"My long desired scheme of a Krsna Conscious daily newspaper is being implemented. Please do this work very nicely. It will be a very great step in the history of ISKCON movement."
~ Srila Prabhupada, Letter to Satsvarupa 1971
"Here in this world there are thousands of newspapers and magazines reporting the stale, repetitious happenings of this limited space. So for reporting the news of the unlimited spiritual realm, concerning the eternal, ever-fresh Supreme Personality of Godhead, we could publish a newspaper at every second, what to speak of daily."
~ Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura
"According to social conventions, it is said that one can speak the truth only when it is palatable to others. But that is not truthfulness. The truth should be spoken in such a straight and forward way, so that others will understand actually what the facts are. If a man is a thief and if people are warned that he is a thief that is truth. Although sometimes the truth is unpalatable, one should not refrain from speaking it. Truthfulness demands that the facts be presented as they are for the benefit of others. That is the definition of truth."
~ Bhagavad-Gita As It Is. Ch 10:4
"May cows stay in front of me; may cows stay behind me; may cows stay on both
sides of me. May I always reside in the midst of cows."
(HBV 16.252) In remembrance of Kurma Rupa dasa
Aug 16, CANADA (SUN) — Nandotsava, observed on August 16th, from Srimad Bhagavatam 10:5:1-17, Translation and Purport by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada.
TEXTS 1-2
Sukadeva Gosvami said: Nanda Maharaja was naturally very magnanimous, and when Lord Sri Krsna appeared as his son, he was overwhelmed by jubilation. Therefore, after bathing and purifying himself and dressing himself properly, he invited brahmanas who knew how to recite Vedic mantras. After having these qualified brahmanas recite auspicious Vedic hymns, he arranged to have the Vedic birth ceremony celebrated for his newborn child according to the rules and regulations, and he also arranged for worship of the demigods and forefathers.
Vyasa Puja Offering to His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada
BY: JAYA MADHAVA DAS (ACBSP)
Aug 16, MOSCOW, RUSSIA (SUN) — Dear My Eternal Spiritual Master and Real Father, Your Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada. Please accept my obeisances at you Lotus Feet.
On this most Auspicious day, in the most inauspicious
of times, I beg your mercy to me and your true followers.
My Vyasa Puja - Offering 2017
You Came alone to the NY USA to bring us KRSNA's Name
Among the Sudras and Demonic City, you came anew.
You preached Strongly devotional service to God was true
You gave the us the Holy Names and told us, its not something
we can change or like some new age mundane yoga games.
Constitution for ISKCON As It Is - Article 8, Part 4
BY: SUN EDITORS
Aug 16, CANADA (SUN) —
ARTICLE 8 - GURU-TATTVA (Cont'd)
8.6.5 Regulation and Oversight of Diksa
8.6.5.1 Diksa initiation shall not be institutionally controlled within the Society. There shall be no regulatory mechanism for approving those wishing to take up the service of diksa-guru, nor is any form of permission required, beyond the rules of etiquette described in § 8.6.4.2 and § 8.6.4.7.
8.6.5.2 The Society shall have no responsibility for ensuring that qualified diksa-gurus are available to those candidates wishing to become initiated. Such arrangements are dependent upon Chaitya Guru, and are a personal matter between guru and disciple.
Aug 16, FRANCE (SUN) — "..... In this verse, both blind following and absurd inquiries are condemned. One should not only hear submissively from the spiritual master, but one must also get a clear understanding from him, in submission and service and inquiries..." Bhagavad-Gita 4-34, Purport from Srila Prabhupada)
"To those who are constantly devoted and worship Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me" (BB 10-10)
Is God Love, yes and death are well
Not for the soul of course
But those attracted to heaven or hell
Is God known in many different ways
Yes for He is everything
But direct in the sadhu's gaze
Can there be variety of exchanges
With our Lord
Unlimited as souls there are, the blessings
He'll accord
Unlimited Lord comes in unlimited forms
And unlimited souls as well
Each with their attraction and in
Dunderbuts they fell
But in the greater picture we're told
Sri Krishna in Vrndavana shows
All the sweetest qualities
As the road to rasa shows
Aug 14, CANADA (SUN) — By His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada.
August 1973 at the Bhaktivedanta Manor, in the countryside near London. Several thousand guests (including the Indian High Commissioner) listen to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada speak about the day Lord Krsna made His appearance on earth.
Your Excellency the High Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, I thank you very much for your coming here and participating in this ceremony - Janmastami, the advent Bhagavad-gita Krsna says,
Aug 14, CANADA (SUN) — From Ananda Vrindavan Champu by Srila Kavi Karnapura, Translated by Bhanu Swami & Subhaga Swami, published by Mahanidhi Swami.
Now we will discuss the truth about the transcendental birthplace of Bhagavan and the appearance of Lord Sri Krishna. Once upon a time, Bhumi, the predominating deity of the earth, felt overburdened by different demons posing as members of the royal order. Feeling aggrieved upon seeing her miserable condition, the lotus-born Brahma appealed to Ksirodakasayi Visnu, the maintainer of the universe, saying, "Please deliver Goddess Bhumi who is feeling greatly distressed by these demoniac kings. Only You can remove this terrible influence from the earth."
Constitution for ISKCON As It Is - Article 8, Part 3
BY: SUN EDITORS
Aug 14, CANADA (SUN) —
ARTICLE 8 - GURU-TATTVA (Cont'd)
8.6.3 Qualifications of Diksa Guru
8.6.3.1 The bona fide spiritual master (diksa, siksa, or vartma-pradarsaka) is one who delivers the pure siddhanta in disciplic succession. (§ 8.1)
8.6.3.2 "…any person who seriously desires real happiness must seek a bona fide spiritual master and take shelter of him by initiation. The qualification of the bona fide guru is that he has realized the conclusions of the scriptures by deliberation and is able to convince others of these conclusions. Such great personalities, who have taken shelter of the Supreme Godhead, leaving aside all material considerations, should be understood to be bona fide spiritual masters." [59]
Aug 14, FRANCE (SUN) — In Sri Vrndavana das's article, "Lord Caitanya's Teachings Open the Field of
Activity for the Pure Soul", we could find that:
"Lord Caitanya also recommended that the highest mode of worship in the highest perfectional stage is the method practiced by the damsels of Vraja. These damsels (gopis, or cowherd girls) simply loved Krsna without a motive for material or spiritual gain. Lord Caitanya also recommended Srimad-Bhagavatam as the spotless narration of transcendental knowledge, and He pointed out that the highest goal in human life is to develop unalloyed love for Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Aug 14, INDIA (SUN) — Srila Prabhupada Lecture, Mayapur, March 7, 1976:
"Even the devotee or the servant of Krishna says something, even it is wrong, Krishna upholds this. Kaunteya pratijanihi na me bhaktah pranasyati. So even it is wrongly done, still, Krishna fulfills because He thinks that "My servant has promised; it must be fulfilled." Therefore Prahlada Maharaja, in the previous verse he has said, tava bhrtya-parsva. So to serve the servant of Krishna is better than to serve directly Krishna, because if the servant of Krishna promises something, if the servant of Krishna says, "I'll take you to Krishnaloka," you must go there."
Constitution for ISKCON As It Is - Article 8, Part 2
BY: SUN EDITORS
Aug 12, CANADA (SUN) —
ARTICLE 8 - GURU-TATTVA (Cont'd)
8.6 Diksa Guru
8.6.1 Divya diksanam
8.6.1.1 The purpose of diksa initiation is formalization of the relationship wherein the bona fide spiritual master delivers to the initiate the highest transcendental knowledge, divya-jnana. Through the guru disciple relationship, one inquires submissively from the spiritual master and renders service to him, thus becoming freed from all material contamination, divya-jnanam ksipayati.
Aug 12, FRANCE (SUN) — It looks like, more and more, this idea of reducing Krsna to only one aspect becomes the present fashion and way to speak to peoples' and devotees' hearts. It is right that in such a materialistic society, persons are in such a lack of real love that to present God in such a way is a very easy means to immediately attract their
attention. And it works!
Of course, it is true that supreme love is included in all Krsna's pastimes and life. But to always resume Krsna to this particular feature is a sign of ignorance. Do you imagine your own life (couple life, family life, etc.) permanently on the marked domination of love? Maybe you already even have tried that? And very
quickly, have checked and understood that it is something completely artificial and
that you cannot breathe very long in a normal way while imposing on yourself and onto
your family such a prefabricated mood.
The Appearance of Srila Prabhupada, Sampradaya Acarya
BY: ROCANA DASA
Aug 16, CANADA (SUN) — The auspicious occasion of Srila Prabhupada's Vyasapuja, November 17th.
In 1896, His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada made his appearance in Calcutta, Bengal. He was given the name Abhay Carana by his Vaisnava father, Gour Mohan De, whose principle desire for his son's spiritual future was for him to become a pure devotee of Lord Sri Krsna, the ultimate goal of Vaisnavism.
Aug 16, CANADA (SUN) — "Personally, I have no hope for any direct service for the coming crores of births of the sojourn of my life, but I am confident that some day or other I shall be delivered from this mire of delusion in which I am at present so deeply sunk. Therefore let me with all my earnestness pray at the lotus feet of my divine master to allow me to suffer the lot for which I am destined due to my past misdoings, but to let me have this power of recollection: that I am nothing but a tiny servant of the Almighty Absolute Godhead, realized through the unflinching mercy of my divine master. Let me therefore bow down at his lotus feet with all the humility at my command."
Aug 16, CANADA (SUN) — Annada Ekadasi, observed on August 17th/18th (Los Angeles/Mayapur), from the Brahma-vaivarta Purana.
Sri Yudhisthira Maharaja said, "Oh Janardana, protector of all living entities, please tell me the name of the Ekadasi that occurs during the dark fortnight of the month of Bhadrapada (August-September)."
XI. AMERICAN PRAGMATISM - William James (1842 - 1910)
Syamasundara dasa: Well, this is James's criterion for truth: that which I perceive is true. Truth is what one can experience.
Srila Prabhupada: But what you can perceive may also be wrong because you are not perfect. You may think an imperfect thing perfect, or a perfect thing imperfect. In the sastras it is stated that because human beings are controlled by the mode of passion, they love to work very hard, and thus they think that hard work is happiness. At the same time, the sastras point out that hard work for sense gratification is also being carried on by hogs and dogs. Animals are also working hard for some remuneration, for food, or sense enjoyment. This is called maya, illusion.
Audio files with transcripts recorded on this day.
Please visit Vanipedia.org for audio files and transcripts.
August 16, 1974, Vrndavana
Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.5.35
"… He's so beautiful that He can surpass in His beauty the Cupids, millions and millions of Cupids. His name is Madana-mohana."
August 16, 1976, London
Bhagavad-gita 2.10
"Nobody can understand Krsna without becoming a pure devotee of Krsna."
August 16, 1976, Bombay
Room Conversation
"… when Lord Buddha wanted stop animal killing, these rascals came
with Vedas. "Vedas there is sacrifice, there is animal killing." So he
thought that these rascals will create botheration. By bringing Vedas,
there is... He said, 'I don't care for it.'"
Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada.
Celebrating Krsna's Birth
BY: SUN STAFF
Aug 14, CANADA (SUN) — From 'Mathura Mandala-parikrama' by Srila Narahari Chakravarti Thakur, on the auspicious occasion of Sri Krsna Janmastami, observed August 15th.
In Vraja-vilasa-stava the following description is found: "I offer my obeisances to Mahavana, where Vrajaraja Nanda celebrated the birth of Krishna by distributing eighteen lakha cows, each wearing a large pearl necklace and golden ornaments. He also gave the brahmanas a tremendous quantity of jewelry and grains."
XI. AMERICAN PRAGMATISM - William James (1842 - 1910)
Hayagriva dasa: In his most famous book, The Varieties of Religious Experience, James writes: "Were we to limit our view to it, we should have to define religion as an external art, the art of winning the favor of God The relation goes direct from heart to heart, from soul to soul, between man and his maker."
Today, ship started at about 11 o'clock in the morning majestically...There was vomiting tendency and dizziness and I felt uncomfortable the whole day and night. (Srila Prabhupada embarked on a voyage at the age of 69, enduring the unbearable discomfort of sea sickness. All this he did to fulfill the desire of his spiritual master.)
James Baillie Fraser: A Scotsman in the Himalayas, Part 2
BY: SUN STAFF
Aug 12, CANADA (SUN) — An artist's expedition to the Himalayan realms.
Interspersed among excerpts from James Baillie Fraser's Himalayan travelogue, we hope the reader will enjoy the paintings in which he memorialized the trip. The collection of Himalayan scenes was published under the folio title, Views in the Himalayas, which comprised a collection of 20 beautiful scenes.
Syamasundara dasa: Marx believed that human nature is a product of environment. By putting a man in a factory and getting him to identify
with the state, he would be transformed into a selfless person.
Srila Prabhupada initiates two Muslim devotees at Tehran. (Srila Prabhupada’s vision was to spread Krishna consciousness all over the world. Religion, nationality, caste, race, didn’t matter. Krishna consciousness was for all. At Tehran, he pleaded to the Muslim audience, "You can chant the name of Allah also. Not necessarily that you have to chant Krishna’s name, but any name indicating the Supreme Lord can be chanted.")
Lord Caitanya's Teachings Open the Field of Activity for the Pure Soul
BY: SRI VRINDAVAN DAS
Aug 12, INDIA (SUN) — From the Preface of Sri Caitanya-caritamrta.
Srila Prabhjupada...There is no difference between the teachings of Lord Caitanya presented here and the teachings of Lord Krsna in the Bhagavad-gita. The teachings of Lord Caitanya are practical demonstrations of Lord Krsna's teachings. Lord Krsna's ultimate instruction in Bhagavad-gita is that everyone should surrender unto Him, Lord Krsna. Krsna promises to take immediate charge of such a surrendered soul. The Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is already in charge of the maintenance of this creation by virtue of His plenary expansion, Ksirodakasayi Visnu, but this maintenance is not direct. However, when the Lord says that He takes charge of His pure devotee, He actually takes direct charge.
Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada.
