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No Falls from Vaikuntha
BY: BHAKTA DASA (ACBSP)
Mar 16, THAILAND (SUN) — I am much pleased to read H.G. Isvara das's comments in his recent article, " On the Falling/no-falling of the Jiva". Maya vadis also say this is all MAYA and only BRAHMA is real. When we say this is a dream only and we are really in Goloka with KRSNA leela, is this not basic Mayavadi concepts, "Brahma satya jagat mithya"?
The first thing we learn from His Divine Grace's Bhagavad-gita introduction is that there are five subjects in the Gita -- time, nature, God, the living being and karma -- and how all of these are eternal except KARMA which can be stopped, but is anadi, without beginning.
FULL STORY
Open Letter to Bhagavan:
These are my feelings
BY: MOHINI MURTI DEVI DASI
Mar 16, SPAIN (SUN) — Occasionally I defended Bhagavan's name based on fatuous and unreal splendor
during his time in ISKCON. But now I realize that his "return" is wrapped in the same false and glittering cellophane paper. How is it that after so many mistakes, he is able to organize "such a set-up" to attract a mount of naive insects, that can only see the shining of his artificial light? What has progressed in all these years? He is still the same, involved in his bubble of power and predominance. In short, he continues to be arrogant
and spiteful.
Bhagavan, you just reigned based on disloyal rivalry and waste. Your glory was based on simply stimulating the lowest characteristics of the living entity. You used the noble ideals of a big group of youth that had unbreakable faith in the Truth that Srila Prabhupada came to teach in the West, but we had no spiritual or material maturity. We surrendered to the experience of the captivating moment, but it was not profound. We even fought between us, just to get one of your "pleased glances".
FULL STORY
Vrindavan as a State
of Mind
BY: KURMA DASA (NOT THE CHEF)
Mar 16, AUSTRALIA (SUN) — I am not that philosophically capable to comprehend the intricacies of the fall/no fall debate, however yesterday I was thinking about something Srila Prabhupada said regarding ISKCON's Melbourne Temple when he was here in Australia. He said:
"If you want to remain in the spiritual world, this temple IS the spiritual world. WE ARE NOT LIVING IN MELBOURNE. This temple is not Melbourne. IT IS VRINDAVANA..."
(Srila Prabhupada)
FULL STORY
The Fall/no fall of
Isvara das
BY: MAHAVIDYA DAS (ACBSP)
Mar 16, UK (SUN) —
With regards to Isvara das's contribution to the fall/no fall debate, may I comment.
Apparently…
we should now stop listening to the Founder-Acarya of ISKCON, HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and take instruction from Isvara das.
Once again, it is time to ignore the words emanating from the lotus mouth of Srila Prabhupada, be they "conversations", or "letters", or "lectures".
You see... they are only lectures, conversations and letters.
Srila Prabhupada's instructions and explanations are once again to be minimised.
FULL STORY
How Does a Real
Devotee Think?
BY: VRINDAVAN DAS
Mar 16, UK (SUN) —
The Highest Vaisnava Sees Himself as the Lowest of All
Originally published in The Gaudiya, Volume 24, Issue 7
Those who are fit possess an abundant power of devotion. They are strong.
I should not apply myself to finding out the shortcomings of the Vaishnavas, condemning service to Lord Visnu or seeking to establish my own point of view by neglecting the method that may enable me to serve the Lord and His devotees.
FULL STORY
True Then - True Now - True Tomorrow
BY: DHRUVA MAHARAJA DASA
Mar 16, INDIA (SUN) — Shortly after Srila Prabhupada's disappearance in 1977, several devotee friends and I underwent a focused study of his books with the resolute purpose of understanding Gaudiya Vaisnava siddhanta concerning Guru-Tattva. Years later, as an offering for Srila Prabhupada's Centennial in 1996, I published a small pamphlet of pertinent quotes we found in our study, entitled "Siksa-Diksa".
FULL STORY
On the Falling/no-falling of the Jiva
BY: ISVARA DASA
Mar 15, INDIA (SUN) — I just read the current article by Bahushira Prabhu, "The Fifth Veda and Unanswered Questions, Part 2", and I can say its quite amusing how he has supplied the references from some loose translations of Brahma Vaivarta Purana alleging Vaikuntha and Goloka as a place to be attained by pious activities, then once the result of one's pious works are exhausted, one falls down again to the material world. I think Bahushira Prabhu could have done better research before making this kind of posting.
This debate of fall and no-fall has been going on for ages in ISKCON, and it has basically divided devotees into two camps of understanding; those who firmly believe we were never there, and those who still believe we were once there in the Krishna lila, then for whatever reason, became envious of Krishna, thus fell down to the material world. It is basically troubling when both camps of devotees cite Srila Prabhupada as the authority by citing his various statements on the issue. However one thing for sure, I have yet to read from anywhere in Srila Prabhupada's books alleging that someone can fall from the spiritual world.
FULL STORY
Suriya Prabhu's Analysis of the July 9th Letter
BY: GADADHAR DASA
Mar 15, DALLAS, TEXAS, USA (SUN) — A partial response to Suriya Prabhu's analysis of the July 9th Letter.
(1) Suriya Prabhu states:
"The letter was clearly addressed to these 11 representatives, and nobody else."
That is way off. The title of the letter says: "Letter to: All G.B.C., All Temple Presidents". Suriya Prabhu needs to calm down. Don't let your expectations color your perceptions.
FULL STORY
Different Historical Perspectives on July 9th Letter
BY: KURMA DASA (NOT THE CHEF)
Mar 15, AUSTRALIA (SUN) — Bhakta Suria claimed in his article, "The July 9th Letter": "...while those who were there knew what was Srila Prabhupada's mood and intention. They verily knew that this July 9th Letter was just a temporary provision."
Everyone likes to believe that their version of history is the correct version. Bhakta Suria gives the impression above, that everyone who was there at the time had the same understanding. This is not true! Many devotees who were there at the time did not hear that the July 9th Letter was a temporary provision.
FULL STORY
On Weekends... you
can call me Margaret
BY: MAHAVIDYA DAS (ACBSP)
Mar 15, UK (SUN) —
Well done to those involved in the unmasking of "Margaret".
I was also wondering who that Krishna das was.
How dishonest.
Pity Praghosa das, who will no doubt become the butt of endless jokes.
The mind simply boggles...
Does prabhu's wife know about this?
But what to do... prabhu has only brought this on himself or herself... as the case may be.
I and others were wondering why "Margaret " had gone quiet.
And just when one thinks one has seen everything in ISKCON.
FULL STORY
Price Rise of Temple Tickets Kicks up Storm
BY: SUN STAFF CORRESPONDENT
Mar 15, JAGANNATHA PURI, ORISSA  — The decision of Jagannath Temple authorities to enforce the hiked price of special (parimanik) tickets from Monday has been put off following stiff opposition by a certain group of priests of Pratihari Nijog.
"We decided not to implement the hiked fee of parimanik tickets for the time being due to protest by Pratihari priests. It has been deferred till Tuesday. The matter would be discussed at the temple managing committee meeting on Tuesday," Puri District Collector and temple's Deputy Chief Administrator, Fakir Charan Satapathy said. "Until a final decision is taken, parimaniktickets would be available in the old rate," Satapathy said.
FULL STORY
The Blue Sky
BY: APRAKRITA DASA
Mar 15, MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA (SUN)
— A new video is now available at Cinema Hare Krishna, the online devotee theatre, entitled "THE BLUE SKY". New videos are available at the Cinema twice weekly. You can add your name to the email announcement list for instant notification.
FULL STORY
The Fifth Veda and Unanswered Questions, Part 2
BY: BAHUSHIRA DASA (ACBSP)
Mar 14, CALIFORNIA, USA (SUN) — Then two weeks later in a Los Angeles lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam, on 7-3-72 Srila Prabhupada again says:
"He is already fallen from Vaikuntha Planet, he is fallen in this material world. And he is again trying to make progress."
While still in L.A,. in a Bhagavtam lecture on May 20, 1972, Srila Prabhupada emphasizes:
"They're fallen because they wanted to gratify their senses. They cannot remain in Vaikuntha World. In the Vaikuntha World, only the one, the Supreme Lord, His senses should be satisfied not anyone elses. That is called bhakti."
FULL STORY
On Narayana
BY: PARASURAM DAS
Mar 14, UK (SUN) — Here's the question I can't understand. Narayana Maharaja makes a whole attack on
Srila Prabhupada's Bhagavad Gita verse 9.32, not realising that he had also translated the verse in exactly the same way.
I am not a scientist, and correct me if I am wrong, but does that mean:
1. Narayana Maharaja forgot that he had translated it? And also forgot that he made
a massive "mistake"?
2. Actually never translated his own Bhagavad Gita?
3. Or is he being misguided into saying things he does not know anything about?
FULL STORY
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Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada.
