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In this article we explain what a surrender to a guru actually means and how this differs from the so-called guru relationship of the Mayavadi school of thought. There have always been two types of transcendentalists: the impersonalists and the personalists. Both of them seek liberation from the illusory identification with the body in their respective ways. The impersonalists' idea of liberation beyond the body means annihilation of an individual self and merging with the Brahman, which is the all-pervading aspect of the Supreme Absolute Truth. The personalists, however, do not want to give up their individuality. Quite the opposite, the perfection of the personal path is brought about by full revival of individuality without any trace of material contamination and engaging the pure self in devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The following example illustrates the distinct differences between the two types of transcendentalists. There are many rivers, but ultimately they all flow within the ocean and thus cease to exist as separate rivers. This can be compared to the impersonalists' idea. There might be many individual beings, but at the time to liberation, they all become Brahman. Yet, within the rivers there can be found many living entities such as fish. When the river flows into the ocean, the fish continue to live. So according to the personalists' conception, even though the material body might merge with the mass of material energy, the individual souls (jivatmas) continue to exist even after liberation and in spiritual bodies (svarupa) they then serve the Supreme Lord Sri Krsna in one of the five different rasas or relationships. As the Bhagavad-gita confirms: Never was there a time when I did not exist, nor you, nor all these kings; nor in the future shall any of us cease to be. (Bg.2.11) Lord Krsna clearly says here that individuality both ours and the Lord's is an eternal fact and the Lord is eternally the recipient of the individual souls' service.Furthermore the Lord says nainam chindanti sastrani : "The soul can never be cut into pieces by any weapon" and therefore the idea of Brahman divided into innumerable parts at one point and merging together is not supported by the statements of the Bhagavad-gita. In fact, the philosophy of the impersonalists is just like throwing out a baby along with the bath water. The bodily conception of life is certainly an illusion and one should get rid of it as he gets rid of a bathing water. However, one should not discard the very idea of individual existence just as one should not loose the baby while throwing away the water in which the baby was bathed. For a devotee, the material body is the gift of the Lord and since the Lord is true, the material body is also true. It is not false. The devotee uses the material body in the service of the Lord.  Iron rod which is put into the fire ultimately becomes firey by gradual heating. Similarly material body used for spiritual activities becomes spiritualized by gradual advancement in Krsna consciousness. One then serves the Lord in one's pure spiritual body (siddha-deha). Materialistic conception of “body” however is that it is perishable, full of ignorance and completely miserable. Therefore, people in general carry the same idea in mind when they are informed of the personal forms of the Lord and His devotees. For such materialistic men, the form of the gigantic material manifestation is supreme. Consequently they imagine that in the ultimate stage everything is impersonal. Because they are too materially absorbed and because they personally experience the pangs of material existence arising from material activities, the concept of personality after liberation from matter very much frightens them. When they are informed that spiritual life is also individual, personal and full of activities, they become afraid of becoming persons again. A diseased man also eats, also sleeps and he also evacuates, but all his activities are painful due to his disease. If he hears that in the healthy stage there is also sleeping, there is also eating and and there is also evacuating, he thinks it is the same as in the diseased condition. Similarly, an impersonalist being disgusted by material existence, wants to give up the very idea of individuality and make all his activities zero. The personalist's conception of surrender is different. Lord Krsna says: Abandon all varieties of religion and simply surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear. (Bg.18.66) While the impersonal idea denies the distinction between the Supreme and the part and parcel of Supreme, the personalists endeavor to solely give up the sense of overlordship. They willingly abandon the false idea of being the ultimate controller and they try to satisfy the desires of the Lord. Their individual sense of choice never diminishes. They engage in the service of the Lord in full surrender by their free will and with such free will they engage in varieties of services to the Lord. Therefore, after explaining the whole theistic science of the Bhagavad-gita and chalking up the path of perfection, the Lord concludes: Thus I have explained to you the most confidential of all knowledge. Deliberate on this fully, and then do what you wish to do. (Bg. 18.63) The Lord lets the individual to "do as he wishes to do".  This is because one has to voluntarily surrender to the Lord. Such surrender is not caused by anything but the pure free will of the soul proper. One's decision to  surrender to will of the Lord is never hampered by anything. Krsna is prepared to bestow His mercy upon all living entities, and as soon as a living entity desires the Lord's mercy, the Lord immediately gives him an opportunity to meet a bona fide spiritual master. The bona fide spiritual master appears to the living entity as soon as the living entity desires to solve the miseries of material existence, namely birth, death, old age and disease. brahmanda bhramite kona bhagyavan jiva guru-krsna-prasade paya bhakti-lata-bija Madhya 19.151 ”According to their karma, all living entities are wandering throughout the entire universe. Some of them are being elevated to the upper planetary systems, and some are going down into the lower planetary systems. Out of many millions of wandering living entities, one who is very fortunate gets an opportunity to associate with a bona fide spiritual master by the grace of Krsna. By the mercy of both Krsna and the spiritual master, such a person receives the seed of the creeper of devotional service." Madhya 19.151 This is further confirmed in the Bhagavad-gita: The Supreme Lord is situated in everyone's heart, O Arjuna, and is directing the wanderings of all living entities, who are seated as on a machine, made of the material energy. (18.61) The Vedas, like the Mundaka Upanisad, as well as the Svetasvatara Upanisad compares a relationship of two kinds of souls residing in the heart to two friendly birds sitting on the same tree. One of the birds (the individual atomic soul) is eating the fruits of the tree, and the other bird (Paramatma) is simply watching His friend. Although as birds they are the same in quality, one of these two is captivated by the fruits of the material tree, while the other is simply witnessing the activities of His friend. Although they are friends, one is still the master and the other is the servant. The jiva soul is struggling very hard on the tree of the material body, but as soon as he agrees to accept the other bird as the supreme spiritual master, the subordinate bird immediately becomes free from all lamentations. Both the Mundaka Upanisad (3.1.2) and Svetasvatara Upanisad (4.7) confirm this statement as follows: "Although the two birds are on the same tree, the eating bird is fully engrossed with anxiety and moroseness as the enjoyer of the fruits of the tree. But if in some way or other he turns his face to his friend who is the Lord and knows His glories—at once the suffering bird becomes free from all anxieties." The Lord in the heart manifests externally in the form of the bona fide spiritual master and under his guidance, the jiva soul learns how to cultivate spiritual consciousness. The spiritual consciousness is already there in the heart of every living entity. It is simply reawakened by the spiritual sound vibration coming from the channel of the bona fide spiritual master. ”Pure love for Krsna is eternally established in the hearts of the living entities. It is not something to be gained from another source. When the heart is purified by hearing and chanting, this love naturally awakens." (Madhya 22.107) \In order for such hearing and chanting of the glories of the Lord, executed with the sole aim to re-awaken our eternal relationship with the Lord, to take place, both the bona fide spiritual master uncontaminated by the material modes of nature and the receptive disciple must be present. The combination is compared by the acaryas to the interaction between husband and wife. If the husband is potent and the wife is fertile, by their mutual dealings, conception takes place. Similarly if the spiritual master is bona fide and authorized by the disciplic succession and the disciple is sincere, the hearing and chanting of the Lord has a spiritual effect and the seed of devotional service fructifies. However, if the eagerness on the part of the disciple is absent, the instruction of the spiritual master goes in vain.Therefore a bona fide spiritual master does not accept a disciple who is not eager to hear from him. There is no necessity of approaching a spiritual master unless one is in need of solving the real problems of life. One who does not know how to ask the spiritual master proper questions has no business to approach him. Therefore one must be jijnasu, inquisitive. He must inquire from the spiritual master about the ultimate aim of human life. Questions on how to improve one's bodily enjoyment in the material world are deliberately left unanswered by a bona fide spiritual master. Furthermore, one should render service. Unless one renders service to the spiritual master, the inquiries on the spiritual matters will not be effective. The impersonalist philosophers declare that the highest stage of knowledge is reached when the knower, the knowledge, and the object of knowledge become one entity. From their point of view then ultimately there is no difference between the spiritual master and the disciple -both are one, both are Brahman. They say, only in the state of illusion(maya), do the disciple and the spiritual master manifest as two individual beings. They fail to explain why Brahman becomes temporarily covered by maya. This is why they are called Mayavadis. They think everything is maya. Sripada Sankaracarya, who is the founder of the Mayavada school of thought recommended worship of 5 demigods (pancopasana) for his followers. Such worship was meant only to help those who are still in the bodily concept of life. It was a facility for the neophyte progressing in the spiritual knowledge, to imagine some form of the Brahman. Sädhakänäà hitvärthäya brahmaëo rüpa-kalpanaù. However,  according to the Mayavadi theory, ultimately such worship should be abandoned. Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada explains: “The example given by them is that you rise up to a upper place with a wooden stair, and as soon as you reach there, you throw it away, so that you'll not be able to come back again. Similarly, their philosophy is: "With some imagination of form, you worship, and as soon as you realize Brahman, throw it away. No more." (Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.3.22 -- Los Angeles, June 19, 1972) The Mayavadi concept of spiritual master is similar. They think that the soul (impersonal Brahman) of the spiritual master incarnates into a material body for the purpose of guiding those who are still in illusion. They say that the Brahman takes a form of a guru in a bodily form so the souls trapped in bodily conception of life can relate to him and as soon as they reach perfection the relationship with the spiritual master ends. Yasomatinandana: Spiritual master gives knowledge, and then a disciple is eternally indebted to spiritual master. Prabhupada: Yes. Yasomatinandana: It is not that, like Mayavadis, they serve the spiritual master in the beginning and then they... Prabhupada: Then they... Yasomatinandana: ...themselves become... Prabhupada: ...throw him away, "Go away. I have now learned." Guru-mara-vidya, to, the knowledge of how to kill guru. Guru-mara-vidya. Their, the philosophy is that you cannot rise up. You take a ladder. But as soon as you rise, throw away the ladder. No more. No more needed. That is Mayavada philosophy. (Morning Walk -- December 5, 1973, Los Angeles) For the Mayavadis therefore reaching perfection necessarily means relinquishing the connection with the spiritual master. Although Narottama dasa Thakura sings: "One who has opened my eyes, my spiritual master, he's my father, life after life," the Mayavadis say: "Go away now." The devotee never rejects the spiritual master and he continues to honor him even after reaching the stage of perfection. Mr. Malhotra: Other traditions, guru disciple, then the disciple becomes guru, then disciple. The gurus may change. Prabhupada: They cannot change. If there are change of guru, the disciple acts, but does not, he'll never say that I have become equal or one with guru. That is not so. Mr. Malhotra: I am thinking about this, Swamiji, that your Guru Maharaja is preaching through you, and you are preaching through them. Prabhupada: Yes. Mr. Malhotra: So disciple is guru through his disciples. Prabhupada: That's all right. Evam parampara praptam [Bg. 4.2]. But that does not become, he has become. He may be representative of guru, representative of God, but it does not mean that he has become God. Mr. Malhotra: But he becomes guru with his disciples. Prabhupada: That's alright. Mr. Malhotra: Never equal to his guru. Prabhupada: Not equal, representative. I send one representative of this man, and he may be very expert, doing very good business, still he cannot be equal to me. He is acting as my representative, that's another thing. But not that he has become the original proprietor. Mr. Malhotra: But as your disciples, you are taken as guru. Prabhupada: But they will never say that they have become equal to me. "I have advanced to be my guru." Never say. Just like this boy, he is offering obeisances. He may be expert in preaching more than me, but he knows that "I am subordinate." Otherwise how he shall offer obeisances? He can think, "Oh, now I am so learned. I am so advanced. Why shall I accept him as superior?" No. That continues. Even after my death, after my disappearance, he will offer obeisances to my picture. Mr. Malhotra: But amongst his disciples he will be worshiped... Prabhupada: That's all right, but he remains a disciple of his guru. He will never say that "Now I have become guru, so I don't care for my guru." He will never say. Just like I am doing, but I am worshiping my guru still. So I remain subordinate to my guru, always. Even though I have become guru, still I am subordinate to my guru. (Room Conversation with Life Member, Mr. Malhotra -- December 22, 1976, Poona) In this connection, there is also an instructive pastime in the life of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, namely in His meeting the Mayavadi leader Prakasananda Saraswati. Prakasananda challenged Lord Caitanya to explain why He simply chants and dances while the engagement of the sannyasi is to study the Vedanta. To this Lord Caitanya answered: guru more murkha dekhi' karila sasan [Cc. Adi 7.71]. "My Guru Maharaja saw Me a fool number one, and he has chastised Me." He is God Himself, but he is showing us the example that for a devotee there is never a point where he becomes artificially proud of being liberated, or proud of being God. His liberation is always depend on the mercy of his spiritual master and he remains always an infinitesimal parcel of the Lord prone to a fall down. Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada comments: Liberated soul never says that "I am liberated." As soon as he says "liberated," he's a rascal. A liberated soul will never say that "I am liberated." That is liberated. Caitanya Mahaprabhu, He is God -- guru more murkha dekhi' karila sasan [Cc. Adi 7.71]. "My Guru Maharaja saw Me a fool number one, and he has chastised Me." He's God. This is the example. If one remains always a servant ever-lastingly of guru, then he is liberated. And as soon as he thinks that he is liberated, he's a rascal. That is the teaching of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Guru more murkha dekhi'. Caitanya Mahaprabhu is murkha? Why He's posing Himself that murkha? "I am fool number one." That means that is liberation. You must be ready always to be chastised by guru. Then he's liberated. And as soon as he thinks that "I am beyond this chastisement, I am liberated," he's a rascal. Why Caitanya Mahaprabhu says guru more murkha dekhi' karila sasan? This is sahajiya-vada. He is thinking, "Oh I have become liberated. I don't require any direction of my guru. I'm liberated." Then he's rascal. (Room Conversation -- August 16, 1976, Bombay) Since the impersonalists believe that the Brahman must manifest in a concrete material body to guide the neophyte who might not be able to yet relate to the impersonal concept of the Absolute, they insist that there must be a guru in a bodily form always present to continue the disciplic succession. Thus a bona fide acarya, they say, must appoint a so-called living sadhu to succeed him. But this idea goes against the very principle of the minute independence of the jiva discussed above. If the successor acarya is selected by the predecessor and not by the disciple himself, where is the surrender on the part of the disciple? The great acarya might have given a suggestion about the successive acharya's qualifications, but the act of surrender itself is always an individual choice based on hearing. It is for this reason for example that Lord Krsna presents to us the Vedic knowledge. Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada explains: ... not only does a living entity enjoy or suffer in this world according to the dictation from the Supreme Lord situated locally in the heart, but he receives the opportunity to understand Vedas from Him. If one is serious to understand the Vedic knowledge, then Krsna gives the required intelligence. Why does He present the Vedic knowledge for understanding? Because a living entity individually needs to understand Krsna. (Bg 15.15 purport) Similarly, without hearing sufficiently from the spiritual master and understanding his instructions, there is no question of surrender to him. The real consideration for choosing a spiritual master therefore is not a formal appointment from the previous acarya, but whether the master is conversant with the science of Krsna. This is confirmed by Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu: kiba vipra, kiba nyasi, sudra kene naya yei krsna-tattva-vetta, sei ‘guru' haya "Whether one is a brahmana, a sannyasi or a sudra -- regardless of what he is -- he can become a spiritual master if he knows the science of Krsna." (Madhya 8.128) Furthermore Srila Jiva Gosvami, directly advises all the devotees of the Hare Krsna movement not to accept a spiritual master in terms of hereditary or customary social and ecclesiastical conventions. The disciple is always left to choose his spiritual master on his own. Indeed, none of the previous acaryas in the disciplic succession were ever appointed by their predecessors. The successor acarya proves himself by his personal capacity and recruits disciples from the ranks of non-devotee class of men by preaching. Srila Prabhupada explains: Prabhupada: So far designation is concerned, the spiritual master authorizes every one of his disciple. But it is up to the disciple to carry out the order, able to carry out or not. It is not that spiritual master is partial, he designates one and rejects other. He may do that. If the other is not qualified, he can do that. But actually his intention is not like that. He wants that each and every one of his disciple become as powerful as he is or more than that. That is his desire. Just like father wants every son to be as qualified or more qualified than the father. But it is up to the student or to the son to raise himself to that standard. (Room Conversation -- June 29, 1972, San Diego) The spiritual master only speaks what Krsna says. Therefore we have to hear and see whether the spiritual master speaks what Krsna says before we surrender to him. One must select the spiritual master with proper discrimination and not blindly. The sastras such as Hari bhakta vilasa enjoin that before we take a guru we study him carefully to find out whether we can surrender to him. We should not accept a guru suddenly out of fanaticism. It is not a cheap thing. After we accept the spiritual master we must follow his instructions. Therefore it is important that we test whether the person is qualified to be a spiritual master. The qualification of a spiritual master is that he must have realized the conclusion of the scriptures by deliberation and arguments and thus be able to convince others of these conclusions. So unless one is at least conversant with the preliminary knowledge of transcendental matters, how will he ascertain the bona fides of a spiritual master? For instance, if we want to purchase something, we must at least have some idea of what that thing is, otherwise we will be cheated. If we want to purchase a mango from the market, we must at least know what type of food a mango is and what it looks like. Therefore one's independent thoughtfulness is always recommended. One should not give too much importance to institutional appointments, but simply consider with cool head who is the bona fide spiritual master. Srila Prabhupada describes the consequences of mixing the pure Vaisnava philosophy with impersonal ideas by giving example of a great institution which was lost due to ambition of motivated disciples to occupy the post of their spiritual master. Such is the history of Gaudiya Matha society of his Guru Maharaja His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura. At a certain point of his divine lila, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta had to undergo surgical operation and therefore made a scrap paper in case he would leave this mortal plane. On the paper he listed three disciples who would have become the trustees of his Gaudiya Matha. One of the disciples kept the paper and later this was presented in the high-court and a property was given to him. On this basis, after Srila Bhaktisiddhanta's demise, the disciple artificially became a so-called acarya. But the other disciples were not satisfied and in order to counteract him, they conspired and voted in another false acarya. In this way two false acarya groups began to fight over the assets of the institution. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta instructed his disciples to form a governing body and conduct missionary activities cooperatively. He did not designate anyone to become his successor.  Srila Prabhupada explains: ...none of them were advised by Guru Maharaja to become acarya. His idea was "Let them manage; then whoever will be actual qualified for becoming acarya, they will elect. Why I should enforce upon them?" That was his plan. "Let them manage by strong governing body, as it is going on. Then acarya will come by his qualification." But they wanted that... Because at heart, they were, "After demise of Guru, I shall become acarya," "I shall become acarya." So all the acaryas began fight. (Room Conversation with American Banker -- September 21, 1973, Bombay) Therefore a sadhu comes out automatically by preaching work. A bona fide acarya is self-effulgent. He shines like the sun and there is no need to bring any torchlight to point at him. He shines through his teachings and it is up to us to accept him or not. This is the real meaning of surrender. Hanuman: One thing he's saying, this gentleman, and I would like to know, is your successor named or your successor will... Prabhupada: My success is always there. Yes. Just like the sun is there always. It may come before your vision or not. The sun is there. But if you are fortunate, you come before the sun. Otherwise you remain in darkness. Sun is open to everyone. Our Krsna consciousness movement -- Krsna is open to everyone. But if you are fortunate, you come to the light. If you are unfortunate, do not. That is your choice. Krsna says, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66]. You do it. Now it is your choice. You surrender to Krsna or don't surrender. That is your business (Room Conversation with Sanskrit Professor, other Guests and Disciples -- February 12, 1975, Mexico)

A podcast by the BLISS podcast team discussing the nature of free will and it's significance in the Krishna consciousness philosophy, specifically regarding the topic of our falldown from the spiritual world.

His Grace Purujit Dasa explains the significance of Srila Prabhupada's appearance and why he should never be considered an ordinary man.

There is no difference between any of the representatives of God who come to deliver the conditioned souls of this material world, they simply come when the previous instructions are not clearly understood or when there is a great need of their appearing for a specific purpose. Throughout human history, there have been many varieties of monumental events; Political upheavals, revolutions, the rise of empires and their subsequent downfall, shifts in focus like the renaissance and more recently the hippie movement, and technological advancements that changed the face of the world, like the industrial revolution. Perhaps a sometimes overlooked aspect, however, but one that nonetheless permeates all cultures and certainly molds the very direction of growth and change within this world, is the appearance of those great personalities sometimes referred to as "Divine Messengers". Most notable amoungst the preachers of the divine and the higher truths of reality are Lord Jesus Christ, Lord Buddha, The Prophet Muhammad and most recently His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. But why is there a need for such descended masters of the spirit? This world might superficially seem to be going along just nicely without said saintly persons. If we take a closer look at the world itself and how it's working, we will see the urgent necessity of the elevated personalities like His Divine Grace Swami Prabhupada, and why, in the ultimate issue, there is fundamentally no difference between any of them. If such a messenger is at all bona-fide, he will say pretty much the same thing as any other: This world is temporary and full of suffering and it is in one's interest to get out out of it. This is the first and foremost point for any messenger. We experience death, birth, old and disease as basic principles of life at the present moment and have done for longer than anyone has a memory of. Besides these impeding and inevitable aspects of reality, we accept life as it is as enjoyment. We work very hard for a little remuneration, just like an ass, who strains himself by carrying tons of cloth for a morsel of grass. Even if a person was able to become very successful with a big bank balance, a nice looking wife, plenty of fast cars and a big mansion, he is forced by the influence of time to meet his cruel end at the hands of death at the end of it all. One should therefore inquire, if he has any sense, "of what use is all of that work?". Even while we are working so hard just to meet death, our life is full of suffering. We are troubled by the mind, hindered by the body, attacked and tortured by other persons and animals, and we are by harassed by natural disasters and disease. The topmost point of contradiction of the living entity in this world is that he is eternal, but the world around him and the body he is situated in are not. The world and body are comprised of five elements; earth, water, fire, air and ether and all of these elements, along with the subtle elements of mind, intelligence and false ego, are changing. This is the nature of anything material. The universe, one could call it the gigantic body, came into being at one point, expanded for some time and eventually began to decay. Eventually it will be annihilated. Everything within this material world is consequently always of the same nature. That's confirmed by both modern science and the Bhagavad-Gita, in which it is said "Those who are seers of the truth have concluded that of the nonexistent [the material body] there is no endurance and of the eternal [the soul] there is no change. This they have concluded by studying the nature of both." [BG 2.16] Although everything within our immediate visual vicinity is temporary, we can observe by the presence of consciousness that the person who experiences this temporary nature is eternal and unchanging. A persons body is going through so many chemical changes and drastic growths: One starts with a small, youthful child's' body and it progresses on up to a old persons frail body, but the person is always there, despite so many changes of the body. The body is completely different, but he is always the same observer. That eternal consciousness is somehow or other now forced into a temporary atmosphere and forced to try and enjoy it, which can be compared to a man asked to enjoy a room full of pleasures with the only condition being that he will shortly and definitely be shot in the head. Such a room is very difficult to enjoy. Thus this world, although seemingly full of pleasures, is momentary and is consequently very miserable. Therefore, a divine messenger is required to lift us out of it. Because we are in ignorance of the solution, and often too entangled in the material nature to understand that we are even suffering, the messenger is completely necessary to wake us up out of this dream of reality. Being above the laws of material nature, he can understand our precarious position and also the process by which to get out. In order for us to properly understand the position of the divine messenger, we first must understand our relationship with God. God is the supreme and original person, transcendental, absolute and the source of all energies. There are two principle energies of God, who's name is Krishna, of which one is the material energy, which contains the separated inferior energies previously described as earth and water etc. But there is another, superior energy called the living entity. The living entity is an expansion of Krishna and is a unique, individual soul, eternally His part, parcel and thereby eternal servitor. There are two divisions of these minute expansions, which in Sanskrit are called Jiva tattva. The two kinds of Jiva tattva are eternally liberated and eternally conditioned, nitya-mukta and nitya-bandha respectively. The latter is called eternally conditioned because he has been embodied within the material nature since longer than anyone can chalk out. The living entity decides to take a material body as soon as he wants to enjoy just like Krsna, to be on an equal platform with Krishna. A great Vaisnava poet, Jagadanada Pandit, explains very clearly the position in his prema-vivarta when he says "When an individual soul forgets his eternal relationship with God and tries to lord it over the material nature or resources, that condition, that forgetful condition, is called maya, or illusion." [Prema-Vivarta] A minute part and parcel and never be equal to the complete whole Personality of Godhead and he can never assume such a position because that is simply not his nature. Krishna is always the enjoyer, and his part and parcels are expanded for his pleasure. When one wants to assume Krishna's position, he must take an illusory, materially constructed body, which covers him with the illusion that he is God. The material senses make one bereft of spiritual vision. Only then can a minute soul think that he is Krishna, because as soon as a soul understands Krishna, he immediately understands his own position as a subordinate. Because he is eternally the servant of Krishna, In the spiritual state, his senses are always directly engaged in Krishna's service, but in the conditional state, they are indirectly serving Him in the form of the senses and their objects, which are also his impersonal, separated material energies. This indirect service makes one feel independent from Krishna, thereby giving him the illusion of being himself the lord of all he surveys. The Nitya-Mukta, the eternally liberated soul, however, ever remains a full cognizant servant of Krishna. When one is in his original spiritual position, he is eternally blissful and full of knowledge, because he is in his real and eternal position as an expansion of the eternal, blissful and fully cognizant God. Emanating from Krishna, he has the qualities of Krishna in minute quantity. In the spiritual world, the nitya-mukta is enjoying with Krishna in a loving, transcendental service relationship, as a friend, parent, servant, a neutral object or even as a lover. This relationship is spiritually ecstatic and therefore the nitya mukta naturally feels compassionate for the suffering conditioned soul. On the order of Krishna, the ever-liberated pure devotee enters the material world, completely uncontaminated by material energy, to deliver the fallen conditioned souls by reawakening their God consciousness. In the vaisnava-pranama, a prayer by Bhakti-yogis, those connect to Krishna through love and devotion, the attitude of a pure devotee is portrayed. The devotee prays "I offer my respectful obeisances unto all the Vaisnava devotees of the Lord. They are just like desire trees who can fulfill the desires of everyone. They are oceans of mercy and are the purifiers of the fallen souls." [Vaisnava pranama] A devotee of the Lord has the Lord's interests at heart, and the Lord's interest is that the soul suffering in the material world return to his eternal abode of happiness and complete knowledge. When a pure devotee comes to the material world, he is always in touch with Krishna. He is firmly established in Yoga, which means "to connect to the Supreme". Being always with the most pure and transcendental Lord, the pure devotee is not subject to any illusion or material inebriety. This means that a pure devotee also has pure senses. In conditional life, on account of the imperfect material senses, we cannot have perfect knowledge. Every person has four defects due to his being in a material tabernacle: He must have imperfect senses, he must be illusioned (Just like how we think we are the body even though we are factually not), he must cheat others and he must also make mistakes. In effect, we can never ascertain perfect truth and subsequent happiness thereof. A soul liberated from the material nature is therefore the only way to understand God and life beyond the body. He is the only way to ascertain knowledge beyond the senses. A conditioned living entity has a material body on account of his desire to enjoy material senses, separately from Krishna, but a pure devotee, who only is thinking of Krishna's satisfaction, has no such material body. He always remains in his pure and fully spiritual position, although it may appear to a conditioned soul that he is an ordinary man. However, one should make no such distinction or be bewildered by his seemingly mundane affairs. Every action of the spiritual master is transcendental and an instruction. There is no difference between any of the representatives of God who come to deliver the conditioned souls of this material world, they simply come when the previous instructions are not clearly understood or when there is a great need of their appearing for a specific purpose. At different times, places and to different categories of people, the pure devotees appear to give different instructions with the same goal in mind. A very clear example of this is of Lord Buddha, who advented 3000 years ago. When he incarnated he apparently preached atheism. His main message was twofold; that the world is suffering and that one should transcend it to a state of consciousness known as nirvana. This nirvana means the cessation of material existence, no more activity. That kind of message was very palatable for the atheistic class of men at the time of his incarnation. When Lord Buddha appeared, animals were being sacrificed brutally and in great quantity simply for the sake of eating. In the Vedas, the most ancient scripture in the world, there are prescribed animal sacrifices for the testing of ancient mantras. These mantras, when properly vibrated, would actually be for the benefit of the animal, giving it new life after the destruction of it's old body. But because the atheistic class of men were using the Vedas simply for their sense gratification, Lord Buddha incarnated in order to preach both ahimsa, non-violence, and nirvana, an atheistic spiritual path. But actually, because Lord Buddha was a pure devotee, a direct representative of Krishna, by worshiping him, as Buddhists currently do, even though they claim to atheistic, they actually get the benefit of following and worshiping a pure devotee. In this way, they will reach perfect God consciousness. All bona-fide representatives of God come here to do the same thing, to reawaken our dormant love for God. However, according to the land of their birth, their upbringing and culture, people have different experiences and some have more or less intelligence. It follows logically then, that according to the varieties of circumstance, different preaching is required. Just like in a mathematics class, there is the principle that one plus one is equal to two. Now, in a more advanced calculus class, the same principle is there, but there are also higher mathematics. Similarly, the aim of religion, to love God, is always there, but it is more or less elaborate according to the time, place and circumstance. For the crowd that Lord Jesus Christ was preaching to, for example, we know from the Bible that the first thing he stressed was the following of the first commandment, "thou shalt not kill". The people around the time Christ appeared were simply killing each other and animals, and therefore Christ had to give them a simplified message of the science and message of God-consciousness, more suited just to rectify their mentality in order to approach God. Now, however, people are a little more cultured, technology advanced, more educated and more intelligent. They are fond of science and even questioning previously firmly established dogmas and beliefs. They are not satisfied with simply that "God is great" and "God created everything". A full explanation of the science is required for the modern thinking man. Therefore, Srila Prabhuapda arrived in the west with the Science of Krishna consciousness, the complete and detailed information of God and how to love him. The philosophy of the Bhagavad-Gita, As It Is, is unrivaled by any other literature or philosopher in all of history. No other sect of spiritualism or critic or scholar has been able to find a legitimate fault in the philosophy and practice of Krishna consciousness: It is fully authorized and there is no dearth of perfect knowledge. It's practical effects are seen also, with young men and women easily giving up the cornerstones of materialistic life: Illicit sex, gambling, intoxication and meat-eating in favor of development of love for God. Therefore, it is the perfect message for the modern society, and the solution to the social, economical and religious problems that the world faces today. Srila Prabhupada translated the great song of God, Bhagavad-gita, and wrote purports supported by the strength and authority of Vedic literature, previous stalwart teachers of the science called Arcaryas, and other saintly persons. His works have been approved, studied and recommended by prestigious universities and institutions all over the world. People from every corner of the planet have joined the Krishna consciousness movement, giving up all worldly opulence for a simple life of self-realization, a life of pursuing Krishna. The Krishna consciousness philosophy doesn't say that one should give up his religion and practice Krishna consciousness instead. All the previous bona-fide divine messengers gave the proper direction, and if people actually follow the instructions of those great saintly persons, then they too will come to the perfection of life, full Krishna consciousness. It is simply a question of whether or not one's religious practice is resulting in an increase of love for God or for matter. That is the test. If one is becoming more and more God-conscious, he will eventually only have attraction for God. It's just like the Muslims say, "God is more important than anything, even one's own family, friends and duties." So no divine messenger will ultimately contradict each other. The underlying and eternally true message of love for Godhead is the principle that all religions now have lost. It's the message that all the previous great representatives of God, Lord Jesus, Muhammad, Buddha were talking about. These saints were not Christians, Muslims, or Buddhists. They were self-realized souls, who understood that to love God unconditionally is the actual purpose of religion. Krishna says in the Bhagavad-Gita, "Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear." [BG 18.66] Thus the real purpose of religion and the real divine message is established. It isn't about saying "This is my practice" and "this is my teacher" and "your practice and your teacher are different so you're a nonsense". No, the purpose of religion is to give up all the designations and simply surrender in love to God.

In this quote Srila Prabhupada, the founder of the world wide Hare Krishna movement speaks of how the chanting of the Holy names of God is part of Islamic tradition also. Srila Prabhupada: In Muhammadan religion also, dancing and singing is forbidden. I do not know what is there in the Bible, but I understand in the Bible there is sankirtana allowed. I have asked our Kirtanananda to write some article, "Sankirtana and Bible," because he is..., he knows Bible very well than other members. So we shall see very nice how in Bible there is sankirtana. The Muhammadan Koran, they do not... In some of their sections there is sankirtana, not within the mosque, but without. (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 7.39–47 – February 5, 1967, San Francisco)

Srila Prabhupada writes in a letter: “I have seen in the Bible that Lord Jesus Christ recommended this kirtana performance in the Bible. You know better than me and I would request you to write a small book on 'SANKIRTANA MOVEMENT IN THE BIBLE.'”The following is an article written by Hayagriva dasa in pursuance of Srila Prabhupada’s wish. In the Vaisnava (Krsna) literature of India there are innumerable scriptural injunctions encouraging sankirtana -- the chanting and singing of the names of God as an efficacious means to attain God realization or as a glorious end in itself. Yet many Westerners, perhaps justifiably skeptical, might ask, "If sankirtana is so all-encompassing, so potent and effective, why isn't it stressed in the Bible?" Even a quick reading of the Bible will show that sankirtana was very much present indeed amongst the ancient Jews and early Christians and that it was certainly stressed by one of the Bible's major figures -- David. "But that's not the sankirtana practiced by the Krsna consciousness movement," one might object. "Moses and David certainly didn't chant Hare Krsna, Hare Rama." It would be difficult to prove that they did, and it is doubtless safe to assume that they didn't, but sankirtana is not limited to the Hare Krsna mantra. In fact, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the chief propagator of Hare Krsna chanting in this age, has written in His Siksastaka: O my Lord, Your holy name alone can render all benediction to living beings, and thus You have hundreds and millions of names like Krsna, Govinda, etc. In these transcendental names You have invested all Your transcendental energies. There are not even hard and fast rules for chanting these names. O my Lord, out of kindness You enable us to easily approach You by Your holy names, but I am so unfortunate that I have no attraction for them. (Siksastaka, 2) Any Name Of God The principle of sankirtana, then, does not insist on the names Krsna and Rama. Theoretically any name for the Absolute Godhead will do. The point is, however, that in this age -- which extends back 5,000 years -- the chanting and singing of the names of God and God's glories is the most certain way to spiritual emancipation. "Chant the names of God," Lord Caitanya enjoins. 'In this Age of Kali [chaos] there is no other way, there is no other way at all." The effect of chanting the holy names, Lord Caitanya further instructs, is that transcendental love of God is awakened in the soul. Why chant the name Krsna in preference to others! Although other names are potentially as good, the name Krsna is the principal name because it is the name of the primal, original person. God is one, but His manifestations are infinite. One may light any number of candles from an original candle, yet the original candle still retains its original identity. There are countless expansions of God, but the adi-purusa, the primal person, is asserted in the Vedas to be Krsna (Govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami, Brahma-samhita). From Him appear countless expansions, incarnations, avataras, etc. In Bhagavad-gita, Lord Krsna asserts, "I am the source of everything; from Me the entire creation flows. Knowing this, the wise worship Me with all their hearts." (Bhagavad-gita, 10.8) This claim is not made by anyone in the Bible, not even by Christ. The word "Christ" is also connected to "Krsna" etymologically, for "Christ" is derived from the Greek word christos, meaning "anointed," or "the anointed one," a translation of the Hebrew word mashiah, Messiah. One of the principal signs of Krsna and His devotees is the tilaka or clay which anoints the forehead with a V sign. Information Witheld The Bible speaks of the Supreme as God, Jehovah and Christ, and the Vedic literatures -- Bhagavad-gita, Brahma-samhita, Srimad-Bhagavatam -- indicate Him personally to be Krsna, a word which means "all-attractive" in Sanskrit. (Rama means enjoyer, and Hare refers to the energy enjoyed.) The Bible is principally concerned with the laws given to the Jewish people by God, the Jews' breaking of these laws and God's subsequent punishments. Christ stressed forgiveness for those who are truly repentant and He supplied a new element -- love or bhakti as a means to attain God. Throughout the Bible, however. God is described as "great," "angry," "terrible," "greatly to be feared," "almighty," "the everlasting Father," "Alpha and Omega," etc., but nowhere is the all-attractive personality of God explained. Who is God? Just how great is He? What are His features? His opulences? His activities? Exactly what does His abode look like? What does He look like? What are His various manifestations? Specifically how does He create? How does He pervade His creation? What is the relationship of the individual with God? What is the individual's role in the world, and how does it come about, and flow can the individual self transcend it? These and many other questions are neither raised nor answered in the Bible because ancient Judaic culture was not sufficiently advanced to absorb this information. Christ Himself told His disciples, "I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now." (John, 16:12) In the Old Testament we hear God's voice from the sky, but we do not see His face. He appears as a burning bush, a dove, a pillar of fire by night, a cloud by day, etc., but He does not appear as He is. Christ appeared as a devotee of God, but He does not reveal His Father to His disciples. With a voice on high the Father speaks of Christ as His beloved Son, but Christ Himself said, Ye have neither heard this voice at any time, nor seen His shape.... Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father. (John, 5:37, 6:46) Vedic literatures, which pre-date the Bible, were written in a highly advanced spiritual culture, and they specifically reveal God's form, His features, His pastimes and His personality. Of course God's attributes are infinite, and words can only hint at His glory, but the Vedas supply man's mind with more information than he can accommodate to the point of enlightenment, at which time the Vedas are of no more use "than a pond when everywhere there is a flood." (Bhagavad-gita, 2.46) At that stage man sees God or Krsna everywhere, but that realization is not to be imitated. The point is that the Vedas give a detailed explanation of God and His activities and indicate the Supreme Personality of Godhead to be Sri Krsna. Not only is Sri Krsna indicated to be God, but He is vividly physically described, and His personal activities are narrated. Lord Krsna Himself sang Bhagavad-gita to Arjuna on the battlefield, and thus His instructions are known as the song (gita) of God (Bhagavan). In the Gita, Lord Krsna characterized the mahatmas or great souls in this way: They are always engaged in chanting My glories. Endeavoring with great determination, offering homage unto Me, they worship Me with devotion. (Bhagavad-gita, 9.14) The Bible is certainly peopled with many great souls -- Moses, David, Paul -- and none would have contradicted the essential validity of the sankirtana principle. This thesis is supported by innumerable passages in books by the prophets and the apostles. The Books of Moses After the children of Israel were saved, after they passed through the Red Sea and after the Pharaoh's army drowned, Moses and his followers immediately began to sing praises to God. Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the Lord, for He hath triumphed gloriously.... The Lord is my strength and song, and He is become my salvation: He is my God, and I will prepare Him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt Him. (Exodus, 15:1-2) In Deuteronomy, Moses, in his exhortation to the Jewish people after the deliverance of the ten commandments, set forth the basic tenets underlying the bhakti or devotional process which forms the very root of the sankirtana philosophy. Here Moses stresses the importance of service to God and the evocation of His name. Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.... Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God; Him shalt thou serve, and to Him shalt thou cleave, and swear by His name. He is thy praise, and He is thy God, that hath done for thee these great and terrible things, which thine eyes have seen. (Deuteronomy, 6:4–5, 10:20–21) Knowledge of the greatness of God, Moses maintains, necessitates the devotee's "publishing" His name and broadcasting His glories. In his second song, Moses says: My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distill as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass: Because I will publish the name of the Lord: ascribe ye greatness unto our God. (Deuteronomy, 32:2–3) As in Vaisnava philosophy, the name of God is integral with Him. Of course the Godhead, by His omnipresence, exists impersonally in all sound, and all sound has its being impersonally in Him, yet the names of God are identical with Him in a different way: they are sabda, or sound incarnations, and God is personally present in them. Thus the names of God are praised and evoked in the religious traditions of both East and West. (The English word "God," for instance, stems from the Indo-European base ghawa- and the Sanskrit havate, meaning "to call out to, invoke," the idea being that God is He to whom man calls out both in joy and distress.) Moses, the great lawgiver and father of the Jews, was not inaugurating a new tradition in advocating the verbal glorification of God but was working within the established context of Judaism. The Book of Judges After Deborah and Balak delivered Israel from Jabin and Sisera, they sang: "Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing unto the Lord; I will sing praise to the Lord God of Israel." Samuel Upon being delivered out of the hands of his enemy Saul, David, in his psalm of thanksgiving, sang: "Therefore I will give thanks unto Thee, O Lord, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto Thy name." (Samuel II, 22:50) Chronicles Of all the figures in the Bible, David is undoubtedly the most avid promulgator of sankirtana. David brought the ark of God -- which was worshiped like the Vaisnava Deities -- into Jerusalem, and, dressed in fine linen, danced before it. Thus all lsrael brought up the ark of the covenant of the Lord with shouting, and with sound of the cornet, and with trumpets, and with cymbals, making a noise with psalteries and harps. (I. Chronicles, 15:28) David appointed a number of Levites to attend the ark, as in India certain pujaris are assigned to attend the Deities. And he [David] appointed certain of the Levites to minister before the ark of the Lord, and to record, and to thank and praise the Lord God of Israel: Asaph the chief, etc., and Jeiel with psalteries and with harps; but Asaph made a sound with cymbals; Benaiah also and Jahaziel the priests with trumpets continually before the ark of the covenant of God (I. Chronicles, 16:4–6) David then informed the people of the process of worship before the ark. In essence, this is also the message of the Krsna consciousness movement: kirtana, or praise of God, by song, the glorification of His names, the relation of His pastimes, the search for His personal presence. Then on that day David delivered first this psalm, to thank the Lord, into the hand of Asaph and his brethren. Give thanks unto the Lord, call upon His name, make known His deeds among the people. Sing unto Him, sing psalms unto Him, talk yet of all His wondrous works. Glory ye in His holy name; let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord. Seek the Lord and His strength, seek His face continually. (1. Chronicles, 16:7-11) This message extends beyond the people of Jerusalem, just as Lord Caitanya's message extends beyond India. Sing unto the Lord, all the earth; shew forth from day to day His salvation. Declare His glory among the heathen; His marvellous works among all nations. For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised: He also is to be feared above all Gods. (1. Chronicles, 16:23–25) In the Krsna temples of India, the Deities are glorified full time. Similarly, David appointed Heman and Jeduthun "with trumpets and cymbals for those that should make a sound, and with musical instruments of God" (Chronicles I., 16:42) to sing continually before the ark. Moreover, David chose 288 people, mainly youths, to chant with instruments in the temple. All these were under the hands of their father [Heman's fourteen sons and three daughters] for song in the house of the Lord, with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the service of the house of God, according to the king's order to Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman. So the number of them, with the brethren that were instructed in the songs of the Lord, even all that were cunning, was two hundred fourscore and eight. (Chronicles I., 25:6–7) Solomon, David's son, renowned for wisdom and riches, followed in his father's footsteps in building a magnificent temple on Mount Moriah at Jerusalem, a temple which he overlaid with pure gold, and in seeing that chanters were also installed. It seemed that their kirtanas were lively indeed, being that they precipitated the descent of the glory of God. Also the Levites which were the singers, all of them of Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, being arrayed in white linen, having cymbals and psalteries and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them an hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets:) It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the Lord, saying, For He is God; for His mercy endureth for ever; that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the Lord; So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of God. (11. Chronicles, 5: 12-14) Jehoshaphat, who reigned over Judah, also followed in this tradition. It is notable that specific mention is made of the method of bowing and of praising the beauty of God and relying on His mercy, for these are also typical of Vaisnavism. And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the Lord, worshipping the Lord. And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel with a loud voice on high. And when he [Jehoshaphat] had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the Lord, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the Lord: for His mercy endureth forever. (11. Chronicles, 20:18–21) Hezekiah, David's grandson, followed the path of David, not that of his idolatrous and blasphemous father Ahaz. He opened all the doors of the temples which his father had shut down. The ceremony that was conducted under his direction could be a description of a Vaisnava aratrika. And he [Hezekiah] set the Levites in the house of the Lord with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, and of Gad the king's seer, and Nathan the prophet; for so was the commandment of the Lord by His prophets. And the Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priest with the trumpets. And Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt offering upon the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song of the Lord began also with the trumpets, and with the instruments ordained by David King of Israel. And all the congregation worshipped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded: and all this continued until the burnt offering was finished. And when they had made an end of offering, the king and all that were present with him bowed themselves, and worshipped. Moreover Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the Levites to sing praise unto the Lord with the words of David, and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshipped. (II. Chronicles, 29:25–30) The Book of Ezra. Of those returning to Jerusalem from captivity in Babylon, there were "among them two hundred singing men and singing women." (Ezra, 2:65) After they returned, the people gathered "as one man" in Jerusalem, where they began construction of a new temple and held sankirtana during the foundation ceremony. And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the songs of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the Lord, after the ordinance of David King of Israel. And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the Lord; because He is good, for His mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. (Ezra, 3:10-11) The Psalms of David Of all the books in the Bible, David's Psalms place the greatest emphasis on kirtana. The Psalms make four important assertions. First, since man exists only by the mercy of God, man's only recourse is to trust Him completely. "And they that know Thy name will put their trust in Thee: for Thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek Thee." (Psalms, 9:10) Second, the names of God have great potency, and it is the duty or dharma of man to thank and praise Him. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of His holiness. (Psalms, 48:1; It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto Thy name, O most high. (Psalms, 92:1) Praise ye the Lord. Praise, O ye servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord. Blessed by the name of the Lord from this time forth and for evermore. From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord's name is to be praised. (Psalms, 113:1–3) Third, man derives great joy in praising Him. Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness. Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness: To the end that my glory may sing praise to Thee, and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto Thee forever. (Psalms, 30:4, 11–12) Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before His presence with singing. (Psalms, 100:1–2) I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. My meditation of Him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the Lord. (Psalms, 104: 33–34) Praise ye the Lord: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely. (Psalms, 147:1) Fourth, all nations and indeed the entire creation will eventually praise Him, and thus the chanting of the names of God will constitute, as Lord Caitanya prophesied, the world religion. All nations whom Thou hast made shall come and worship before Thee, O Lord; and shall glorify Thy name. (Psalms, 86:9) Praise ye the Lord. Praise ye the Lord from the heavens: praise Him in the heights. Praise ye Him, all His angels: praise Him, all His hosts. Praise ye Him, sun and moon: praise Him, all ye stars of light. Praise Him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens. Let them praise the name of the Lord: for He commanded, and they were created. (Psalms, 148: 1–5 David also enjoined that the chanting of the holy names be -- as in India -- accompanied by a number of instruments and by hand clapping. Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise and rejoice, and sing praise. Sing unto the Lord with the harp, and the voice of a psalm. With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the Lord, the king.... O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of truimph. (Psalms, 98:4–6, 47:1) Nor are the chants to be mere vain repetitions or caterwauling noise-fests: "Sing ye praises with understanding,'' (Psalms, 47: 7) David instructs. Man cannot take God's kingdom by storm, for God is not mundane and cannot be approached by fanaticism or human mental speculation. His abode is above the heavens, and the easiest approach to Him is through praise fixed firmly in knowledge. My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise. Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early. I will praise Thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto Thee among the nations. For Thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and Thy truth unto the coulds. Be Thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let Thy glory be above all the earth. (Psalms, 57:7–11) Chanting the holy names and recounting the great deeds of God are important factors in man's search for Him. O give thanks unto the Lord; call upon His name: make known His deeds among the people. Sing unto Him, sing psalms unto Him: talk ye of all His wondrous works. Glory ye in His holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord. Seek the Lord, and His strength: seek His face evermore. (Psalms, 105:1-4) David also maintained that one should praise God throughout life. Praise the Lord, O my soul. While I live I will praise the Lord: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being. (Psalms, 146:1) David's last five psalms (146–150) are in themselves musical exhortations urging not only man but all living creatures to praise God. In their lyrical insistence (insistence it is, not repetition) they stylistically approach a mantra form. For example, the last psalm: Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in His sanctuary: praise Him in the firmament of His power. Praise Him for His mighty acts: praise Him according to His excellent greatness. Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet: praise Him with the psaltery and harp. Praise Him with the timbrel and dance: praise Him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise Him upon the loud cymbals: praise Him upon the high sounding cymbals. Let every thing that breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord. (Psalms, 150:1–6) The Psalms of David are both lyrical and devotional. Christ's last words on the cross ("My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me!") are the beginning of the 22nd Psalm. Far from being a cry of despair, this psalm, which Christ was not able to quote in full, asserts: "I will declare Thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise Thee." (Psalms, 22:22) Thus the Psalms bridge the Judaic and Christian traditions and establish the sankirtana principle in the West more strongly than any other book in the Bible. The Book of Isaiah Isaiah, who foresaw the Lord's deliverance of the Jewish people from Assyria, Egypt and other places, prophesied: And in that day shall ye say, Praise the Lord, call upon His name, declare His doings among the people, make mention that His name is exalted. Sing unto the Lord: for He hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth. (Isaiah, 12:4–5) Also in relating the Lord's future mighty deeds, Isaiah reports God as instructing Jacob and Israel in this way: Sing unto the Lord a new song, and His praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein: the isles, and the inhabitants thereof. Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains. Let them give glory unto the Lord, and declare His praise in the islands. (Isaiah, 42: 10–12) In speaking further to Jacob and his people, God coaxes the entire creation, including inanimate objects, to sing His praise: Sing O ye heavens; for the Lord hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified Himself in Israel. Sing, O heavens: and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains for the Lord hath comforted His people, and will have mercy upon His afflicted. (lsaiah, 44:23, 49:13) The New Testament Lord Jesus Christ taught His disciples to go forth and preach among all men that "The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you." (Luke, 10:9) Such preaching is also kirtana: whether one says, "Repent, the kingdom of God is at hand" or chants Hare Krsna, the message is essentially the same, for the Godhead is verbally proclaimed amongst men. When asked when the kingdom of God was coming, Christ taught that God is attained not by the mental speculative method nor by investigation of external phenomena but by spontaneous love arising from within the individual himself. And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or lo there! For, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. (Luke, 17:20–21) Thus God and His kingdom are most quickly attained when one's yearning is strong, when bhakti arises in the soul. There is also stress on the holy names in the New Testament, for Christ warns His disciples: "And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." (Mark, 13:13) Christ also emphasized the potency of the holy names: "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matthew, 18:20) In one of the most intensely mystical passages in St. John's Gospel, when Christ prays to His Father the night before the crucifixion, He asserts that the name of God is a unifying force, that He (Christ) Himself manifested the name to His disciples and that it will be God's name that will keep them as one. Christ prayed: I have glorified Thee on the earth: I have finished the work which Thou gavest me to do. I have manifested Thy name unto the men which Thou gavest me out of the world: Thine they were, and Thou gavest them me; and they have kept Thy word. And now I am no more in the world, and I come to Thee. Holy Father, keep through Thine own name those whom Thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Thy name: those that Thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. (John, 17:4, 6, 11–12) Christ's disciples continued in this tradition. After being beaten and thrown in jail and shackled in Philippi in Macedonia, Paul and Silas chanted praises to God: "And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them." (Acts, 16:25) It was also St. Paul who wrote the Romans: For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles: and laud him, all ye people. (Romans, 10:13, 15:6, 11) Again, St. Paul emphasized the potency of the Lord's name in an epistle to the Philippians: Wherefor God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. (Philippians, 2:9–11, 4:4) St. Paul also wrote the Thessalonians and Hebrews similar instructions (II Thessalonians, 1:12. Hebrews, 2:12). Similarly, the apostle James in an epistle used skillful means to get the people to chant: "Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms." (James, 5:13) In his apocalyptic Revelations, St. John describes a vision of universal destruction and salvation which resembles, in magnitude, Lord Krsna's display of His universal form in the Eleventh Chapter of Bhagavad-gita. St. John, in his vision, sees the Lamb (Christ) glorified amongst thousands of devotees who have God's names written on their foreheads (a Vaisnava custom). The devotees stand on a sea of glass and fire, a sea of cosmic destruction, and chant the names of God. Again it is proclaimed that all peoples will worship the Almighty God and glorify His name. And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the Mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder; and as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are Thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are Thy ways, Thou king of saints. Who shall not fear Thee, O Lord, and glorify Thy name? For Thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before Thee; for Thy judgments are made manifest. (Revelations, 14:1–3, 15:2–4) Thus from Moses to Revelations -- the garmut of the Bible -- sankirtana is a prominent factor. The message is essentially one throughout the Bible and Caitanya (Vaisnava) philosophy: man only meets with frustration when he tries to assault the kingdom of God physically or intellectually. The Supreme Godhead is above man -- is above, in fact, the heavens -- and man is subordinate as an organ of the body is subordinate to the entire body. In the spiritual hierarchy that culminates with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, man's role is established as an organ of praise, and it is in praise of God that man is elevated to the spiritual platform. Actually this is not a unique role, for, as the Bible and Caitanya philosophy maintain, all creatures that breathe -- and even entities that do not breathe -- can join in universal acclamation of the Supreme Person. The total unity and harmony of that hymn comprise the great song of God. (Originally printed in the BTG magazine in 1970)

The following prediction of Jesus Christ is found in the ancient Vedic scripture known as Bhavishya Purana. Bhavishya means “future”, and Purana means “history”, so the name means the “history of the future”. The Bhavishya Purana was originally written 5,000 years ago by the sage Vyasa, who was the compiler of the Vedic scriptures. Usually Puranas are historical narrations of universal events that happened in ancient times, but in the case of the Bhavishya Purana, Vyasa is providing a narration of events that will happen in the future, beginning with the arrival of the age of kali yuga. The following is an excerpt from the Bhavishya Purana: Pratisarga Parva, Chaturyuga Khanda Dvitiyadhyayah, 19th Chapter, Texts 17 to 32. Texts 17 – 21 vikramaditya-pautrasca pitr-rajyam grhitavan jitva sakanduradharsams cina-taittiridesajan bahlikankamarupasca romajankhurajanchhatan tesam kosan-grhitva ca danda-yogyanakarayat sthapita tena maryada mleccharyanam prthak-prthak sindhusthanam iti jneyam rastramaryasya cottamam mlecchasthanam param sindhoh krtam tena mahatmana ekada tu sakadiso himatungam samayayau “Ruling over the Aryans was a king called Salivahana, the grandson of Vikramaditya, who occupied the throne of his father. He defeated the Shakas who were very difficult to subdue, the Cinas, the people from Tittiri and Bahikaus who could assume any form at will. He also defeated the people from Rome and the descendants of Khuru, who were deceitful and wicked. He punished them severely and took their wealth. Salivahana thus established the boundaries dividing the separate countries of the Mlecchas and the Aryans. In this way Sindusthan came to be known as the greatest country. That personality appointed the abode of the Mlecchas beyond the Sindhu River and to the west.” Text 22 ekadaa tu shakadhisho himatungari samaayayau hunadeshasya madhye vai giristhan purusam shubhano dadarsha balaram raajaa Once upon a time the subduer of the Sakas went towards Himatunga and in the middle of the Huna country (Hunadesh – the area near Manasa Sarovara or Kailash mountain in Western Tibet), the powerful king saw an auspicious man who was living on a mountain. The man’s complexion was golden and his clothes were white. Text 23 ko bharam iti tam praaha su hovacha mudanvitah iishaa purtagm maam viddhi kumaarigarbha sambhavam “The king asked, ‘Who are you sir?’ ‘You should know that I am Isha Putra, the Son of God’. he replied blissfully, and ‘am born of a virgin.’ ” Text 24 mleccha dharmasya vaktaram satyavata paraayanam iti srutva nrpa praaha dharmah ko bhavato matah ” ‘I am the expounder of the religion of the Mlecchas and I strictly adhere to the Absolute Truth.’ Hearing this the king enquired, ‘What are religious principles according to you opinion?’ Texts 25 – 26 shruto vaaca mahaaraaja praapte satyasya samkshaye nirmaaryaade mlechadeshe masiiho ‘ham samagatah iishaamasii ca dasyuunaa praadurbhuutaa bhayankarii taamaham mlecchataah praapya masiihatva mupaagatah “Hearing this questions of Salivahara, Isha putra said, ‘O king, when the destruction of the truth occurred, I, Masiha the prophet, came to this country of degraded people where there are no rules and regulations. Finding that fearful irreligious condition of the barbarians spreading from Mleccha-Desha, I have taken to prophethood’.” Texts 27 – 29 mlecchasa sthaapito dharmo mayaa tacchrnu bhuupate maanasam nirmalam krtva malam dehe subhaasbham naiganam apamasthaya japeta nirmalam param nyayena satyavacasaa manasyai kena manavah dhyayena pujayedisham suurya-mandala-samsthitam acaloyam prabhuh sakshat- athaa suuryacalah sada “Please hear Oh king which religious principles I have established among the mlecchas. The living entity is subject to good and bad contaminations. The mind should be purified by taking recourse of proper conduct and performance of japa. By chanting the holy names one attains the highest purity. Just as the immovable sun attracts, from all directions, the elements of all living beings, the Lord of the solar region, who is fixed and all-attractive, attracts the hearts of all living creatures. Thus by following rules, speaking truthful words, by mental harmony and by meditation, Oh descendant of Manu, one should worship that immovable Lord’.” Text 30 isha muurtirt-dradi praptaa nityashuddha sivamkari ishamasihah iti ca mama nama pratishthitam “Having placed the eternally pure and auspicious form of the Supreme Lord in my heart, O protector of the earth planet, I preached these principles through the Mlecchas’ own faith and thus my name became ‘isha-masiha’ (Jesus the Messiah).” Text 31 iti shrutra sa bhuupale natraa tam mlecchapujaam sthaapayaamaasa tam tutra mlecchasthaane hi daarune “After hearing these words and paying obeisances to that person who is worshipped by the wicked, the king humbly requested him to stay there in the dreadful land of Mlecchas.” Text 32 svaraajyam praaptavaan raajaa hayamedhan ciikirat raajyam kriitvaa sa shashthyabdam svarga lokamu paayayau “King Salivahara, after leaving his kingdom performed an asvamedha yajna and after ruling for sixty years, went to heaven. Now please hear what happened when the king went to svargaloka.” Thus ends the second chapter entitled, “the age of Salivahara” of the story of Kali Yuga of the Caturyuga Khanda also called pratisarga-parva of the wonderful Bhavishya Maha Purana.

Why do they come and who are they? Is a there a divine messenger for this time period? Let's discuss in this weeks BLISS podcast.

There are a few segments in the holy scripture of the Christian religion, the Bible, that seem to refer to Srila Prabhupada. Lord Jesus speaks of “another counsellor” that God, the Father would send to Earth to “remind you of everything” the Lord Jesus has spoken about. Also in the Revelation there is mention of the angel coming from the East, who will mark the foreheads of the people with the “seal of God”. We present these verses with corresponding quotes from Srila Prabhupada herein for your consideration. "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counsellor to be with you for ever---the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you." Holy Bible, John 14:16-18 Here Lord Jesus informs his disciples that in due course he will send another counsellor to guide them. He calls this counsellor the spirit of truth. He says that the world will not accept him because he cannot be seen nor known. This is the position of a pure devotee always. Although the pure devotee desires the greatest well-being for all living creatures, people misunderstand his purpose and they persecute him. ”You try to trace out the history of the world, you'll find always persons who are for Krsna or God, they have been persecuted. Lord Jesus Christ was crucified; Haridasa Thakura was caned in twenty-two marketplaces; Prahlada Maharaja was tortured by his father. So there may be such things.” (Srila Prabhupada on Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.9.8 – October 21, 1968, Seattle) “So sadhu, they have to preach. They have to preach. Therefore the first qualification is titiksavah, tolerant. So many people will criticize, so many people attack, so many opposing elements, and he has to fight with them. Therefore titiksavah, toleration. Just like you see, Lord Jesus Christ is so tolerant that he was crucified; still, he did not curse anybody. This is sadhu: titiksavah, tolerant. The very great example of tolerance, Christ, Jesus Christ. So similarly, Haridasa Thakura. There are many saintly persons, sadhu, who were very tolerant. So first qualification of sadhu is titiksavah. Titiksavah and karunikah: at the same time, kind. These two examples we find in the character of Lord Jesus Christ. He was being crucified, and still he was praying to God, "My Lord, they do not know what they are doing." Did he not? Brahmananda: Yes. Prabhupada: Yes. Just see. And he was persecuted, and still, he was kind. He was kind. Still, he was praying to God that ‘These rascals are doing. They cannot kill me, but they are thinking that I will be killed. So they are committing offense.’” (Srila Prabhupada on Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.17 – June 30, 1975, Denver) Just as Lord Jesus was misunderstood, similarly any genuine sadhu, or a saintly person will meet with opposition for his teachings, since this world is a place where conditioned souls come to forget God. The devotee counsellor cannot be seen by our material senses since he is on a spiritual platform. Therefore one must hear and not see a sadhu. “My Guru Maharaja used to say that "Don't try to see a sadhu by your eyes. You try to see a sadhu by ear.” (Srila Prabhupada during evening darsana – May 13, 1977, Rishikesh) “One is forbidden to observe the activities of a pure Vaisnava from a material point of view. For the neophyte especially, considering a pure devotee from a material point of view is very injurious. One should therefore avoid observing a pure devotee externally, but should try to see the internal features and understand how he is engaged in the transcendental loving service of the Lord. In this way one can avoid seeing the pure devotee from a material point of view, and thus one can gradually become a purified devotee himself. Those who think that Krsna consciousness is limited to a certain section of people, a certain section of devotees or a certain tract of land are generally prone to see the external features of the devotee. Such neophytes, unable to appreciate the exalted service of the advanced devotee, try to bring the maha-bhagavata to their platform.” (Srila Prabhupada in NoI: verse 6) The Counsellor lives with us since he is the external manifestation of the Supersoul (Paramatma), the localized aspect of the Supreme Godhead that resides in the heart of all living entities. We can only come to knowledge of the transcendental nature of the pure devotee when the Paramatma reveals it to us. In one sense there is no difference between the Paramatma and the external spiritual master since both of them are guiding us to advance in the matter of Krsna consciousness. “Spiritual inspiration comes from within the heart, wherein the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in His Paramatma feature, is always sitting with all His devotees and associates.” (Srila Prabhupada in Sri Caitanya-caritamrta "Concluding Words") Paramahamsa: Do you direct us also through the heart? Besides the Paramatma? Prabhupada: If your heart is pure. Everything depends on purity. (Morning Walk at Cheviot Hills Golf Course – May 13, 1973, Los Angeles) "But the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." Holy Bible, John 14:26: Shortly after his arrival to the USA, Srila Prabhupada wrote in a letter: “Lord Jesus preached the message of God and I have taken up the same mission, and it would be a good luck for me if I can follow the foot prints of Lord Jesus who preached the message of God in spite of all persecution. “ (Srila Prabhupada’s letter to: Sally  --  New York 19 November, 1965) Here Srila Prabhupada clearly indicates that he only wants to follow in the foot prints of Lord Jesus. In other words as expected from a pure devotee of the Lord he is humbly taking an inferior position to Lord Jesus. Thus Srila Prabhupada is coming to preach in the name of Jesus, or on behalf of Lord Jesus. “Everyone wants that ‘I am very honorable man, prestigious man, and you should respect me.’ That is our material disease. ‘I do not want to respect you, but you should offer me respect.’ This is the position. Therefore our system is to call another Vaisnava as prabhu: ‘Sir, you are prabhu, you are master.’ (Srila Prabhupada on Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.5.1 – October 23, 1976, Vrndavana) Lord Jesus further says that the Counsellor will remind the people everything Lord Jesus told them. Srila Prabhupada elaborates on the teachings of Lord Jesus and the Holy Bible on several occasions: “So Lord Jesus Christ said, ‘My Lord, hallowed be Thy name.’ He wants to glorify the name of the Lord. And some people says that there is no name of God. How? If Lord Jesus Christ says ‘Hallowed be Thy name,’ there must be name. The name is there, but he did not pronounce it, because the people at that time will not be able to understand, or maybe some reason, but he says there is name. So we are making this propaganda, Krsna consciousness movement, the ‘Hallowed be Thy name. My Lord Krsna, the Personality of Godhead, let Your holy name be glorified.’ This is our movement. “ (Srila Prabhupada on the Bhagavad-gita 3.27 at Town Hall – June 27, 1974, Melbourne) Srila Prabhupada revealed that the word “Christ” is a different pronunciation of the word “Krsna”. Therefore if people chant “Christ” it is non-different from chanting of the name “Krsna”, the main practices of the Hare Krsna movement Srila Prabhupada founded in the West. “The name of God is Christ. That Christ is another form of pronouncing Krsta. And Krsta is another form of pronouncing Krsna. Therefore God's name is Krsna. So Christ said to glorify the name of God, but somebody says in Christian that there is no name of God. Why?” (Srila Prabhupada in a room conversation with Pater Emmanuel (A Benedictine Monk) -- June 22, 1974, Germany) Pater Emmanuel: We talk God, "Father," or "our Father." Prabhupada: No, "Father..." Just like your son may call you, "Father," but you have got a name also, "Mr. such and such." My son, your son, everyone's son calls his father, "father." But the father has a name also. Similarly, God is the general name, but still, He has got a particular name. And that name is Krsna. And that is accepted by Jesus. Jesus the Christ or Jesus the son of Christ or Krsna. And he identified himself as the son of God. Therefore the name of God is... Either you call Krsta or Krsna or Christo, it doesn't matter. The name of God is Krsna or Krsta. (Srila Prabhupada in a room conversation with Pater Emmanuel (A Benedictine Monk) -- June 22, 1974, Germany) Srila Prabhupada also referred to other portions of the Bible throughout his preaching mission: “Lord Jesus Christ also said in one place that "If we are lost of our soul and if we gain the whole world, then what is the gain?'' Actually that is the fact. We are losing ourself. Suppose after making huge amass of money, amassing in the bank balance, and if I die and if I take birth in the next life as a cat and dog, then what is the benefit of amassing such a huge amount of bank balance? We should understand this.” (Srila Prabhupada in the Pandal Lecture – March 18, 1972, Bombay) The humble and meek own the kingdom of God. This is stated in the Bible, is it not? But the philosophy of the rascals is that everyone is God, and today this idea has become popular. Therefore no one is humble and meek. If everyone thinks that he is God, why should he be humble and meek? Therefore I teach my disciples how to become humble and meek. They always offer their respectful obeisances in the temple and to the spiritual master, and in this way they make advancement. The qualities of humbleness and meekness lead very quickly to spiritual realization. (Srila Prabhupada in SSR 4a: Krsna or Christ -- The Name Is the Same) So this is a good quality, to love your neighbor, to give them service. So if actually one person is God conscious, he must be sympathetic with the troubles of his neighbor, or anyone, not only human being; animals also. They are also living entities. A God conscious person has no discrimination between human being and animal or trees or plants, because they are also living entities. (Srila Prabhupada in a lecture at Tarrawarra Abbey – April 6, 1972, Melbourne) "When the Counsellor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me." Holy Bible, John 15:26 In this section, Lord Jesus predicts that the Counsellor will testify about Lord Jesus. This description is again befitting Srila Prabhupada, who confirmed that Lord Jesus was a nitya-siddha, eternally liberated servant of God, who comes to the material world with the sole purpose of reclaiming the conditioned souls. “In the Christian religion, Jesus Christ claimed to be the son of God and to be coming from the kingdom of God to reclaim conditioned souls. As followers of Bhagavad-gita, we admit this claim to be true. So basically there is no difference of opinion. In details there may be differences due to differences in culture, climate and people, but the basic principle remains the same -- that is, God or His representatives come to reclaim conditioned souls.” (Srila Prabhupada in RV 6: Knowledge of Krsna's Appearances and Activities) "I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth." Holy Bible These words of Lord Jesus Christ are especially significant. He says there are more things he wants to reveal to his disciples, but they are not ready to bear them. But when the Counsellor comes, he will explain all these things. We are very grateful to Lord Jesus since he propagated monotheism in the Western countries and he gave an idea of kingdom of God and also of unalloyed devotion to God. Srila Prabhupada explained for the first time in the history of the Western world what is the name, form and activities of God, revealed the process of unalloyed devotional service and gave the scientific elaboration on the nature of God and His potencies, all based on the Vedic scriptures. “Just as in the Christian Bible there is, ‘Father, give us our daily bread.’ That is good -- they are accepting the supreme father. But grown-up children should not ask from the father; rather, they should be prepared to serve the father. That is bhakti.“ (Srila Prabhupada in PQPA 3: The Real Goal of life) “Just like in some dictionary the word is explained in one word; in some dictionary it is explained that ‘The history of this word is like this,’ ‘This word can be explained like this, like that, like that,’ some pages like that. Similarly, so far dictionary, the small pocket dictionary is also dictionary, and that Webster's International big dictionary, that is also dictionary. The difference is that international dictionary, you get details of one word. Similarly, any scripture is perfectly giving direction towards understanding what is God. But actually how God is great, how He is working, how His laws are working, all these things you can find in the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam.” (Srila Prabhupada on the Bhagavad-gita 4.8 – June 14, 1968, Montreal) “Nobody believes in God. That is our proposition. Nobody believes... All this bogus. Now they should come to understand what is God, this, in this Krsna consciousness movement. Nobody believes, neither know what is God. Here we are giving the name, the address, the form, the activities -- everything of God -- Krsna consciousness.” (Srila Prabhupada in a morning walk  – December 11, 1973, Los Angeles) People to whom Lord Jesus preached were not ready to bear further information about God since they were staunch meat-eaters. It is not possible for such a sinful person to understand transcendental subject matters. For this reason Srila Prabhupada emphasized the commandment “Thou Shall Not Kill” and explained that this commandment is applicable to killing men as well as animals. “Pariksit Maharaja. He said that God consciousness, Krsna consciousness, cannot be understood by the animal killer. Vina pasughnat [SB 10.1.4]. Nivrtta-tarsair upagiyamanat. You'll find those who are animal killers, the so-called Christians and Mohammedans, they cannot understand. They (are) simply fanatics. Cannot understand what is soul, what is God. They have got some theories and they are thinking we are religionists. What is sin, what is pious activities, these things are not understood by them because they are animal killers. It is not possible. Therefore Lord Buddha propagated ahimsa. Ahimsa. Because he saw the whole human race is going to hell by this animal killing. "Let me stop them so that they may, in future, they may become sober." (Srila Prabhupada on the Bhagavad-gita 2.18 -- London, August 24, 1973) "Jesus Christ was perfect, but because you are rascals, he did not say, because you could not understand even his one word. You are so intelligent. His commandment is 'Thou shall not kill,' but your business is to kill him first. How far you are advanced and civilized, just imagine. And you want perfect instruction. You cannot follow even one instruction. That is your position." In this way try to understand. "Jesus had to deal with rascals like you. Therefore he... Even the ordinary moral principles you could not, what to speak of other things." Actually, that is the fact. Actually, that is the fact. He had to deal with rascals and fools. Is that civilization, that first of all argue, "Thou shall not kill"? That means you were all rascals engaged in killing business. Is that civilized men? Why he said like that? Is that very good philosophy? Mean they were so low class that they had to be stopped first of all, these sinful activities. That also, they could not. This is their position. And for the last two thousand years they could not. Such nice brain. They could not understand even one instruction of Jesus Christ. And you are proud of becoming Christian, rascals. "You do not know what is Christianity, what is Jesus Christ. You are all rascals." (Srila Prabhupada in a conversation on train to Allahabad – January 11, 1977, India) "He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears,… Holy Bible This is again a clear indication of Srila Prabhupada. The bona fide spiritual never speaks anything manufactured. He only presents what he has heard from the disciplic succession. In this way the message is not misinterpreted. “I don't speak anything which I have not heard from my Guru Maharaja.” (Srila Prabhupada in a room conversation – January 24, 1977, Bhubaneswar) “People say that ‘Swamiji, you have done miracles.’ But what miracles I have done? I am simply repeating Krsna's words.” (Srila Prabhupada in Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.1.5 – November 8, 1973, Delhi) “The guru is one because he comes in disciplic succession. What Vyasadeva and Krsna taught five thousand years ago is also being taught now. There is no difference between the two instructions. Although hundreds and thousands of acaryas have come and gone, the message is one. The real guru cannot be two, for the real guru does not speak differently from his predecessors. Some spiritual teachers say, "In my opinion you should do this," but this is not a guru. Such so-called gurus are simply rascals.” (Srila Prabhupada in SSR 2a: What Is a Guru?) “ ...and he will tell you WHAT IS YET TO COME. " Holy Bible Srila Prabhupada also pointed our attention to many prophecies in the Vedas about the age that is yet to come. “...ultimately, with the advancement of Kali-yuga you'll have no food. Food means there will be no food grains, there will be no milk, there will be no sugar -- like that. No fruits. If you get fruits, there will be no pulp; it is simply seeds. These things are there. You get a mango, but a mango means simply the big seed, that's all.” (Srila Prabhupada in a room conversation and reading from SB 1.5.1–16 and 12th Canto – June 25, 1976, New Vrindavan) “In the last stage of Kali-yuga there will be no food grains, no milk, no fruits. So very horrible time. People will kill their own children and eat just like animals. So the last stage of Kali-yuga it will be like that.” (Srila Prabhupada in a room conversation and interview – July 3, 1972, New York) Besides these references to the Counsellor, the Bible also speaks of an “angel coming up from the east” in the Revelation. Since Srila Prabhupada arrived to the West from India, he fits the description perfectly. “Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: ‘Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.’” (Revelation 7.1-3) Holy Bible It is significant to note that the angel from the east will himself have “a seal of the living God” and also put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of God. This refers to the Vaishnava marking of tilaka Srila Prabhupada wore. “One should decorate the body with tilaka, which is the sign of the Vaisnavas. (The idea is that as soon as a person sees these marks on the body of the Vaisnava, he will immediately remember Krsna. Lord Caitanya said that a Vaisnava is he who, when seen, reminds one of Krsna. Therefore, it is essential that a Vaisnava mark his body with tilaka to remind others of Krsna.) (Srila Prabhupada in NoD 6: How to Discharge Devotional Service) The devotees put tilaka on their foreheads to remind others of God and simultaneously to be protected from the superintendents of death. It is stated in the Vedas: "Persons who are decorated with tilaka or gopi-candana [a kind of clay resembling fuller's earth which is produced in certain quarters of Vrndavana], and who mark their bodies all over with the holy names of the Lord, and on whose necks and breasts there are tulasi beads, are never approached by the Yamadutas." (Skanda Purana) Srila Prabhupada insisted that his devotees wear tilaka always. “…every one of my disciples must have the flag & marks of tilak on forehead. This is essential.” (Srila Prabhupada’s letter to: Damodara  --  Calcutta 13 October, 1967) We pray that everyone understands the significance of Srila Prabhupada’s appearance in this world and takes interest in his teachings and thus become further appreciative of the teachings of Lord Jesus Christ. Also we pray that everyone understands the sacrifice of Lord Jesus Christ has undergone to preach God consciousness. By following instructions of these great souls, our heart is purified and with the purified we can take up the supreme religion of all living entities -pure devotional service. Such service is never limited by material boundaries of religious sect, nationality, gender or race. Srila Prabhupada concludes: “Christ says that ‘I am son of God.’ And Krsna says ‘I am God.’ So there is no difference. Son of God and God, we respect everyone. If I respect your father, I respect you also. Do you mean to say if I disrespect your father, you'll be pleased upon me? No. That is our philosophy. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu says that I am servant of the servant of the servant of the servant of the servant of Krsna [Cc. Madhya 13.80]. So if anyone loves Krsna, he must love Lord Jesus Christ also. And if one perfectly loves Jesus Christ he must love Krsna. If he says, ‘Why shall I love Krsna? I shall love Jesus Christ,’ then he has no knowledge. And if one says, ‘Why shall I love Jesus Christ? I shall love…’, then he has also no knowledge. If one understands Krsna, then he will understand Jesus Christ. If one understands Jesus Christ, you'll understand Krsna.” (Srila Prabhupada in a room conversation with Allen Ginsberg -- May 12, 1969, Columbus, Ohio)

Sounds like something out of an 80's horror movie... But it's real life. Who wouldn't remember that famous and horrifying scene from Ridley Scott's "Alien" masterpiece. A poor astronaut, trapped within a space station, screams in terror as an alien controls her from within and eventually bursts from her womb. Although it may seem fantastical, this is happening to us right now, even though we may not have been attacked by some creepy face-hugging aliens, as far as we know. An Alien, according to the Oxford English dictionary, means a creature from a different world. We may that, at present, we don't have any experiance of creatures from another atmosphere, but if we consider what we understand and accept as the self, we will find that it is actually very alien to us. Let me explain. Our present experience of existence is life inside the body. The body is constituted of five material elements; Earth, water, fire, air and ether. And more subtly; the mind, intelligence and the false ego. Although we cannot perceive the latter three with our eyes, they are present by their functioning and we can understand that they are there. On even more subtle level, there is the soul. The soul is perceived through consciousness. Matter, from it's unmanifested form in gross elements, becomes manifest upon the souls presence in the body, and that same matter gradually grows for some time, but ultimately diminishes and goes back to the unmanifested state. It is constantly changing and therefore the body is, in one sense, non-existent. But the soul is always remaining, the person is always there throughout all the changes of the mind and the gross body. The soul is the powerhouse of the material body. There are the material elements, and the subtle material coverings, but all of them are simply inert without the presence of the soul. As soon as the soul leaves the body, all of these coverings become useless. They no longer work, and no amount of chemical supplement or anything material can revive the body once the soul has left. So from this, we can understand that we are different from the body. Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, confirms all of this in His Bhagavad-Gita when he says: As the embodied soul continuously passes, in this body, from boyhood to youth to old age, the soul similarly passes into another body at death. A self-realized soul is not bewildered by such a change. [BG 2.13] That spiritual particle within the body is the eternal and ever spiritual individual living entity. Beyond and before his existence within the material body, which he has been entrapped for longer than one can trace out the history, he existed within the spiritual atmosphere, wherein he properly belongs. The consciousness is eternal, therefore it belongs to a sanatan, or eternal, atmosphere. We can understand this to be our natural state of existence because we are always yearning for it within this world. Although eternity, bliss and knowledge does not exist here, we still strive to attain them. Everyone is looking to extend his life unlimited, everyone is trying to become very educated and everyone is trying to find happiness. The desire for our natural state of existence permeates our current state. Everyone is searching for this eternal, blissful life but they do not know where to find it. It just like this "burster" scene in the alien movie. The girl and her associates are trying very hard to relieve her of her burden and they perform a surgical operation and try to kill the creature. Why not just let it happen? Because it is natural to fight for a pleasant existence, to return to condition where one isn't in anxiety. However, when the soul misidentifies himself with the material body, he is always in anxiety, because he is subject to a constant barrage of the various pangs of material existence, which manifest in seven ways. The four principle problems of life are birth, death, old age and disease. No one wants to to die: to leave everything he has worked so hard for behind; his family, hearth, job, bank balance and reputation. No wants to become old: To be gradually forgotten by the more youthful generations, and to lose control of his life and senses as he becomes decrepit. Of course, we are very adverse to becoming diseased: to lose our energy, vitality, health and beauty. Most certainly, no-one wants to take birth, which is a torturous condition of life wherein the soft and vulnerable child is forced into a cramped womb and is bitten by worms, burned by intestinal acids, and blinded by constant darkness for almost a year continuously. Furthermore, each living enity within the material world is under the tyranny of threefold kinds of miseries at every moment, and they are known as adhyatmika, adhidaivika and adhibhautika. Infirmities of the mind and body are ever present in our daily life. No-one can say he has perfect health or condition of mind or body. Sufferings caused by other living entities are practically natural, in so many ways we are harassed by insects, aggressive animals, thieves, rogues and rascal politicians. On a larger scale, the damage which is caused by the demigods, the appointed administrators of the material universe and it's happenings, manifest in the form of earthquakes, tornadoes and hurricanes etc. In no way is a living entity free from the pains of this bodily existence. As previously mentioned, however, this is an alien situation. The jiva spirit soul, in his natural existence, is eternally full of bliss and knowledge, being in his healthy position, serving the transcendental Supreme Personality of Godhead directly in pure love. He is situated in the eternal atmosphere of the spiritual world, where everything is absolute and personal, as opposed to the world of relativity and dead matter. How did we end up in such contrary life on temporality? There was a time when the different parts of a body rebelled against the stomach. The hands where collecting food and feeding the mouth, which was chewing the food, and the legs of the body walked to and fro to collect various foodstuffs. After some time, the parts of the body became upset that "we are working so hard, and this nonsense stomach is simply enjoying all day while he eats he fruits of our labor." The foolish parts of the body did not realize that their very existence depended on the satisfaction of the stomach. So in their foolishness, they decided to abstain from supplying to the stomach. It was wasn't long before they became very weak, and lost all their power to do anything at all. it was only then they could realize what a terrible mistake they has made by neglecting their proper function. This story is precisely our own situation, because we are all spirit part and parcels of the complete whole. lord Krishna confirms in the Bhagavad-Gita that we are his eternal parts and parcels thus: The living entities in this conditioned world are My eternal frag-mental parts. Due to conditioned life, they are struggling very hard with the six senses, which include the mind. [BG 15.7] The constitutional function of the part is to serve the whole. A cog in the machine serves the purpose of the machine, a hand serves the body, a citizen serves the state and so on. Therefore, being a complete spirit soul, we are fully satisfied in our normal spiritual life, because we act in our healthy and natural function as a direct servant of God. But by accepting the alien body as our self, we become illusioned to instead serve our material senses. At some point in time, the living entity accepted the material body as himself, along with many other material bodies as well, in varieties of forms, from fish to trees to celestial beings. When he accepts in this way, he becomes controlled by the desires and necessities of the body. The body wants food, sex, sleep and desires generally to fight in some way or another. The body is manifestation of the minute living entities desire to lord it over material nature in imitation of the Supreme Spirit, Parabrahman, Krsna. In whatever form of body he has, he has to fulfill these basic needs and as a result he also has to suffer the above mentioned frailties of conditional life. Now, just like that alien within the womb of the girl, we are accepting something very unpleasant as reality. However, unlike that unfortunate girl, our alien experience is simply illusory. The girl, if she did not have an alien within her womb, would most likely have a normal human child instead. Because it is natural for a woman to have children. In the same way, the jiva souls function is to serve. So whether we serve the material body, which can be compared to the creepy baby alien, or we serve Krishna, which can be compared to a healthy and beautiful child, we serve. We cannot avoid that. This is called Dharma. Just like saltiness cannot be removed from salt. If it were removed, it would no longer be salt. If we serve the material senses, we become subject to material nature, which is contrary to our interest of eternal blissful life, and if we serve Krishna, who is completely transcendental, that life is simply a natural consequence of that service because it is on the transcendental platform. The burster alien is just like our material body because having once accepted it as such, such a conception eventually kills our own, real self. Once the alien was within the womb, it was only a matter of time before the host of the alien was killed. Similarly, when we want to enjoy the facilities of this material body, we have to go on accepting new bodies to continue enjoying. In due course of time, without acting according to the injunctions of the Vedic scriptures, or in full god-consciousness, we act on the platform of animals, simply satisfying the basic needs of the body. In this way material nature prepares a body that is just suitable for our desires and purpose. In the Srimad-Bhagatavam, such persons are identified as good as animals: One who identifies his self as the inert body composed of mucus, bile and air, who assumes his wife and family are permanently his own, who thinks an earthen image or the land of his birth is worship-able, or who sees a place of pilgrimage as merely the water there, but who never identifies himself with, feels kinship with, worships or even visits those who are wise in spiritual truth—such a person is no better than a cow or an ass. (SB 10.84.13) The human form of life is not meant for wasting like an animal. Animals cannot go beyond the basic survival necessities of the body. But in the human form, we have the opportunity to free ourselves from this alien, burdensome lump of matter we call a body and return to our joyful and fully spiritual life in the sanatana-dhama, the spiritual world. That process is very simple, and it was inaugurated 500 years ago by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu: The chanting of the holy names of God, Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. This is the most simply process to serve Sri Krsna, thereby reawakening our dormant love for him. In conclusion, the material body is completely alien to our actual existence. By acceptance of the unreal material body as our-self, we kill our real selves by neglecting to use this valuable form of human life to understand God, the self is and the relation between the two. Such a discovery is only available in the human form because in this form we have the intelligence to try and fight the pushes of the senses, perform austerity and practice yoga. Think about it like this, all the crew of the spaceship in that alien movie could only try to help the lady with the alien in her belly on account of their higher intelligence. Had the same movie taken place with the Russian space dog crew of the 60's, the movie would have been a lot shorter and a lot less exciting, because animals have no such intelligence to understand the problems of life and how to solve them. So instead of simply going with this alien existence, accepting the sufferings of life as unavoidable, we should try to apply our intelligence and serve God, Krishna, by performing devotional service instead of forced and miserable service to the body and it's senses.

The general conception is that we are, but that is simply not logical. Read on to understand why we are not only not alone but our very source of authority for understanding such things is completely faulty. I am sure everyone has heard about aliens, those little green guys from Men in Black or E.T. But who would believe such a childish idea right? If we think about it though, why is it childish? Let's forget about the movies that show those guys as little green men with big eyes etc. What does alien actually mean? It means "a stranger." How can you say that strangers don't exist? Let's say a man from Germany comes to the USA. We would call him a stranger. So why can't a person from a different planet can come here? And on what ground do you believe there is no life on other planets? Have you been there, seen that there is nothing, and are now confirming it? "Oh, the scientist have been on Moon and said there is no life." Why do you believe an imperfect human authority? Everybody has the propensity to cheat, make mistakes, no-one has perfect senses and all are prone to fall into illusion. They investigated the Moon by those same imperfect senses. Do you take that as all in all? Is something true only if you can see it? Can you see your eyelid? Your eyelid is so close to your eye and even then you cannot see it. Imagine I come down from the Moon, land in the Sahara desert and conclude there is no life on planet Earth, period. The material scientists are just like that; they have been on one spot, saw a desert like place and said "there is no life on the Moon." Did they even actually land there? According to material calculations, scientists themselves say it is not possible to penatrate through the layers in the atmosphere by a rocket, because the materials of the rocket would melt due to the influence of the van helen belt of the atmosphere. You see, one says "we have been there" and another says "it is not possible to go there." How can you believe authorities that contradict each others conclusions? We accept everything from Krishna and from the Vedas. Krishna is recognized as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, which is confirmed by many great and recognized authorities. We call this the "parampara": The disciplic succession. Each great authority in the line has passed the same message to the next authority without any alterations to the conclusion. But scientists contradict each other at every step, so you cannot trust their succession: there is nothing solid. You can trust the Vedic succession because it is continuous. Is there anything better? No. So accept it theoretically and study it from the Supreme authority: Lord Krishna. Ultimately, we are all aliens because we don't belong to this materialistic world. We are strangers. We came here to imitate Krishna, but we are always unsuccessful in that attempt. Krishna is the original and only enjoyer and we are His servants, we are the enjoyed. We are not this body, we are in the body, as the soul. The soul is entrapped in the body. For the soul, the body is foreign. The body changes from childhood to boyhood and eventually to the body of an old man. All those types of body are gone, but you are not. So are you the material body? No, you can't be. So then you are an alien being in foreign body. And every alien or stranger naturally has his home. Then the natural conclusion is that we also have a home and that home is in the spiritual world. So we should hear from Lord Krishna how to get a ticket back home, back to Godhead.