The seven purposes Srila Prabhupada outlined in ISKCON’s original incorporating documents are: [1]
Propagate Spiritual Knowledge: To educate people in spiritual techniques to restore the imbalance of material values and achieve world peace. [1, 2]
Promote Krishna Consciousness: To teach the consciousness of God (Krishna) as revealed in sacred texts like the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam. [1, 2]
Recognize the Soul: To teach that every soul is a part and parcel of Godhead, bringing humanity closer together and nearer to the Divine. [1]
Teach the Sankirtana Movement: To encourage the congregational chanting of the holy names of God. [1, 2]
Establish Holy Places: To build and maintain places of transcendental pastimes dedicated to Krishna for society at large. [1, 2]
Encourage a Natural Lifestyle: To unite members in adopting a simpler, more natural way of life (often summarized as “simple living, high thinking”). [1, 2, 3]
Publish and Distribute Books: To print and circulate spiritual magazines, books, and other writings to support the aforementioned goals. [1, 2]
OH MY LORD OF LORDS ONE THING AND THATS FOR SURE , WE’LL NEVER FIND ANYONE MORE MERCIFUL THAN YOU .
YOU CAME HEEDING THE ACARYAS CALL , TEACHING PURE DEVOTION TO ONE AND ALL , WE’LL NEVER FIND ANYONE MORE MERCIFUL THAN YOU
YOU APPEARED IN NEW YORK ALONG WITH YOUR LOVING GLANCE , YOUR TRANCENDENTAL MUSIC MAKES THE WHOLE WORLD DANCE , WE’LL NEVER FIND ANYONE MORE MERCIFUL THAN YOU
YOU KEPT THE WHOLE WORLD IN YOUR PRAYERS , AND GRANTED A LIFE OF KRISHNA’S SERVICE AWAY FROM MAYAS LAIRE , WE’LL NEVER FIND ANYONE MORE MERCIFUL THAN YOU.
TO GIVE THE TASTE OF SUBLIME PLEASURE , AND THE PAIN WITHIN YOU CONCURE , WE’LL NEVER FIND ANYONE MORE MERCIFUL THAN YOU
REACHING UP TO THE HIGHEST AND REACHING DOWN TO THE LOW , A HUMBLED SPIRIT WITH BOLD COMPASSION YOU SHOW . WE’LL NEVER FIND ANYONE MORE MERCIFUL THAN YOU.
YOU GAVE US THE PERFECTION OF RELIGION , ..ALONG WITH SCIENTIFIC TRANCENDENTAL TRANSITION WE’LL NEVER FIND ANYONE MORE MERCIFUL THAN YOU
A GUIDING LIGHT THE JOURNEY BEGAN , PERFECTED BY THE SINCERE DAUGHTER OR SON WE’LL NEVER FIND ANYONE MORE MERCIFUL THAN YOU
REBLE SOCIETY YOU CAME TO PUT IT STRAIGHT , RASCALS AND DEMONS , IT’S YOU FRUSTRATE , WE’LL NEVER FIND ANYONE MORE MERCIFUL THAN YOU
A SIMPLE HEARTED PERSON THEY CAN UNDERSTAND , THE CROOKED LEFT HANGING THEIR METHODS UNDERHAND , WE’LL NEVER FIND ANYONE MORE MERCIFUL THAN YOU.
MAHAPRABHUS ORDER THAT HAS ENSUED , INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL , HEARTS SPIRITUALLY ENTHUSED WE’LL NEVER FIND ANYONE MORE MERCIFUL THAN YOU.
THEY THINK ITS A RELIGION YOU DECLARE , BUT NO , EVERYTHING , ALL INCLUSIVE , ALL ASPECTS OF LIFE WE SHARE , WE’LL NEVER FIND ANYONE MORE MERCIFUL THAN YOU
PASSING THE MESSAGE COMPLETE AND UNCHANGED , GURU IS ONE SUCCESSION ARRANGED , WE’LL NEVER FIND ANYONE MORE MERCIFUL THAN YOU.
dharmasya hy āpavargyasya nārtho ’rthāyopakalpate nārthasya dharmaikāntasya kāmo lābhāya hi smṛtaḥ
Translation
All occupational engagements are certainly meant for ultimate liberation. They should never be performed for material gain. Furthermore, according to sages, one who is engaged in the ultimate occupational service should never use material gain to cultivate sense gratification.
The whole process of Krishna consciousness entails bringing the peripherals of the Vedic instructions within one’s practical life and in therapeutic ways connect everything one does in devotion in Krishna consciousness thus moving irresistibly to the esoteric core of Gaudia Vaisnavism. As Ramananda Roy pointed out during his conversations with Sri Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Gradually, one can realise the trancendental planes of the spiritual kingdoms. Krishna is known as Rasaraja, and He is adored and loved naturally by the pure hearted residents of Vrndavana. The karmic worlds of self-centred impurities centred around lust , greed, and envy have no place there . Rather, a spontaneous attraction for the quality of Srimati Radharani Krishna and Their associates is felt in ever new ways and increasingly so . The trancendental form of Krishna and Radharani have no limits to Their personalities, and Their followers are swept up in the tumultuous ocean of trancendental bliss with waves that are forever rising and falling in feelings of Union and separation.
The process of chanting the Hare Krishna mahamantra in pure ways gradually takes one to the shore of this ocean , via the instructions of the self realised souls and the param para acaryas. With time, devotion, and practice, one can learn to enter within its waters , there are no limits to the depths of its waters .
Srila AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada has explained all as have all the param para acaryas.
Vedic life means concentration on the Param Gatim, the permanently situated and the supreme perfection of a conscious state .
Lives , families, communities, nations, and empires come and go and ultimately the universe as well . The permanency of the consciousness is stated in the Bhagavad Gita, and Krishna stresses understanding this absolute knowledge and how its vitally important . Its in our best interests to find an atmosphere where we can find permanency , where the spiritual consciousness is made up of the same spiritual superior energy. It’s a natural and the originally intended state of our spiritual consciousness to experience sat cit ananda in a spiritual form .
Full spiritual knowledge of these unlimited spiritual relationships within an eternally situated spiritual plane where ever new spiritual mellows of loving exchanges with Krishna and His associates take place is our rightful place .
As stated and rightly so. by many devotees statements , Srila Prabhupada is the Siksa Guru of all the members of ISKCON and those who have absolute faith in him , whether so called inside or outside of ISKCON.
But importantly, Srila Prabhupada is giving us access to the predominant teachers of Gaudia Vaisnavism, those “significant ” acaryas ,although of course all devotees are significant, stemming from Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu through the Goswami’s . Srila Prabhupada is the transparent medium who can show us the methods by which their connections , by Siksa , and Sastra sanga can be made . By Srila Prabhupada’s teachings and services to him , the correct processes are fully understood of the connections between the many peripherals and all the cor teachings of the Vedas and further particularly the essence of Gaudia Vaisnavism , as taught by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu through his conversion with Ramananda Roy .Prabhupada has outlined everything and made all the connections.
So , perhaps an emphasis on his abilities to correctly guide us to our param para acaryas and their teachings , which he has clearly laid out in his writings , from beginnings to their perfection in pure spontaneous love , which he exhibited should be understood.
In Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur’s commentary to Srila Ragganatha das Goswami’s Manah Siksa .
Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur has said we should regard the Goswami’s as our own personal Siksa Gurus.
The essential mission of ISKCON , which Srila Prabhupada has so experrtly taken up , because he Himself is Mahāprabhu’s and Nityananda prabhu’s associate , stems from Their other associates Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur and Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami Maharaj , especially the broad teachings of Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur , who brought us insights to Devi Varna Ashram that Prabhupada has introduced , we are in the Bhaktivinod parivag .
Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur brought the modern world to the Western world through his broad visions of the all encompasing Vedas , the peripherals and cor can and do join together as set progressive and individually meant meaningful paths , Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur’s son , Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami started the broadcast of Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur’s teachings , he desired them be spread world wide as his father wanted , this was the predicted by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and so it was the Srila Bhaktisiddanta Sarasvati Goswami Maharaja’s disciple Srila AC Bhaktivedanta Swami arrived in USA and founded ISKCON 60 years ago , Prabhupada’s personal pure Krishna consciousness was on full display and his enthusiasm to carry out Sri Caitanya Mahāprabhu desire , and the order of his spiritual master had begun , ISKCON is a most powerful preaching movement that is ever increasing and Krishna has most definitely sent many special souls to assist ISKCON and continues to do so , Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur’s vision is taking shape , and its just beginning in one sense.
So any how , its important to make these trancendental connections in my opinion because the whole of our Gaudia Vaisnavas param para have been opened up so expertly by Srila Prabhupada . Through his teachings, by serving his mission , and by humbly cooperating with others that try to assist the mission of Prabhupada, then by grace , all of our param para acaryas insights within their Smiti’s and their trancendental unlimited connections to the spiritual realms may decend upon us , some understanding may develop.
In the Western world and in most parts of the world, including India, access in real terms to the Gaudia Vaisnava param para begins and has began through Srila AC Bhavtivedanta Swami Prabhupada , who has clearly explained all .
In Gaudiya Vaisnavism and within general Vedic cultures, we are all invited to think in certain ways, to intellectualise in certain ways, and to act in certain ways . Our freedoms to do , think, and intellectualise in our own independent ways should change, says the Gaudiya Vaisnava acaryas , indeed the whole of the Vedas is also meant for that end , it is bringing us to the same conclusion. The yogic process is about discipline of the subtle energies and utalising the gross material energies in prescribed and carefully calculated ways , ethics , moral and realisations of the self-evident truth of everyone’s right to have a decent life , everyone must be respected are part of the yogic mix .
The idea of libertine freedoms is a long way away from Vedic cultures . Although not rejected outright , the desire for individual freedoms are carefully applied and therapeutic methods are employed to help assist an individual who have likings for freedoms . Such carefully applied cultural teaching helps them make the gradual steps that bring realisations of absolute freedoms .We must know discipline brings freedoms to liberate us all fully from the shackles and limitation of a conditioned life , as well as bringing us the knowledge and widom of what conditioned life looks like . So-called unrestricted” libertine freedoms” in reality can bind one hopelessly, bringing ever increasing entanglements along with more and more false securities and bewilderments .
Narada Muni has full freedoms to traverse the whole of the spiritual and material realms , unmotivated pure love for Divinity brings freedom , pure love in relative or absolute terms is key to understanding our full potentials
Srila AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada explains all in his Bhagavad Gita as it is.
Progressive evolution and the super subjective realms.
The clouds are covering the moon , but by the light of the moon, the clouds are seen . The soul , the original essence of feelings , is covered by our conditioned mental systems, causing us to identify with the body , but by the power of our original consciousness , stemming from the soul , that is capable of feeling and experiencing spiritual topics, we are feeling and experiencing matter and conditioned consciousness.
Srila BR Sridhar Swami speaks about the spiritual path of subjective evolution , which gradually rises further and higher in spiritual realised knowledge, carrying one and allowing one to enter the super subjective realms of the highest of spiritual planes . The essence of the soul is feelings ..and every living being is feeling . The question is, what are we feeling and what do we have feelings for . There are 8,400,000 species of life , each of which exhibits feelings for so many things . The essence and perfection of consciousness is to experience and to be able to relate to the higher planes of Divinity where He resides with His associates. The windows to the spiritual world are always open , but we must know how to look at them and how to pass through them . Radha Krishna’s trancendental pastimes are eternally present, and their beautiful forms are eternally manifest . When spiritual feelings are properly developed, one begins to gradually realise and enter these spiritual planes and develop feelings for Divinity and His associates . In that case, one may be invited to participate in that super subjective plane . The feelings of the soul proper are forever restricted in conditioned consciousness, but there are no limits to the depths of feelings in the spiritual realms when the material feelings are renounced.
In Srila Rupa Goswami’s Sri Ujjvala nilamani this is said …
Hiding behind a creeper, Srimati Radharani is eagerly eavesdropping on a conversation between Krishna and Subal , afterwards Vishaka asked Radharani why she was so eager to hear Krishna’s words, Radharani said , ” My dear friend the nectar of Madhava’s words are filled with unprecedented sweetness that enchants the ears , I am not satisfied to have once sipped that nectar, but I yearn to drink it again snd again .”
Anuraga is described as ever new and ever increasing spiritual bliss described by Srila Rupa Goswami and defined as spiritual feelings and emotions , soul on soul , one might say .
Nato countries ,who are actively assisting Ukraine bomb Russia, something the USA did not allow in the beginning of the war , Nato see that Russian responses are quite measured , and the EU countries remain unaffected. Although they are contributing to the increasing aggression in Russia. NATO seem to veiw Russian responses as a weakness on their part , consequently, Nato is increasing more and more .. What will Russia do , hand over Ukraine, or deliver a telling blow to Nato . This is being thought deeply about in Russian circles , will the war stop or will. WW3 begins ,and initially in Europe.
It could be Russia and Putin leaves Ukraine. Putin has tried to get them to see sense , he wanted them a neutral independent country . Zelenskyy wants Ukraine handed over to the global conglomerates and libertines of the EU , who are so fond of scientific materialism and atheistic Darwinian hypothesis . The EU , who will bit by bit dismantle and destroy Ukrainian traditions and family based theological cultures . The EU favours conglomerates who will monopolise Ukrainian industrial bases , and move into the high streets . It will Hyke up Ukrainian property prices taking over and controlling the housing markets . Ukrainian people do not know how the centralising so-called EU government works …maybe Putin will leave them to it…or will he take a stance to protect the future of Russia, who are next in line…..who knows ….
..I however , its Ukraine in the desperate position , thus 15 nato countries joining in ..bombing Russia, mainstreamers thinks its Ukraine, although drones are supplied and controlled by nato in their respective countries from thousands of miles away …This is an ideological war ….Putin is smart , he may, with Brics now formed with China , think he has secured Russian borders , the unipolar world has arrived. So, with Brics , Ukraine is not as important as it was previously .The Ukraine war was after all the cause of Brics forming and the beginnings of the multipolar world. http://www.thevedicspectator.com
Translation 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.
Krishna has spoken clearly here of objective science , and if we carefully examine objectively with the help of the best of the objective scientific community members , it will be very clearly demonstrated . For instance, how the machine like body assembles using codes and informational processes utalising dna and Rna molecules . Although those who are loyal to scientific materialism or Darwinian hypothesis can not accept these logical observations or understand the workings of the ethereal mind and intellect as a separate energy to matter , known as scientific dualism . Consciousness itself is the symptoms of the soul, beyond mind and intelligence , those more subtle forms of energies that cover the “super subtle” soul . This objective science is actually self-evident truth , we can see that matter is never conscious . There is ample evidence in the objective world of intelligent design that we call nature , both within the microbial world or the colossal universe’s. Clear evidence of precision engineering and perfection in engineering design can not be denied . Consciousness explorations and psychological sciences and the subtle sciences bring further evidence of how the machine of the body is carrying consciousness . Life comes from life .
The scientific community convinces itself , it is bringing education to mankind , but education means you know a topic , but guessing is not knowing . If you don’t know the topic , then admit it’s guessing . In the case of scientific materialism and Darwinian hypothesis, it’s , every bit of it , subjective guessing and speculation .It is not scientifically led objective observations that are being presented as fact based science , quite the opposite . That’s cheating science , if presented as fact based science.
What do they refer to as education ? Basically, accepting, without any evidence, random mutations originating from the primordial soup , the common ancestor model , of microbes spilling out of chemicals and becoming Einsteins . Although they can not bind chemical combinations in synthetic chemistry very easily at all . In chemistry, everything is ordered as much as the Dna coding or the atomic realms are ordered , i.e . according to the amount of protons in the atoms, results in the specific elements manifested. In chemistry, binding chemicals together is very, very difficult. So, there is no chance of randomness. It involves rather, precision chemistry . Molecules dont move towards life , they are not seen to mutate in purely unguided and random processes that somehow follow a particular environment they mysteriously find themselves in .Rather, when consciousness enters into matter, the informational processes begin .Life comes from life , and life carries information. This life that is all around us , according to the Darwinian, is only random chemistry , random biology , randon neurons firings, and random physics that holds everything together , where a chance event in the universe produces , gravitational forces and the precise mix of atoms and elements, with carbon as the predominant element , the element most needed for life to emerge. This is dream speculative guessing. Everything’s we see and experience in terms of living things , including plant life, is perfectly engineered and designed. Logic and rationale are part of an education system, with that in mind can we suppose one billion monkeys typing on one billion typewriters for one billion years could produce a perfectly punctuated page of a Shakespeare script, including the spaces between the words. The dna coding and the informational exchanges by mrna molecules are akin to highly sophisticated engineering technologies and are producing the protein like machines in the cells and specifically shaping them using those codes producing bodies in every species of life . Regarding common ancestry, same engineer, different engineering is the Vedic truth . As much as the robotics assembly plant in any factory will , according to information of a computer chip , programmed by an intelligent source , assemble a specific part of a machine . Similarly, is that not what we objectively see in world sciences. Where there is smoke, you know there is fire , or it just been extinguished .Whenever you experience information and a sequence that is functional.. You naturally assume something….that a consciousness is at work . What is the difficulty? Micro evolution, meaning exchanges of dna within species and variations according to an environment, that’s acceptable and Vedic. Macro evolution brings us back to the billion monkeys. Of course, unfortunately, at schools and universities , scientific materialism and Darwinian hypothesis are taught as fact based science, which is unfortunate. Everyone should consider dualism, mind, matter, and consciousness as separated and entirely different energies. We experience the adult body, and the childhood body has long gone , as your current body will change drastically and quickly. In a space of seven years, a completely different body is built as all the cells change, you, the consciousness experience this , the body is not you ..
The natural vedic learning process..
If we conform to the good principles in life as taught by the good and pure over many many generations , these universal principles and easily recognisable , instinctively we come to understand this depth of knowledge of the consciousness. Irresistibly knowledge builds on the back of piety. In humble spirit, we will see the benefits of learning from others in every walk of life . Because of previous practice of consciousness cultivation, many greater persons both in karmic , philosophical knowledge, or pure devotional attitudes can help us along . This was the beauty of the original Varna Ashram systems , that peoples good fortune was recognised and shared with others .This overarching principle of Vedic life is a valuable asset for everyone to know . This good fortune originates from the Vedic intelligensia, who are pure in heart and mind and well studied in the Vedas in all its formats . http://www.thevedicspectator.com
The following of the ten commandments are like the Sadhana bhakti process for the Christian , attending church services , singing hymns, and studying the Bible are equally important for progressive Christians. In Vedic cultures and Gaudia Vaisnava traditions , the proccesses of Sadhana lead to more spontaneously felt devotion, and this is accompanied by much more significant and deeply experienced hearing , chanting and remembrances of Lila pastimes of Krishna or any of His various incarnations . Sri Caitanya Mahāprabhu brought to the world the pinnacle of spontaneously felt devotion , He instructed his devotees to teach this process , and the six Goswami’s of Vrndavana have done so . Worship of the representatives of God and their devotion towards God is essential , because as Srila Visvanatha Cakravati Thakur indicates in his glorification on Sri Guru, Sri Guru is an intimate servant of Radha Krishna and has his spiritual form in Their abode . The Vedas say we must learn to prey and act the way they do both externally in preaching activities as best we can , but more importantly in our inner meditations and remembrances of Radha Krishna nitya lila pastimes.
The Christian who acts perfectly in practice of the commandments, the study of the scriptures, in singing and glorifying God and in worship of Jesus as the pure representative of God , would obviously succeed in spiritual life if these are strictly adhered to . Through Jesus , learning from Him and following his devotional spirit, they will advance and will be situated correctly , as Jesus said, “I am at the seat of my father “
Every theological culture has its similarities, there is one God , who expands unlimitedly and accordingly accepts different moods of worship , as much as we relate to people differently or in accordance as to how they relate to us .
This verse in Bhagavad Gita should be understood in full before entering into the esoteric lila pastimes of Krishna , along with His family friends and lovers . In fact, any of Krishna’s activities and pastimes within Vrndavana of Mathura and Dwarka . If not, material concepts of conditioned consciousness will mislead one about Krishna’s lilas . Those in material consciousness who act within the restricted areas of earth , water ,air , fire , mind , and material ego , consisting of atoms, elements and compounds , and the ethereal, which Krishna is forever unaffected by , and not in the least attracted to , such persons effected cannot enter or understand Krishna, only by grace and the Bhakti of pure devotional moods is everything revealed.
avyaktam — nonmanifested; vyaktim — personality; āpannam — achieved; manyante — think; mām — Me; abuddhayaḥ — less intelligent persons; param — supreme; bhāvam — existence; ajānantaḥ — without knowing; mama — My; avyayam — imperishable; anuttamam — the finest.
Translation
Unintelligent men, who do not know Me perfectly, think that I, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, was impersonal before and have now assumed this personality. Due to their small knowledge, they do not know My higher nature, which is imperishable and supreme.
Thus, the mudha, or the foolish person, assumes God has a body made of matter like theirs .They can never understand or grasp the finer , pure spiritual activities of the consciousness along with spiritual varigatedness and personality . Our Gaudia Vaisnava acaryas give the example of the lowest grades of broken glass , and the highest quality of cut diamonds.
To the unthinking and uneducated they look similar .
The pure trancendental autocratic Master of the spiritual realms enjoys unlimitedly His spiritually situated and eternal pastimes . That land , the Srimad Bhagavatam, speaks of , is reality pe say . A place where the fullness of spiritual unlimited emotional exchanges of love are exhibited within the full range of all trancendental rasika mellows of blissful life . There is an unlimited beauty and an incalculable spiritual artistry that is on a permanent show . Such increasingly ecstatic and spiritual cultures that know no end , far surpasses the imaginations of the greatest of the greatest of any artistic connisuires , of the past or present and into the future , of this world.
The Gaudia Vaisnava acaryas set examples of a life of preaching and Bhajan , deeper esoteric meditational life .
“In the final years of his life, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur formally retired from his duties and preaching to immerse himself in secluded worship (nirjana-bhajan) and writing. During this period, he produced some of his most esoteric and spiritually profound literature, concentrating fully on deep meditation and devotional absorption.
His final decade was a masterclass in focused, internalized devotion. Key aspects of this period include:
Secluded Worship & Daily Life: In 1908, he accepted the external dress of a babaji. He spent his final years engaged in intense worship and chanting, often residing at Bhakti Kuti in Jagannath Puri and Surabi Kunj in the Navadwip district.
Deep Esoteric Writings: Rather than stopping his literary output, he pivoted from broad foundational texts to advanced, confidential devotional guidelines for practitioners. Notable works from this period include Bhajana-rahasya (1902), which serves as an intimate guide to devotional meditation, and Sva-niyama-dvadasakam (1907), a set of verses outlining daily vows and meditative practices.
Delegating the Preaching: While he stepped back from public lecturing and traveling, the preaching mission did not end. He empowered his son, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur, to take the lead in publicly propagating the teachings of Lord Chaitanya.
Final Days: He left this world on June 23, 1914, at his Bhakti Bhavan residence in Calcutta, entering eternal pastimes exactly on the disappearance day of Sri Gadadha prabhu.”
The Founder of ISKCON Srila AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada seemed to combine the two , his extensive bhajans and musical trancendental renditions are all recorded , his pure inner life occasionally came to the surface at times , but his preaching had to be done , his special mission had begun. He arrived in the USA as an older person and began extensive preaching till his last breath . These were all the arrangements of Krishna and Sri Caitanya Mahāprabhu . Prabhupada himself said, “Work hard preaching , bhajan life later .”This is the general life of the Vaisnava, Mahāprabhu Himself preached extensively, but became absorbed in an esoteric life in Jagganath Puri .www.thevedicspectator.com
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