Receiving without Questioning and Cultivating appreciation 8/7/16- Sweden

**(Excerpted from a round of questions and answers in Nimaihuset, Sweden, May 2016)Question:

What is the purpose of Kali Yuga?

 Answer: I like this question because it forces us to be self-critical.

  prayenalpayusah sabhya

 kalav asmin yuge janah

mandah sumanda-matayo

 manda-bhagya hy upadrutah

 

Translation by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada: 

 

O learned one, in this iron Age of Kali men almost always have but short lives. They are quarrelsome, lazy, misguided, unlucky and, above all, always disturbed. (Sb 1.1.10)

That is one of the first verses in Srimad Bhagavatam which explains the effects of Kali Yuga. There it is stated that Kali Yuga in a way has come to wake the laziest, the "unintelligent", the "less sincere," those who have received the invitation of Satya Yuga, Treta Yuga and Dvapara Yuga but continue to pursue the idea of "I want this and that" (...) then the atmosphere of Kali Yuga becomes necessary to (hopefully) wake them up.

 Actually this is not exactly a very lovely answer, right? This means that there is another alternative as well. Srila Prabhupada used to say "learn either by listening or suffering; yet there are people, when suffering comes, who will not learn". This means that there is another opportunity. First of all, at the time of destruction of the material world you rest in Mahavishnu and then come back. The cycle begins again. Because God loves us regardless of our own stupidity, but He does not want to take away our free will.

 Another thing I would add is that we should not question the good intentions of the Lord towards us. Do not do that!, Do not let your mind do it! Because the moment you do it is like falling again and say, "God, you can sit in the chair of the accused?" And you feel yourself being in the position of Judge saying, "Be attentive my Lord because now I'll check." That should not do for any reason; the position to question the Creator's intention towards us is not for us. That destroys something inside us and creates a kind of artificial ego. It is that  very artificial ego which otherwise is very popular, among those who deny the existence of God, that makes us not only put God in the chair of the accused but remove Him as if He didn't even exist.
 The question about why Kali Yuga is perfectly answered in the Srimad Bhagavatam, I just wanted to branch out a little more, I only wanted to explain what happens when we allow our minds to question the good intentions of God. What if we ask ourselves whether we have the right to breathe? And if we do, who gave us that right? We have never paid for the air we breathe. How is it that we have the right to drink water? How is it that we have the right to eat a plate of food? After thinking about these questions the only thing left is to be grateful and say "thank you to whoever is responsible for it." You can call "the responsible" as you want, but you must recognize that he exists and be grateful to Him. That's what even the native tribes teach us. This is what we call the "United Nations of the Spirit" human beings united in the spirit of gratitude.

 Without a deep spirituality nothing can happen, nothing will change within us. That's what Krishna said: "Anything that is ingested without being offered to me is nothing but sin." Even the strictest vegan who does not offer their food to God is doing nothing more than eating sin. Even if we take water without having offered to God, we're just drinking sin. That is what the Scriptures teach us.

 Gratitude, gratitude, gratitude. Because, you know what comes after gratitude? Mirth. Without gratitude you can not have joy. So we plunge into depression, because we are not grateful. In modern society, one way or another, we have managed to put the mind above all things, but that has not produced very good results, rather it has turned our lives into a mundane, materialized and secularized life. So there can be no obedience to any higher authority, because the very principle of authority is questioned. Children often do that sometimes and question the authority of their parents, but as soon they have a problem or are even a little hungry, they are transformed again immediately and accept the authority provided they obtain food. Therefore, it is better to appreciate all that we have received without question and rather  receive it with deep appreciation.

 Jay Srila Prabhupada!

Your always well wisher,
 Swami B.A. Paramadvaiti

On Father's Day, I offer my prayers to the guardians of devotion. 6/21/15. New York

"Dear devotees I greet you with affection from New York,

I share with you the meditation for today: Oh my Lord, my Master, on the day of your appearance, on the day of your celebration Father's day, we come to offer you our obeisances, submissive to your instruction, eager to listen, eager to remember your tattva, your love, your power, empowered by divine mercy, expanded in many ways in the world: Srila Gaura Kishor Das Babaji Maharaj, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur, son of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur, inspired by Jagannath Das Babaji Maharaj, and they all began to preach for everyone. And Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura's dearest disciple Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada accepted his order in his heart and invited everyone chant the name of Gaura.

A close friend of Srila Bhakti Raksaka Sridhar Goswami Maharaja and many other spiritual brothers such as, Srila Pramode Puri Maharaja and Srila Prajnana Kesava Maharaja who was his sannyasa guru. Beside him, he the launched the Campaign for universal parents; He taught that no one must be a parent, teacher or guru if they are not willing to save the dependent from repeated birth and death.

We came to you Prabhupada, to your beloved son Srila Harijan Maharaja, as well as Srila Atulananda Acharya, all temple presidents, all the sannyasis and maharanis; they who are dedicated to helping people like fathers and mothers, siksa gurus, because today is the day that we revere you, as every day we must do, remaining submissive to Your command. "Hari katha harinama" preach to all corners of the earth, establish the glory of Gauranga and Govardhana, Nrsimhadev's glory, the glory of the Maha Mantra, the Bhagavad Gita; establish the glory of Sri Chaitanya Caritamrta and all other books. Establish the glory of mahaprasadam, sadhu sanga, and the accompaniment of pujas and devotional sadhana.

Oh Prabhupada, we are completely indebted to you forever; even if we dedicate our entire life to service, it will not be enough to repay you for all that you have given and will give for everyone from China to Santiago. Your have reached all living entities of the universe with your Prema by being devoted your spiritual father and taking his word as if it was an order from your heart. Prabhupada we ask you to inspire us to be good children and to keep preaching your message to the four corners of the world.

Today we also offer our respect to our respective physical parents and guardians who raised the fla for our physical, emotional, mental and intellectual well-being and most importantly spiritual, to all of those who have sustained us, all trying to contribute to our progress. We are grateful to them on this Father's Day, we offer our obeisances and ask for continued blessings because they are part of the protection of Krishna upon us; they have been placed in our lives to protect us and we also pray for their protection, for their progress, for their joy, and for their success as it is a terrible world, without mercy of the Vaishnavas, otherwise one is lost.

So on Father's Day, I offer my prayers to the great manifestation of the guardian of devotion, the guardian of welfare, the protector of children. They are an example of excellent parents who never stop and are not fighters because they are always full of love. Parents should know well that children need love, security; They need Guru, Sastra and Sadhu for their heart to flourish and their conclusions are always devotional.

Thank divine parents, thanks you parents, thank you guardians, husbands, brothers who accept the masculine role as inspiration for loving service, and are not males just on loose terms who only want to impose their ego, and who torture others with their distorted talents. Thanks to those who are friends of the fallen souls. Thank you Prabhupada for teaching us who is a true father. And to all those who hear from you, both parents and children, may they benefit.

I hope you have an unforgettable father's day. Srila Prabhupada ki jay !!!!!!!!!

Your always well-wisher,

B. A. Paramadvaiti Swami

Sankirtan puts people in touch with God. Mallorca, Spain. 3/22/15

Very dear devotees, greetings from Mallorca, the beautiful island in the Mediterranean. In the company of the wonderful devotees of Spain and other countries. I send a fraternal greeting, all glories to Gurudeva Atulananda whose birthday just passed. We send a warm embrace and recommending always to take things to heart and work hard because that is the only way one can become qualified to understand the essence, because the essence is always something that one has to make a special effort for. One is not allowed to take things lightly or superficially, but requires that one treats it with the utmost care.

Today is Sunday, and tomorrow we will have the Theatre Mallorca festival where we will have 8 different spontaneous performances to convey to others the urgency of the message that has been chosen for the work. It's called the theater of emergencies.

There are several types of intelligence: rational, emotional and spiritual. The mantra Vanca Kalpa includes all these types of intelligence. The Vaisnava is always looking for the constructive welfare of others, and to be filled with compassion one must have great emotional and spiritual intelligence. The disenchantment with the material world, which wants to keep us from submitting to anyone except our false ego. This is the world that promotes selfishness, while the Vaisnava is always aware of the welfare of others. Thus the sankirtaneer is always aware of the welfare of all, all he does is look how to help others. A sankirtaneer can never be inattentive, even if he works with many people, each contact has a connection like the level of detail of a heart surgeon, because a wrong movement can even kill. One must be extremely cautious in the way he talks to people.

The sankirtaneer puts people in touch with God, not imposing but exposing. The service to animals, family, devotees, is a service to God. In all angles one must link all activities to God. But we must not think that we ourselves can liberate another from pain. Instead Krishna can, my Gurudeva can. They can give the form in which to find many treasures when one puts the welfare of oneself  submissively to the world. You can measure many things but you can not measure the transcendental, you can feel it but not measure it. Maya means that which can be measured, but the transcendental cannot be measured.

One always feels they are the most important and what one has to do is most important and it is partially true because if you did not exist you would not know of the existence of everything else. But this is very dangerous, because even though my life allows me to connect with others, we risk devaluing others. I can say, "My mom is the best in the world" and that may be fine, but one can not say "My mom is the best and only good mother out there." The same applies to Guru. I think my Guru is very special because I think I am the most important. "My Guru is the best Guru" that is fine. But "my Guru is the only good Guru alone" this is arrogance, it is ego, all about "me, me, me."

Everything is associated. When I think that my prayer is worth more than a native praying to the sun, that is arrogance. To think that God likes your prayer more than someone else's that is arrogant. To minimize or ridicule the faith of others is arrogant. Being in the state of  "me, me, me" becomes offensive to others. Instead of producing something good it produces something negative. What makes you important is your love for others. I'm here just trying to serve, and I do not even have the essential criterion. The Vaisnava is a Vaisnava because they feel that they are not. He thinks he's an aspiring servant of the servant of the servant of the Vaishnavas.

Only when Krishna allows us to serve, can we do so and preach. When we have a bad conscience, depressed, unwilling, we need to go preach. If you do not want to ask anyone for anything, then sit on the street and sing "Oh my Lord let me be an instrument of your love", until someone asks you of out curiosity and you show them a book.

Prabhupada did not come to us personally, but through the efforts of others, and thus we worship all devotees that give us the truth. Nobody knows how to be happy whether with wealth or poverty. But devotees of Vrinda are richer, more than Bill Gates because wherever they arrive they are welcomed by hundreds of temples. Bill Gates will always have to pay to be received somewhere, but devotees have much fortune.

One of the main problems we have is intense laziness. The process of awakening enthusiasm to serve is through Sadhana, since the most essential element of Sadhana is to share what the spiritual master has given you with others. Mahaprabhu said, "I plant a tree of love and it grew and bore fruit, and I distributed the fruit but still many fruits kept falling and I do not have enough hands to distribute all these fruits, many hands are needed, so I need your help, because there are many who need these fruits and I can not distribute all, I need help. "

The idea of ​​Sankirtan has changed a bit, it's more personal. It means that I treat you with all your needs. Ask "What do you need, are you a vegetarian? Here is the cookbook, here are CDs of the best chefs. Or do you want to know about reincarnation, here's the book. Or do you have someone with addiction problems, here's Vedic wisdom. Would you like to have a nice vacation? Here are the best places to go to in India or Colombia, or Mallorca. Personalized Sankirtan is: that I offer everything you could need. The essence is, I have nothing, this is the message of Srila Prabhupada. Sankirtan is a delight, it is the best thing to distribute to give a hand to many people. Today courses are made, Prasadam, but this is an excuse to be able to give them assistance. This preaching is education. It is the process of healing by healing others.

After all, despite not being qualified, do your best because it is all you can do, and do not be discouraged if for one reason or another there is a fall because they exist so one can overcome it, to recognize your flaws and weaknesses and to continue the struggle, because this is what we have to do. We can not wait to be perfect to go out and preach and help people.

Jay Srila Prabhupada!
With this message I leave today. Haribol.
B.A. Paramadvaiti Swami

Traveling & Preaching 7/27/14 From Austria

Dear devotees. From Austria I send this chat today.

We are traveling at a rate of one country per day. So there is no desperation we are meeting beside rivers and lakes to take advantage of the beautiful Mother Nature in all its merciful aspects.
Right now I'm talking to Gandharvika, the Austrian artist. We are planning more Chaskis festivals. I am inviting her, as soon as she feels the need, to go to South America to do a Chaskis tour throughout all the temples.

Now tomorrow we are going to Hungary to a 6-day Mela where I can recuperate some strength. There we will be more calm. And Yatra in Germany, I can tell you that they just prepared the art of sadhana of Srila Bhakti Promode Puri Maharaj so they can start distributing it.

When you travel around Europe preaching you realize the nectar of preaching in South America. As you said, one does not know what you have until you lose it. So, I can tell you that I have received much mercy to represent Srila Prabhupada with you anywhere in the world. It's nice to open a mission anywhere in the world, but believe me it is a very hard thing and more so when it is in Europe.

The many number of projects that there are in South America is a great fortune to be able to know besides the devotees filled with much enthusiasm. But there is a very interesting thing for all of us and that is that the people in Europe are interested in the ancient villages. On this side, it can be shown that the ancient wisdom of India and that of the world is really one.

A base to see the world differently and solve the problems facing humanity. So I think we are in a historical moment where they are giving circumstances, that from my point of view, is a positive forecast for the Planet.

In recent days I  have been discovering productions of Vrinda that I had not seen although they are not so new. Perhaps due to the saturation of our materials there are other very important material that I have missed. For example Gandharvika offers a new video clip called Wake up sleeping soul on youtube for all to see (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCBozWAJJKQ). Or mother Gita Manjari who has a beautiful video clip called Gopinath, to the tune of Ave Maria. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4dw6U51_-8)

I send all my affection. The celebration of 30 years of the Vrinda Mission we are celebrating everywhere, especially by the medium of sacred songs in all waters of the world.


Your always well wisher,
Swami Paramadvaiti

Faith is the gateway to devotion 6/15/14 from Sweden

My dear devotees, receive all my affection from Sweden,

Spending a few days happily with the devotees here. We are making plans to spread Krishna Consciousness in these lands. Krishna is He who satisfies every individual pleasure. He serves all and gives shelter to all. He knows everyone and records them in His heart.

I can remember some of you, of course, you are unforgettable. But my memory is limited. But Krishna gives us all shelter. It is very important to understand that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and He has a relationship with each and every one of us; and it is the heart to heart relationship with devotees that allows us to approach Krishna.

Chastity is what is needed on our part. And what is chastity? It essentially means having complete fidelity.
Chastity means even being detached from material desires, because one is so absorbed in Krishna's service that you no longer want anything else. But of course, it is very difficult not to have sexual desires in a world where sex dominates everything; however, this is possible only when  a "superior taste" is tasted. Krishna says that when someone has a superior taste one can easily leave the lower taste.

Chastity means not abandoning anyone, not being on bad terms with anyone. Not with your relatives or with those around you. You must occupy yourself with serving the Superior Taste even if you still have a lesser taste and so little by little you will begin to advance spiritually and at some point you will be fixed in Krishna Consciousness. You just have to be patient.

Srila Sridhar Maharaj says that taste for the divine awakens gradually and gradually the undesirable things of the heart also disappear. Everything depends on the attitude, on the determination one has to leave the material entanglement. Only when the moment comes that you decide to surrender completely, to consecrate, at that time one comes to the platform of spiritual stability and only then can you develop a taste for the practice. The attitude of  service, occupation and delivery is first. Dedication means work. Follow the instructions of the spiritual master and put that into practice in service. That's the formula.

Sincerity. Sincerity means doing everything possible to do what needs to be done. It is somewhat difficult. Sincerity is the greatest and also the most difficult to have. But someone with a sincere heart is very well off. Srila Sridhar Maharaj says that a pure devotee is pure in purpose.

Serving will teach you to surrender properly. The practice itself is not the most important, but the intention behind the practice is. Dedication means working under the guidance of a Vaishnava. The right attitude in devotional service can even erase your karma. Thus one releases everything that prevents you from engaging in devotional service.

Submission to Krishna is the most important. Submission makes the difficulties diminish. Submission means accepting without questioning what Krishna wants for oneself, because Krishna will always want the best for you. Lust, anger, greed, madness, illusion, and envy, are all consequences of attachment to the material senses. They completely take us away from Krishna. One makes many mistakes when swayed by them.

You have to protect yourself from anger, rather you have to listen to the inner voice and intelligence. That inner voice will guide us to always move towards the positive, towards the divine and transcendental. The only thing is that one almost never wants to hear it. Therefore, the association of devotees is essential, for they are an amplifier of the inner voice, but one does not want to hear from it because of being under the illusory potency, but devotees constantly remind us of

what we have to do.

We must develop faith in the devotees, faith in service, faith in Guru. Faith is the gateway to devotion. Absolute love accommodates all, there is nothing to fear. Where there is faith God is there and where God is there then there is no fear. Where there is faith there is surrender and where there is surrender there are no separate interests. Where there is no separate interest there is love. We must be placed there every day until the end of our life.

These are the words I wanted to share with you today. Srila Prabhupada ki Jay!

Your well-wisher,
Swami Ba Paramadvaiti

Favorable winds to cross the ocean of repeated birth and death Sunday 04/06/14 From Brazil

Conference.

My dear devotees , greetings from Sao Paulo, the land of Gandharvika Giridhari .

Today I share with you a topic called "The favorable winds to cross the ocean of repeated birth and death " So we must talk about the constitutional nature and needs of people, their needs for love and all that. This topic is a subject of devotional security. Of spiritual protection.

Devotees habitually speak about maintenance, but today we will talk about increasing our spiritual enthusiasm. Increase favorable winds, activities, things that are considered important in spiritual life.

Imagine you 're in the ocean, lost at sea, with only a little food left to survive. A very sad situation. The people traveling with you have left the boat. It is a sailboat, it has no engine, you only depend on the wind. It is in the middle of the ocean and you have a limited time to cross, nothing is forever. Death can come at any time. You want out, you want to cross over to the other side of the ocean called samsara, the ocean of repeated birth and death. At this point in the ocean, there are no other trips , there is no past or future, only present. Only this trip at this time. And this boat is quiet because there are no favorable winds to take you in the right direction.

Suddenly a wind comes with a storm that takes you in the wrong direction and, worse yet, that wind makes you return to the starting point. Winds? Unfavorable? The wind of material enjoyment, nightlife, the Facebook, video games, the wind of the exhibitionist ego believed to be the most important, the poisonous wind that makes us lose consciousness. That is very interesting. You want to get across the ocean to get out of samsara, but unfavorable winds bring you back. They take you in the direction of your next birth. If we continue to follow the unfavorable winds, with more reason will we be moved into the next birth. In a reverse direction.

 This world is full of unfavorable winds. Even something that may seem harmless, like the World Cup, that does not get us cross the ocean of samsara, rather it insures us that we will be lead to another birth into some body. Maybe you'll be born as an animal to be sacrificed to make a soccer ball. There are more serious things, totally unfavorable winds that increasingly keeps us from cross this samsara, such as abortions, the exploitation of the weak, the mistreatment of animals. However, intelligent people do not waste time and they seek favorable winds.
 How are these favorable winds obtained?

 Chanting the holy names of the Lord from the depths of the heart:

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
 Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
 Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare.

See who begins to sing and watch how their sailboat starts moving! If you sing louder, then it will move stronger!

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
 Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
 Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare .

Yeah? Your ship moves, it works! So you can continue singing and obtain more favorable winds that will help you on this journey so you can continue singing and also listen to the Srimad Bhagavatam, Bhagavad Gita, Caitanya -caritamrta, Sacred Scripture ... Hear books narrated by those holy saints who practice with the heart. These winds are favorable!

And to stand firm in this journey you have to have the best sadhu -sanga. Practically speaking, you have to go to Vrinda Bhumi at least a weekend to live intensely to experience the Yoga Monastery. This way one is filled with enthusiasm for the spiritual life. So then your boat will be going in the right direction with all sincerity. And when you have fear or confusion you have to approach an advanced devotee who will dispel your doubts.

Vaishnava Bhakti, Guru Bhakti, Krishna Bhakti ... When you love devotees you also love service. So you start to love the spiritual guide, begin to appreciate the deity, the dhama ... On this trip there are many temptations that distract us from the favorable winds. So we must be vigilant ... Always be carrying that gas tank of bhakti and one of the most powerful things to do which is more favorable for spiritual advancement is Krishna prasadam, everyone is left with a smile from ear to ear after honoring prasada. Full belly, happy heart :)

It's very, very important to understand that in His infinite mercy Krishna makes many favorable things for our spiritual advancement. You only need a small effort on your part . Because, even to eat prasada we have to put effort.

Even favorable winds have their stages. There are positive things to do, always keep a good intention, do not be judgmental, be more and more helpful, always working and being generous, maintaining wonderful friendships with devotees, in this way one will have the mercy of having the association of Vaishnavas. In the company of devotees under the guidance of the spiritual master, under the holy name, one is in the favorable winds of Bhakti Yoga.

Under the guidance of Guru one learns worship, puja, the mantras, the sankirtan ...
The Spiritual Master puts us in the process of Ānarta nivritti, cleaning impurities from the heart. He removes the negative things in life, he removes the worldly desires separate from Krishna. That is what one promises the spiritual master, that he will go on the right path and that you will leave all the undesirable things for the spiritual path. After being freed from all those attachments, the devotee remains fixed in his spiritual process, coming to the point of Nistha, where he is fixed in Seva. There the sail boat opens in full force and favorable winds carry him safely on his way. So, my dear, very careful maintain your spiritual life, full of favorable winds. Keep your temples very beautiful. That is also a favorable wind. Arrange beautiful classes, there are so many books of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Sridhara Maharaja for inspiration ... And do not forget something important ...Our spiritual life becomes even more favorable and ecstatic when we perform austerities to help others.

Just as you are on your boat in the middle of the ocean of samsara trying to cross clinging onto favorable winds, you can help others who are stranded on the road. You can say, "Come, take this rope, I'll pull your standing boat, I have good wind here ..." That's the favorable wind of the preacher, who not only cares about himself, but cares to help everyone in crossing the road. To cross this ocean of samsara clinging onto favorable winds you should feel very grateful and very compassionate ...

That is my message to all of you today ....
Follow the favorable winds ...
Jay Srila Prabhupada!

Your always well wisher,
B. A. Swami Paramadvaiti

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The temple should run like a symphony. 3/11/13 From India.

Today's message comes straight from my heart and I want to share it with you all. It's a personal opinion which I will try to explain in a poetic way .

What I want to convey today is related to the expertise of the orchestra conductor. One way or another, all things in life should be conducted in a way that it all ends up being harmonious. Now I will explain something in reference to our own preaching activities .

The sheet music is written and should be read as that defined score, but they still need an orchestra conductor, a leader who put his own style and can take the full orchestra to a harmonious result . A preacher, for example, should always speak in a way that encourages people to delve into the meaning of what they are saying.

An Inbound Yoga teacher , for example, should lead students in such a way that excites them to maintain themselves according to their own qualities and make them stay connected with Paramatma . In other words, the conductor must guide people to an intense joy for what they are doing . When you conduct something it must be done in a very harmonious and satisfying manner.

If we apply this same concept in the temple istagostis we will see that the president is able to allow each member of the ashram to feel as a valuable part of the orchestra. The temple should be ran like a symphony : the kitchen should be tuned, the reception should be tuned, volunteers must be tuned, the online promotion department must be tuned, etc. . The directing of a temple is like that of conducting a symphony. Sometimes even in the orchestra the conductor makes different members perform a "solo". A skilled leader will always bring others to their best potential. That also applies within music, dance, architecture, engineering, in all aspects. The ability to combine and harmonize the different elements and personalities is an art. Leading a spiritual community requires art, collection , preaching , music, sitting together to share, study, cooking, etc. . There are many elements to consider. The same applies to grhasta families.

We should never do things based on fear, on the contrary, we must increase the spiritual growth of each of the members of the community. A good leader is always ready to share with others . I myself consider a leader to also be one who is also trying to learn how to become a good one, so I think that communication is one of the most important things to keep alive. The failure of a leader is his limited capacity in communication, for example, now I have to communicate with all those who will remain in India for six months, I must communicate a plan to each of them and tell them what area in they will develop in.

Here in Vrinda Kunja we are committed to doing aratik nightly in Brahma Kunda, it is our responsibility and as the leader of the temple in giving others their delegated responsibilities so that everything is taken care of the way it should be and for that you need to be clear in what has to be done.

Our spiritual master , Srila Prabhupada was an excellent leader who managed to do amazing things in a few years. He is the perfect example of a leader. I insist that the main theme for a good leader is communication and for that we must be practical and have everything neatly annotated on lists with tasks to delegate to others. Do not rely on our short memory. My job as a leader is to transfer the responsibility of each department to the different leaders of those departments and who will get things done, and the symphony can get moving .

When you're a leader and your actions influence others you must be very careful with them and never discourage anyone. The leader's performance should be organized so that everyone is encouraged to participate and that everything flows smoothly. Everything must be in place and function properly. For each activity there is a science that is behind it defining how it should be done, and the number one rule is that no one should ever be unhappy. That's the tip of Krishna Consciousness .

Are you going to pass or shall we do that here?

Now, to be a good leader one should also stand out being transparent. A good leader should be honest, loving and trustworthy to be able to lead a spiritual symphony .

To become a good leader you have to be very aware of all the things you have to do to qualify yourself as such : become an expert in all areas and then lead others in the symphony. We have to take responsibility, without liability nothing will manifest. If we accept in becoming leaders we must know what that means so we can become efficient managers and implement our service. And if we make mistakes, we must be humble enough to apologize for them.

To become a good leader one should also be a good crier,someone who cries for mercy, a beggar of love. In other words, conducting the symphony of a spiritual family is a big task and one can not do any nonsense, it is not something you're going to be able to give up tomorrow, it is for life ... and never let anyone fall, never let anyone feel bad. And if you ever let someone down humbly beg for forgiveness. But never become a scoundrel who is unmoved by anything.

Responsibility and accountability at every level of life in which you are a leader, in a temple, in the family, at the Academy of yoga, in preaching, vegetarian programs ... in any area in which you develop, always taking on more responsibility and serving others, without thinking that it is yourself who gets things done.
Each of us has a symphony to lead.

A leader has the lives of others in their care, so they have to be very responsible and if not a very experienced leader, then you should lead slowly and with great care. A leader must consider many aspects when leading. Also, we must take into account many details to become good leader.

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

Vishnu Priya Ashram From Guatemala 8/25/13

Conference.

My very dear devotees,
Accept my affection from Guatemala.
Today I want to speak of Vishnu Priya Ashram and the beautiful opportunity we all have to become Vaishnavas or vaishnavis.

The illusory condition in which we find makes us waver between good deeds and bad deeds all the time. Men can behave in positive or negative ways as well as women. Vaishnava and vaishnavi is synonymous with sainthood. A person who intends and tries to be a Vaishnava or vaishnavi is on the path of holiness. Sure, a true Vaishnava or vaishnavi never consider themselves Vaishnavas. They see themselves as  not "Vaishnava" and see all others as Vaishnavas. A true devotee should think: I'm not a Vaishnava, I'm not a vaishnavi. If I think others are not Vaishnavas, I become offensive and if I think I am a Vaishnava then I have gone crazy. That's the secret of success: seeing all others as Vaishnavas, but thinking of oneself as a Vaishnava. That is the correct Vaishnava mind, humble and respectful.

Now I want to refer specifically to vaishnavis. But I do not just mean how men should view women, but as men should see and appreciate the vaishnavis and further more, how the same devout vaishnavis should see and appreciate the other vaishnavis and Vishnupriya Ashram, the place of the vaishnavis.

The number one lesson here is:
-That all women belong to Vishnupriya Ashram, but even if a mother does not live in the Vishnupriya Ashram, she is part of it. Each devotee should engage herself in having a concrete link with Vishnu Priya Ashram. Why? Because spiritual education of women is the basis of society.

Also, something very important is that both our family and the mission of Mahaprabhu in general is full of mothers. Even if we did a count among which we are now in this room, we can see that there are more mother devotees. Imagine! This was not so in the beginning of our own Mission. Actually, the fact that more men or women is not the main point. The important thing is to understand that women are mothers, are vaishnavis and that they are the "secret weapon" of Srimati Radharani. "Secret weapon" of Srimati Radharani means that they are the best preachers and moralizing agents, that mothers can maintain the standard of Vedic culture, as the vaishnavi is also a representative of Mother Earth, they are the basis of religion.

Women are much more inclined to religion than men. As soon as a woman has a child all the potential of  protection and conservation blooms because a child is not a fad, a child means responsibility and care to minutest detail. If we get to the plane of preaching, each new soul that comes to the temple, each new bhakta is like a son to care for. And the same care that is required by the new bhaktas is also needed by the Deities, the administration of the temple, the Laksmi of Krsna, etc. Well, it all belongs to Srimati Radharani in Her service to Sri Krishna.

Those who look after the children, who are the future of society, that responsibility and care also comes from the mothers. Therefore children are born from the womb of women and not men's arms :) God knows how things are organized. The design of God is perfect, we need not correct it ... but now human nature has become so crazy that they think they can do it as well.

So think a bit and analyze the position of women:
She is the guardian by nature, cautious and steady.Therefore they are compared to the Goddess of Fortune, because they are full of qualities. Thus, a Vishnu Priya Ashram is the refuge of vaishnavis serving Srimati Radharani. They are sites of protection to women, mothers, young women. Protection of women by women. Women should be protected, but never feel independent, that is against their nature and their own psychology. So the role of men is to become guardians of the mothers and where there is no man who fulfills this role, a senior mother should give the other mothers the greatest care. In a spiritual family there is also the guru and his supporters like the sannyasis, who are the protectors of all, both men and women, however, mothers need guidance in daily life and for that there is no one better than another mother who the can protect them if there is no husband to do so.

A Vishnupriya Ashram is the site of maximum protection for women and children. Therefore, our spiritual family must be aware to always support the Vishnupriya Ashram, our daughters, sisters and mothers should never feel abandoned. The reality of the spiritual life is that we are servants and to Krishna we are all feminine in nature, Krishna is the only Purusha, and we are all Prakriti.

The temporary male or female body is just that, temporary. No matter the rank or role we have, what matters is how we develop it, because if not properly used it becomes useless. So women in our family are protected, they are never abandoned, they are not independent and yet are empowered to do all that is at their fingertips.

The Vishnupriya Ashram school is for mothers to become pure devotees, servants and protective experts of Vedic values, family and society. Several of the larger projects we are doing are headed by women in our family: the House of Wisdom, the Oidatherapy, the Spoon Revolution, the Global Awareness Compact ... most are mothers who bring the pulsing beat of these services. Therefore devotees should become qualified to become true protectors of mothers, responsible true leaders of deep religious values, otherwise, without these they will be guided only by their own mind which will seek to satisfy the senses. So men should work hard to be trustworthy people, 100 percent, and fulfill their guardianship to  mothers in all circumstances.

A devotee should strive to become a great devotee and set aside anything which is unfavorable to the development of bhakti. A devotee, just one vaishnavi is someone very powerful. So I started the Vishnupriya Ashrams, to encourage them to take leadership, to preach and to protect other mothers. Every devotee is able to establish a new Vishnupriya Ashram, making programs, preaching, etc.. A mother must recognize the validity in all that has been received and refrain from being exploited by others, not to be minimized or belittled, there in Krishna Consciousness there is magic , because you can transform the karmic qualities into the service of Lord and His devotees.

Vaishnavi Dignity in action. Mothers who have been abandoned by their husbands, single mothers, etc.. are only the symptoms of Kaliyuga and a society of irresponsible sex addicts. There should be no unprotected women and single mothers. However, all of them can find refuge in the Vishnupriya Ashram. The capacity that mothers have are wonderful and those who minimize this are fools who does not understand anything. Even in some of our churches there are mothers who are temple presidents who have done their service much better than all the devotees who came before.

The submissive nature of the mothers qualify them for such things. And that submission is very important in the spiritual process, it is the submission to the Guru and the Vaishnavas what makes someone to assume more responsibility in their service. Spiritual life without service, just does not work. The Guru can not be present in every little detail, especially when the family grows and spreads quickly, so leaders need confidence to help you make your service better and protect others. Men and women who are responsible. Thus a vaishnavi decides to abandon a life of worldly womanhood and instead of becoming a fool watching TV or running after men, or someone influenced by consumerism she decides to assume the role of a representative and protector of dharma.

My dear vaishnavas and vaishnavis, this is an invitation to a life rendered in service and backed by sincerity, a life dedicated to the service of the Lord and the Vaishnavas. So I am giving this lecture today, because I want each of you understand the importance of Vishnupriya Ashrams and become committed to supporting the protection and development of the vaishnavis. Without the Vishnupriya Ashram one can not guarantee the protection of children, or the conservation of dharmic values. And all those pious youth living in Vishnupriya Ashrams like brahmacarinis and are doing service, but also have aspirations to find a good devotee with whom they can establish a beautiful family in service to Sri Krsna, they will achieve that only with lioness preaching ... preaching and serving so selflessly and honestly.

It is the spiritual intelligence of women and the vaishnavi's qualities which allow a family to remain united and dedicated to God. The essence of our life is to serve, serve and serve and thus the Vishnupriya Ashram school teaches one to learn to serve. We must move away from the exploitative and selfish mentality that has been spread throughout the  material world of illusion and help dedicate lives to service.

Whoever worships Krishna becomes someone very special and if you do so from the bottom of your heart, all imperfections disappear soon. So we continue in appreciating the Vaishnavas and Vaishnavis who worship Krishna. From Guatemala I leave you with a special greeting with great fondness. I am very happy to see the pioneer devotees here. Preaching and pioneering is very nice. It is the best use of one's life that can be done in this human birth. When I see the work that the couple of Rupa Manohar Prabhu and Mother Parvati in Guatemala have done I get excited by seeing the power and mercy that Krishna delivers to a family dedicated in their service to Him. At the same time I am very happy that tomorrow I get back to my Datadesh prabhu, where Sri Krishna allowed me to do service over the years.

I believe that every day that I can do service it is an extraordinary gift that Srila Prabhupada has given me in life. I firmly believe that the essence of this process is to be happy with what you have and the people around you, because only when you learn to appreciate what you have and you are happy with it you can make others happy. I feel really happy in Mexico, Guatemala and am now in Colombia. Happiness is unique to each site. I ask you, my dears, do not stagger over the inconsistencies. That is the happiness I wish for all of you and it is the happiness I'm experiencing anew for approximately the last forty years.

Of course, there is also sadness in the way and certainly the highest sadness is not able to meet any of you, or worse, not even knowing how you are. Srila Prabhupada once said: "I receive too many letters, but still I feel anxious when I do not receive a letter from you" :) Imagine, Srila Prabhupada had such tenderness for each of us. With these words I say goodbye for today is my last day in Guatemala and there are many things still to be done.
I leave you with a big hug from the heart.
Srila Prabhupada ki jay!

Your always wisher,
Swami B. A. Paramadvaiti.

The importance of Bhakti Yoga. From Mexico 08/18/13

                                                           Conference.

My dear devotees

Accept my love from Mexico.

Today I want to talk about the importance of Bhakti Yoga above any process.

For a person who is just approaching these transcendental concepts, the science of astrology can help you greatly, for it seeks to decipher the karma of the people, confirming that there is reincarnation and that every action we take has an effect.

The level of detail that can be achieved with astrology is impressive, one can know up to the last point of life. So astrology, cosmology,seeks to interpret mathematically each tone that moves in the universe. It may seem as an exaggeration, but in quantum physics one is led to the same absolute conclusion of the cosmos, so scientists can not deny that all that they monitor and analyze of situations have an origin that goes far beyond this small birth we have. Everything has a reason and influence. If you are Mexican or Guatemalan, if you're rich or poor. All this has a reason and influence.

In the way that karma works in this world is very difficult to understand, but the fact that it works and the understanding of the natural law of karma gives us faith in the Infinite. If this knowledge is not enough for someone to develop faith in the Infinite, then that person does not deserve such faith. That vision of faith is not cheap. It is the spiritual vision  which can help one understand the mysticism of existence. If we want to root it from a materialistic point of view, we can focus from the quantum physics aspect, from cosmological analysis and it becomes very interesting that rational science and mysticism meet and are able to give explanations to each other. It is a paradigm that has emerged in recent times and has not yet been acknowledged openly. Why?:

-Because the materialists have a hard time admitting to mistake and change, it means recognizing that they have been wrong and that is not allowed by their false ego which covers everything. We do not want to accept that we were wrong or that materialistic teachings are wrong. Materialism wants to ensure happiness, but it only sells illusion. However it is so simple to check one's very experience to the extent that one becomes spiritualized since life becomes happier, but materialistic life materializes suffering only.

The Ashram life of  Bhakti Yoga is wonderful. It is an example of spiritualization and happiness. It is very beautiful, full of discipline and smiles because people feel happy. It is an unparalleled happiness which is obtained only by the infinite mercy that allows us to recognize our true identity. This happiness to recognize our true identity can be illustrated as follows: Imagine that you are very, very poor, have no money, no possessions but a small lottery to live off of. So crying is there, having nothing to eat, and one day you start to dig in the ground and find a wonderful treasure filled with gold and precious stones ... immediately you are overcome with joy, no more need or suffering from hunger, and you want to dance out of so much joy. Of course, the joy of knowing our true identity is much deeper, but it's like finding a wonderful treasure. The treasure that you have been looking for all your life.

The Vaishnavas who follow the process of bhakti-yoga come to the Ashrams to come together in their practice of sadhana-bhakti and are very happy. They discover that the gift they have received is more valuable than all the gold and precious stones in the world. That knowing their spiritual identity is the real treasure, which goes beyond any material treasure. Well, material treasures really do not exist since there are only illusions. Why?

-Because if you have a material treasure you have two permanent problems: you're always in anxiety over  the fear of losing your wealth and there is always very envious people around you. That is not happiness. It's just happiness in illusion and in reality it is suffering.

Our eternal nature is the pursuit of happiness. Happiness is the intrinsic nature of the soul, but because of the material conditioning, we forget it and look in the wrong places.

Some think that they will find happiness in material possessions. Others become intoxicated to "get happy", but again, they only engage in more and more suffering ... becoming increasingly despondent, becoming addicted to substances that take away the memory, will, and only  cause depression. Alcohol and drugs are the main causes of depression, not happiness. Illicit sex does not give happiness. People are guided by the gratification of the senses, they become enthusiastic to satisfy them so they work in order to indulge themselves. They base their human relations in the gratification they can obtain from others and thus this gives rise to their minds so that they do everything they can think of. But what can you expect from a lustful mind? Nothing good comes of it.

Someone has a girlfriend who appreciates and rewards her to the extent that she allows you to do everything you want. And worse, you are proud of your girlfriend and the gratification that comes. But sex is not a permanent happiness it is only temporary pleasure and then comes the account of that pleasure. The girlfriend who has been gratifying you now really wants marriage and then want to control the man and not only him, but also his economy. So then they want a credit card, buy them "stuff", etc.., Etc.., Etc..

A lustful mind is not happy, rather they only receive a greater nature of exploitation and seek it at a higher luxury. The alleged "sex brings happiness" at the end leaves you without economic freedom. It is a real fraud. The opposite of illicit sex is spiritual family. That means that, despite a couple having material bodies, all they do is run to the center, to God, and together they work to raise a family which is offered to God. A spiritual family has protected children which are led to happiness by their parents like real gurus. That's very nice, that's happiness.

I can give more examples of false happiness of materialism:

-The capitalist mafia industries have organized everything so well in order to exploit the poor in the best way. So the rich with anonymous consortia do not have to pay taxes, while the poor are exploited to pay. But that does not give happiness. The world of betrayal and exploitation can not give happiness. It's just a temporary illusion. That is the material world ...

The prison of the material world. But you can get out of here following  trusting people and you becoming a trust worthy person as well. What God gives is linked to happiness, it belongs to all and for all and confidence emerges naturally from it. But when it is something material it will only deliver suffering, and generates betrayal and distrust. The material world can not give happiness, it is a hell, there is nothing further from happiness than material illusion. Fortunately there are spiritual sanctuaries within the material world. Places where we can become trusted people working for a common good. Sites where we work together for maintenance and of which everyone can take part in, without exception, a house with the door open to all who wish to serve and strive for the welfare of all souls.

In the Ashram there is no illicit enrichment, all that is there in the temple belongs to everyone and to Krsna. If you are devoted then you become responsible for taking care of things and if you are not a devotee of Krsna, then you will become one, for we are here to make devotees. Devotees do not seek illicit enrichment, like Pariksit prabhu who has been here in Mexico with me for 20 years and never sought illicit enrichment, he came from Costa Rica for the sole purpose of serving. Thus, each of the farms and Ashrams of our family has the sole purpose of serving and not of illicit enrichment.

A few days ago in Bolivia a hippie community had a farm decided to give it to the devotees, so they reached the temple, we were invited to the place and made the scriptures. Now Bolivia has a beautiful estate for Krsna, who is under the care of all the devotees and now it can become another new place with open doors for everyone. And why give us a farm? Because they know that devotees tend the Ashrams to Krsna and not unlawfully enrich them.

Devotees give everything of what they get, because they know that we are all children of God and that the last owner of all is God Himself. And rather the child should behave in such a manner that he or she honors and satisfies their father. True happiness is God's side, you want to be happy you must go to God. Lord Krsna says very clearly that from the highest planet in the material world to the lowest there is only misery. But with God there is never misery, there is only happiness and love. The devotees, servants of God provide links to eternity. Real links. The spiritual world to which the soul belongs to  is beyond karmic constellations. If you want to get to that spiritual world you have to start acting like if you're a member of that world.

Devotion to God, bhakti-yoga is the process in which one subscribes to the transcendental cosmic amnesty to the absolute mercy. The material world causes such a tremendous addiction to illusion that it is almost impossible to get out of it, only those who take refuge in God can escape this world of organized fraud. Man must honor their special gift of life and develop spiritual discernment, the knowledge of the true spiritual identity which we have lost conscious awareness of due to contact with the material world. So our spiritual side is anesthetized, but we must work to revive that dormant state. Karmic life has no happiness, it's just mathematical logic: everything you do you will receive it back, period.

Everything that happens is because it has to happen, because there is a reason behind it. So there is nothing to fear, the negative that has come is there because it is part of the law of action and reaction. But the important thing is to that we do not live only for the astrological details of our past, no. The important thing is the goal, the goal that we are walking towards. That is essential and our goal is to awaken our true spiritual identity, back to our origin. That is the lesson that my dear Srila Prabhupada gave us in detail.

And today, this morning we have only reviewed the abc's of that divine transcendental teaching. That's my message for today, I thank each of you for joining me for another day and the nice service that you all do in the family of Srila Prabhupada.

I leave you with my love from Mexico.

The land of Radha Madhava

Jay Srila Prabhupada!

Your always well wisher,

Swami B. A. Paramadvaiti.

Why Do We Suffer? 8/11/13 From Germany

My dear devotees and friends.

Many times in life we ​​meditate deeply and for a long time about the purpose of life. We strive according to what others expect of us: our parents have a concept about us, family and children have different concepts and expectations, the government and society is also another.

The world of consumption and competition for material achievements wants to convince us that the purpose of our life is to become a materialistic winner. Thus, whenever there are obstacles that exist for this gain  we feel discouraged and frustrated  or worse, we get jealous when someone has had a knack for getting things ... or they've already accomplished it just for the fact of being born in a wealthy family, while you, with limited wages know not how to satisfy every desire you have. Worse still is the position of the person with money, that despite having everything materially, still feels dissatisfied, without finding something in life worthwhile. This reaches such an extent that we realize that many of the people who commit suicide are people who materially speaking had everything they needed and more, while the simple and poor people do not have these tendencies, they have to worry about working to feed themselves.

We have to understand that material goods are only reexaminations of life. They are not the essence of life, but rather they come to test us. The purpose of life is to make positive and beautiful work that enriches existence. Works that are based on love and affection for all living entities and directed as an offering to God as the ultimate center of all. Works that are beautiful, positive, supported by our words and thoughts.

The purpose of life is to become an agent of solution of the problems we face today. Always tolerating those who may not be able to change . Only through the mercy of God can we acquire the proper discernment to distinguish between good and evil, and gain the enthusiasm and courage to move forward in spite of the evidence that comes to test us.

Determination is very important. The decision to become an agent of change is that everyone around you will benefit from their own efforts and achievements. All of us have received the wonderful opportunity to have a human body where we can be creative and positive. Just as we are wonderful beings we should be doing wonderful things. We always try to act positively within our means. Act in such a way that you are trying to make people those who surround you in your life happy. But, please, this happiness must be related to the real purpose of life, with growth and spiritual realization. It is not material happiness. For life is a gift and human life is an even more special gift. This life was given to us for the Greater Good. Many people can take life. But only the Supreme Benefactor can take it away.

The Lord is always present and close to us, always watching and is always manifested in different ways, but we can not see it. One of these ways is through the Universal Mother, Mother Nature, Mother Earth, the Cosmic Mother, this beautiful mother who wants to see his sons successful in doing wonderful and positive things. Mother Nature is satisfied when she sees her children develop positively in relation to their surroundings, while the Original Father expects those same sons and daughters to return to their eternal home. It has been established by all the great sages of different traditions.

Our stay in this temporary world may expire at any time and when finished, we have to take that bag we've been accumulating over a lifetime (the reactions of our actions) and with it define which is our next destination. The issue is that if your bag is full of things that accumulate undesirable reactions to negative actions, we will certainly go into deplorable states. This is not a threat or an attempt to instill fear but a realistic view of life. And we need that vision to become realistic people to be able to put into practice this wisdom. As a student who does not devote time to learning and study of what he is in the process of learning, it is impossible to pass to the next level ... if we do not put enough effort in positive living according to the ancient wisdom, we can not move forward on the spiritual path.

When Holy Scripture speaks of the lower levels to which our negative actions can take us to, it is a profound wake-up call to take action on the matter and become serious practitioners. God will never ask for something that we will not be able to do, because God is the supreme Well-wisher. And it is the inner voice, the inner teacher, who will guide us towards that which is positive and wonderful, away from all the negative that only leads to lower levels of life. But we must give importance to that inner voice above the voice of the mind, the voice of material desires, the voice of the false ego, because they are always in conflict with the voice of the teacher within.

The inner voice brings us the enthusiasm to make things beautiful and well done, while the mind always wants to take us to enjoy at all costs, even at the expense of exploiting others, telling us not to care about the consequences of our actions. But not so ... I said before: Every action always brings an equal and opposite reaction. That is Universal Law. So, we got what we sow: As you sow you reap. Your actions are planting your next state. So What if I have done evil deeds or I have deviated from the purpose of life? The answer is:

-Take shelter in mercy. It is the transcendental department of mercy that can save us if we are convinced of wanting to change. We need to beg the cosmic divinity for mercy and we must be deeply repentant of our wrong actions. Only the penitent has option to enter the department of mercy. The repentant person even has a chance to compensate all those who they have made suffer because of their own wrongful actions. To those who can not compensate for their wrongdoing have already left this world, such as the thousands of animals that have been killed just for our personal consumption and selfishness but we can reclaim them by becoming activists protecting animals and nature. An advocate of animal habitats, rivers and mountains that are all sacred. Someone who ceases to be a consumer of everything that causes oppression of the Holy Mother.

How much unconscious exploitation humans have committed against their peers, against nature and animals. Ignorant human beings do not realize that all these offenses against the Holy Mother Nature is self-condemnation and the reason for their unhappiness. That illusion operator disconnects us from the purpose of life. One rather must become the change they want to see.

Many things must be changed and adapted to become a positive agent. We must begin to cultivate the garden of the heart. Be part of the solution, not the problem. Spiritual life is not so cheap, it is not a simple conformism that only seeks the "relaxation" aspect of life and then one can enter "other worlds" that only keep us from reality, while outside everything is a total mess and we are unable to take any part in the matter, but rather become part of the problem, then we are still exploiting others and the environment without reason. Spiritual life is not about escape, but about service, to care for others. Dedication is essential for the welfare of all beings.

Jay Srila Prabhupada
Your always well wisher,
Srila BA Paramadvaiti

The Importance of Education 8/4/13 From Mallorca

* From Mallorca, a lecture on the importance of education that His Divine Grace gave in Imbabura, Ecuador, some weeks ago. *

All of us are looking for an alliance that provides us the guidance to become true guardians of Mother Earth and all its beings. By searching for answers to the questions of how to improve education, we can realize the reality in today's society is: Plagued by consumerism and materialism that only causes suffering in the people. That's where the proposal for a conscious and holistic education based on people's faith arises; for faith is the basic mechanism for consciousness to function properly. If a person's faith is misguided, so is his conscience and his actions, an example:

-For the body to live you need air, water. If the air and water are polluted, the person can not have good health, in the same way, if a person's faith is contaminated, it is impossible to have a good conscience. The air and water must be pure, must be kept protected in its natural state. Likewise faith must be protected and kept pure. We're not talking about fundamentalist impositions of religious belief, but to appreciate the glorious and beautiful lessons that we have received, for it is only through appreciation that we feel the natural enthusiasm to become good citizens, responsible persons, guardians of those who surround us.

All this must be considered in the basics of education of the people. And when the system fails at some level we must stop and analyze what these failures correspond to and  cleanse or "purge" these failures. For this, the Oida therapy has worked in "purging of ill consciousness" which are tests that people can do in order to decontaminate faith or remove the distortions of faith. Such distortions of faith also physically manifest themselves in stress, which is the result of a unhealthy competitive mind. That competitive mindset is not healthy nor does it promote the welfare of all. But if we apply universal values ​​seeking the benefit of all beings, one can begin to correct all errors that the neo-colonialist system has permeated into society.

Here is a very important issue. Someone might ask:
 How can we measure faith?

-It's very simple, you just have to assess your happiness and that of those around you. The happiness of the people in your environment means: The happiness that you produce for the people who are around you. The basis of our analysis is an essential way to improve education now and in the future. Personally, I'm just a humble pilgrim, but I've been linked to education in different ways over the past 40 years.

Speaking of education does not only refer to young children in schools. While that is the basis for being responsible in the future, we must think about educating children today. Education also applies to the different stages of life, especially in a society like ours where we can see the lack of education in fundamental and universal values.

The term "educator" is therefore not only the profile of a school teacher, history, geography, etc.. But a teacher who is able to guide others in learning to be complete. The educator is someone very important. Teachers should be of the highest level of spiritual and emotional balance, being harmonious and consistent people.

The term "spirituality" is very broad and it is important to clarify. It refers to an understanding of the environment and the interaction of the environment, which is free of materialism and where a spiritual model applicably meets life in a harmonious, conscious, creative and constructive manner, which is carried by the appreciation one has for everything in their life.

The term "appreciate" is based on the principle of having the capacity to see and appreciate all that is surrounding oneself and receive the beauty that pervades everything: The river, the waterfall, the mountains, all that nourishes us with inner values.

A "guardian" is a spiritual being away from the materialistic concept of life, who is interested in everything around him and appreciates all and not just that, but who works to protect it all: protecting people from the lack of awareness and to educate them about protecting the planet from the impact of all the damages that are caused to Mother Earth today: Chemicals, GMO, exploitation, trash, ruthless killing of animals, etc..

Education in this profound educational model is based on the observation of the great and generous phenomenon that we have received and it is through having a connection in faith with the Infinite.

We have a connection through the physical realm through the air, as we discussed in the beginning, how important is air? It allows us to have a connection with life, just as the same happens with water, the earth ... basic elements of physical life. Just as the air is essential for physical life, faith is essential to the development of consciousness.

-Without faith it is impossible to walk, without faith a baby cannot be fed from the mother's breast., I can not learn without faith, without faith I can not accept responsibility ...
Even people who say they do not have faith, they have faith that they have none. It's just a mental mechanism nothing more, faith is the tool that allows you to connect both the relative, the rational, and that which is essential.

The rational consciousness, emotional, and spiritual, corresponds to the three areas that makes a person complete and become aware. A teacher or teachers who do not develop these three aspects can not fully educate others. A teacher who does not have a good moral conduct, which goes hand in hand with the universal values ​​can not be called an educator. Someone who only focuses on material achievements, in selfishness, money, etc.. can not encourage others in the joy, the hope, the confidence, the spirit of sacrifice, etc..

Education is a new paradigm which proposes to deal with faith in the same way that we deal with air and water ... What does this mean? -That water and air are vital, and must be kept pure, for contaminated water and air can kill a person. Therefore we use water purifiers or air purifiers. Do we not? Then, in the same way that we ensure that the air and water remain clean, we must work so that our faith is pure, clean of the materialistic influences.

There are many variations in contaminated faith: Faith distorted, misdirected faith, etc.. but nevertheless we cannot say that faith is bad. Just as we cannot say that air is bad because in a city it has been contaminated. The air is pure in nature, but man has been responsible for its contamination. Faith by nature is also pure.

The possibility of making a quantum leap from matter to spirit is through faith. We're talking about basic faith: in the male or female divinity, on Mother Earth (or Pachamama, Mother Bhumi), in the wisdom of our ancestors, the Faith education is a response to three streams:

1. - A secular education which was born in submission to the materialistic and consumerist system.

2. - At fascist fundamentalism that imposed an ideology of fear, where people are not able to think or create because they must adapt to a specific model.

3. - The educational sectarianism and the religiousness posed: My concept of God is the best of all and those who follow him are saved or go to heaven and those who do not go to hell.

This is an approach that divides all to such an extent that people have decided to live without religion, to the point of denying even faith, regardless of how essential it is for the development of consciousness, beyond any religion .

Humanity needs to find this new paradigm of purification of faith, so it is not fanatical, not sectarian, a non-institutionalized concept of power ... a faith that brings appreciativeness of the results. As Jesus said, "The tree is known by its fruits", in the same way we must think:
 What fruits do we want to bring and teach to humanity?
 What should be the goals of a healthy education, a healthy faith?

-The basic purpose of a person's interaction with others and their environment are: Act in the same way that you want others to act with you. Do not do to others what you would not like done to you. The educator must be able to deliver to others all the wisdom he has received in the same way that someone would teach them. This is a point that does not exist in the interests of a fascist education, as an educator or teacher in a fascist line should refer only to teaching a curriculum that has been received in advance which is full of faults and critical errors.

A single employee is not an educator. A true teacher is a servant of truth, love, law, spirituality, free from contamination. For this, we have the right to question, analyze, understand ... if we do not have that right, then we are only part of a system that is unable to satisfy ourselves as a human society  and who have to follow paradigms that are not fulfilling but are required (consciously or unconsciously) to be practiced, and now comes the errors:

'People are intoxicated, they become indifferent, lazy, criminals ... etc. We need to educate people in happiness, to realize that all members can be valuable to the world so that our children can leave school full of positive expectations, so they are cheerful, enthusiastic, grateful, motivated to help those who have been fallen, to support the afflicted ... to make everyone feel real and useful as members of society. There, the Education opens a new subject: Appreciation of Universal Love, or rather: Appreciation of all the beauty that exists. Educate them with love and not fear, so that people can appreciate the incredible gift we have received with this human life.

The Indian sages say brahma athāto jijnasa. "That this human form of life should be led to inquire about the knowledge of the Infinite and thus, love for everyone else." In the theistic concept is said because of the love of God, the person loves everything that is inseparably a part of God's creation ... however, on the contrary, people try to appreciate and love each person individually, and this can only generate exclusivity and limiting concepts, competence and separation. There is no appreciation that we are a great universal family, let alone is there talk about identification with the problems of others.

Faith education promotes growth and advancement, but never harms others.
The growth and advancement of a person based on the suffering of others (whether they be human, animal or the environment) is part of a selfish concept where nothing matters more than material achievements of a few. We deeply understand the main point of education: The responsibility of each one of the people for the welfare of humanity. How can we educate others on this responsibility? On based teachings such as the "natural law of action and reaction": That every action of a person has an equal and opposite reaction.

The accountability to our actions and reactions is critical. If someone commits a bad action, naturally there is a reaction coming from that very action which will have similar characteristics.

So when a person is educated on the concepts of unfair competition, who is opportunistic and ignorant of the law of action and reaction, the result is loss of common values ​​and happiness of oneself. The goal of each competition is increasing the positive virtues of the people. Vying for the cleanest, the kindest, the protection of animals, that which promote healthy values the most ​​...

The children are so enthusiastic and capable that automatically they can be involved in healthy competitions where they feel like a responsible party in benefiting society. Today's society is in great danger from all the chemicals that are poured into the mother earth after unfair competition, materialistic and selfish needs. Only education and the development of consciousness on these issues can save us from the reactions that are coming for the damage to our Mother Nature.

it is never too late to start changing the future, the base is in education which allows us to reclaim faith in its pure state. Everything is in our hands.
I appreciate the participation of all of you today, I hope you feel a part of this great task of promoting education in faith for the people.
Jay Srila Prabhupada.

Your always well wisher,

Swami B. A. Paramadvaiti

Who are your real friends? From Austria 7/21/13

Topic: Who are your real friends? from Austria. 21/07/13

Conference.

Dear devotees
Receive all my affection from Austria. Just starting this visit to Europe.

We were traveling by car from Germany. Today I share with you a topic called: Who are your real friends?

This question accompanies us all during our lifetime, due to this fact many may not pay attention to the issue itself. Sakha in Sanskrit means friend.

We can understand the concept of "friend" in two ways I please ask you to apply the criterion of discrimination in it. The first way to understand it: "A friend in need is a friend indeed", this means that a true friend is always there when needed. The second is "a friend without need is a friend indeed", this is even deeper and that is to say a friend never expects anything from us, but is always there to help. That is the criterion of a true relationship.

Going further, we can apply various criteria in our relationship with God: "A friend in need is a friend indeed" and it is completely like that, for God is always there when we need Him, He gives us everything we need: the air we breathe, the food that sustains us, the nature around us, etc..

He even gives us free will to make our own decisions. God is completely "a friend in need." Now think about the second statement: "a friend without need is a friend indeed." Well, here the question is: are we really qualified to call ourselves "friends of God"? Are we able to be faithful to God, to be with Him even if it is assumed that we "do not need" from Him, just because He's our friend? That's a good question about our relationship with God. And, unfortunately, the answer is that we are not such good friends of God, but rather we are friends of God only when it suits us or we need something. At that point we think: "Yeah, yeah, God, please help me and get me out of this, I'm here for you."

But ... when danger is finished this thought comes, "Phew, this was difficult, bug luckily it has ended, now I can continue to enjoy"

Our relationship with God is not the most friendly to say, even worse, if we are friends of God, and He has been very friendly with us, why do we give so much trouble and ill-treatment  to our brothers and sisters? Then it is just us living with humans, but failing to appreciate them. It is an amazing attitude that we must take towards our brothers and sisters, because if you really want to be friends of God, then we must be friends of His sons and daughters, or do you think that there is another way to be?

It is contradictory to say: I am a friend of God, I love God, but hate anyone who gets in my way and goes against my own lust, my anger, my ambition or anything like that. Just think of a time when many animals are tortured just for fun, do you have something in mind? Or lets speak about other more terrible things such as the alleged "scientific evidence in animals" or animals stripped of their skins so humans can look luxurious in their furs. Imagine this:

An animal has beautiful skin by the desire of God and that beautiful skin is taken from him for your "sweet will" (yours) and after that you call yourself "a friend of God."

Does it make sense? Is that religious?
So, who are our true friends? The first thing we have to think about is to become qualified to be friends with others. Friendship and relationship to God and His creation is very important, and that is "supposedly" what religion teaches. You can say something like: "I follow a religion that teaches me species-ism, where I can like my own kind, but any other kind can be abused and mistreated by me or say, "I follow a religion that is ethnocentric, where all persons belonging to my ethnic group are wonderful, but those who do not, lose all rights and can be abused and removed from freedom, etc.. Is this within the parameters of common sense?

No, if we consider human rights, animal rights, the rights of Mother Nature. To speak of rights is basic, we do not even begin to speak about friendship. Rights is something that someone has, which belongs to the department of laws and if it is not respected it is required. But, in friendship and love we do not need to talk about rights. Why? Because in friendship and love the concept of "rights" is automatically included.

Put it this way: the right to welfare, which sounds very popular today. We have the "welfare training", "diet for wellness," including the "Guru for your welfare" welfare, welfare and well-being everywhere, my dear. But what happens to the welfare of your brothers and sisters? Do you not think that the number one question related to welfare is: Are you worried about the welfare of  all those around you? Do they have the same right to welfare?

We belong to a completely hypocritical society where everything is based on self-interest to some extent. In my own selfish interest. A society where my friendships are based only upon those that fit my personal needs. If someone does not agree with it, sorry to say but  they cease to have rights and so people today make war against those who are not suited to their interests.

War is not a very encouraging word, I would rather like to avoid talking about it, because wars are related to prisoners, the concentration camps and all that is terrifying in the world. Again Imagine: thousands of people gathered in one place because they are prisoners of war who knows who invented this because of their own interests.

And thinking of prisoners, what happens to the 65 billion animals that are confiscated in cells in the meat industry? They are deprived of water, food, suffering and jailed ... And why? Only because of the selfish desire of someone who decided to take away the freedom that God gave them.

Very likely that these people say they wanted to be friends of God. Yet, they deny animals a place to live, a natural environment, their own families, and confine them in squalid cells. All this for one reason: human greed. It is a very severe situation, since we are talking about rights: humans, animals, nature. Again: rights are something natural, something that should be respected on its own. Moreover, we are talking about true friendship, because to proudly claim to be "friendly", but to who are you really a friend, and who are your real friends?

Anyone involved with the abuse of others, either directly or indirectly is responsible for the suffering of a living entity. It's a very expensive bill. Like it or not you are signing that bill. Even if you say: I never knew, I will not be responsible for this, yet you will receive that bill.

That's what the famous British singer Paul McCartney said that the horrible holocaust of the Nazis in Germany is as bad as the current holocaust which the animals are subjected to in different industries that use them. Or even worse, as Germans in general, they did not know what was going on or if they knew they had to remain silent from fear that they would do the same to them, however now we are all aware of what happens to animals and we have the facility to boycott the Holocaust, no one is coming to shoot you so show yourself against it.

You, as a human being have rights, you can protest against ill treatment and not just protest, but consistently live and act against it, clearing your support or use of anything that is related to the mistreatment of others. No one who is involved in the mistreatment of animals can be called a "friend of the animals" or say "they love animals", much less that he is following the teachings of God, who is the Father of all animals. Whoever mistreats animals or is a part of their ill-treatment does not love nature or the Creator of it, someone so selfishly just loves their own palate, their stomach and genitals. Such a person is the worst enemy of Mother Earth and responsible of the current environmental situation.

I protest against it, against the behavior of those ignorant people who abuse others. Even so, we continue to offer our friendship to them so they can too come out of that ignorance, because we hate the sin but not the sinner. That is the right approach for a friend, because what we are promoting is true friendship, not irrational hatred. We even say we  love the sinner, because we really want to see change in the world, and see change in people and a change for themselves, a change for future generations.

As the saying goes: "help me when I least deserve it, because it will be when I need it."

Because, let me tell you one thing, my dear friends (and I call you my friends because I consider myself as your  friend) that people who are related to the mistreatment of animals, humans or the exploitation of natural resources are the poorest of the poor in the world. They are the first who should receive emergency aid, the most urgent attention. Just as in war, the paramedics have to identify the worst cases to give priority and attention, in the same way in Kali Yuga, after the devastation caused by the bomb of selfishness and exploitation, the spiritual paramedics seek cases that are most grave in nature, the "lost cases" and there you will find all the traffickers, the corrupted, the exploiters of the Earth, the animal abusers, the owners of alcohol companies, politicians, deceivers, etc.. They are still our brothers and sisters, human beings like us and they are as bad as we might become.

But fortunately for us and them, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu came to shed boundless mercy upon all. No matter how sinful we are. No matter how many living beings we have mistreated. Mercy is there, Srila Prabhupada even brought that mercy to us, the lowest of the low. God himself, the best friend of all of us, came personally to deliver His Divine friendship and teach us by example what it means to provide for the welfare of others. Divine Friendship and solidarity for all those who are suffering in the world, the abused and the abusers.

In English the devotees say that the spiritual life is not just "joy" (fun) but "jay" (victory celebration of the battle against illusion). Our mission is to follow the footsteps of Srila Prabhupada, who was a real fighter in the battle against illusion and a true friend who does not expect anything in return. He is the embodiment of mercy without restraint, shakti avesa avatar of Sri Nityananda Prabhu. A revolutionary protector to animals and nature. An example of simple living and high thinking.

Mahatma Gandhi said: "Be the change you want to see in the world" that we must implement: to become agents of change, agents to fight against illusion. With these words I leave you today, my dear friends of the soul. I wish you all the best in this process to become true friends of all, to aspire some day to become faithful to God, without expecting anything from him.

All my love to you.
Jay Srila Prabhupada!

Your always wisher,
Swami B. A. Paramadvaiti.