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The devotees from the BLISS London Asrama Purujit Dasa and Maitreya Rsi Dasa have been chanting daily for the last 3 weeks in the Eastham neighbourhood. This is a few snapshots they were able to make. Also check out the videos of the street sankirtana performed by the devotees.

Today we are celebrating Jayananda Prabhu's disappearance day. Here is a few excerpts from Srila Prabhupada's letters and other materials about and from Jayananda Prabhu, a very dear and humble disciple of His Divine Grace A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who was instrumental to spread the sankirtan mission in the early stages of the Hare Krsna movement. He also is known as a devotee who has reached Krsna's abode and thus reached the perfection of Krsna consciousness. This has been confirmed by Srila Prabhupada himself. Let us all pray to follow in Sriman Jayananda Prabhu's footsteps. “So therefore, we can have faith that Krishna will always protect us in any kind of situation. That's the potency of devotional service, that it's transcendental to the bodily concept of life even up to the point of death. Devotional service is more powerful, because devotional service can even attract Krishna. That's the strength of devotional service, the devotion can attract Krishna. So if we have ... if that devotion ... even Krishna says it's not so much the service that's there, but it's the attitude of the devotee, the sincere desire for Krishna's association. In that way, Krishna will protect us. Krishna says in the Bhagavad-Gita that for one who does good, he is never overcome by evil.” (Jayananda’s Bhagavad-gita class) Reporter (5): Where did the money come from to print such lavish editions of your books? Prabhupada: The money comes.... We are selling books daily. Reporter (5): No, but initially you do require a... Prabhupada: Eh? Reporter (5): Initially it requires some money to print such a lavish book. Prabhupada: Initially I took some books from here. They are not so nicely printed, but still, I sold them. Then gradually increased. They paid the money and then.... They made contributions. One of my student, he first, Jayananda.... He.... No, first paid me.... He, he has first paid me five thousand dollars. Then Brahmananda paid me five thousand dollars. In this way gradually money came. Conversation with News Reporters -- March 25, 1976, Delhi Prabhupada: Our Jayananda was driving taxi and chanting Hare Krsna, and one day (laughter) he brought to me five thousand dollars. Ramesvara: And you used it to print Teachings of Lord Caitanya. Prabhupada: Huh? Ramesvara: Was that the time? Prabhupada: I think, yes. Tamala Krsna: You kept it then. Prabhupada: It was given for publishing Bhagavad-gita, but I think Macmillan took it. So I spent it for... Tamala Krsna: Then you put him in charge to sell all the Teachings of Lord Caitanya, I remember. (Prabhupada laughs) Jayananda: (indistinct) Didn't sell too many books, though. Tamala Krsna: I thought he was the best, most appropriate person to drive you. Prabhupada: He was chanting and driving. Very good boy. Arrival Comments in Car to Temple -- July 9, 1976, New York My Dear Jayananda, Please accept my blessings. I'm so glad to receive your letter of Aug 30, and I know also that you are a sincere devotee of Lord Krishna. When you drive your car you always chant "Hare Krishna'' and when I was by your side I could understand how heartily you have accepted the philosophy of Krishna Consciousness. Krishna is very kind to all but He is especially kind to his sincere devotees. Krishna is always with us, within our hearts and He is always ready to give us direction but because everyone is independent Krishna responds cooperatively. Anyone who voluntarily cooperates with Krishna's desire He responds to his call very eagerly. Krishna descends to teach us Bhagavad-gita begging our cooperation and anyone who cooperates with Him becomes blessed. You are sincerely cooperating with Krishna and therefore you all boys and girls in San Francisco, working together harmoniously. Harmony means Krishna Consciousness. Without Krishna Consciousness there cannot be harmony in the world. I've received the report of successful performance of Janmashtami ceremony. I'm glad to learn that you are willing to come to India for further study. I received no letter from Dayananda or his wife Nandarani. I'm anxious to receive the report of the Los Angeles center. I do not know their address. Your acknowledgement "Krishna has been very merciful to me'' is remarkable. You are realizing the fruit of chanting. So far my health is concerned I'm improving, by Krishna's grace and it is due to your feeling of my absence and eagerly awaiting for my return. Please go on cooperating between your godbrothers. I'm always with you never mind if I am physically absent. Please convey my blessings to all the boys and girls and tell them that I'm very eager to return. Letter to: Jayananda — Delhi 16 September, 1967 My Dear Jayananda, Please accept my blessings. I beg to thank you for your letter undated. I congratulate you on your being elected as president of ISKCON San Francisco branch. Your election as president is a recognition by Krishna and therefore I have got full support for you. Mukunda and other members have rightly selected you as president. Your service attitude for Krishna and your sincere attempts at being advanced in Krishna Consciousness will work with you and make your life more and more glorious and a happy state. I've been very glad that you are appreciating by your self the effects of sincere Krishna Consciousness. I've nothing new to instruct you, the same old instruction namely constant chanting and attentively hearing the transcendental vibration Hare Krishna is the only process for self realization in this age. In San Francisco while you were driving your car and I was sitting by you hearing your transcendental vibration, this very sincere attempt has enriched your consciousness and my only instruction is that you may constantly do this habit without fail. Regarding your dispute in your mind as to remaining a brahmacari, grhastha or becoming sannyasi, there is nothing to be bothered with. Anyone who is in full Krishna Consciousness and is dedicating his life for Krishna is already a sannyasi even if he is a married man. If you like you can become a householder and I've no objection to that. Our Vaisnava philosophy instructs to become "Vidvati sannyasis'', this means a man who knows things as they are, therefore a devotee who knows that everything belongs to Krishna and that He is the proprietor of all such a devotee is certainly a Vidvati Sannyasi. Our philosophy is that we should accept things as prasadam of Krishna and nothing for sense enjoyment. Anyone who accepts things for sense enjoyment even if he is externally a saffron dressed man is not a sannyasi. The mayavadi sannyasi considers himself as God, this concept of life develops under illusion. When a person fails to become the Lord of the universe it is like the sly fox who attempts to taste grapes and failing to do so says the grapes are sour. The mayavadi sannyasins are frustrated beings in their attempt to enjoy the world, therefore they say the world is fake or the grapes are sour, the world is not false, Krishna is the supreme truth and the world is His energy therefore the energy of the supreme truth cannot be false; but we must know that this energy is inferior to His spiritual energy. As there are hairs and nails on the body and sometimes we separate these parts from the body similarly when the the material energy is separated from the service of the Lord it is inferior energy. Inferior energy is not false but temporary. The same temporary energy when surcharged with Krishna Consciousness it transforms into supreme energy by the supreme will. By this will any energy can be transformed into another just like electronic energy in a refrigerator or in a heater, to an ordinary layman, he sees cold and hot but to an electrician, he sees electricity. So when one is engaged in the service of the Lord that person is already in the spiritual energy, and a sannyasi and the real purpose of a sannyasi is to transform himself from the inferior to the superior, spiritual energy. If your consciousness is absorbed in Krishna you are always a sannyasi. Letter to: Jayananda — Delhi 29 September, 1967 Revatinandana: The room wasn't very big, and there were forty or forty-five of us in it, along with Prabhupada and a couple of guests. During the evening Bhagavad-gita classes he would sit in a chair at one end of the room, and the rest of us packed in. One night Prabhupada was looking around and everybody was there but Jayananda. Prabhupada said, "Where is Jayananda?" We said, "He is still out parking the van, Srila Prabhupada." Prabhupada waited, and when Jayananda walked in, Prabhupada looked at him, smiled, and said, "Oh, Jayananda looks just like Lord Chaitanya." Jayananda blushed purple. He blushed and blushed because he was a homespun, shy, humble devotee. My Dear Jayananda das: Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated August 11, 1975 and have noted the contents. What you have done is good. Why should you remarry? Rather you should take sannyasa. Now you are getting very good training. Why has Jayatirtha suggested you to remarry? In Delhi there is a certain kind of laddu which has such a taste, that anyone who has tasted it once, he laments, oh how I would like to taste again. And anyone who has never tasted, he also laments, oh I have never tasted. So one who has tasted, and one who has not tasted, both are lamenting. Wife is like that. You have already tasted, now you are lamenting. But my advice to you is not to try to taste again, otherwise your lamentation will increase. You have got no children, so you are free, so take sannyasa. Sex life is nasty, but out of illusion we think it is nice. Now you are experienced, so don't take sex life again. You should not take sannyasa out of sentiment nor artificially, but it is better to accept it anyway. Letter to: Jayananda: — Vrindaban 1 September, 1975 Tamala Krsna: Jayananda looks exhausted. Prabhupada: Huh? Tamala Krsna: He's worked so... Ramesvara: Staying up all nights, working. Adi-kesava: For five days he hasn't gone to sleep. Tamala Krsna: Five days and nights he's worked continuously. Prabhupada: Jaya. Morning Walk -- July 18, 1976, New York Tosan Krishna: The first Ratha-yatra in New York City was in 1976. In New York it's difficult to get a permit, and in 1962 the mayor had made an edict that no new parades could be held on Fifth Avenue. Yet somehow or other, with the advent of our new 55th Street temple, with Radha-Govinda moving into Manhattan, which is what Srila Prabhupada wanted, and with ISKCON celebrating its tenth birthday, there would be a Fifth Avenue Ratha-yatra. When he was in India, Srila Prabhupada telephoned us -- which was very rare in those days because to even get a phone call from India was difficult -- to find out if we had gotten the permit. I was in charge of getting this permit, and the Police Department had initially said 'yes,' but then they said 'no.' At the very end, I had a so-called last piece of paper that the Chief of Police himself, at Police Plaza One on the south tip of Manhattan, had to sign. The secretaries said, "We'll run it down, he'll sign it and it'll be over." I said, "No, I'm going to run it down." They said, "All right, if you want, you can go." I said, "I will, thank you," because Srila Prabhupada had called on the phone. I took the subway to that building, went through heavy security, went to the right floor and found the Police Chief's secretary. She looked at the paper and said, "He's never going to sign this. There's a mayor's edict -- no new parades on Fifth Avenue." I ignored her. I hopped over the turnstile, which was a minimal barricade, and went into the Chief's office. He was like a character out of a movie -- a big fat guy who'd been in the force for a million years. I put the permit on his desk and said, "You are to sign this, if you will." He looked at it, started chuckling and then said seriously, "I don't know why I'm doing this." By then, I knew. Srila Prabhupada wanted it and Krishna was in this Chief's heart. He signed it. After that, Prabhupada, the leader of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, surrounded by disciples praising him, turned to Tamal Krishna Maharaj, who was then GBC of the New York temple, and said, "Who did it?" Prabhupada didn't say, "I did it," even though ISKCON was operating off of his energy and it was all his glory. He knew that things happen due to people, and his was a personal movement. Tamal Krishna Maharaj said, "Jayananda built the carts and Tosan Krishna got all the permits." My dear Jayananda, Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated February 21st, 1977, and I thank you for the check as well as the nice sentiments you have expressed. In the beginning you also gave me $5,000 and now again you have sent. This body is today or tomorrow finished. We should not be very much bothered about the body. Trees also live for thousands of years but that does not mean a successful life. A successful life is one of Krishna consciousness. By the grace of Krishna from the very beginning you are a devotee and that is the real profit of your life. I thank you for your check, but I would prefer that you may require the money for your treatment. So if you like I can return it. But I hear that you have some income. I pray to Krishna for your more advanced Krishna conscious life. About a sadhu it is said, "jiva va mara va,'' a sadhu may live or die, it doesn't matter. While living he is engaged in Krishna Conscious business and when dying he goes back home back to Godhead. Hoping this finds you improving in your health. Letter to: Jayananda — Mayapur 26 February, 1977 My Dear Jayananda, Please accept my blessings. I am feeling very intensely your separation. In 1967 you joined me in San Francisco. You were driving my car and chanting Hare Krsna. You were the first man to give me some contribution ($5000) for printing my Bhagavad-gita. After that, you have rendered very favorable service to Krsna in different ways. I so hope at the time of your death you were remembering Krsna and as such, you have been promoted to the eternal association of Krsna. If not, if you had any tinge of material desire, you have gone to the celestial kingdom to live with the demigods for many thousands of years and enjoy the most opulent life of material existence. From there you can promote yourself to the spiritual world. But even if one fails to promote himself to the spiritual world, at that time he comes down again on the surface of this globe and takes birth in a big family like a yogis' or a brahmanas' or an aristocratic family, where there is again chance of reviving Krsna Consciousness. But as you were hearing Krsna-kirtana, I am sure that you were directly promoted to Krsna-loka. janma karma ca me divyam evam yo vetti tattvatah tyaktva deham punar janma naiti man eti so' rjuna [Bg. 4.9] Krsna has done a great favor to you, not to continue your diseased body, and has given you a suitable place for your service. Thank you very much. Letter to: Jayananda — Bombay 5 May, 1977 Jayananda's death is glorious. It is very good that he had stated, what is the use of such a useless body, better to give it up. He has left his body very wonderfully, and he has been transferred to Vaikuntha. I have already sent a condolence letter for publication in Back To Godhead. Everyone should follow the example of Jayananda. I am very proud that I had such a nice disciple. If possible Jayananda's picture should be hung in the ratha of Lord Jagannatha, and in all of our temples a day may be set aside for holding a festival in his honor, just as we do on the disappearance day of the other great Vaisnavas. Letter to: Ramesvara — New Delhi 11 May, 1977 BTG: Jayananda; how did you first get involved in Krsna consciousness? Jayananda dasa: I heard Srila Prabhupada speaking in' San Francisco, and somehow I knew he didn't want to cheat me. So I just' wanted to work for him. BTG: And now for ten years you've worked on the Ratha-yatra carts. Jayananda dasa: Yes. BTG: What were the first Ratha-yatras like? Jayananda dasa: The first year, 1967, we just rented a flatbed truck and started out in the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco. We decorated the truck with flowers and put the Deities on the back, and the girls passed out fruit. A good crowd walked along with us at the beginning, and when we turned off Haight Street a smaller group of maybe fifty people came with us and we went all the way to the beach. The second year we made our own cart, with saffron silk canopies, small ones. And we had the parade through Golden Gate Park to the beach. By that time the San Francisco temple had grown a little -- we had maybe thirty devotees -- and about one hundred people came with us through the park. The chanting was very nice that year. Then in 1969 we built a much bigger cart, with a tall silk canopy, like the ones they build in Jagannatha Puri in India. But in 1970 we worked for two months straight and built the three big carts, basically the same ones we use now. Also we had all kinds of publicity -- TV, billboards, posters. And Srila Prabhupada came to that Ratha-yatra. So a lot of people came, maybe twelve thousand people. It was big -- a tremendous success. We had a few mishaps, though. One cart broke down in the middle of the parade. And it was a bitter cold day. But even though it was so cold at the beach, thousands of people stayed there with us and ate a lot of Krsna prasada [spiritual food offered to Krsna]. We brought twenty fifty-gallon barrels of prasada, and they ate it all. Later that year the auditorium we used at the beach was torn down. So in 1971 we decided to end the parade in the park, at Lindley Meadow. That year, and in 1972 and 1973, the parade was a little smaller than in 1970. In 1974 Bhakta dasa came to San Francisco to be temple president, and he decided to expand the Ratha-yatra. He spent more money on it than before, and maybe twenty thousand people attended that year. The police remarked that we were the only group that could get such a large gathering together without creating a problem for them. Srila Prabhupada came that year and gave a speech at the Meadow. He was sitting beneath the Jagannatha Deities on Their opulent three-tiered stage. Even without much understanding everyone could appreciate that here was a majestic, awe-inspiring celebration. Another wonderful thing we started that year was the fairground-type booths at the Meadow. You could see the unlimited scope of the Vedic culture. We had a Deity workshop booth, a transcendental art booth, a literature booth, and of course many booths selling food. Now that's become a regular feature of the festival. In 1975 I tried out making steel wheels, but the chariots were so heavy they flattened the steel and made the ride very bumpy for the Deities. So now we're back to the standard wooden wheels. BTG: What instructions has Srila Prabhupada given you about Ratha-yatra? Jayananda dasa: I never got much personal instruction. He just told me to make everything strong. I'm not a real visionary about it -- I just built the carts. BTG: Which Ratha-yatra do you think has been the best so far? Jayananda dasa: In New York last year-that was the most festive. Not until then had I experienced so many of the transcendental qualities of Ratha-yatra. You know -- for a parade there's nothing like Fifth Avenue; it's the most important street in the world. And when we went to Washington Square Park to pull the carts home, hours after the parade had finished, thousands of people were still there chanting. They were everywhere. People were coming out of their apartments and coming out of bars shouting "Hare Krsna!" Only in New York could you get such a response. BTG: Tell us, from your own experience, what the public gets out of Ratha-yatra. Jayananda dasa: The impact is so powerful that everyone's affected. In New York there were thousands of people out on the streets, and they were astounded. It's not that I'm claiming it; the people were interviewed on TV and that's what they said. Also I remember one man with his girl friend (she didn't like us at all) who told me some time after the festival that when he saw the carts coming down the street he felt a parade had just come down from heaven, and that he often remembers the carts and the chanting with pleasure. So people are hit by it. It's so far beyond their usual experience. You can't measure the impact. All year long they do more or less the same things. Maybe they catch a few parades, like the Thanksgiving Day parade. They stand and watch some big balloons go by. But it's all the same. Then, when you have a whole troupe of devotees singing and dancing around these lofty, transcendental chariots -- then the people are transformed. They used to be mundane creatures, but when they see the Ratha-yatra, they're angels. It brings out the best in people to see Lord Jagannatha smiling at them. I tell you, at first their faces looked like they hadn't changed in twenty-five years, and then all of a sudden it was like glass cracking, and you'd see the whole face transformed just by a few moments' association. And what to speak of those who take part? Ratha-yatra encourages everybody to take part. "Come on, walk with us, dance, grab a rope and pull." We don't say, "Don't touch." No -- "Join in, have fun." By our nature we all want to participate. Nobody wants to be a bystander. And those who take part are purified of all their sinful karmic reactions just by chanting Hare Krsna and seeing Lord Jagannatha. BTG: Are there people who regard it as idol worship? Jayananda dasa: Yes -- they may feel that before, but the impact of the festival is so strong that after it they feel otherwise. They see Lord Jagannatha, and they see how merciful He is, and they can feel that it's not idol worship. And if they read Srila Prabhupada's books, then they'll understand logically how Lord Jagannatha is not an idol. Of course, at the festival there are always a few faultfinders. Last year in New York one of them had a bullhorn and was shouting, so one of our men poured water down it and that stopped him. BTG: What is your understanding of the purpose of Ratha-yatra? Jayananda dasa: To celebrate the pastimes of Krsna. Krsna's so kind; He comes to earth and displays so many wonderful pastimes. Ratha-yatra celebrates His going to Kuruksetra with Balarama and Subhadra, and His meeting there with the residents of Vrndavana, where He was born. The expressions of love shared between the Lord and His devotees make that one of the sweetest pastimes. Ratha-yatra offers a chance for so many people to be engaged in Krsna consciousness. People don't come to our temples much, but millions are out on the streets. Now here's a chance for them to advance in spiritual life -- here comes Lord Jagannatha's festival! They're touched -- they become part of the transcendental vibration, and they're purified. Also, for the devotees it's very beneficial -- maybe more for me; Ratha-yatra is the service that's given me so many of my realizations, the flowering of whatever Krsna consciousness I have. It's not a long-term occupation. It happens all at once, like a big explosion, in the summer. It brings together so many devotees all working together under the spiritual master with one plan. And all the transcendental paraphernalia is there-the Deities, the prasada, the chanting, the booths, the theater -- it's such a surcharged atmosphere. You never forget it. For a devotee to be able to participate in Ratha-yatra is very good for his Krsna consciousness. When you have these festivals, it gives you a big, powerful event to look forward to, and to work towards. It helps your devotion. BTG: How about the future growth of Ratha-yatra? Jayananda dasa: One thing that's important is that all the temples should celebrate this wonderful festival. But it isn't practical for each center to construct three carts. So now in Los Angeles we're putting together a traveling party that can go from city to city, with displays and carts that you can assemble and take apart. Then the great expense will be eliminated. Also, we'll have year-round Ratha-yatras -- the South in the winter, the North in the summer. It can be expanded so people will be hearing about Ratha-yatra all year round-and that will be the perfection of their lives! BTG: It sounds wonderful. Thank you very much, Jayananda. Jayananda dasa: Thank you. Hare Krsna. (BTG interview with Jayananda Prabhu entitled: Inside Ratha-yatra...With an Old Insider)

Click the image below to start listening to our longest podcast yet. It covers some of the major arguments Srila Prabhupada stressed in regards to the moon hoax, and analyzes the perfectness of his logic and reason, alongside scientific proof that we never went. Bhakta Nejcs also contributes his valuable realizations about the hoax.

Today is the auspicious appearance day of Lord Ramachandra, the Personality of Godhead. Srila Prabhupada explains about this wonderful incarnation of the Lord as follows in one of his purports When the Lord appears in this universe in the form of a human being, He has two purposes, as stated in Bhagavad-gita [Bg. 4.8] -- paritranaya sadhunam vinasaya ca duskrtam: to destroy the demons and protect the devotees. To protect the devotees, the Lord not only satisfies them by His personal presence but also teaches them so that they will not fall down from devotional service. By His personal example, Lord Ramacandra taught the devotees that it is better not to enter married life, which is certainly followed by many tribulations. As confirmed in Srimad-Bhagavatam (7.9.45): yan maithunadi-grhamedhi-sukham hi tuccham kanduyanena karayor iva duhkha-duhkham trpyanti neha krpana bahu-duhkha-bhajah kandutivan manasijam visaheta-dhirah Krpanas, those who are not advanced in spiritual knowledge and who are therefore just the opposite of brahmanas, generally take to family life, which is a concession for sex. Thus they enjoy sex again and again, although that sex is followed by many tribulations. This is a warning to devotees. To teach this lesson to devotees and to human society in general, Lord Sri Ramacandra, although the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself, underwent a series of tribulations because He accepted a wife, mother Sita. Lord Ramacandra underwent these austerities, of course, only to instruct us; actually He never has any reason to lament for anything. Another aspect of the Lord's instructions is that one who accepts a wife must be a faithful husband and give her full protection. Human society is divided into two classes of men -- those who strictly follow the religious principles and those who are devotees. By His personal example, Lord Ramacandra wanted to instruct both of them how to fully adopt the discipline of the religious system and how to be a beloved and dutiful husband. Otherwise He had no reason to undergo apparent tribulations. One who strictly follows religious principles must not neglect to provide all facilities for the complete protection of his wife. There may be some suffering because of this, but one must nevertheless endure it. That is the duty of a faithful husband. By His personal example, Lord Ramacandra demonstrated this duty. Lord Ramacandra could have produced hundreds and thousands of Sitas from His pleasure energy, but just to show the duty of a faithful husband, He not only rescued Sita from the hands of Ravana but also killed Ravana and all the members of his family. Another aspect of the teachings of Lord Ramacandra is that although Lord Visnu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and His devotees may apparently suffer from material tribulations, they have nothing to do with such tribulations. They are mukta-purusas, liberated persons, under all circumstances. It is therefore said in the Caitanya-bhagavata: yata dekha vaisnavera vyavahara duhkha niscaya janiha taha paramananda-sukha A Vaisnava is always firmly situated in transcendental bliss because of engagement in devotional service. Although he may appear to suffer material pains, his position is called transcendental bliss in separation (viraha). The emotions a lover and beloved feel when separated from one another are actually very blissful, although apparently painful. Therefore the separation of Lord Ramacandra from Sitadevi, as well as the consequent tribulation they suffered, is but another display of transcendental bliss. That is the opinion of Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura. SB 5.19.6 purport

While reading through Srila Prabhupada's letters, I found His Divine Grace referring to a newspaper article about his movement in a mainstream periodical. I found it an interesting idea to try to fish the article out and see what was it about. After a little browsing, here it is. I hope to find some more to add up to this series as these articles may provide some unseen photographs of Srila Prabhupada and his disciples and give us a glimpse into the contemporary perception of the Hare Krishna movement and the way Srila Prabhupada dealt with it. 'Some years before, when I was staying in your Prem Kutir you expressed your desire to organize a SANKIRTAN party, and I wish that it may be done now to help me in my mission. If you have got opportunity to purchase one copy of Life Magazine, published Feb. 9, 1968, you will find there on page 56, how nicely the American boys and girls are dancing and chanting the Holy Name of the Lord.' (Letter to Harikrishnadas Agarwal, March 3, 1968) As I said in my last letter to you, I shall come there whenever you like; simply you must send me plane tickets, and I shall come. If you could arrange for speaking engagements that is very nice. I am leaving this place for San Francisco on the 8th of March, and as you like, I can fly from S.F. to Bahama Islands sometimes in March or April; we can make further arrangements as to the exact day after I return to S.F. You may show the woman in charge of the club our recent article in Life magazine if you like, which was published on Feb. 9, 1968, page 56. Yes, whoever you tell the chant to, it is effective. You have heard it from me and my disciples, similarly I have heard it from my Guru Maharaja, and so on, and on. Because you have heard it from a pure devotee of the Lord, therefore it is transmitted from you to another. Just as an aerial message, is transmitted from one place to another, similarly, this Guru parampara system is working. My disciples are my agents, my representatives, so by hearing it from them, you are receiving it from me. And because you are a sincere soul, those who are hearing the Mantra from you are receiving it in disciplic succession, from Lord Caitanya and from Lord Krishna. (Letter to Andrea Temple, March 6, 1968)

This is our occasional questions and answers section. This time we talk about the relation between Krsna consciousness and animal protection activism. Are they the same thing? Can they be mutually inclusive? The question was asked by a nice soul from our FB Expand the BLISS Livestream page. DEVOTEE: Can you not spiritualize every action you take with Krishna in mind as the benefactor of the results. Service to plants, animals, humans, earth, with Krishna in mind as the benefactor? You say no. But Krishna says otherwise? The whole world is full of violence, and a devotee's first business is to stop this violence, including the unnecessary slaughter of animals. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.22.24) Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer or give away, and whatever austerities you perform – do that, O son of Kuntī, as an offering to Me. In this way you will be freed from bondage to work and its auspicious and inauspicious results. With your mind fixed on Me in this principle of renunciation, you will be liberated and come to Me. Wouldn’t helping plants, animals, humans, the planet as an offering for Krishna also be assisting jivas tho, not “bodies”? With our unalloyed devotional service for Krishna performed primarily, along with spreading Krishna consciousness May we assist Krishnas parts and parcels, as an offering of devotion? May you please explain to me why you would advise against this? For example when I go to slaughter houses I chant the maha mantra for the animals and have plans to distribute prasadam for the employees in the near future. Over the past several years (before practicing Bhakti) I’ve helped many people stop exploiting and killing animals with the actions I’ve taken. When Krishna engaged me back in his service, I began offering all my work for animals/humans to him. I understand your point about serving Krishnas parts and parcels for the fruits of ones labour and entangling oneself. Would this be considered karma yoga? 🙏🏿Thank you for your service Prabhuji, Hare Krishna PURUJIT: Ok, Prabhu. It is a little complex, so bear with me. First of all, it is certainly noble from you to engage in protecting animals from being killed. You are a great soul who feels compassionate for these helpless beings who are mercilessly killed by misguided people. I certainly do not advise against this. The key point is that the sloka you are referring to talks of the result of our work as an offering to Krsna, not exactly work itself. If we go by the interpretation that says that one can do whatever he wants for Krishna, then that does not really make sense, does it? If this was the case, then by that same logic, an owner of a slaughterhouse could say: I kill the animals as an offering to Krsna in my mind. Or if one can eat whatever he wants, then he might as well just eat meat as an offering to Krsna? I do not think this is what Krsna says here. Please do not mind. Therefore, if we want to understand the Bhagavad-gita let us do it in the way Krsna Himself recommends in the Gita itself, namely by hearing from a bona fide spiritual master in the disciplic succession. Srila Prabhupada gives an explanation of this sloka as follows: ...it is the duty of everyone to mold his life in such a way that he will not forget Krsna in any circumstance. Everyone has to work for maintenance of his body and soul together, and Krsna recommends herein that one should work for Him. Everyone has to eat something to live; therefore he should accept the remnants of foodstuffs offered to Krsna. Any civilized man has to perform some religious ritualistic ceremonies; therefore Krsna recommends, "Do it for Me," and this is called arcana. Everyone has a tendency to give something in charity; Krsna says, "Give it to Me," and this means that all surplus money accumulated should be utilized in furthering the Krsna consciousness movement. Bg 9.27 purport Srila Prabhupada further explains this point here: One may be engaged in various activities, but one should not be attached to the result of his work; the result should be done only for Him. For example, one may be engaged in business, but to transform that activity into Krsna consciousness, one has to do business for Krsna. If Krsna is the proprietor of the business, then Krsna should enjoy the profit of the business. If a businessman is in possession of thousands and thousands of dollars, and if he has to offer all this to Krsna, he can do it. This is work for Krsna. Instead of constructing a big building for his sense gratification, he can construct a nice temple for Krsna, and he can install the Deity of Krsna and arrange for the Deity's service, as is outlined in the authorized books of devotional service. This is all krsna-karma. Bg 11.55 purport So it is not that we can offer something in the mind to Krsna. We must practically work and dedicate the result of our work for the expansion of the Krsna consciousness movement. In other words whatever income you receive for your work you should spend for the expansion of temples and Srila Prabhupada's books. Then that would be karma yoga. Krsna is a person and therefore if we want to serve Him, we should serve Him in the way He likes, not the way we like 🙂 although we might have all the good intentions. Krsna is not obliged to accept our offerings if He does not like them. Think of it in this way. You are a person with an individual taste. If I invite you to my place and offer you a meal that contains animal products, you will hardly accept it, no matter how well I think of it as a suitable offering to you. In the same way, if we want to serve Krsna as a person, we should take a little time to know what He wants and how He wants it. This we can find out from the spiritual master, who is the intimate servant of Krsna. Another point is that you cannot satisfy the jiva by helping the body. The body is satisfied by material means. The soul cannot. It is just like saving a drowning person's clothes. We may take care of his clothes very nicely, but unless we save the person who is wearing the clothes, the person drowns. We have been going through billions births and deaths. We have been animals and plants and we have died many many times. It is not possible to help someone on the material plane since all one's suffering and happiness is simply a result of one's previous activities. What you can do though is to elevate the souls trapped in various unfavorable situations by giving them Krsna consciousness. Chanting Hare Krishna in a slaughterhouse is giving the poor animals the highest opportunity to leave the cycle of birth and death altogether although you might not save their life in their present situation. Not just animals, but plants, insects everyone is getting eternally benefitted when they hear the Hare Krishna mahamantra and it immediately elevates them to the position of human birth after death with the opportunity to come in contact with the Hare Krishna movement. So it is simply a question of priority. Do we save the animals only for this life or do we save them completely so they do not have to suffer in this material world ever again? Hope this explains it. Hare Krishna! Thank you

Click the picture below to hear Maitreya Rishi dasa, and Bhakta Nejcs discuss this controversial topic, specifically analyzing the peculiar behavior of the Apollo astronauts, and even some of their mysterious deaths.

Srila Prabhupada extensively explained in his writings that it is not possible for anyone to reach the heavenly bodies by any mechanical arrangement. Rather, one must perform yoga or sacrifices enjoined in the Vedic literature. This completely smashes any idea that any country, however powerful they may be, has put a man on the moon. Every man everywhere is trying to obtain the greatest amount of sense enjoyment by various endeavors. Some men are busy engaged in trade, industry, economic development, political supremacy, etc., and some of them are engaged in fruitive work to become happy in the next life by attaining higher planets. It is said that on the moon the inhabitants are fit for greater sense enjoyment by drinking soma-rasa, and the Pitrloka is obtained by good charitable work. So there are various programs for sense enjoyment, either during this life or in the life after death. Some are trying to reach the moon or other planets by some mechanical arrangement, for they are very anxious to get into such planets without doing good work. But it is not to happen. By the law of the Supreme, different places are meant for different grades of living beings according to the work they have performed. By good work only, as prescribed in the scriptures, can one obtain birth in a good family, opulence, good education and good bodily features. We see also that even in this life one obtains a good education or money by good work. Similarly, in our next birth we get such desirable positions only by good work. Otherwise, it would not so happen that two persons born in the same place at the same time are seen differently placed according to previous work. But all such material positions are impermanent. The positions in the topmost Brahmaloka and in the lowest Patala are also changeable according to our own work. The philosophically inclined person must not be tempted by such changeable positions. He should try to get into the permanent life of bliss and knowledge where he will not be forced to come back again to the miserable material world, either in this or that planet. Miseries and mixed happiness are two features of material life, and they are obtained in Brahmaloka and in other lokas also. They are obtained in the life of the demigods and also in the life of the dogs and hogs. The miseries and mixed happiness of all living beings are only of different degree and quality, but no one is free from the miseries of birth, death, old age and disease. Similarly, everyone has his destined happiness also. No one can get more or less of these things simply by personal endeavors. Even if they are obtained, they can be lost again. One should not, therefore, waste time with these flimsy things; one should only endeavor to go back to Godhead. That should be the mission of everyone's life. SB 1.5.19

Join Maitreya rishi dasa and Bhakta Nejcs on a revolutionary video and audio podcast on the great investigation of an infamous incident - Putting a man on the moon. Is it possible? In this episode, Maitreya and Bhakta Nejcs specifically look at the evidence provided by NASA and "debunkers."

Please enjoy the first of a multiple part series of podcasts on the controversial topic of the moon landing. Was it faked or not? The Vedas tell us decisively; yes, oh yes it was. This first episode delves into the different kind of evidences and why Sruti, or evidence by hearing, is the best. Click on he image below to hear!

Our Bhakta Matthew prabhu made a very nice offering to the Lord on this most auspicious day of Gaura-Purnima, in the form of some inspiring and original digital art. Give it a look!