, to love and to represent the goal of serving your guru.

And this is what can help you to get through your life with joy with the grace of guru and the Sadhus. I have something valuable to offer to you and because of that my life has meaning. If I have nothing valuable to give and come to Prague to just try to get something from you, like your food, or just enjoy your scenery, this cannot be. And when you return from Prague and say, look I brought this from Prague, which is just like the actions of the conquerors. After coming to a place and you steal everything you come home and show all you got just like tourists stealing paintings.

Devotees are not pilgrims collecting things for themselves. Devotees are only going to the world in hopes of giving back and seek only love. Hopefully we can give some instructions that can be helpful for people. Hopefully we can give something to people to bring them closer to Krishna. That's the idea and that is the mercy we got from our Gurudeva. Going to the heavenly planets is like sightseeing like tourists. In the end they leave with empty hands, because there's nothing really here in Prague.

It is a beautiful city but it has the same misery you can find in any city. It has the same problems, the same mistakes, the same lust and greed. Then we have to understand this: how important it is to deliver something and give our lives for that. It doesn’t matter where you go, you can go to Indraloka, it is easy not easy to reach, but many people go. It is not easy for a Hindu to study in a Western university, but some are able to with hard work. They can have this opportunity. Everyone is not practicing yoga, but some Westerners have become very learned in this activity. Many speak of God, but not many take God as the most important.

This is a privilege, a special mercy, and with this special mercy, you can leave this world to the planet where you'll never go back. Hardly the tourists stay in Prague, just for a week or a month, but they all have to go back somewhere. The heavenly planets they will not stay there, they may for millions of years, but they have to return. Is it not a boring idea?

I once asked George Harrison when he was sick: What do you get by chanting Hare Krishna? And he replied: Soon I will see what I'm praying for. When you die, you really see what you obtained from chanting Hare Krishna. So if you want to live ten thousand years, then you have to wait ten thousand years to see what you got from singing.

Just imagine someone telling you that you were promoted 80 thousand years, but in the end you will get a worse position than you have now. That is very confusing. It is better to find the truth now and face the facts. And what are those facts? Everything is connected to God, and then if everything is connected with Krishna it is perfect.

We are travelers, pilgrims, we are trying to find the eternal world and the most valuable conversation is to ask: What is it that you found on the account of the eternal world? Is there a secret book? What is the secret book that says how to go back to God?

It's like this: The whole purpose of life is to ask how to find the Lord of love, and when you’re initiated it changes a little. You ask: How I can serve the Lord? You can use your talents to serve: painting, singing, drawing, all just to help spread the message of the Lord.

Devotees do not ask: Did you see Krishna? Where is Krishna? No, they ask: How can I worship Him? How can I go with him? We have to figure this out; this is what’s going make us more advanced beings.

If we can understand that the ocean of love is all around us, you could swim for your pleasure and you would not be alone if you have a spiritual master. He will teach you how to live; he will teach you how to relate to others that you come across on this journey. So this desire to serve Krishna together, this is what I ask of the sannyasis or anyone within the Vrinda mission. Take what you learned and share it with others; in addition to being internationalists we also have to be localists. Favors those of your district, those in your neighborhood, do not ignore those around you. That's a negative trend, just excuses. Clearly your mind is good for making excuses, always finding a reason to give an excuse. I think we should be very enthusiastic about our work and very generous and admire the work that others are doing for Krishna.

Work very hard for what you do and appreciate what others do for Krishna. Do not think that your work is better than others; this is what I’m asking you for, pilgrims of Mother Nature, all who have found a spiritual teacher, it is the mission of his life. And those who already found guru I pray so they can be very blessed and empowered by Krishna so He can use them as messengers.

Thank you very much, and I hope that these instructions will help

Srila Prabhupada Ki Jay!!

The Worship. 1st, July, 2012. From Europe

Receiving my affection from Europe: All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Today's meditation is an essential part of our spiritual life, it is about worship.

The question is:
What is really adorable in the world?
Adoration is a lovely word; something is defined as worshipful because it leads us to the Absolute Good.

Not having a focus of worship means that we think that only we should be worshiped. And this happens constantly in the material world: The best singer wants to be worshiped, the best politician wants to be worshiped, inside their selfishness they are all looking for personal worship. We cannot say we do not like worship... because in one way or another, we all appreciate being worshiped.

Worship is natural thing. But we must ask ourselves in an impartial way, who must be worshiped. Worship is a very very relevant expression. I am so grateful to someone that I offer my worship. We must worship one who deserves to be worshiped. This is a fundamental aspect within the spiritual life. If we worship what is not worthy of worship, we are walking in a wrong direction. We need to worship. And who is the center of worship? It is God, Krishna.

When we feel grateful for everything we have received from God, automatically we recognize and pray to please him. That is worship. That's why we sing:

Govinda, I adore you... Oh Supreme Lord.

Worship is the highest form of culture: adoration of the most adorable, Krishna. And so, everything that comes from God is adorable. Everything we receive from His mercy, through Mother Earth, is also adorable. Worship is part of human culture; if we do not worship the sacred we will continue to suffer from the heart. That's what happens with youth today, they manage to substitute the worship of God for worship of products of the material world. They adore a musical band, an television artist, but the only worship which is really wonderful when you surrender with love to God. This is worship that keeps us spiritually. It is only with and by God that we can continue. Someone who cannot worship God in His personal form, must at least worship His creation, thank Mother Nature for all that she provides us, thank the Sun... Worry wisely in taking care of the planet.

When we begin to analyze our environment with common sense, we find many topics related to the protection and worship of Mother Earth.

Nowadays many injustices are being committed against indigenous cultures. That issue is closely linked to the destruction of forests, land drilling for oil. Thus, all the native communities that once lived quietly in connection with the Earth, are now affected by the materialistic mentality of draw only without considering the devastation that is taking place.

We must stop participating in the destruction of our own planet and stop damaging the future of our children... It is absolutely necessary to approach all these issues and to take action on the matter. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur and Srila Prabhupada in their writings explained that the spiritual man must give his good orientation to the society on how to behave properly. Including to the politicians, farmers, educators, etc. and this way convey to everyone how to do things correctly. It is, therefore, very important that we are willing to take responsibilities upon the various circumstances in the world. That is worship.




After these weeks in Brazil, where we intensely studied the reality of the Amazonas state, we could see that a large area of ​​the site has been cleared and devastated, only to fatten animals for the production of livestock or to produce genetically modified food. So we realized we are doing terrible damage to the Planet and until we do something against it, we are part of the problem. The brahmana must take responsibility for the planet. That was always emphasized by Srila Prabhupada, in the brahminical culture we must learn to take responsibilities. To take responsibilities for the society can be surprising to some devotees, as they say “we are the ones who sing Hare Krishna and we do not identify ourselves much with the world’s karma”... But here we must not forget that to not become involved makes us responsible as well. We must act do counter the reactions of bad actions. Therefore, dear devotees, at this is the moment when we must realize that we should form a supporting network to illuminate the planet, saving it them from ignorance of self-destruction.

Within our means we must give our support so that things in the world go forward, with more compassion, tolerance, animal protection, to set the world in the right direction. This way we must become qualified to bring everyone to the Eternal Truth. And what is this Truth? Is the constitutional truth of our being, of becoming clearly aware that we are naturally servants of God. We must become experts of the facts to help others with authority with the solutions of Vaishnavism.

With these words I say goodbye for today. Prayer is the way we communicate our gratitude for all we have received from God. I leave you all my affection.
Jay Srila Prabhupada.


Your always well-wisher
Swami B. A. Paramadvaiti.