Srila Prabhupada's departure for USA

Srila Prabhupada was instructed by his spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, to preach Krsna consciousness to the English−speaking peoples. Toward this end, His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami published the first Back to Godhead magazine in 1944. He also began to write translations and commentaries on Bhagavad−gita, Srimad−Bhagavatam, Caitanya−caritamrta, and other Vedic literatures. In 1965, after publishing three volumes of Srimad−Bhagavatam, he approached the owner of the Scindia Steam Navigation Company, Sumati Morarji, for a complimentary passage to the United States. After considering his request for some time, she finally agreed and issued him the ticket.

In the port of Calcutta on August 13, 1965, carrying only a small suitcase, an umbrella, and a bag of dry cereal, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, as he was known at the time, climbed up the steep gangway onto a cargo ship named the Jaladuta. The ensuing journey presented considerable hardship. Srila Prabhupada wrote of some sea−sickness, and on the thirteenth day of the voyage, during the passage through the Arabian Sea, he suffered a massive heart attack. He was concerned that he might pass away, but in his uneasy sleep that night he had a dream, a vision. Lord Krsna appeared. 

The Lord was in an open boat, along with His other incarnations. Krsna was rowing the boat, and the boat was pulling Srila Prabhupada's ship with a rope. Krsna was smiling at Srila Prabhupada and was pulling the ship all the way to America! Srila Prabhupada did not write about this occurrence in his diary but simply drew a line through those troubled days, declaring that he had passed over a great crisis in the struggle between life and death. Years later he related these events to his followers. 

After the crisis, Srila Prabhupada regained his strength and recommenced his entries in the diary after the ship docked in Port Said, Egypt. Then, after crossing the Mediterranean Sea, the Jaladuta passed through the Straits of Gibraltar and into the Atlantic Ocean. Uncharacteristically, the ocean appeared like a placid lake. The Atlantic crossing was so effortless that the ship's captain remarked that he had never seen anything like it. 

After a total of thirty−five days the ship at last berthed in Boston, at Commonwealth Pier, on September 17 at 5:30 a.m. The next day the Jaladuta continued to New York, where Srila Prabhupada disembarked onto a lonely Brooklyn pier to begin his mission in the West.

Prayer to the Lotus Feet of Krsna

by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

on board the ship Jaladuta, September 13, 1965

(refrain)

krsna taba punya habe bhai

e−punya koribe jabe radharani khusi habe

dhruva ati boli toma tai

I emphatically say to you, O brothers, you will obtain your good fortune

from the Supreme Lord Krsna only when Srimati Radharani becomes pleased with you.

sri−siddhanta saraswati saci−suta priya ati

krsna−sebaya jara tula nai

sei se mohanta−guru jagater madhe uru

krsna−bhakti dey thai thai

Sri Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, who is very dear to Lord

Gauranga, the son of mother Saci, is unparalleled in his service to the Supreme Lord Sri

Krsna. He is that great saintly spiritual master who bestows intense devotion to Krsna at

different places throughout the world.

tara iccha balavan pascatyete than than

hoy jate gauranger nam

prthivite nagaradi asamudra nada nadi

sakalei loy krsna nam

By his strong desire, the holy name of Lord Gauranga will spread throughout

all the countries of the Western world. In all the cities, towns, and villages on the earth,

from all the oceans, seas, rivers, and streams, everyone will chant the holy name of

Krsna.

tahale ananda hoy tabe hoy digvijay

caitanyer krpa atisay

maya dusta jata duhkhi jagate sabai sukhi

vaisnaver iccha purna hoy

As the vast mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu conquers all directions, a

flood of transcendental ecstasy will certainly cover the land. When all the sinful,

miserable living entities become happy, the Vaisnavas' desire is then fulfilled.

se karja je koribare ajna jadi dilo more

jogya nahi an dina hina

tai se tomara krpa magitechi anurupa

aji numi sabar pravina

Although my Guru Maharaja ordered me to accomplish this mission, I am

not worthy or fit to do it. I am very fallen and insignificant. Therefore, O Lord, now I am

begging for Your mercy so that I may become worthy, for You are the wisest and most

experienced of all.

tomara se sakti pele guru−sebaya bastu mile

jibana sarthak jadi hoy

sei se seva paile tahale sukhi hale

taba sanga bhagyate miloy

If You bestow Your power, by serving the spiritual master one attains the

Absolute Truth−one's life becomes successful. If that service is obtained, then one

becomes happy and gets Your association due to good fortune.

evam janam nipatitam prabhavahikupe

kamabhikamam anu yah prapatan prasangat

krtvatmasat surarsina bhagavan grhitah

so 'ham katham nu visrje tava bhrtya−sevam

My dear Lord, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, because of my

association with material desires, one after another, I was gradually falling into a blind

well full of snakes, following the general populace. But Your servant Narada Muni kindly

accepted me as his disciple and instructed me how to achieve this transcendental position.

Therefore, my first duty is to serve him. How could I leave his service? (Prahlada

Maharaja to Lord Nrsimhadeva, Bhag. 7.9.28)

tumi mor cira sathi bhuliya mayar lathi

khaiyachi janma−janmantare

aji punah e sujoga jadi hoy jogayoga

tabe pari tuhe milibare

O Lord Krsna, You are my eternal companion. Forgetting You, I have

suffered the kicks of maya birth after birth. If today the chance to meet You occurs again,

then I will surely be able to rejoin You.

tomara milane bhai abar se sukha pai

gocarane ghuri din bhor

kata bane chutachuti bane khai lutaputi

sei din kabe habe mor

O dear friend, in Your company I will experience great joy once again. In the

early morning I will wander about the cowherd pastures and fields. Running and

frolicking in the many forests of Vraja, I will roll on the ground in spiritual ecstasy. Oh

when will that day be mine?

aji se subidhane tomara smarana bhela

baro asa dakilam tai

ami tomara nitya−dasa tai kori eta asa

tumi bina anya gati nai

Today that remembrance of You came to me in a very nice way. Because I

have a great longing I called to You. I am Your eternal servant and therefore I desire

Your association so much. O Lord Krsna, except for You there is no other means of success.

Hare Krishna!!!

Lord Balarama - Krishna's Immediate Expansion

"Balarama is considered to be the elder brother of Krsna. When Krsna was present, Balarama became His elder brother. When Rama was there, this Balarama represented Himself as His younger brother, Laksmana. So Balarama is the first manifestation of His personal expansion."

Lord Krsna and Balarama (Baladeva) are not two different Personalities of Godhead. God is one without a second, but He expands Himself in many forms that are not separate from one another. They are all plenary expansions.

The sastras say everywhere that Krsna is the original Personality of Godhead and that He has innumerable avataras, or incarnations. After Krsna comes Balarama, after Balarama is Sankarsana, then Aniruddha, Pradyumna, Narayana and then the purusa-avataras--Maha-Visnu, Garbhodakasayi Visnu and Ksirodakasayi Visnu. All of them are avataras. Lord Brahma, born from the lotus flower from Garbhodakasayi Visnu, is an expansion of Balarama.

Lord Krsna is not an incarnation of the purusa, but is directly the original Personality of Godhead, and Balarama is the first plenary manifestation of the Lord. From Baladeva the first phalanx of plenary expansions, Vasudeva, Sankarsana, Aniruddha and Pradyumna, expands. Lord Sri Krsna is Vasudeva, and Baladeva is Sankarsana.

The Supreme Lord expands His personal forms in two primary categories. The prakasa forms are manifested by Lord Krsna for His pastimes, and their features are exactly like His. When Lord Krsna married sixteen thousand queens in Dvaraka, He did so in sixteen thousand prakasa expansions. Similarly, during the rasa dance He expanded Himself in identical prakasa forms to dance beside each and every gopi simultaneously. When the Lord manifests His vilasa expansions, however, they are all somewhat different in their bodily features. Lord Balarama is the first vilasa expansion of Lord Krsna, and the four-handed Narayana forms in Vaikuntha expand from Balarama. There is no difference between the bodily forms of Sri Krsna and Balarama except that Their bodily colors are different - the bodily hue of Krsna is dark and that of Balarama is fair. Similarly, Sri Narayana in Vaikuntha has four hands, whereas Krsna has only two. The expansions of the Lord who manifest such bodily differences are known as vilasa-vigrahas.

Lord Balarama is also the Sesa incarnation. Garbodakasayi Vishnu lies upon Ananta Sesa while dissolving the material creation. In the Upanisads it is stated that one cannot attain the supreme or any form of self-realization without being sufficiently favored by Balarama. Bala does not mean physical strength. No one can attain spiritual perfection by physical strength. One must have the spiritual strength which is infused by Balarama or Sankarsana. Ananta or Sesa is the power which sustains all the planets in their different positions. Materially this sustaining power is known as the law of gravitation, but actually it is a display of the potency of Sankarsana.

Since the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the Absolute Truth, everything in relation to Him is also on the same platform. ...The Lord's clothing, bedding, slippers and everything required as an ordinary necessity are all transformations of Sesa, Visnu, the expansion of Sri Baladeva. Thus the cloth and other paraphernalia of the Supreme Personality of Godhead are but other forms of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

In the maha-mantra--Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare. Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare--the word Rama refers to Balarama. Since Lord Nityananda is an expansion of Balarama, Rama also refers to Lord Nityananda. Thus Hare Krsna, Hare Rama addresses not only Krsna and Balarama but Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda as well.

There are three Ramas. One Rama is Parasurama (Jamadagnya), another Rama is Lord Ramacandra, and a third Rama is Lord Balarama. These are some of the reasons why Balarama is known as Sankarsana, Balarama or sometimes Rama. In the maha-mantra--Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare. Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare--people sometimes object when Rama is accepted as Balarama. But although devotees of Lord Rama may object, they should know that there is no difference between Balarama and Lord Rama. Srimad-Bhagavatam clearly states that Balarama is also known as Rama (rameti). Therefore, it is not artificial to speak of Lord Balarama as Lord Rama.

If someone calls Lord Ramacandra by the vibration Hare Rama, or if he understands "Ramacandra," he is quite right. Similarly, if one says that Hare Rama means Sri Balarama, he is also right. Those who are aware of the visnu-tattva do not fight over all these details.

"Everything is there in my books"

Srila Prabhupada:

"After 80 years, no one can be expected to live long. My life is almost ended. So you have to carry on, and these books will do everything."  SPC (BBT 1991) Room Conversation 18/02/76 

"There is no need by any of my disciples to read any books besides my books - in fact, such reading may be detrimental to their advancement in Krishna Consciousness. All reading of outside books, except in certain authorised cases such as for example to read some philosopher like Plato to make an essay comparing his philosophy with Krishna's philosophy - but otherwise all such outside reading should be stopped immediately. It is simply another botheration. If my students cannot even read my own books thoroughly, why they should read others? I have given you TLC, what need is there to read Caitanya Caritamrta translated by someone else. You are right to stop such reading." SPL (VI 1987) Govinda das 20/01/70 

"I have instructed everything in my books." SPL (VI 1987) Dina Dayala das 25/02/76 

"Please continue reading my books seriously and everything will be revealed to you." SPL (VI 1987) Babhru and Satyaki 18/09/75 

"Whatever is to be learned of the teachings of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura can be learned from our books. There is no need whatsoever for any outside instruction." SPL (VI 1987) Gurukrpa Maharaja 25/12/75 

"So utilise whatever time you find to make a thorough study of my books. Then all your questions will be answered." SPL (VI 1987) Upendra 07/01/76 

"If it is possible to go to the temple, then take advantage of the temple. A temple is a place where by one is given the opportunity to render direct devotional service to the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna. In conjunction with this you should always read my books daily and all your questions will be answered and you will have a firm basis of Krishna Consciousness. In this way your life will be perfect." SPL (VI 1987) Hugo Salemon 22/11/74 

"Every one of you must regularly read our books at least twice, in the morning and evening, and automatically all questions will be answered." SPL (VI 1987) Randhira 24/01/70 

"In my books the philosophy of Krsna Consciousness is explained fully so if there is anything you do not understand, then you simply have to read again and again. By reading daily the knowledge will be revealed to you and by this process your spiritual life will develop. [...] You may please me the most by reading the books and following the instructions therein and by becoming fully Krishna Conscious in this life time." SPL (VI 1987) Brahmarupa das 22/11/74 

"Everyone can become a first class speaker. Simply cram the purports of my books. The references are there, the philosophy is there. Everything is there." SPL (VI 1987) Gopijanavallabha das 19/09/74

Devotee: "Srila Prabhupada when you're not present with us, how is it possible to receive instructions? For example in questions that may arise..."

Srila Prabhupada: "Well the questions are ans... answers are there in my books."
SPC (BBT 1991) Los Angeles 13/05/73 

Srila Prabhupada: "Even a moments association with a pure devotee - all success!" 

Revitananda: "Does that apply to reading the words of a pure devotee?"

Srila Prabhupada: "Yes"

Revitananda: "Even a little association with your books has the same effect?"
Srila Prabhupada: "Effect. Of course it requires both things. One must be very eager to take it." 

SPC (BBT 1991) Room Conversation 13/12/70 

Paramahamsa: "My question is, a pure devotee, when he comments on 
Bhagavad Gita, someone who never sees him physically, but he just comes in contact with the commentary, explanation, is this the same thing?"

Srila Prabhupada: "Yes. You can associate with Krsna by reading Bhagavad-Gita. And these saintly persons, they have given theirexplanations, comments. So where is the difficulty?"
SPC (BBT 1991) Paris 11/06/74 

"There is nothing new to be said. Whatever I had to say, I have already said in my books. Now you must try to understand it andcontinue with your endeavours. Whether I am present or not does not matter." SPC (BBT 1991) Vrndavan 17/05/77 

"If I depart there is no cause for lamentation. I will always be with you through my books and orders. I will always remain with you inthat way." BTG (BBT 1977) December 1977 

Srila Prabhupada: "So in my absence you read the books. What I talk, I have written in my books. That's all."
Indian Man (2): "Personally, we think more greater."
Srila Prabhupada: "That's all right. But still, you can associate with me by reading my books."
SPC (BBT 1991) Toronto 07/08/75 

Abbreviations:-

SPL - Srila Prabhupada Letters
SPC - Srila Prabhupada Conversations

Vaishnava Reminder-Disappearance day of Shri Raghunandan Thakur and Vamsi Das Babaji

Shri Raghunandan Thakur

Shri Mukunda Das, Madhab Das and Shri Narahari Sorkar Thakur were three brothers who lived in the village of Shri Khanda. Raghunandan was the son of Shri Mukunda Das. [C.C.Madhya 15]

In the house of Shri Mukunda Das, who lives at Shri Khanda, Lord Shri Gopinath is served with great attention.

One day Mukunda had to go out for some specific work so he called his son Raghunandan and asked him to serve Lord Gopinath that day. Raghunandan was only a small child at that time so his father carefully explained to him, "This Deity is in our family for many generations. He has been worshipped by my father and his father before him, and his father, on and on in this way for so many years. Just as your mother feeds you and I everyday, so also He has to be fed everyday."

He explained to Raghunandan that this is a very big responsibility and he should be very careful to give his full attention to this service. Then Mukunda went out.

Raghunandan collected the items for offering to Shri Gopinathji and entered into the Deity room. Raghunandan was at that time barely 5 years old. He tried to offer the bhoga as he had seen his father do but when he looked up after reciting some prayers he saw that the bhoga was still there. When he saw that Gopinath hadn't eaten the offering after he had imitated his father's offering procedure as best as he could remember, he became very worried. His father had impressed upon him the importance of this service and now he could understand that he wasn't doing it properly, and that his father would be displeased. Ultimately he simply requested Gopinath with tears in his eyes, "Eat! Eat!"

Gopinath became completely subjected by Raghunandan's simple request, made entirely in love, and thus He stealthily ate up everything without leaving any remnants.

After some time Raghunandan's father, Mukunda, returned and asked his son if he had done as he was told? When his son replied "Yes", then Mukunda asked him to bring some of the prasadam. Raghunandan replied, "Prasadam? I offered everything just like you told me, and Gopinath ate everything. So what should I bring you now?"

Mukunda was completely taken aback. "This boy is not naughty and is always accustomed to speak the truth. I doubt if he would have eaten everything. I wonder what actually happened?"

Musing on this matter in his mind for some days, his curiosity remained unsatisfied even after a few days time had elapsed. He got an idea and so again requested Raghunandan to offer the bhoga to Gopinath on that day. Raghunandan was very excited to hear this request and replied that he would be more than happy to make the offering since he liked to do that service so much.

On this day however, after going out of the house, he again came in by another way and remained hiding in one place.

Raghunandan was very happy to be able to serve Shri Gopinathji again. He brought everything into the Deity room and as before, he again very insistently persuaded Gopinath to take his meal. As Gopinath had eaten half of a laddu, he espied Mukunda standing in the doorway. He didn't try to cover up the fact that he had eaten what he had, but neither did he eat any more.

Seeing all this Mukunda was completely immersed in ecstatic love and picked up his son and put him on his lap. Again and again he extolled his virtues in a voice trembling with ecstasy, all the while torrents of tears of joy falling from his eyes. Even today, those who are greatly fortunate can still see that half-eaten laddu in Gopinatha's lotus hand. Thus Shri Uddhab das sings the glories of Raghunandan, who is non-different from Madan(Cupid).

Raghunandan was present at the kheturi utsob (festival).In Krishna lila he was Kandarpa manjari and/or the priya narma sakha Ujjval. In Dwaraka lila he was Shri Krishna's son Kandarpa (Pradyumna).

Raghunandan's son is Kanai Thakur. His descendants are still residing at Shri Khanda. Shri Khanda can be easily reached from Katwa by bus or train.

Raghunandan Thakur was born in the year 1432 sakabda. He appeared on the first day of Spring, Basantpancami, in the year 1432 (saka). His disappearance is on the fourth day of the bright fortnight in the month of Srabon.

Shri Vamsi Dasa Babaji Mahraja

Vamsidas Babaji was a Gaudiya Vaishnav sadhu who lived at Swarupa Gunj, Navadwip during the time of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur. He was respected by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta, and he used to see to it that Vamsidas Babaji was provided with grains and so on by Gaudiya Matha brahmacharis.

Srila Vamsidas Babaji appeared in the village of Majidpur in the Jamalpur district of Bangladesh. Before the partition of India, this city was formerly in the district of Mymensing. His father’s name was Sanatana Malobrahma and he was previously known as Bhairava. Babaji Maharaj came to Nabadwip from East Bengal.

He lived as a total recluse, far away from the hubbub of the town in a solitary place on the bank of Ganga near Baral Ghata in Navadvipa, as if he was a mad or crazy person. His only possessions were an old kaupina, karanga and kantha. Vamsidasa Babaji lived in a world of his own. His world centered round his deities-Gaura-Gadadhara, Nitai, Radha-Krishna and Gopala. For the service of his deities he had two brass pots, some earthen pots, one plate, one glass, some small cups, pancapatra, bell and conch-shell and nothing else.

Baba passed day and night in the service of the deities and in sweet talks with Them. Early in the morning he went out from his kuti to collect flowers. Then he went for bhiksa. He returned to his kutiya about noon and made garlands from the flowers for each of the six deities. After that he would cut the vegetables. He washed each vegetable a number of times. Then he cleaned rice. He examined each grain of rice. If he found any grain from which the husk was not removed, he removed it with his own hand.

He did everything slowly, contemplating all the time the lila of Radha-Krishna or Gaura-Nitai, and singing or talking to Them. It was only late in the evening that he could cook and offer bhoga to the deities. He had no consciousness of time. Morning and evening, day and night had no meaning for him. Almost the whole night he kept awake, talking and singing.

One day, a lady selling fish approached V.B., offering him some choice type of catch.  Somehow or other, the Babaji's mind became attracted to tasting the fish.  But he immediately rebuked himself and became very angry. He first of all shouted at the woman to go away. Then he shouted at his deities, "How could this happen?  How could this happen?  I've surrendered my life to Radha Krishna, I'm under They're protection, and still this happens!  Why are You not protecting me?" He went storming into his bhajan kutir.  People gathered while he fussed and fumed at his Deities inside.  Then he came out, bringing the Deities tied by rope, and threw Them into the Ganga.  He kept the end of the rope under his foot.  When one man inquired why he was doing this, the Baba threw a stone at him.

When this news reached the Gaudiya Matha, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Thakur called his brahmacharis together and forbade them from visiting the baba again, save for one who would just deliver supplies. After a few days, he again called them together and said, "Some of you think I've stopped you from visiting babaji maharaja because he is in maya.  That is not so.  I’ve prevented you because  you will not be able to understand this bhava and will only commit offences.  So better you stay away." Later, when that one brahmachari visited, Vamsidas babaji maharaj threw a stone at him and told, "If you want to please me, then never return here again!"

Babaji never locked the door of his kutir when he went out for bhiksa or to bathe in the Gariga. When asked why he did not lock the kutir, he said, "If the owner of the house Himself does not keep a watch then what is the use of locking the house? I do not even keep the keys of the lock with me. The lock has three keys. All the three are with the three boys. One is with Gaura, one with Nitai and one with Gadadhara."

After entrusting the lock and the keys to the three “boys”, Baba used to be free from anxiety. If while he was out a cow entered the kutir and ransacked everything, he would be angry with the boys. If someone stole something from the kutir he would say, "Gaura has a soft corner for Nadiyavasis, the residents of His own Dhama. Therefore He gives things away to them. I am after all an outsider." Once a gold necklace, given by someone to Sri Gaura, was stolen, when he had gone out for bhiksa.

On returning to the kutir he kept on scolding Gaura and asking Him whom He had given away the necklace to, for about two hours. Towards the evening he got a hint. He then went to the house of the thief and asked him for the necklace. The thief pushed him down the verandah of his house. He was hurt. But he did not say anything. But how could Gaura tolerate this? The thief soon died as well as all the other members of his family.

Once Baba had to punish Gaura-Nitai for Their connivance in a theft. The two brass-pots, in which Baba' used to cook for Gaura-Nitai were stolen. How could this happen without the connivance of Gaura-Nitai? So They were punished. Baba scolded Them and did not give Them anything to eat that day. The punishment had its effect. The next day someone came quietly and delivered one of those pots. Baba said, "This small pot is Nitai's. He will be fed today. If Gaura wants to eat, He must also bring His pot." Baba always did what he said. He cooked and offered bhoga to Nitai. Gaura drew a long face as He kept looking at Nitai eating. In the meantime another man came and delivered the other pot. Baba then cooked in that pot and offered bhoga to Gaura. When Gaura also had eaten, he said with tears in his eyes, "Do I ever want to punish You? But both of You are so naughty that You always harass me. Don’t you know that I have now become old and cannot bear it all. What can I do?"

Babaji Maharaj did not stay exclusively in the Navadwip area, but also travelled to many holy places where he practiced the spiritual disciplines of bhakti-yoga. Whenever he saw a peepal tree, he would sit under it, taking it to be the Vamsi-vata under which Krishna played his flute to attract the gopis. Once he had installed himself there, it would be difficult to get him to move.

In February 1941, Vamsi Dasji left Navadwip and headed for Vrindavan. He sometimes walked, sometimes travelled by ox-cart and sometimes by rail. He first went to Katwa where he stayed for two days under a vata tree near the railway station. Then he took the train to Bhagalpur where he stayed for a day under again under a vata tree near the station and for four days by the Ganges. Then he travelled on to Gaya where he remained on the banks of the Phalgu River for three days.

He also stayed on a boat in the Ganges near Dashashvamedha Ghat in Benares for three days, spent another three days in Ayodhya by the Sarayu including three hours under a vata tree, at the Triveni confluence at Prayag for ten days, two days at the Vishram Ghat in Mathura, eight days at the Vamshivata in Vrindavan, at the Madhya-curia on the banks of the Yamuna, the Govindevji temple, Kaliya-daha, near a tamala tree on the east bank of Surya Kund at Nandagrama, two days at Pavana-sarovara and then nine days at Vamshivata Ghat in Vrindavan.

Everywhere that he went, he remained absorbed in chanting the Holy Names and meditating on Krishna’s form and pastimes. After three months, he returned to Navadwip Dhama, in the month of Jyestha.

Those who travelled with him recounted that when wandering through Vraja Mandala, he would sometimes sing songs about Krishna’s lila, sometimes glorify Navadwip Dhama, sometimes laugh madly. Sometimes, he would babble incoherently, and oftentimes he would remain completely silent.

When visiting a temple, he was often seen muttering confidentially to the deities, disclosing some personal sentiment to them. All in all, his companions were charmed by his devotional absorption. In an old Gaudiya Math weekly magazine, further accounts of Babaji Maharaj’s travels are given. It is stated there in the four years from March 1943, he travelled to Ambika Kalna, Kharagpur, Baleshvara (Balasore), Soro, Bhadrak, Khurda Road and Purushottam.

During these travels the sadhus of the Gaudiya Matha rendered great service to him. Nothing is known about Baba's life as a householder, except that he was married at an early age and his son Haricandra was nine or ten years old when he renounced the world. He went to Navadvipa around 1906.

There was a person from Navadvipa-dhama who used to come to Babaji Maharaja. One day, he thought, "I have the desire to obtain the Supreme Lord. How can I get Bhagavan?"  This person came back repeatedly to see Babaji Maharaja. Finally, one day, he approached Maharaja directly.

"What do you want?" Babaji Maharaja asked him.

"I want to see Bhagavan," the man said.

Babaji Maharaja replied with only one word: " Then weep for Him!"

Babaji Maharaj’s disappearance day is on the Shukla Caturthi of Shravan.

Oh! God please save me

I am just failing, falling down and falling down

Just sliding down and going down

I am not able to stand

What am I living for I am not able to understand

Moving unknowingly

Just disturbing the silent water with pebbles

Crawling on the ground as a lamb, I just need the crutches

Suffering has become a part of my life

Light seems running away what remain all around is the endless night

God please forgive me as I just slid

I forgot You that I am your ‘child’

  Tears turned into streams on the face

Trying to come out, got entangled more in the mesh

Please put the foot-marks of your devotees

 Following those I can seek You

Let me bath in the soil they have walked on

And Let me enter into the song they felt for You

I am not in the very few who has surrendered unto You

I am just that ignorant who never likes to remember You

Feeling proud for the past, at last I have become exhausted

Who was just blaming You and now he himself got rejected

I just want to get hold of the path because no option either has been left  for this “dejected”

'The Highest Law of Nature'

The Highest Law of Nature

Dr. Singh: Nowadays it seems everyone has his “view.”

Srila Prabhupada: Yes. Every rascal will give his own “view.” But we don’t have to accept this.

“Modern world” means “I think,” “in my opinion,” “in my view.” This is going on. But we don’t accept this.

Dr. Singh: We hear these very words all the time from so-called scientific authorities. “In my opinion.” “In my view.”

Srila Prabhupada: In your opinion.In your view. But first of all, who are you? A soul shackled inside a material body, totally under the control of the material laws. So what is the value of your view?

This is ahankara, false ego. Ahankara- vimudhatma kartaham iti manyate: one wants to give his view when he thinks, foolishly, “I am this big, proud material body. I am something.” Kartaham iti manyate: he thinks, “I am doing such great things.” But actually he is vimudha, a great ass. He does not understand that in fact he is not the material body, and that material nature—not he—is carrying out his so-called great activities.

In fact, material nature is pulling him around by his ear: “Come here. Lie down and sleep.” And he has to lie down and sleep. He’s so independent. So what is the value of his “view”?

Prakriteh kriyamanani gunaih karmani sarvashah. As Lord Krishna explains, “The spirit soul bewildered by false ego thinks himself the doer of activities that in reality are being carried out by the modes of material nature.” He doesn’t realize that he is totally under the control of nature.

Now, you rascal scientists, just try to understand. From the spiritual world you have fallen into this prison, this material world. You have your prison uniform, this material body. So shall I have to accept your view? You are a fallen criminal, and I have to accept your view? What is the value of your view?

Dr. Singh: These rascal scientists are so arrogant. They won’t listen.

Srila Prabhupada: Make them listen. “What is the value of your proud view? You have become a criminal. You are being punished. And we have to accept your view?”

Again, what is the value of this materially imprisoned living entity’s view? No value. At least we Krishna conscious, God conscious, people will not accept it. This position we shall maintain. “No ‘view’ from you, sir. Only Krishna’s view shall we accept—only God’s view.”That’s all. “Who are you to propound some view, rascal scientist? Your view? We don’t give your view any value.” Stick to this point. And maintain it scientifically. Then it will stand. Don’t compromise.

Mattah parataram nanyat kincid asti dhananjaya. “I am the supreme truth,” the Lord says. “There is no truth superior to Me.” This is the Supreme’s view. The Supreme’s view we shall accept.

Why accept some puny rascal’s view? We are getting knowledge from the supreme person—nobody is greater than Him; nobody is equal to Him. So why shall we accept some puny nonsensical rascal’s view?

All over the world, people are becoming godless cats and dogs in the mere dress of human beings. So para- upakara: we have to rescue them from this nonsense and make them truly happy—restore their God consciousness. The first step is to disprove their nonsensical pseudoscientific “view” that life comes from matter, with no need for the soul or the supreme soul. This is simply incorrect.

Dr. Singh: How true. This materialistic view is incorrect. So we are holding these nonsensical ideas—this pseudoscience—under the light of honest scientific scrutiny. And we’re showing that it is all wrong.

Srila Prabhupada: That is required. Now, as you say, sometimes scientists bring data to amplify the God conscious understanding. And that is nice. We can employ their data to restore people’s sense of God.

Dr. Singh: Yes. Unfortunately, pseudo- scientists often use the phrase “the laws of nature” to imply a universe without a lawmaker. So to suggest the lawmaker, we can say, “the higher laws of nature.”

Srila Prabhupada: Oh, yes. These so-called scientists—they do not even know all the laws of nature.

Dr. Singh: They don’t know all the natural laws. They know only a few,

Srila Prabhupada: Yes. And they do not know who the lawmaker is. They do not know that the laws of nature can be changed by the lawmaker. It is just as we see in ordinary, mundane governmental affairs: today something is the law, but tomorrow the government can change it. So this is the real meaning of God: the supreme governor, the person who makes the natural law—and who can change it.

Krishna says, daivi hy esha guna-mayi mama maya duratyaya: “No one can overcome My natural laws.” And then He goes on to say, “But anyone who surrenders unto Me—he can cross beyond My natural laws.” That is the difference between the ordinary being and the supreme being. God can change the laws.

For example, Krishna’s natural law states that if you have sinned, you must suffer. Now, you and I are not God; so if we break His law and commit sin, we must suffer. That’s all. But Krishna can change the law and say, aham tvam sarva-papebhyo mokshayishyami: “Even though you have sinned, I will deliver you from the resultant suffering. Don’t be afraid. Simply surrender to Me.”

How can Krishna say this? He can say this because He is the Supreme. So here is God realization. Here is the supreme science: to realize, “Yes, all around me I see so many natural laws that no one can change. Certainly I cannot change them. I am under the laws of nature. Therefore, let me search out that one person who is above the laws of nature—that one person who made the laws and can even change them. I must make Him the goal of my life.”

Dr. Singh: That’s why it seems best to say “the higher laws of nature.”

Srila Prabhupada: Yes. And be sure to mention the highest law of nature: God, the lawmaker—who can do anything, even change the laws—requests us, “Just 

become My devotee and surrender to Me. I’ll protect you.”

Vaishnava Calendar - AUGUST 2014

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