The Word “Prabhupada” is a term of the utmost reverence in Vedic religious circles. It signifies a great saint even among saints. It has two meanings: one at whose feet there are many prabhus; and, one who is always found at the lotus feet of Krishna.
As one needs the help of a qualified teacher to understand the material sciences, one also needs a qualified teacher to understand the science of God. Such a teacher is the spiritual master. A genuine spiritual master must be able to instruct his students in the practical details of understanding who God is, what our relationship with Him is, and how this relationship can be revived.
Sometimes when Krishna, the Supreme Lord, performed His pastimes in forest of Vrindavan, His friends would fan Him and play songs on their flutes for His transcendental pleasure.
Bhaktivedanta Manor, European headquarters for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, is a model community that exemplifies the principle of plain living and high thinking. Krishna consciousness, or God consciousness, is the center of all activity at Bhaktivedanta Manor.
Lord Visnu, an expansion of the Supreme Lord Krishna, lies in mystic slumber amidst fire and huge waves that partially destroy the universe at the end of every millennium. (This is described in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.)
The Hare Krishna mantra is for everyone, regardless of one’s religious faith, nationality, race, creed or occupation. This sound vibration is transcendental to all boundaries because it cannot be affected by material conditions; therefore anyone can chant it freely, at any time, in any place or under any circumstances.
If the democratic form of government is to be at all meaningful, the voters must be qualified voters who know how to discriminate between a Madison Avenue illusion and a genuinely substantial political leader.
THE DEVOTEES of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness are preparing for a number of important upcoming festivals that are celebrated every year. These festivals are great transcendental opportunities because they afford one the chance to hear about, chant about and remember Krishna, in the association of pure devotees of Krishna.
Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, a scripturally predicted incarnation of Lord Krishna who appeared 500 years ago in India. showed by His personal example how to develop love for Krishna by chanting Hare Krishna and dancing in ecstasy.
Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, became the charioteer of His friend and devotee, Arjuna, to whom He spoke the immortal spiritual instructions of Bhagavad-gita 5,000 years ago on the Battlefield of Kuruksetra . This is the cover illustration of Bhagavad-gita As It Is by His Divine Grace A.C.
Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. All glories to Lord Sri Krishna!
On behalf of the members of the Rotary Club of Hyderabad and on my own personal behalf, I convey to Your Divine Grace, as well as to your international devotees who accompanied your good self, our thanks for having been so kind as to visit our club at the Ritz Hotel, when you graciously gave us all the benefit of listening to your highly spiritual program, including sankirtana and discourses.
Who am I? Where did I come from before birth, and after death where am I going? What is this universe? Is it chaotic madness, or does it follow a plan? Why must I die? Grow old? Feel pain? Is there real happiness here? Or is it somewhere else?
There is enough energy–but we do not know where to get it or what nature’s laws for its distribution are. And by wastefully exploiting whatever sources of energy we have found, we have technologically outfoxed ourselves, like the man who cuts off the branch of a tree, not realizing, until he hits the ground, that he was sitting on the branch.
THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS has recently opened centers in Birmingham, Alabama; Capetown, South Africa; Caracas, Venezuela; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Ottawa, Canada; Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico; Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; Suva, Fiji; Stockholm, Sweden; and Geneva, Switzerland.
Whatever your interest, it can be satisfied here because the subject of Back to Godhead is Krishna. Krishna, which literally means “the All-attractive,” is a name of the original form of God.
Although they may think themselves independent, the living entities in the material world act as puppets of the three qualities of maya or illusion. One can cut oneself free from maya’s strings only by surrendering to Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, for He is maya’s ultimate controller.
Professional “deprogrammers” forcibly abducted her. For five days they threatened her with physical torture, confiscated her prayer beads, and derided the Bhagavad-gita. On the sixth day she escaped.
“I never lived on a farm before, but I always wanted to,” says Krishna-bhamini-devi dasi. “It’s the perfect setting, especially for children. You can do everything here–planting, building, beekeeping, artwork, writing, publishing–so many things are going on. And when you’re so close, there’s a community feeling, a satisfying feeling. If you’re aware, each day’s a festival.”
Back to Godhead magazine is for intelligent people only. To be intelligent, one need not have a university degree or engage in intellectual word jugglery because the higher intelligence required for understanding Back to Godhead is not a matter of mundane academic research. The really intelligent person is one who will accept information about God from higher authorities and regard the science of Krishna consciousness as valuable and important.
In Vrindavan, the transcendental abode, even the cows, the deer, the birds–everyone–is enchanted by the sweet vibration of Krishna’s flute and the fascinating beauty of His person. This is one of the qualities which only the Supreme Personality of Godhead can possess. His superexcellent beauty can not be matched by anyone.