Given at the International Gita Conference by Path to Anandam, "Bhagavad Gita in Modern Times" July 18, 2015, Sunnyvale, California

Namaste and Aloha. Jay Shri Krishna! Jay Shri Krishna! Jay  Shri Krishna! It's such a wonderful privilege to have this opportunity to be here today to join all of you to join our respected guests as we celebrate the Bhagavad Gita, The Bhagavad Gita is treasured by millions of people around the world because it offers each of us wisdom, enlightenment, divine guidance and a very clear description of our essence, function and purpose in our lives. In just a few short months we will begin the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the arduous journey that Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada made from India to the United States, suffering two heart attacks along the way with just a few dollars in his pocket as he embarked on his mission to share Krishna with the world. I want to offer my deepest respects and gratitude to Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada because without him I and so many others in the West would never have known about Krishna.

We have recently received a very encouraging response to our article "Why The Original Books Are Changed?" from Dhira Govinda Prabhu (also known as Dr. David B. Wolf PhD), the founder of Satvatove Institute, author of the book Srila Prabhupada: The Prominent Link. We would like to share it with you here.

"My understanding of the issues involved in relation to Srila Prabhupada’s books is enriched and expanded from reading your article. I appreciate your attention to detail and your dedication to authentically represent Srila Prabhupada and his teachings. Your efforts definitely meaningfully add to the important conversation regarding preserving, continuing and expanding Srila Prabhupada’s legacy. As your article indicates, we might expect that as decades and generations go on, additional editions of Bhagavad-gita As It Is, and Srila Prabhupada’s other books, will be available. Hare Krsna."
 

by Purujit Dasa

​It is a habit of the post-modern times to say that man does not depend on any authority. He is free to create his own viewpoint of the world unique and exceptional. However if we are to sincerely consider our condition, we must conclude that such thinking is nothing but delusional. In order to acquire knowledge, we always depend on superior authority. We cannot even ascertain who is our father without the help of a superior authority -the mother. We were not there when our parents conceived us and therefore we can only put faith in our mother's words. We are in complete ignorance about things that are beyond our perception. Therefore the Vedic injunction is acintyah khalu ye bhava na tams tarkena yojayet (Mahabharata, Bhisma parva 5.22). We should not try to understand things that are beyond our material conception by argument and counter argument. Rather, we should approach a guru. How can we recognize the perfect guru and not get cheated at the same time? In this connection, interestingly enough Srila Prabhupada gives a rather liberal definition of what the word guru means:

by Makhancora dasa

The following is an email that I received from our friend, bhakta Greg. He raised few concerns regarding the

"WHY ARE THE ORIGINAL BOOKS CHANGED?"

article. Here is the text sent by bhakta Greg followed by my response:



​Hare Krsna Prabhus,
 
I am writing to you in regard to a paper you recently published entitled "WHY ARE THE "ORIGINAL BOOKS" CHANGED"?
 
self-gratificatory pursuits are opposed to Krishna consciousness and occupational duties outside of Krishna consciousness are self-gratificatory pursuits
 
Im not sure if Prabhupada authorised Hayagriva to change that edit and it seems your not sure wheither he authorised that particular edit or not.
 
Self-gratification is not encompassed in Krishna consciousness as a result of Krishna consciousness bringing one to being self satisfied, only when the ego pretends that the self is Krsna can this "self-gratification" be presented falsely as "Krsna-gratification". "Krsna-gratification" is what Krsna consciousness is about. You've published a paper which in essence said "what's wrong with a bit of self-gratification as long's in Krsna consciousness?" , the main problem with it is that Krsna created the whole material world for you to engage in self-gratification and its better to be honest with yourselves use the material world for its intended use rather than attempting to bring something like self-gratification into Krsna consciousness which has no place in it just as Prabhupada described that the real pleasure of the female or Prakriti is gained not in pleasing itself but from pleasing the male or Purusa. The self does attain gratification in Krsna consciousness but to put it as the primary before Krsna even in a phrase like "self-gratificatory" and call it Krsna consciousness or even compatiable with Krsna consciousness is false.

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada on the Maha-mantra:

This transcendental vibration of chanting of Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna , Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare is the sublime method of reviving our Krsna consciousness. As living spiritual souls we are all originally Krsna conscious entities, but due to our association with matter since time immemorial, our consciousness is now polluted by the material atmosphere.
In this polluted concept of life, we are trying to exploit the resources of material nature, but actually we are becoming more and more entangled in her complexities. This illusion is called maya -- our hard struggle for existence for winning over the stringent laws of material nature.

Devotee (7): Is there any difference in (indistinct) when somebody is chanting japa under the tree and someone who is chanting japa in the temple?

Prabhupada: Hm?
Brahmananda: I think sometimes we recommend the devotees to chant their rounds in the temple rather than walk in other places.
Prabhupada: Why one should walk other places? Who has said that you go out, walk other places? Never said.
Devotee (7): It may not really be necessary.
Prabhupada: No. You should chant in the temple. Why should you go to other place?
Devotee (7): So there is no difference someone chanting out of the temple, in the temple.
Prabhupada: Why you should go outside? Who has allowed him to go outside? Unless he has got some important business for the temple, why one should go to outside? There is no need. That is the chance of falling down. Why you should go outside? We are arranging for the temple, for the food. Why? Because everyone should stick to the temple and the principles. Why you should go to outside? That should be stopped. You cannot go outside.
Devotee (7): May we go to the shop to buy something?
Prabhupada: That is another thing. That is for temple's benefit or business. That is another thing. Somebody goes to sell books, somebody goes to make some life members. That is another thing. Otherwise one is not allowed at all. Not whimsically "I am going out." Why you are spoiling your men?

by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

If one is unhappy to see the distress of other living beings and happy to see their happiness, his religious principles are appreciated as imperishable by exalted persons who are considered pious and benevolent.

PURPORT

One generally follows different types of religious principles or performs various occupational duties according to the body given to him by the modes of material nature. In this verse, however, real religious principles are explained. Everyone should be unhappy to see others in distress and happy to see others happy. Atmavat sarva-bhutesu: one should feel the happiness and distress of others as his own. It is on this basis that the Buddhist religious principle of nonviolence -- ahimsah parama-dharmah -- is established. We feel pain when someone disturbs us, and therefore we should not inflict pain upon other living beings. Lord Buddha's mission was to stop unnecessary animal killing, and therefore he preached that the greatest religious principle is nonviolence.

by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedant Swami Prabhupada

As one mistakenly considers a flower garland to be a snake or experiences happiness and distress in a dream, so, in the material world, by a lack of careful consideration, we differentiate between happiness and distress, considering one good and the other bad.

PURPORT

The happiness and distress of the material world of duality are both mistaken ideas. In the Caitanya-caritamrta (Antya 4.176) it is said:

"dvaite" bhadrabhadra-jnana, saba -- "manodharma"
"ei bhala, ei manda", -- ei saba "bhrama"

The distinctions between happiness and distress in the material world of duality are simply mental concoctions, for the so-called happiness and distress are actually one and the same. They are like the happiness and distress in dreams. A sleeping man creates his happiness and distress by dreaming, although actually they have no existence.

by His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabuhpada

A person is considered no better than a crow if after receiving some food, he does not divide it among guests, old men and children, but simply eats it himself, or if he eats it without performing the five kinds of sacrifice. After death he is put into the most abominable hell, known as Krmibhojana. In that hell is a lake 100,000 yojanas [800,000 miles] wide and filled with worms. He becomes a worm in that lake and feeds on the other worms there, who also feed on him. Unless he atones for his actions before his death, such a sinful man remains in the hellish lake of Krmibhojana for as many years as there are yojanas in the width of the lake.

PURPORT

As stated in Bhagavad-gita (3.13):

yajna-sistasinah santo
mucyante sarva-kilbisaih
bhunjate te tv agham papa
ya pacanty atma-karanat

by His Diine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Bali Maharaja offered everything to the Lord -- his wealth, his kingdom and even his own body (sarvatma-nivedane balih). The Lord appeared before Bali Maharaja as a brahmana beggar, and Bali Maharaja gave Him everything he had. However, Bali Maharaja did not become poor; by donating all his possessions to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he became a successful devotee and got everything back again with the blessings of the Lord. Similarly, those who give contributions to expand the activities of the Krsna consciousness movement and to accomplish its objectives will never be losers; they will get their wealth back with the blessings of Lord Krsna. On the other side, those who collect contributions on behalf of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness should be very careful not to use even a farthing of the collection for any purpose other than the transcendental loving service of the Lord.
 
SB 5.24.18

by His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

"When first-class devotional service develops, one must be devoid of all material desires, knowledge obtained by monistic philosophy, and fruitive action. The devotee must constantly serve Krsna favorably, as Krsna desires.

PURPORT
​
This verse is also found in Srila Rupa Gosvami's Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (1.1.11). As we can understand from Bhagavad-gita (9.34 and 18.65), the Supreme Personality of Godhead wants everyone to think of Him always (man-mana bhava mad-bhaktah). Everyone should become His devotee, not the devotee of a demigod. Everyone should engage in devotional service or arcana Deity worship in the temple. Man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru. Everyone should offer obeisances, from moment to moment, to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. These are the desires of the Supreme Lord, and one who fulfills His desires favorably is actually a pure devotee. 

Prabhupada: [indistinct] "...simple expression of reverence and love. The disciple, Abhaya Charan Dasa, was to become His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, founder-acarya of International Society, Krishna Consciousness."
​
So whatever I appreciated forty years ago, the same principle is going on. We have no change. What I understood my spiritual master... Practically I met him in 1922, and this poetry was written in 1936. That means fourteen years before writing this poetry, I met my Guru Maharaja in 1922. At that time I was quite a young man, twenty-five years old only, and I was posted in a very responsible position and as the office manager of Dr. Bose's laboratory. And I was fond of, in those days, of Gandhi's movement. In 1922 I joined Gandhi's movement, and I gave up my educational career because one of the Gandhi's program was to boycott the universities. That's a very long story. And many students gave up their educational career and joined this Gandhi's movement, and I was one of them.

a conversation between Srila Prabhupada & a Benedictine Monk

​
His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and several of his disciples were joined by Father Emmanuel Jungclaussen, a Benedictine monk from Niederalteich Monastery. Noticing that Srila Prabhupada was carrying meditation beads similar to the Catholic rosary, Father Emmanuel explained that he also chanted a constant prayer: “Lord Jesus Christ, be merciful unto us.” The following conversation ensued:

Srila Prabhupada: What is the meaning of the word Christ?

Father Emmanuel: Christ comes from the Greek word Christos, meaning "the anointed one."

Srila Prabhupada: Christos is the Greek version of the word Krsna.

Father Emmanuel: This is very interesting.​

by His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

By the grace of Narayana, a devotee is situated in the most opulent position in the material world. Rascals are envious of Narayana and His devotee, but the devotee knows how to please another devotee of Narayana because he knows that by pleasing Narayana's representative, one directly pleases Lord Narayana. Therefore a devotee offers the best facilities to his spiritual master because he knows that by pleasing Narayana's representative, he can please Lord Narayana. Outsiders who have no knowledge of Narayana are envious both of Narayana and of His devotee. Consequently when they see that Narayana's devotee is opulently situated, they become envious. But when the devotee of Narayana asks such foolish people to come live with him in the same comfortable situation, they do not agree because they cannot give up illicit sex, meat eating, intoxication and gambling. Therefore the materialist refuses the company of a narayana-parayana, although he is envious of the devotee's material situation. In Western countries when ordinary men-storekeepers and workers-see our devotees living and eating sumptuously and yet not working, they become very anxious to know where they get the money. Such people become envious and ask, "How is it possible to live so comfortably without working? How is it you have so many cars, bright faces and nice clothes?" Not knowing that Krsna looks after His devotees, such people become surprised, and some become envious.

(Sri Caitanya-Caritamrta, Madhya-lila 19.151)

COME AND JOIN US EVERY SUNDAY AT 5.P.M. IN OUR FUENGIROLA TEMPLE!

by Makhancora dāsa
 
The Hare Kṛṣṇa movement transplanted from the timeless vedic tradition into the western world by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda is based on authorized revealed scriptures, of which Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the formost. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam written down by Śrīla Dvaipāyana Vyāsa is the natural commentary on the Vedānta-sūtra, which in turn is the summary of the four Vedas - Ṛg, Yajur, Sāma and Atharva. Śrīla Prabhupāda summarizes the importance and purpose of vedic literature in one of his purports:
 
"The Vedas are compared with the desired tree because they contain all things knowable by the human being both for mundane necessities as well as spiritual realisation. The Vedas contains regulated principles of knowledge covering social, political, religious, economical, military, medical, chemical, physical, metaphysical and all that may be necessary for the proper up keep of the body and the soul together and above all there is specific direction for spiritual realisation also. Regulated knowledge means to raise the living entity gradually to the spiritual plane and the highest spiritual realisation is to know the Personality of Godhead as the reservoir of all mellows (Rasas)."
(Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.1.3 purport)
 
Some people object: "These are some fairy-tales of primitive people who were freaking out cuz there were lightning and thunders in the sky..." Unfortunately for them, it will not be so easy to prove this assumption. In the light of modern science, the statements and mind-blowing details of different aspects of material nature (to start with) described in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam call for attention of serious Absolute Truth seekers who are willing and ready to go beyond the limited range of sense perception, mental speculation, intellectual acrobacy and egotistical "I know everything" self-deception.

by Jagannatha Balarama dasa

At birth, the living entity becomes entitled to rights, which confirm his status as a slave.

In the human society once the entity is born, it must claim those rights which are there under the condition that he works for them.

A baby at birth cries and that is his first job or activity - to demand his food, since hunger hurts and due to that condition he has to make a great effort to satisfy that conditioning. If the mother is there she can offer food in the form of milk, but if there is no food for the child due to her imminent death or another cause the future of the child is uncertain and insecure. From there, the rights of the infant are manifested in the form of needs which must be satisfied, and because the baby is not yet able to satisfy his needs on his own, he depends 100 percent on his surroundings - a whole unknown world that he will have to face alone or with the help of the mother, who is like an unconditional servant placed in that position by her karma or previous activities of this new child.