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Srila Prabhupada in this conversation expresses his concerns in regards to his disciples who work in materialistic world and gives some practical suggestion on how they can be saved from fall-downs. Prabhupada: ...grhastha life. Bhaktivinoda Thakura independently... Or I was also grhastha. Our aim was different. But this neophyte, if they remain aloof from temple connection without attending the function, gradually they will be lost. Tamala Krsna: That was the reason that I suggested to Abhirama Prabhu that he should make his business in Bombay. Actually the grhasthas have no desire to live independent of the temples. Just like Madhavananda, he's got an apartment now just near the temple so that he can attend mangala-arati and the other functions. Prabhupada: Yes. Unless these things are continued, the karmis' poison will spoil them. He can do independent business; there is no harm. But must be connected with the devotional service. Tamala Krsna: Yeah. Prabhupada: Just like Abhirama constructed that house. That's all right. He is within the campus. There is no harm. And now if he goes away after so much training, advancement, if they are lost, then that's a great loss for the Society. With such... With great difficulty we make one Vaisnava. And again, if he goes like Syamasundara, then it is great loss. The whole idea is to give up attachment for material world and increase attachment for Krsna. That is perfection. Now, according to one's position, gradually... But this is the aim. Param drstva nivartate [Bg. 9.59]. Nivrtti. Tamala Krsna: I don't think Abhirama has any intention of going away. Prabhupada: No, he has no intention, but he lives apart from temple connection... Tamala Krsna: Then he will go away automatically. Prabhupada: Yes. Tamala Krsna: So that's not possible, then, for him to go to Bangalore, 'cause we have no center in Bangalore. Prabhupada: So he wants to organize a center there? Tamala Krsna: No, he was thinking of organizing business. Prabhupada: Then Bombay is better place than Bangalore. Tamala Krsna: Yes. He admits it's a better place. No, he can be encouraged very easily to go to Bombay. I mean, generally, throughout our Society, I don't think the trend of the grhasthas is to move away from temples and live independently. If they live independently from the temple, it's in close... Prabhupada: No, no. There is chance, I said. Tamala Krsna: Yes. Prabhupada: The karmis' association is very contaminous. Asat-sangi. So for him the best thing will be to take a room in Bombay. Let him do business. Tamala Krsna: I'm sure now that... I'll convey all... Prabhupada: Grhastha should not be dependent on Society. At the same time, he should not be independent of the Society. (laughs) This is the position. Because Society cannot take charge of a family. There will be so many number of families. How it is possible? At the same time, if they remain independently of the Society, without touch, then the karmis' poison will infect. Tamala Krsna: It seems like the solution is to get apartments near the temple, get room near the temple. Prabhupada: Why not in the temple? Why? If he pays, what is wrong? Tamala Krsna: No, in a place like Bombay where we have so many buildings, in the temple. But sometimes... Just like in America, if there's only one building with only... Prabhupada: No, America also... Just like Los Angeles we have got. Tamala Krsna: That's different. There there are apartments. Prabhupada: Similarly, you have to arrange like that. They should not live completely independent. That will be future danger. Tamala Krsna: It has to be a community of devotees. Prabhupada: Krsna conscious ideal grhasthas. That we want. Just like Bhaktivinoda Thakura. There are many. I was grhastha. There was Deity worship, everything nice. I was publishing Back to Godhead from grhastha. So aim was there. But I could not leave family life for some circumstances. That is a different thing. Must be in touch with the devotional service as in the temple. If live nearby temple, it is easier, or in the temple. But aloof, that is dangerous. Tamala Krsna: If they live in the temple, then there's the problem of... You know. Prabhupada: No. Temple, he can take one room, pay for it. He wants to pay. That is also payment. And further, if he can pay, that's all right. Tamala Krsna: In America, supposing a householder family pays for a room in our temple building. So they can have their sex life and family life? Prabhupada: If they can pay for prasadam also, it is nice. Sex... Husband-wife living, there must be sex, so who can...? Tamala Krsna: So how can that be in the same building as the brahmacari ashram? Prabhupada: No, no, no, so many other grhastha tenants. Tamala Krsna: That's in, like, Hare Krsna Land in Bombay. But supposing in a... Prabhupada: That you cannot check. Grhastha means they must have sex. But they're living independent, separately. Tamala Krsna: Yeah, that's in Hare Krsna Land. Prabhupada: No, anywhere. If they are doing independent business, let them do that. Tamala Krsna: So in the New York... Prabhupada: Karmis' concession, sex. Tamala Krsna: In the New York they can live families together? In that building, families can live together and have sex life? Prabhupada: What is wrong? Tamala Krsna: In that building. It's all right? Prabhupada: Yes. Why not? In a building there are so many different types of men. In a big building, apartment building, you cannot expect all of them of the same class. Tamala Krsna: Hm. 'Cause in Bombay you had said that is was better that in an immediate building of the temple they should not live together with wife. They should live separately. Prabhupada: No, that is, they are not doing business. They are attached to temple activities. Anyway, these things have to be adjusted. You cannot follow very rigid in case of grhasthas. Some way or other, you have to adjust. We cannot allow them to be lost. Tamala Krsna: No. That's clear. Prabhupada: Better allow them to live together. What can be done? But we cannot lose them. After training so much, if they are lost, then that is a great loss. This I am giving hint. Now you GBC, you change them. Make process. Tamala Krsna: Yeah. Right now in our Society throughout the world, wherever there are grhasthas living in our temples, they live separate from their wives. And if they want to live with their wives, then they get a room or an apartment near the temple. Prabhupada: So may be like that, but must be attached to the temple. Tamala Krsna: Yeah, that's the clear point. We should not lose anyone. Prabhupada: No, that's a great loss. Tamala Krsna: Because if husband and wife live together in the temple itself, where there are so many brahmacaris and... [break] Prabhupada: ...he makes love with a girl and marries and live at the cost of Society, and that is to be discouraged. If you want to marry, you work independently. Maintain yourself. And whatever you can contribute, do that. That is the... Just like Abhirama. He's very good. And I don't want to be lost. He constructed that house, I never forbade. And it is in the campus. Let him remain a little separately. It doesn't matter. Tamala Krsna: I think the main reason he can't live there anymore is that because of doing business he'll not always be able to be in Mayapura, and he doesn't feel that that house is safe for his wife to live there alone. Prabhupada: Why alone? Can live with others. Tamala Krsna: Other householders there also. Prabhupada: Yes. Many householders can live there together. Tamala Krsna: Yes. There's room on the floor below... Prabhupada: Yes. Tamala Krsna: ...his apartment for two other families. I don't know what... Prabhupada: That can be arranged. That is not... Tamala Krsna: I don't think he feels it's safe enough. Prabhupada: No, no. This is incidental. This is not permanent problem. Tamala Krsna: I don't know what's behind it. I don't know the full reason why he doesn't want to stay there anymore. Prabhupada: If he wants to do business, how he can stay there? Tamala Krsna: Yeah. There's no business in Mayapura. Prabhupada: What is business there? Tamala Krsna: He wants to go where there's a business center. Prabhupada: No, business means he must do business in some city. Tamala Krsna: Yeah. Bombay. Prabhupada: Anywhere. Bombay is the best city. He has got facility to stay there. For business Bombay is the best city. Tamala Krsna: In India. Prabhupada: In India. No, world. It is a very important city. Export, import, local. Tremendous business possibility there. Many poor men goes and becomes very rich men. Bombay is very important center. You have to get a place by giving bribe, fifty thousand, sixty thousand, to stay there. Tamala Krsna: They call that hundi. Prabhupada: Not hundi. Bhakti-caru: Pagri.(?) Tamala Krsna: Pagri, I mean. Prabhupada: Pagri, yes. To get a place there... Bombay is so important that if you want to get a place you have to pay no less, fifty thousand, lakh of rupees to stand. Then do business. Very important. Anything you do, you must have land first of all to stand. Otherwise what you'll do? To stand in Bombay you have to pay lakh of... Don't you see -- we drive away the tenants -- how much we recompense. We pay compensation. Tamala Krsna: Yes. We have to pay a lot of money... Prabhupada: That's it. Tamala Krsna: ...so that they can pay for some other place. Prabhupada: Yes. Tamala Krsna: That's true. Nowadays it's very difficult. Prabhupada: This is system in Bombay. Without paying, you cannot get even inch of land. Tamala Krsna: Trivikrama Maharaja told me in Japan it's getting like that also, Tokyo. Prabhupada: Wherever there is scarcity, that is the system. Tamala Krsna: In America that is not there. Prabhupada: America, enough places. Tamala Krsna: They have paying a few months' rent, but not pagri. Prabhupada: There are so many houses. Why they should pay? Tamala Krsna: Yeah. That's true. Prabhupada: Multi-story building. Why people should pay? Now Bombay have got many multi-story building; therefore that demand is reduced. But still, you have to pay in important place, pagri or underhand. What is called? Tamala Krsna: Bribe. Prabhupada: Bribe is very bad word. "Under table." (chuckling) Tamala Krsna: Under the table. Unofficial. Prabhupada: Yes. Mean I am paying on the table hundred rupees and under table two hundred rupees. Tamala Krsna: Srila Prabhupada, I think you know everything spiritual and material. Prabhupada: Hm? So my fear is that after training our men so much, if he's lost, that's a great loss. Then future of society becomes very hopeless. Tamala Krsna: So the principle is that if a householder has outside employment and can pay, then he can live inside our temple buildings. Prabhupada: That's nice. What is the wrong? Tamala Krsna: At least for five or six years now the system has been that no man and woman should live together in the same building as where the Deity is. Prabhupada: That is the system. Temple is meant for retired men. Brahmacari, sannyasi, vanaprastha. Tamala Krsna: So then how we can let them live together, man and woman? Prabhupada: But if there is no alternative, what can be done? Tamala Krsna: Hm. No, but there is alternative always. There are available rooms and apartments just adjoining the temples. Prabhupada: Then it is all right, but he must be connected with temple. Tamala Krsna: Yeah. That's the principle. Under no circumstance should anybody be independent. Prabhupada: Upendra is here? Upendra: Yes, Prabhupada. Prabhupada: So you have corrected that paste? Upendra: Yes, Prabhupada. Prabhupada: It has become soft? Upendra: Yes, it's very soft and moist. Prabhupada: That's good. Tamala Krsna: Prabhupada? It seems like your voice has become a little congested tonight. Are you feeling congested? Your voice seems a little... Prabhupada: Congested, my vice? Tamala Krsna: Voice. In the nose. Congestion. Prabhupada: My nose? Not very much. Tamala Krsna: Oh. Prabhupada: So you can go. Upendra: Prabhupadaji? I have one question since you are speaking about grhastha. If a brahmacari decides to get married and then enters into married life, should he be encouraged to maintain that responsibility throughout his life? Prabhupada: No, no, unless he can maintain family, why should he marry? Upendra: Well, I'm specifically questioning the fact that some... Of course, our movement is young, but so many women, their husbands leave them, and they are so young and they're left. So these young women I'm thinking may become a disturbance in the future to the movement, because how a woman can remain unmarried for so many years? Her husband has left her after a few years of marriage. Generally... Prabhupada: What we can do? Upendra: I'm saying the emphasis of marriage responsibility, I don't know if it's #preached that strongly. Generally it's preached that one should not... Prabhupada: No, if he marries, why he should not take responsibility of maintaining? Why he should marry if he has no power of maintaining? Tamala Krsna: What does that mean, "power of maintaining," Srila Prabhupada? Prabhupada: He must maintain his wife, children nicely. Otherwise why he should marry? Tamala Krsna: He shouldn't expect the temple to maintain him. Prabhupada: That is not possible. Tamala Krsna: Of course, he might be thinking, "Well, I'm a pujari, so the temple should pay me money to maintain my family." Prabhupada: If we have got brahmacari pujari, why should we maintain a grhastha? He is not only one pujari. We have got sannyasi, brahmacari. Why should we maintain a grhastha? And where is the means? After all, these things are to be adjusted. I can give you the ideas. The pujaris were given in Vrndavana the temple, and they made it a source of income. Just like the gosais are doing. Their puja goes to hell. Tamala Krsna: Who? Prabhupada: Mean these grhastha pujari. Gradually the puja will go to hell. They'll gradually glide down how to maintain family by showing the Deity. That is... The gosais are doing. People have sentiment to give something to the Deity, and they will depend on that income. Bas. This is the position of these Vrndavana temple. What is the position of the Radha-Ramana? Deterioration. It is not being properly done. They'll sell the property. Tamala Krsna: Yes. Just like that Madan Mohan is thinking... Prabhupada: Yes. Tamala Krsna: ...to do. He says it's his property. Prabhupada: Yes. Tamala Krsna: Imagine that. Whew! Boy! Prabhupada: He is maintaining it for his sons', daughters' marriage. That is... Tamala Krsna: After all, Tirtha Maharaja did that too. Prabhupada: Yes. Tamala Krsna: He says, "My son is the next in line." Whew. Prabhupada: The interest will go to the family, not to the Deity. Tamala Krsna: That's not good. Prabhupada: Jiva Gosvami was brahmacari. So he gave to a grhastha sisya to maintain Radha-Damodara. But what is the position now? Gopala Bhatta Gosvami was also a brahmacari. Everything depends on training and mentality. If the attention is diverted otherwise, then it is lost. Tamala Krsna: I think Madhavendra Puri, he gave his Deity. Now it's again... You know, who has Govardhana Deity. Vallabhacarya's line now worships. Prabhupada: They gave to the Vallabhacarya. But somehow they are maintaining the status quo. Tamala Krsna: Hm. Still very opulent. They do very elaborate. That Pushti Marg group, they do very elaborate Deity worship. Prabhupada: Very nice. Tamala Krsna: Of course, they don't preach very vigorously, but at least their Deity worship... Prabhupada: That is also preaching. Arcanam. One of the... If they maintain the Deity worship gorgeously, that is also preaching. Tamala Krsna: So the guiding principle should be that under no circumstance should anyone become lost. Prabhupada: Then what is the preaching? Alexander the Great? He was conquering, and as soon he went to conquer another place, the last place lost. Tamala Krsna: What happened? Prabhupada: Suppose I have conquered Bombay. Then I go to Karachi. In the meantime, Bombay is lost. That was being done, Alexander the Great. Means no proper management. Just like British Empire lost. They could not manage. So long they were managing well, it was going on. Tamala Krsna: Too much expansion with not enough good management. Prabhupada: No. Tamala Krsna: Similarly, we should not expand too quickly... Prabhupada: No. Tamala Krsna: ...unless we have the proper management. Prabhupada: I am stressing, therefore, book selling. Tamala Krsna: Hm. Prabhupada: Not opening temples. Tamala Krsna: Oh. Yes. This is the reason, one of the reasons. Hm. I don't think many devotees think in terms of that, but this is a very practical point, that selling books, once you make the sale, that's it. The book will act. Prabhupada: Yes. It will remain permanent. Tamala Krsna: Hm. It establishes itself as a Deity within a person's home. Prabhupada: Yes. Tamala Krsna: The book. Prabhupada: Now I have given my program. You tackle, GBC men. At least, don't make me Alexander the Great in my lifetime. (laughs) They say, "You are great, great, great." But don't make it small while I am living. Tamala Krsna: Or after. We will never make you that way. Prabhupada: Eh. Tamala Krsna: We should never do that. Prabhupada: That's... That's my request. Room Conversation about Grhasthas -- July 17, 1977, Vrndavana

Nathan Hartley, aka Narada Dasa, is an author, journalist, public speaker and a great friend of BLISS. Here he reviews one of our books, No Time: Chronic Disease of the Common Man, compiled and edited by His Grace Purujit Dasa. Get your copy now on the BLISS STORE Just finished reading ‘No Time: A Chronic Disease of the Common Man’. A fantastic compilation of essays, lectures and talks on the topic of ‘time’ (and how to make better use of it) - as shared with the western world by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. This book is a must read for anyone who needs advice and support on how we can - on a day to day basis - use our time more wisely in the service of Krishna (busyness is never a good excuse!)   To purchase a copy check out www.blissstoreshop.co.uk

Lord Krishna's loving pastimes with the cowherd damsels have been always the source of controversy amongst the mundane moralists. How could God be possibly engaged in immoral activities? Is He then God? Or is Krishna just an ordinary man who poses as God? The following is a conversation with His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the Hare Krishna founder, where all these questions become very soundly answered. Prabhupada: ...even taking it that Krishna is after sex, then if sex is bad, then why you are after sex? The whole world is going on after sex. How you can deny it? Ramesvara: He says that sex is not for God. Prabhupada: Why? If sex if not there in God, then how it comes? If God created everything, so God did not create sex? Ramesvara: They think it means we are saying God has a material body, because they associate sex with material body. Prabhupada: Material body has no sex. A dead man does not enjoy sex. Do you think that a dead man enjoys sex? Suppose a beautiful girl-dead. Will you accept for sex? Then why do you take that sex is for the body? (train noises) "Sex if for the material body" is not the fact. When the soul is not there, where is sex? Ramesvara: They consider sex to be his lower nature, animal nature. Prabhupada: No. Everything is..., becomes animal nature when it is perverted, when it is contaminated. Ramesvara: They do not have any conception of the positive. Prabhupada: Eh? Ramesvara: They have no conception of pure life. So they think that it's just... Prabhupada: If they have no conception, we should give them conception that the body is dead, decomposed, then where is the sex? Where is the inclination? Similarly, the soul originally... As it is said in the Vedanta-sutra, that "Everything is coming from Brahman." Athato brahma jijnasa: "Now let us talk about Brahman." This is the meaning of athato brahma-jijnasah. Then next verse is..., sutra, code-janmady asya yatah [SB 1.1.1]. And Krishna says in the Bhagavad-gita, aham sarvasya prabhavo [Bg. 10.8]. So unless sex comes from God... It may be perverted in the material world. That is another thing. But originally, pure sex must be there in God. Otherwise how it comes? Everything is emanating from the Supreme. Janmady asya yatah [SB 1.1.1]. So how you can say there is no sex? Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura explains that janmady asya, adi-rasa. Adi. Adi-rasa means sex enjoyment. So he has explained that sex has come from... Because we have used perverted sex, we have got a very bad idea. But actually sex is there in the original. Otherwise there is no question of madhurya-rasa. Hladini-sakti. There is no question of sex. You do not understand Absolute. The opposition party will inquire you, but sex is originally from Brahman. That is why... Ramesvara: His argument was that when Krishna was here, He was having friendship with the gopis, who were married to other men. Prabhupada: Yes. Ramesvara: This is immoral. Prabhupada: Yes. Ramesvara: God never acts in an immoral way. Prabhupada: So that you have made, immoral. Because if He is the proprietor, then He is the proprietor of everything. You have accepted one woman who belongs to Krishna. You are immoral. He is the original proprietor of everything, and everything belongs to Him, but He has given you one woman. Tena tyaktena. But no woman belongs to you. So you should stop connection with women. It is immoral. Otherwise every woman belongs to Krishna. How you can use Krishna's property? That is the disease, that we are trying to enjoy Krishna's property. Krishna's the proprietor. Bhoktaram yajna-tapasam sarva... [Bg. 5.29]. He's the bhokta, He's the enjoyer. How you can enjoy Krishna's property? That is immoral. And therefore you shall be punished. You are being punished. Because we are encroaching upon Krishna's property illegally, therefore we are suffering. Krishna is moral, you are utilizing unauthorized, using this material... Ramesvara: His argument was that if God comes to this world and displays activities with women, it is natural that the followers of that religion will also want to have affairs with women. Prabhupada: No. Because they have not studied Krishna, they misunderstand in that way. You are fond of woman. Krishna comes to show you that in the Vaikuntha, Goloka Vrindavana, there is woman, but not in this way. Originally there is. That is pure. So it requires education. You are not educated; you cannot talk. Now sex..., even in our material experience we find that by sex many great men has been found. So how you can accuse sex? You are talking. We should say, "You are a product of sex. So how do you say that sex is bad?" Ramesvara: They say that when one man has many different women, then that is immoral. Prabhupada: No, first of all answer. Suppose you are a big man, but you are product of sex. Are you born differently or through sex? What is the answer? Ramesvara: Sex. Prabhupada: Yes. Sex is not bad. When it is misused, that is the defect. Otherwise, sex is not... Ramesvara: The Western conception is that one man can only have one woman. Prabhupada: Why? If he can produce many big men, he can have hundreds of women. But you cannot do that. Therefore you are restrained. You are bad. You better restrain. Don't have sex, because you'll produce cats and dogs. But one who is able to produce great brain, great philosophers, he should produce hundreds. You do not know how to produce good brain. Therefore you stop! Don't produce cats and dogs. For you it is "Stop." You do not know how to use sex. Therefore you should stop. [break] You should not any more use sex. But one who can produce better brains should have hundreds of times. You must know how to produce. That is Vedic civilization, dharmah samskara idam...(?) It is not a secrecy, how to produce brain. And because brain is not produced, therefore there is agitation, that they have no brain. They do not know the value of this Krishna consciousness movement. You have been produced like cats and dogs; therefore you cannot appreciate. Therefore you should stop. But one who has power to produce brain, to produce Krishna conscious children, they should be use. Foodstuff is forbidden for a person who cannot digest. One who can digest food, he must eat sumptuously. There is no restriction for him. Food is not bad. One who cannot digest, it is bad for him. This is the conclusion. What is food for one is poison for another. If you cannot use sex power how to use it for better purposes, you should not use sex. Conversation on Train to Allahabad -- January 11, 1977, India

Srila Prabhupada explains in this quote how the living entity forgets his eternal self and identifies with the material body. Unless a living entity forgets his real identity, it is impossible for him to live in the material conditions of life. Therefore the first condition of material existence is forgetfulness of one's real identity. And by forgetting one's real identity, one is sure to be afraid of death, although a pure living soul is deathless and birthless. This false identification with material nature is the cause of false ownership of things which are offered by the arrangement of superior control. All material resources are offered to the living entity for his peaceful living and for the discharge of the duties of self-realization in conditioned life. But due to false identification, the conditioned soul becomes entrapped by the sense of false ownership of the property of the Supreme Lord. fear of death (SB 3.12.2) fear of death

In each issue of the Matchless Gift magazine, head chef Maitreya prabhu shares a recipe. In issue 3, he shared a recipe for Kaalan Melagu Masala. Recipe for Kaalan Melagu Masala (mushroom pepper fry) Ingredients: 300g baby button mushroom, cleaned and stemmed 6 tbsp groundnut oil 2 medium size tomatoes and 2 small tomatoes 1/3 white cabbage 3 tbsp peppercorn whole 1 tbsp fennel seeds Handful fresh curry leaves 1 heaped tsp hing/asafoetida 1 heaped tsp kashmiri chilli powder 1/2 tsp turmeric powder 2 heaped tsp coriander power 1 inch ginger Directions: Clean and prep your mushrooms by taking out the stem. The final weight of the mushrooms altogether must be 300 grams, otherwise, the taste will not be excellent. Make a fine purée, along with the ginger (peeled completely, otherwise the taste will be slightly bitter), of the tomatoes in a blender. Wash the curry leaves. Prepare a fine powder out of the peppercorn and the fennel. These should not be roasted before grinding, and they should be ground during the preparation of the prasadam. The powder can be stored fresh for up to 6 months and preserve its flavor, but it is best used immediately. Black pepper loses its aroma quickly. Heat 6 TBSP of groundnut oil in a large kadai. A kadai, or a wok if a kadai is not available, is a good instrument to use because of its shape to stir ingredients quickly and avoid burning. Heat the kadai or wok to high heat. Add the cabbage and cook on high flame until it becomes somewhat caramelized. Add the curry leaves and sputter them for a few seconds. Add the tomato ginger puree, and add the turmeric powder, coriander powder, hing (asafoetida), and chili powder. Keep the mixture cooking on a high flame for 7 minutes, and the oil from the mixture should nicely float on top of the tomato mixture. This indicates that the masala has cooked the raw smell and taste out. If the oil doesn’t float, the flavor doesn’t come. At this stage, add the mushrooms. They will release water and cook in the same. It should take 5 minutes, depending on the number of mushrooms (for the amount recommended here, it should take 5 minutes). The mixture will become more liquid-ish at first and then thicken while cooking. Hot water can be added at this stage if the mixture is very thick and if you want to take it with rice, as the consistency when more watery will be better with rice. If it is semi-thick, it is best taken with idli or chapati, or if it is dry (not so much sauce except coating the mushrooms), it is best taken with chapati. The consistency can be changed by the duration of cooking. After 5 minutes or when the mushrooms change color completely and shrink slightly, add 2 heaped tsp of the prepared pepper powder. You can add more if you like the flavor of pepper, but fair warning, it does get spicy. WANT MORE? GET THE FULL MAGAZINE

Did you hear the daily Bhagavatam class by His Grace Maitreya Rsi Prabhu this morning? If not, do give it a listen! In this lecture, Prabhu explains, point by point, what is Krishna consciousness, and the reason why and how Krishna, the soul, karma and reincarnation are not beliefs, but are practical, logical science that any old fool can understand and agree with. Listen and learn, this is real nectar here... What is Krishna Consciousness, The Soul, Reincarnation? Easy Explanation by Maitreya Rsi Prabhu Love our work? Shop our store to support our temple 🛍️

✨ Introducing Our Newest Edition of 'Matchless Gift' Magazine! 📖 hare Krishna We're thrilled to announce the release of the latest issue of our beloved magazine, 'Matchless Gift'! 🎉 Hare Krishna magazine Packed with insightful articles, captivating stories, and uplifting messages, each page of 'Matchless Gift' is crafted to inspire and enlighten readers on their spiritual journey. In this edition, delve into the timeless wisdom of the Hare Krishna tradition, explore the beauty of devotion, and discover practical insights for leading a fulfilling life. But that's not all! By subscribing to 'Matchless Gift,' you'll ensure you never miss an issue. Plus, as a subscriber, you'll gain access to exclusive content, special offers, and community updates. Don't miss out on the opportunity to enrich your spiritual journey and connect with like-minded individuals. Purchase your copy of 'Matchless Gift' today and embark on a path of enlightenment with us! 🔗 Purchase Now 💌 Subscribe now and receive your monthly dose of inspiration directly to your doorstep! Check out our other issues... Ready to buy? Click me M atchless gift

In this purport, Srila Prabhupada points out a very interesting and essential point for all practitioners of Krishna consciousness; following the rules and regulations in themselves is not enough to purify the mind. One must preach to others to inspire them to follow the process in order to save oneself from the influence of matter. Read on to know the details! tapah saucam daya satyam iti padah krte krtah adharmamsais trayo bhagnah smaya-sanga-madais tava In the age of Satya [truthfulness] your four legs were established by the four principles of austerity, cleanliness, mercy and truthfulness. But it appears that three of your legs are broken due to rampant irreligion in the form of pride, lust for women, and intoxication. PURPORT The deluding energy, or material nature, can act upon the living beings proportionately in terms of the living beings' falling prey to the deluding attraction of maya. Moths are captivated by the glaring brightness of light, and thus they become prey to the fire. Similarly, the deluding energy is always captivating the conditioned souls to become prey to the fire of delusion, and the Vedic scriptures warn the conditioned souls not to become prey to delusion but to get rid of it. The Vedas warn us to go not to the darkness of ignorance but to the progressive path of light. The Lord Himself also warns that the deluding power of material energy is too powerful to overcome, but one who completely surrenders unto the Lord can easily do so. But to surrender unto the lotus feet of the Lord is also not very easy. Such surrender is possible by persons of austerity, cleanliness, mercy and truthfulness. These four principles of advanced civilization were remarkable features in the age of Satya. In that age, every human being was practically a qualified brahmana of the highest order, and in the social orders of life they were all paramahamsas, or the topmost in the renounced order. By cultural standing, the human beings were not at all subjected to the deluding energy. Such strong men of character were competent enough to get away from the clutches of maya. But gradually, as the basic principles of brahminical culture, namely austerity, cleanliness, mercy and truthfulness, became curtailed by proportionate development of pride, attachment for women and intoxication, the path of salvation or the path of transcendental bliss retreated far, far away from human society. With the progression of the age of Kali, people are becoming very proud, and attached to women and intoxication. By the influence of the age of Kali, even a pauper is proud of his penny, the women are always dressed in an overly attractive fashion to victimize the minds of men, and the man is addicted to drinking wine, smoking, drinking tea and chewing tobacco, etc. All these habits, or so-called advancement of civilization, are the root causes of all irreligiosities, and therefore it is not possible to check corruption, bribery and nepotism. Man cannot check all these evils simply by statutory acts and police vigilance, but he can cure the disease of the mind by the proper medicine, namely advocating the principles of brahminical culture or the principles of austerity, cleanliness, mercy and truthfulness. Modern civilization and economic development are creating a new situation of poverty and scarcity with the result of blackmailing the consumer's commodities. If the leaders and the rich men of the society spend fifty percent of their accumulated wealth mercifully for the misled mass of people and educate them in God consciousness, the knowledge of Bhagavatam, certainly the age of Kali will be defeated in its attempt to entrap the conditioned souls. We must always remember that false pride, or too high an estimation of one's own values of life, undue attachment to women or association with them, and intoxication will divert human civilization from the path of peace, however much the people clamor for peace in the world. The preaching of the Bhagavatam principles will automatically render all men austere, clean both inside and outside, merciful to the suffering, and truthful in daily behavior. That is the way of correcting the flaws of human society, which are very prominently exhibited at the present moment. SB 1.17.25

Have you ever wondered whether or not you are simply a combination of chemicals, a kind of robot that simply follows the orders of the brain, with no aspect of freedom? Are we completely conditioned or is there any free will? And what about that "spiritual world", is that a fairytale? What is free will? spiritual world Free will is the ability to decide what you’re going to choose. But from the Vedas we know that this material world is completely controlled by three modes of material nature: sattva (goodness), rajas (passion), tamas (ignorance). By combination of those modes, 8,400,000 types of bodies are created so every spirit soul can fulfill his specific material desires. This world is designed for those who want to control, and be the so-called supreme controller, according to whom everybody will follow according to one's desires. We can see everybody is trying for that. But if we have different desires, how I can work? We can't control everybody, nor everything. You can control some people, a dog maybe, or some phenomenon, but not all the living entities of all the planets, the weather, or every single atom. That means the real controller is the controller of everything. Otherwise it's just cheap imitation. We desired to be Krishna, and Krishna designed a world for us to try and imitate him. According to our specific desires Krishna puts us in a specific body, by our free will we enter them. He doesn’t force us, in fact He warned us, but we insisted and He fulfilled it. Then in order to make sure all our desires are exactly fulfilled, the material modes of nature created the whole predestined mechanism, according to which everything would be exactly performed in order to fulfill the desires of the living entities. Then we are forced to follow that. If you want another nonsense Krishna will arrange it for you. Our free will doesn't depend on anything material. But because we always desire nonsense we are always being put and entangled into the material world and it's affairs. But if we desire to serve Krishna, which is our constitutional position, and if we do what is natural for us, we are free. If you do something that isn’t according to your propensity, like a gardener doing surgery, then he feels unnatural, unhappy, distressed and there are negative consequences. That is what we are experiencing, isn't it? Aren't we frustrated? Aren’t we unhappy? So many unnatural things. Why? Because we are situated in an unnatural position in an unnatural material world. If we would be like a fish in water, where is the distress and struggle? There is none. That’s an easy proof something is wrong. So if we desire properly to come back to Krishna, to the spiritual world and serve Him out of natural spontaneous love, which is, due to our rebellion and envy, being covered, then we will feel happy. If there is such an unnatural condition of the material world, that means there is natural world also. Just like a diseased person. Before he was healthy and everything was cool. After he became sick everything was bitter and troublesome. So we are also diseased, we need to cure ourselves. Being sick is not the original position. The original is being healthy. So because we suffer it means we are diseased. And as soon as we cure our disease, we come to our original healthy condition and we can understand that this material distress and affairs are unnatural. We can realize we belong to a different world, to the world where our eternal friend, Lord Krishna, is residing and we have loving relationship with Him. It's only up to our free will to decide to come back home, where we belong. Krishna then will send you proper guidance by His loyal devotee who will direct you. Make a proper decision today. It's up to you.

When you stumble across an old but gold video of His Grace Purujit Dasa Prabhu cooking in one of his European temples... In this video, His Grace talks with a disciple about the process of cooking for Krishna, how to properly hear Srila Prabhupada, the importance of drinking milk for spiritual advancement, all the while showing how to be a pukka, exemplary devotee and disciple. Purujit Prabhu ki JAYA! Cooking with His Grace Purujit Dasa If you appreciate Prabhu's work spreading Krishna consciousness as it is, please kindly support BLISS with a donation here . Thank you, Hare Krishna!

Big news at BLISS! For the last few months, as His Grace Maitreya Rsi Prabhu has been traversing India taking photos for the new upcoming BLISS book (more on that soon!), we have been held by the capable management of our wonderful new Bliss London temple president. Join us in congratulating His Grace for taking on this important role, our dear Nityananda Dasa Prabhu! This promotion is well deserved, and comes after many years of expert seva in the BLISS temple. Nityananda Prabhu will be focussing on more important seva, in particular long-term projects and temple management, in order to secure our temple here in London, and assist His Grace Purujit Prabhu in our expansion worldwide. If you would like to support our work, please sign up to become a patreon, and help us with our monthly expenses!

The following is a conversation chat between Purujit Dasa and a congregational member of the International Society for Krishna consciousness on the topic of initiation into Krishna consciousness. A DEVOTEE: I am confused, if you could please clear it up for me. According to your understanding, do we take Initiation from the gurus in our succession, or do they simply initiate us on behalf of Srila Prabhupada? PURUJIT: Ok, well there are two types of gurus. Diksa guru (initiator) and a siksa guru (instructor). Siksa guru is someone who instructs or initiates on behalf of the diksa guru. Srila Prabhupada for example received sannyasa initiation from his godbrother after his guru was already absent. Prabhupada says: "Just like myself, I took initiation from my Guru Maharaja, but I took sannyasa from a Godbrother who is a sannyasi. So my original guru is that spiritual master who initiated me, but he's also a siksa guru. Like that. Teacher. " (Discourse on Lord Caitanya Play Between Srila Prabhupada and Hayagriva -- April 5-6, 1967, San Francisco) It is just like in school. there is a textbook written by some author. the author might not be present at the university, but there are teachers who have read the book themselves and can explain to the students nicely. Here in this conversation Srila Prabhupada explains this relationship between siksa gurus and a diksa guru: Madhudvisa: ...cannot become a medical practitioner by simply reading the books. He must study under a medical practitioner. So in the case of your books, is it possible to become a devotee without actually having personal association with you? Just by reading your books? Prabhupada: No, it is not that you have to associate with the author. But one who knows, if you cannot understand you have to take lesson from him. Not necessarily that you have to contact with the author always. Devotee: Just like the textbooks are not written by the teachers; they're written by other professors. Devotee: Usually you don't even meet the author. Prabhupada: Simply one who knows the subject matter, he can explain. Madhudvisa: But can your, would your purports, would that serve as explanation besides... Prabhupada: No, no, anyone who knows the subject matter, he will be able to explain. Not necessarily the author is required to be present there. [break] ...to study from a medical man, I never said you have to study from the author. Or one who understood the author's purpose. Just like we are explaining Bhagavad-gita as it is. Not that one has to learn directly from Krsna. One who has understood Krsna, from him. That is parampara system. Morning Walk -- May 21, 1975, Melbourne So one who writes the books he is the diksa guru and those who instruct from the books are the siksa gurus provided they repeat what the diksa guru says.The key word here is when Srila Prabhupada says that if one cannot understand he should take guidance from one who knows. This shows that if one is capable he can become a devotee simply by reading Srila Prabhupada's books. Srila Prabhupada seems to confirm this in this exchange. If one does not understand, then there is no harm in approaching senior godbrothers for guidance provided they speak according to what Srila Prabhupada says. The important point is that Srila Prabhupada is the top authority in both scenarios. Sudama: There also is the position of, or some question is raised as to how to actually follow the authority. What is the authority between...? Prabhupada: Authority is your spiritual master. You do not know who is authority? Why this question is there? If one is initiated, then he accepted the authority. And if he does not follow the instruction of spiritual master, he is a rascal. He is defying the authority. That's all. Sudama: The question also is there: the authority is the spiritual master, but the via media to the spiritual master... The position of... The difference between, like we were discussing in the automobile, of siksa and diksa-guru. There is sometimes... Prabhupada: Then so siksa and diksa-guru... A siksa-guru who instructs against the instruction of spiritual..., he is not a siksa-guru. He is a demon. Siksa-guru, diksa-guru means... Sometimes a diksa-guru is not present always. Therefore one can take learning, instruction, from an advanced devotee. That is called the siksa-guru. Siksa-guru does not mean he is speaking something against the teachings of the diksa-guru. He is not a siksa-guru. He is a rascal. Bhagavad-gita 17.1–3 – July 3, 1974, Honolulu Please let me know if it is clear up to now before i continue more specifically about initiation A DEVOTEE: Yes I think I am understanding. But there is one thing, I don't know if you will answer it when covering initiation. Should Prabhupada be considered our last Diksa Guru? His disciples should not become diksha gurus in his absence? PURUJIT: ok so now let's talk about the definition of diksa. how do u understand diksa? you can tell me in your own words your definition however you understand it A DEVOTEE: Okay. My understanding is limited, but as far as I've been taught is that a Diksa Guru's purpose is to link one up with the sampradaya and to instruct his disciples. And the Shiksa guru is there to educate us, but does not take disciples. Or a devotee can accept a diksha guru as his Shiksa guru if he has already taken Initiation from another guru. PURUJIT: yes, but how does he link? what is that link with the sampradaya? how do you know that you are linked? A DEVOTEE: My understanding is that it is primarily the audible transmition of the Holy Name from guru to disciple and secondarily through Yagya and receiving beads that the guru has chanted on. PURUJIT: not exactly. for example you hear the holy name from some devotees on the street are they your diksa gurus? A DEVOTEE: Haha, no 😅 PURUJIT: ah 🙂 so there must be a little bit more difference. although essentially you are right A DEVOTEE: Enlighten me, Prabhu PURUJIT: let's look at how Krsna defines the parampara in the Bhagavad-gita: This supreme science was thus received through the chain of disciplic succession, and the saintly kings understood it in that way. But in course of time the succession was broken, and therefore the science as it is appears to be lost. (Bg 4.2) this is what Krsna says in the 4th chapter. the chain of disciplic succession is handing down the supreme science. it's a transmission of knowledge. you know that chanting of the holy name is the sankirtana yajna prescribed for this age. it is a sacrifice meant for this age A DEVOTEE: I see PURUJIT: now let's go to sloka where Krsna tells us to accept a spiritual master Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized soul can impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the truth. (Bg 4.34) do you know this sloka? A DEVOTEE: I do, yes PURUJIT: ok great! now let's check the word for word tat -- that knowledge of different sacrifices; viddhi -- try to understand; pranipatena -- by approaching a spiritual master; pariprasnena -- by submissive inquiries; sevaya -- by the rendering of service; upadeksyanti -- initiate; te -- unto you; jnanam -- knowledge; jnaninah -- the self-realized; tattva -- truth; darsinah -- the seers. Bg 4.34 A DEVOTEE: Oh I see PURUJIT: the truth we are supposed to learn from the spiritual master is the knowledge of the different sacrifices A DEVOTEE: Tat PURUJIT: Yes A DEVOTEE: Very interesting PURUJIT: and upadeksyanti Prabhupada translates as initiates so this sloka refers to a diksa guru.the diksa guru initiates us with the knowlege or science of how to chant the holy name so this is very essential to understand about diksa. It is not a one time event but a process of awakening our transcendental knowledge A DEVOTEE: I understand PURUJIT: the holy name purifies our heart and manifests what is already there-transcendental knowledge of our realtionship with krsna so it is this science and knowledge which is essential about diksa and it is a process. you do not learn this in one day. prabhupada says: Initiation is formality. Just like you go to a school for knowledge, and admission is formality. That is not very important thing. Press Interview -- October 16, 1976, Chandigarh Srila Jiva Gosvami explains diksa in his Bhakti-sandarbha (283) as follows: divyam jnanam yato dadyat kuryat papasya sanksayam tasmad dikseti sa prokta desikais tattva-kovidaih "Diksa is the process by which one can awaken his transcendental knowledge and vanquish all reactions caused by sinful activity. A person expert in the study of the revealed scriptures knows this process as diksa." In his translation of the Upadesamrta of Srila Rupa Goswami, Srila Prabhupada alternatively translates this verse as follows: "By diksa one gradually becomes disinterested in material enjoyment and gradually becomes interested in spiritual life." From this we can see that diksa is not a one time event, but it is a gradual process. (this quote of jiva goswami is quoted and translated by srila prabhupada in Nectar of Instruction and Caitanya Caritamrta) Another meaning of diksa is to explain or expand transcendental knowledge. Every successive acharya, or a diksa guru gives a contribution to the disciplic conclusion, something that no other acharya has presented before. This is what makes him a successor. Srila Prabhupada explains: Diksa means... Di means divya. Divya means "transcendental." And ksa, ksapayati -- ksapayati means "explains" or "reveals," or "becomes enlightened." Wedding of Prabhavati and Hari-nama -- July 9, 1971, Los Angeles Diksa means from this divya-jnana. That is di. And ksa means ksapayati, "expands." Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila 20.105 -- July 11, 1976, New York Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, he wanted me to do something in this connection. He wanted from his all his disciples. Especially he stressed many times that "You do this. Whatever you have learned, you try to expand in English language." Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Appearance Day Lecture – February 21, 1976, Mayapur Although the Srimad-Bhagavatam was spoken in four verses, it has ten characteristics, which will be explained in the next chapter. In the four verses it is first said that the Lord existed before the creation, and thus the beginning of the Srimad-Bhagavatam includes the Vedanta aphorism janmady asya yatah [SB 1.1.1]. Janmady asya yatah is the beginning, yet the four verses in which it is said that the Lord is the root of everything that be, beginning from the creation up to the supreme abode of the Lord, naturally explain the ten characteristics. One should not misunderstand by wrong interpretations that the Lord spoke only four verses and that therefore all the rest of the 17,996 verses are useless. The ten characteristics, as will be explained in the next chapter, require so many verses just to explain them properly. Brahmaji had also advised Narada previously that he should expand the idea he had heard from Brahmaji. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu instructed this to Srila Rupa Gosvami in a nutshell, but the disciple Rupa Gosvami expanded this very elaborately, and the same subject was further expanded by Jiva Gosvami and even further by Sri Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura. We are just trying to follow in the footsteps of all these authorities. SB 2.9.44 Diksa, diksa. Di... Divya. There are two words, divya-jnana. Divya-jnana means transcendental, spiritual knowledge. So divya is di, and jnanam, ksapayati, explaining, that is ksa, di-ksa. This is called diksa, diksa, the combination. Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.15 -- Auckland, February 22, 1973 So siksa guru also explains, true, but he does not bring any new revelation or a new discipline. He only teaches within the framework of what the diksa guru gave. The diksa guru is required when the knowledge becomes lost. Then he revives the disciplic succession by his new interpretation or a commentary.Srila Prabhupada comments on the sloka that I already showed you before from the GIta about disciplic successon as follows: Certainly Bhagavad-gita was never meant for the demonic persons, who would dissipate its value for no one's benefit and would devise all types of interpretations according to personal whims. As soon as the original purpose was scattered by the motives of the unscrupulous commentators, there arose the need to reestablish the disciplic succession. (Bg 4.2 purport) The need for another diksa guru therefore arises when the science is lost, misunderstood etc., not necessarily by physical departure of the diksa guru. A DEVOTEE: So why was it necessary for Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupada to be a Diksha Guru? PURUJIT: Yes every diksa guru has a specific mission. Srila Prabhupada explains: So my Guru Maharaja's contribution is that he defeated these caste gosvamins. His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Prabhupada's Appearance Day, Lecture -- Los Angeles, February 7, 1969 Srila Prabhupada himself explains his unique contribution as a successor acarya in the following instances: Guest (6): But every successive teacher has added some interpretations of the knowledge, no? Prabhupada: First of all let him be successor. Guest (4): You are the successor of somebody. Prabhupada: Yes. Yes. Guest (4): Yes. So you want to act something to get knowledge. Prabhupada: Yes. Guest (4): And what is your contribution, then? That is what we are asking. What is sama-darsi? Have you become sama-darsi? Guest (6): You are teaching others to be sama-darsi... Prabhupada: My sama-darsi is that why only the Hindus shall know Krsna? The world should know Krsna. (Room Conversation -- January 18, 1971, Allahabad) A DEVOTEE: I see, yet we see the Diksha gurus of Iskcon are merely teaching Prabhupada's commentary, so there is actually no real need for diksha? PURUJIT: the diksa is already going on. prabhupada is giving diksa (transcendental knowledge) through his books. it is not a formal ceremony. now, it is simply a question whether we want to follow that diksa by submitting to his instructions. then we can be initiated formally on behalf of srila prabhupada by some senior Godbrother A DEVOTEE: Thank you for informing for so attentively Prabhu. 🙇 PURUJIT: you are welcome 🙂 although everyone can be a siksa guru simply by preaching the same message, the order to become a diksa guru is given by Krsna Himself. It cannot be done by self-appointment. this order to be a diksa guru comes when Krsna detects that the knowledge is lost. Prabhupada writes: Five thousand years ago it was detected by the Lord Himself that the disciplic succession was broken, and therefore He declared that the purpose of the Gita appeared to be lost. (Bg 4.2 purport) It is not up to us to say: oh now the previous guru is gone and his teachings are outdated, let me try to be a guru now 🙂 in the sastra we see that even exalted associates of Lord Caitanya would not take up the diksa guru position unless they are directly and specifically authorized by the Lord. It is mentioned in the Caitanya Caritamrta: panditera thani cahe mantradi sikhite pandita kahe, -- "ei karma nahe ama haite ami -- paratantra, amara prabhu -- gauracandra tanra ajna vina ami na ha-i 'svatantra' "Vallabha Bhatta wanted to be initiated by Gadadhara Pandita, but Gadadhara Pandita refused, saying, "The work of acting as a spiritual master is not possible for me. I am completely dependent. My Lord is Gauracandra, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. I cannot do anything independently, without His order." (Antya 7.1) A DEVOTEE: Thank you Prabhu, my understanding is much more clear now. It is a little jarring however to see that Prabhupada's movement seems to be running on a misconception of the nature of Diksha and Shiksa. PURUJIT: well it is very tempting to assume the position of a pure devotee, because a pure devotee should be worshipped as good as God. Here Srila Prabhupada explains how Krsna made Arjuna the authority on explaining the Gita and what is the qualification for such a guru: Here the Lord clearly tells Arjuna that He is making him the first receiver of a new parampara (disciplic succession) because the old succession was broken. It was the Lord's wish, therefore, to establish another parampara in the same line of thought that was coming down from the sun-god to others, and it was His wish that His teaching be distributed anew by Arjuna. He wanted Arjuna to become the authority in understanding the Bhagavad-gita. So we see that Bhagavad-gita is instructed to Arjuna especially because Arjuna was a devotee of the Lord, a direct student of Krsna, and His intimate friend. Therefore Bhagavad-gita is best understood by a person who has qualities similar to Arjuna's. That is to say he must be a devotee in a direct relationship with the Lord. (Bg Introduction) this direct relationship means one must be on the highest stage of Krsna consciousness, an uttama adhikari. Only he can have a direct communication with Krsna. this is how he recieves the order from Krsna to become the next diksa guru. it is a very very elevated stage. we cannot see such communication with our blunt eyes. Prabhupada explains this stage here: Arjuna was in a relationship with the Lord as friend. Of course there is a gulf of difference between this friendship and the friendship found in the material world. This is transcendental friendship, which cannot be had by everyone. Of course everyone has a particular relationship with the Lord, and that relationship is evoked by the perfection of devotional service. But in the present status of our life, not only have we forgotten the Supreme Lord, but we have forgotten our eternal relationship with the Lord. Every living being, out of the many, many billions and trillions of living beings, has a particular relationship with the Lord eternally. That is called svarupa. By the process of devotional service, one can revive that svarupa, and that stage is called svarupa-siddhi -- perfection of one's constitutional position. (Bg Introduction) from this we can understand that the diksa guru must be at the stage of such svarupa siddhi where he is directly comunicating with Krsna and Krsna guides him how to write the next commentary. Srila Prabhupada writes: One must first become a pure devotee by following the strict regulative principles and chanting sixteen rounds daily, and when one thinks that he is actually on the Vaisnava platform, he must then take permission from the spiritual master, and that permission must also be confirmed by Krsna from within his heart. Then, if one is very sincere and pure, he can write transcendental literature, either prose or poetry. (Adi 8.73 purport) One who is not authorised by the Lord cannot become the spiritual master. Srila Sukdeva Goswami is the authorised spiritual master and as such he was inspired dy the Lord to appear before Maharaj Parikshit just to instruct him the teachings of Srimad Bhagwatam. (SB 1.19.36) So any activities of the Vaisnava, they should always pray to the previous acarya, "Kindly help me. Kindly..." This is, Vaisnava is always thinking himself helpless, helpless. And begging help from the previous acarya. Just like in Caitanya-caritamrta you will find, the author, at the end of every chapter: sri rupa-raghunatha-pade yara asa caitanya-caritamrta kahe krsnadasa His every line, he is thinking of Rupa-Raghunatha, previous acaryas. "So let me surrender to the gosvamis and they will help me how to write." You cannot write. That is not possible. (Bhagavad-gita 1.20 -- London, July 17, 1973) Unless one is fully qualified in Vaisnava behavior and authorized by superior authority (the Supreme Personality of Godhead), one cannot write Vaisnava literatures or purports and commentaries on Srimad-Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita. (cc mad 24.326 purport) Except God no body can establish the principles of religion. Either He or a suitable person empowered by Him can dictate the codes of religion. (SB 1.3.43 purport) One cannot write on spiritual matters without being blessed by Krsna and the disciplic succession of gurus. The blessings of the authorities are one's power of attorney. One should not try to write anything about Vaisnava behavior and activities without being authorized by superior authorities. This is confirmed in Bhagavad-gita: evam parampara-praptam imam rajarsayo viduh. (cc mad 24.345 purport) When Krsna says in the already mentioned sloka 4.34 that the self-realized spiritual master can impart knowledge unto us, because he has seen the truth, it should be taken literally. He has seen the truth and that truth is Krsna. He can see Him face to face. Only such a person can become a diksa guru. One must be on the highest platform of devotional service: The guru must be situated on the topmost platform of devotional service. There are three classes of devotees, and the guru must be accepted from the topmost class. (Madhya 24.330 purport) One should not become a spiritual master unless he has attained the platform of uttama-adhikari. (NoI: verse 5) Unless one is a resident of Krishna Loka, one cannot be a Spiritual Master. That is the first proposition. A layman cannot be a Spiritual Master, and if he becomes so then he will simply create disturbance. (Letter to: Mukunda -- New Vrindaban 10 June, 1969)