Monthly Archives: May 2026

Date – 31 May 2026
Topic – Japa Retreat.

Hare Krishna.

Guru Maharaj says, Please rest your chanting as we are about to start with today’s Japa Retreat talk.

Are you ready ?? Get ready ??
Hope you have your Pens and diaries ready
You are a student and I’m your teacher. A student without a pencil is like a barber without a razor.
Make notes.

Try to maintain daily dairies during the Purushottam month, at least during the days of retreat. Is it very important? This is a special time not routine.
First there would be japa talk. Now it is the time of Retreat, time to Stop, Think and Proceed.

HG Prashanta Mataji and HG Sacchidanand prabhu ji have spoken to you already. Again they will come back, today it is my duty of Japa Retreat.

We all are usually asked to Chant, but seldom do we get the chance to hear how we should chant.

We should take full advantage of this opportunity that we are getting. So that you all become experienced chanters and you will chant with some basic knowledge, and understand what is essential.
As we all keep saying, practice makes one perfect.

Do daily practice ! You know some staff members say this person has pretty years of experience…. 20 years… But in reality, the staff member doesn’t actually have experience of 30 years, whatever experience he had in his first 1 – 2 years he moves ahead with those teachings. He is not perfect, but employer says likewise he has more experience.

Our goal should not be just to become older, but to become wiser, with our experience we have to become perfectionists.
Our Goal is to remember Narayan in the Last breath

( Bhagvad Gita. 6.35 )
śrī-bhagavān uvāca asaṁśayam mahā-bāho mano durnigraham calam abhyāsena tu kaunteya vairāgyeņa ca grhyate

Translation –
Lord Krishna said: O mighty-armed son of Kunti, what you say is correct; the mind is indeed very difficult to restrain. But by practice and detachment, it can be controlled.

So let’s start…

Advait acharya sent a message to Jagadananda Pandita.
Advait acharya is in shantipur and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is in Jagannath Puri, so he said ;

( CC.ANTYA…19.20 )
bāulake kahiha,- loka ha-ila bāula
bāulake kahiha,- hāțe nã vikāya caula

Translation –
“Please inform Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who is acting like a madman, that everyone here has become mad like Him. Inform Him also that in the marketplace rice is no longer in demand.

He sent a message in a way that only Caitanya Mahaprabhu can understand.

( CC.Antya..19.21 )
bāulake kahiha, – kāye nāhika aula
bāulake kahiha, – ihā kahiyāche bāula”

Translation –
“Further tell Him that those now mad in ecstatic love are no longer interested in the material world. Also tell Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu that one who has also become a madman in ecstatic love [Advaita Prabhu] has spoken these words.”

When he heard Advaita Ācārya’s statement, Jagadānanda Pandita began to laugh, and when he returned to Jagannatha Purī, Nīlācala, he informed Caitanya Mahaprabhu of everything.

After hearing the equivocal sonnet by Advaita Ācārya, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu quietly smiled. “That is His order,” He said. Then he fell silent.

Although he knew the secret, Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī inquired from the Lord, “What is the meaning of this sonnet? I could not understand it.”

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu replied, “Advaita Ācārya is a great worshiper of the Lord and is very expert in the regulative principles enjoined in the Vedic literatures.

“Advaita Ācārya invites the Lord to come and be worshiped, and to perform the worship He keeps the Deity for some time.

After the worship is completed, He sends the Deity somewhere else. I do not know the meaning of this sonnet, nor do I know what is in Advaita Prabhu’s mind.

Advaita Ācārya is a great mystic. No one can understand Him. He is an expert in writing sonnets that even I myself cannot understand.”

Hearing this, all the devotees were astonished, especially Svarūpa Dāmodara, who became somewhat morose.

( CC Antya 19.30 )
sei dina haite prabhura āra daśā ha-ila
kṛṣṇera viccheda-daśā dviguṇa bāḍila

Translation –
From that day on, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s emotional state changed markedly; His feelings of separation from Kṛṣṇa doubled in intensity.

( CC Antya 19.31 )
unmāda-pralāpa-ceṣṭā kare rātri-dine
rādhā-bhāvāveśe viraha bāḍe anukṣaṇe

Translation –
As His feelings of separation in the ecstasy of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī increased at every moment, the Lord’s activities, both day and night, were now wild, insane performances.

( CC Antya lila 20.4 )
svarūpa, rāmānanda, — ei duijana-sane
rātri-dine rasa-gīta-śloka āsvādane

Translation –
Day and night He tasted transcendental blissful songs and verses with two associates, namely Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī and Rāmānanda Rāya.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Ram Hare Ram
Ram Ram Hare Hare

Now Caitanya Mahaprabhu is relishing his own naam sankirtan.

( CC Antya 20.12 )
ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanaṁ bhava-mahā-dāvāgni-nirvāpaṇaṁ
śreyaḥ-kairava-candrikā-vitaraṇaṁ vidyā-vadhū-jīvanam
ānandāmbudhi-vardhanaṁ prati-padaṁ pūrṇāmṛtāsvādanaṁ
sarvātma-snapanaṁ paraṁ vijayate śrī-kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtanam

Translation –
‘Let there be all victory for the chanting of the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa, which can cleanse the mirror of the heart and stop the miseries of the blazing fire of material existence. That chanting is the waxing moon that spreads the white lotus of good fortune for all living entities. It is the life and soul of all education. The chanting of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa expands the blissful ocean of transcendental life. It gives a cooling effect to everyone and enables one to taste full nectar at every step.’

Till now Mahaprabhu preached the Shikshastakam in Navadvipa dham. Now he has taken Sannyas and had preached about hari naam sankirtan and for more than 6 years he did kirtan with his associates in Jagannath Puri always explaining to them glories of hari naam. But now he is going to relish the Shikshastakam himself.

We should also always read, hear and do kirtan of these so that we can improve our sadhana.

( CC Madhya 17.133 )
nāma cintāmaṇiḥ kṛṣṇaś
caitanya-rasa-vigrahaḥ
pūrṇaḥ śuddho nitya-mukto
’bhinnatvān nāma-nāminoḥ

Translation –
‘The holy name of Kṛṣṇa is transcendentally blissful. It bestows all spiritual benedictions, for it is Kṛṣṇa Himself, the reservoir of all pleasure. Kṛṣṇa’s name is complete, and it is the form of all transcendental mellows. It is not a material name under any condition, and it is no less powerful than Kṛṣṇa Himself. Since Kṛṣṇa’s name is not contaminated by the material qualities, there is no question of its being involved with māyā. Kṛṣṇa’s name is always liberated and spiritual; it is never conditioned by the laws of material nature. This is because the name of Kṛṣṇa and Kṛṣṇa Himself are identical.’

( CC Antya 1.99 )
Tunde tandavinī ratim vitanute tundāvalī-labdhaye karna-kroda-kadambinī ghatayate karņārbudebhyaḥ spṛhām cetah-prāngana-sanginī vijayate sarvendriyāņāṁ kṛtim no jāne janitā kiyadbhir amṛtaiḥ kṛṣṇeti varņa-dvayī

Translation –
I do not know how much nectar the two syllables ‘Krs-na’ have produced. When the holy name of Krsna is chanted, it appears to dance within the mouth. We then desire many, many mouths. When that name enters the holes of the ears, we desire many millions of ears. And when the holy name dances in the courtyard of the heart, it conquers the activities of the mind, and therefore all the senses become inert.

This was the verse recited by Srila Rupa Goswami. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu liked hearing this shloka from Rupa Goswami so much that he even asked Srila Rupa Goswami to sing it again in front of everyone. As he already knew the shloka before but he wanted to hear it again with everyone present.

It is Srila Rupa Goswami’s personal experience when he chants hari naam, and we are Rupanuga of that Rupa Goswami.

Srila Rupa Goswami says when I chant the holy name of lord Krishna I Desire many mouths to Chant, and when the holy name enters the ears I desire millions of ears to hear it, when it finally dances in courtyard of my house it conquers every other activities of mind.

nama nache jiva nache nache prema dhana jagat nachaya maya kare palayana
(Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur)

Translation –
The Name dances, the soul dances, and divine love dances. The whole world then begins to dance and Maya flees.

Srila Rupa Goswami says, I feel like I’m swimming in the ecstatic love of Krishna. I think I also have to control myself, I also want to share some other things with you all.

aham vai sarva-bhūtāni bhūtātmā bhūta-bhāvanah śabda-brahma param brahma mamobhe śāśvatī tanū
( S.B 16.6.51 )

Translation –
All living entities, moving and nonmoving, are My expansions and are separate from Me. I am the Supersoul of all living beings, who exist because I manifest them. I am the form of the transcendental vibrations like oṁkāra and Hare Krşņa Hare Rama, and I am the Supreme Absolute Truth. These two forms of Mine — namely, the transcendental sound and the eternally blissful spiritual form of the Deity, are My eternal forms; they are not material.

Lord says, every living being is my expansion, and I’m Parmatma. So I descend in two ways. We should try to understand it by knowledge so that we get the right meaning. My two prominent forms are – Shabd Brahma first and Parabrahm second. Hare Krishna Hare Krishna is Shabd Brahma and Parabrahm is Sachidanand Vigraha.

There are three types of Chanting according to the Hari Bhakti Vilasa.

We perform kirtan in 2 ways – with using mridang kartal with many devotees and second is Japa Kirtan. It is called chanting in English.. chanting 16 rounds. Chanting and dancing is performing kirtan. But Japa is different from Kirtan, that is to be understood. So during japa we do kirtan of 3 types :

1. Vachika japa- in the form of singing (Kirtan)
We do pronunciation ( ucharan ) during japa, but we can’t perform it loudly it will become kirtan and we can’t do kirtan during japa.

2. Upaamshu japa- hearing and chanting
We sing loudly in Kirtan, where Japa involves vibration of the tongue along with mild sound. We should chant in such a way that we can hear our own japa alone, not for others to listen. This comes under our regulated rounds. In Kirtana, one sings and the other listens. But in the japa we chant and hear by ourselves.

3.Manasik Japa – chanting done within the mind. It is simple to understand. It is not spelled out, there may be some movement of lips but the transcendental sound is not vibrated around. By this our Smaranam or the tendency to remember strengthens.

It’s quite difficult compared to other kinds of Japas eg: Gayatri mantra.
As it has to be chanted in the mind and remember its meaning. This is not supposed to be sung like Kirtan.

One more important technique –
Sripad Dhyana Chandra Goswami has given a Mantra;

mano-madhye sthito mantro, mantra-madhye sthitam manah.manomantra-samāyukt am, etad dhi japa-lakşaņam.

Translation –
This is a very simple formula for chanting that guarantees perfection in our Japa Sadhana.
Please note this – Mind plays a pivotal role in the chanting of the holy name. We have to fix the mantra in the mind and the mind inside the mantra. We have to transform the mind into Krishna consciousness. By chanting and hearing the holy name again and again we can achieve perfection in the chanting. And it’s called Mananam.

The tongue, ears and mind -are included in the process of chanting. This process is meant to awaken the soul. Mindless chanting is of no use. If the mind is not being engaged in the chanting, then it’s just a fruitless endeavour. We should mind our mind. Proper chanting includes proper remembrance of Lord Krishna. Slow chanting benefits individuals and loud chanting benefits and delivers others also.

Hari-bhakti-vilāsa (17.129) states :
manah-samharanam saucam maunam mantrartha-cintanam avyagratvam anirvedo japa-sampatti-hetavah

Translation –
While chanting, one should be one-pointed and give up talking about mundane topics. With a pure heart, one should think about the meaning of the holy name, and be steadfast and patient in one’s chanting and remembrance of the holy name.

“In order to perfect one’s chanting of japa, one needs to cultivate the following qualities:

1. Control of the mind
2. Internal and external purity
3. Silence
4. Contemplation of the mantra’s meaning
5. Patience
6. Steadfastness.

Silence doesn’t mean to be quiet. It means being away from material talks and thoughts.
One should always glorify the Lord. The mantra and Krishna are non different. With utmost patience and determination, we should chant our rounds. Sit back and chant steadily.
We are in the association of the Lord directly while chanting. We should not get depressed and anxious while chanting.

Jagadananda Pandita explains in his Prem Vivart Granth,

laghūcchāre ‘japa’ haya, ucchāre ‘kīrtana’
smaraṇa-kīrtane saba haya ta’ gaṇana ॥ 15 ॥

Translation –
Laghūcchāre (softly uttered) chanting is called japa. Ucchāre Kirtan (loudly uttered) chanting is called kīrtana. Both are counted within the practices of smaraṇa (remembrance) and kīrtana (chanting/glorification).

When the Holy Name is recited softly or in a low voice, it is called japa. When it is chanted audibly for oneself and others to hear, it is called kīrtana. Both are valid forms of devotional remembrance of the Lord’s Name.

satataṁ kīrtayanto māṁ yatantaśh
cha dṛiḍha-vratāḥ
namasyantaśh cha māṁ bhaktyā
nitya-yuktā upāsate
( B.G – Chapter 9, Verse 14 )

Translation –
Always chanting My glories, endeavoring with great determination, bowing down before Me, these great souls perpetually worship Me with devotion.

Our ultimate goal is remembrance ( smaran ) of lord krishna.

( Sri Chaitanya Bhagwat 1.16.281. )

japile śrī-kṛṣṇa-nāma āpani se tāre
ucca-saṅkīrtane para-upakāra kare

Translation –
When one chants the holy name of Śrī Kṛṣṇa softly (japa), one delivers oneself.
But by loudly chanting the holy name in saṅkīrtana, one benefits and delivers others as well.

Charity begins at home, if you want to donate then start form your own house. So while doing japa if you can’t uplift yourself then what to think about uplifting others. So japa is to deliver oneself and kirtan is performed to deliver others. It is mentioned that he, who chants holy names and performs loud kirtan, gets 1000 times more benefits.

( Hari bhakti vilas 17.129 )

manaḥ-saṁharaṇaṁ śaucaṁ
maunaṁ mantrārtha-cintanam
avyagratvam anirvedo
japa-sampatti-hetavaḥ

Translation –
Withdrawal of the mind from worldly distractions, purity, silence, contemplation on the meaning of the mantra, steadiness, and freedom from discouragement — these are the causes of success in japa (chanting).

Take mental notes if you want success in your japa. If in your japa you desire to attain remembrance of lord krishna or even desire to attain lord krishna. These are essential points ;

1. manaḥ-saṁharaṇam — withdrawing the mind from sense objects. Focus on the holy name. This is what is do during japa. The mind is always wandering. Wherever it goes, one should always bring it back again and again. Mind is active.

2. śaucam — Cleanliness. It should be clean wherever we live, external and internal cleaning. With the help of mahamantra we have to clean our mind. If we have to clean our internal consciousness then saucam is important. Ceto darpan marjanam…
Cleanliness is also a tool for purifying the ( antaḥkaraṇa ) inner consciousness.

3. maunam — talk less, think more. We were listening to Sachinandan Prabhu. Kirtan for other people were criticizing everyone. So maunam means stop it. A person who is always engaged in lords katha, lila, kirtan is also maunam ( silent ). Sometimes maun is misunderstood, it doesn’t mean to keep quiet but to speak only related to the lord’s name, guna, katha and for all other talks, stop it. Keep your mouth shut. Don’t engage in mundane talks. That is maunam. Say that much.

4. mantrārtha-cintanam — hare Krishna hare Krishna, krishna krishna hare hare, hare ram hare ram, ram ram hare hare. This mantra is equal to krishna that is the simple meaning. There are many comments on maha mantra given by Gopalguru Goswami, Jiva Goswami, Bhaktivinod Thakur, they have written about bhava ( emotions/ feelings ) during chanting so everyone should read it. It’s time for chintan ( contemplation/ reflection ), manan, dhyana ( meditation )

5. avyagratvam — because we are under the influence of rajasik guna, we make haste. In japa also we make a rush. So haste could be a waste. We should chant japa with patience and steadiness. Sit back, relax and chant. With mantra contemplation chant with patience. What is rush ?? You are with lord, then why do you want to attain someone else’s call ? No !! You are properly situated… you be there ! Don’t go anywhere else.

6. anirvedaḥ — not becoming discouraged. Don’t get oppressed, suppressed, depressed. There are many reasons that will make you disturbed or unsettled, facing all that challenges while not getting shaken is anirvedah. Handling, defeating, conquering these reasons before japa, during japa, after japa we have to become steady in our japa.

japa-sampatti-hetavaḥ — the causes of perfection in chanting (japa) so these 6 items are very important for sadhakas.

Bhakti Vinod Thakur Prabhupada Tika in Harināma-cintāmaṇi (Instructions on Japa Meditation)

japa-kāle manake ekāgra-bhāve laha
citte śuddha thāka, vṛthā kathā nāhi kaha
nāmārtha cintaha sadā dhairyāśraya kara
nāmete ādara kari’ kṛṣṇa-nāma smara

Translation –
“While chanting japa, count the beads with one-pointed concentration. Keep your heart and mind pure, and do not engage in useless talk. Always contemplate the meaning of the Holy Name. Take shelter of patience and steadiness. With deep respect for the Holy Name, remember and chant the name of Krishna.”

During japa keep your mind steady, citte śuddha thāka… means saucham ( cleanliness ), vṛthā kathā nāhi kaha… discussed about maunam, nāmārtha cintaha sadā.. means contemplation, dhairyāśraya kara.. means don’t get disturbed, nāmete ādara kari’ kṛṣṇa-nāma smara.. means respecting lords name, we are always with lord.. respecting naam ( name ) and lord we should chant the holy name. This is what Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur suggests.

And we are coming to end.
Note it. These are words of Shukracharya ;

( ŚB 8.23.16 )

mantratas tantrataś chidram deśa-kālārha-vastutah sarvam karoti niśchidram anusańkīrtanam tava

Synonyms –
mantratah – in pronouncing the Vedic mantras improperly; tantratah – in insufficient knowledge for following regulative principles; chidram discrepancy; deśa – in the matter of country; kāla – and time; arha – and recipient; vastutah – and paraphernalia; sarvam all these; karotisarvam all these; karoti makes; niśchidram – without discrepancy; anusańkīrtanam constantly chanting the holy name; tava – of Your Lordship

Translation –
There may be discrepancies in pronouncing the mantras and observing the regulative principles, and, moreover, there may be discrepancies in regard to time, place, person and paraphernalia. But when Your Lordship’s holy name is chanted, everything becomes faultless.

Offcourse hari naam is complete, it is itself bhagwan. There are mantras and tantras we may pronounce improperly, and we may fall from our position, because the surrounding situations, timings, and muhurt were not right. Don’t worry, for japa every situation and timing is best.

But even if we somehow make mistakes, listen to what he is saying… sarvam karoti niśchidram.. means even if one makes mistakes or there are holes present your holy name will fill up those holes. So don’t worry. Keep doing japa, kirtan. Day in, day out, every week, every year, lifetime…

Someone said I was making naam apradh during japa so I left chanting.. NO !! Always do naam japa. That naam japa is lord himself so he will accept and forgive your mistakes, he will fix everything.

Do japa everyday. kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ… always be engaged in chanting.

Thus we should continue chanting without getting demotivated. The Lord will definitely take care of us.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Do your best and leave the rest to the Lord.
Do not fear. I’m always with you. That is all I can say in this retreat.

I’m sure you all have questions and doubts but in this situation we may not be able to manage it so…

Gaur premanande….. Hari… Haribol !
Srila Prabhupada ki jay ! Hari naam prabhu ki jay ! Purushottam maas ki jay !

Gaur Premanande hare Haribol !

Introductory Announcements & Invocation

My respects to all the devotees. So today, on the auspicious occasion of Ekadashi, on the date of Padmini Ekashi, from the lotus mouth of Guru Maharaj, this is the final session of our first event of this Purushottam month, where we have been hearing the glories of the Gaudiya Vaishnava Acharyas for the last 10 days. And today, in that series, we will hear about the founder Acharya of our ISKCON, Abhay Charanaravinda Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, from the lotus mouth of his mercy-recipient disciple, the supreme worshipable Sri Lokanath Swami Guru Maharaj. So you all are requested to pause your name-chanting (japa) and listen to this final session attentively.

And from tomorrow, as we told you yesterday, from the 28th date—meaning tomorrow—as a practical application of what we have been hearing for the past 11 days, a Japa Reform Workshop has also been organized. For all of you, for your convenience, for your pleasure, so that the foundation of our spiritual life, Hari Nama Japa, for which this temple was made—the Chain Japa with Lokanath Swami Zoom Japa Mandir or Zoom Mandir—for that, Guru Maharaj and his two senior disciples, Prashanta Mataji and Sriman Sachidanand Prabhu, all three together will give us this workshop. So you all are requested to definitely attend this as well and inspire other devotees too. One event has concluded. The next event of this Purushottam month is about to be released or is starting from tomorrow. You all are requested to inform more and more devotees so that they can also take advantage of it. Let us get ready to hear about Srila Prabhupada from the lotus mouth of Guru Maharaj. By pausing your name-chanting.

Hare Krishna

om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya
cakshur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah
nama om vishnu-padaya krishna-preshthaya bhu-tale
srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine

namas te sarasvate deve gaura-vani-pracarine
nirvisesha-sunyavadi-pascatya-desa-tarine

(jaya) sri-krishna-caitanya prabhu nityananda
sri-advaita gadadhara srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrinda
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Jaya Om Vishnupada Paramahamsa Parivrajakacharya Srimad Krishna Kripa Murti Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada ki!

Guru Maharaj’s Discourse — The Position of the Founder-Acharya

A warm, repeated welcome to all of you. For many days, you were listening to the character of the Acharyas, and now this final session, and this session will be about the Founder Acharya, the Samsthapaka-acharya of ISKCON, Sri Prabhupada. Regarding Prabhupada… this is my good fortune. It is a very favorite topic of mine to talk about Prabhupada. Speaking in relation to Prabhupada… and anyway, in ISKCON, Prabhupada-katha is very famous. Prabhupada is a very popular and famous subject and personality, which he indeed is. So regarding the Hari Om Acharyas, the Supreme Lord Himself has said:

acaryam mam vijaniyan navamanveta karhicit
na martya-buddhyasuyeta sarva-deva-mayo guruh

In the Uddhava Gita, the Lord told Uddhava about the glory or gravity of the Acharya. The Lord is saying four things here. Now, I will not deliver a commentary on this. The Lord is saying how is the Acharya? Vijaniyan mam—understand that the Acharya is Me. This is a very big understanding, isn’t it? Na avamanveta—and such Acharyas should never be disrespected. This is the second thing. And further He is saying: na martya-buddhyasuyeta—the Acharya should never be disrespected as an ordinary man, a common man, or a simple person. And the fourth thing is: sarva-deva-mayo guruh—the Guru or Acharya is the representative of all the demigods.

It is said in the Chandogya Upanishad: acaryavan puruso veda—if any person wants to become knowledgeable, what should he do? He should become acaryavan. What does it mean to become acaryavan? One who has taken shelter of the lotus feet of the Acharyas or the Acharya.

tad viddhi pranipatena pariprasnena sevaya
upadeksyanti te jñanam jñaninas tattva-darsinah

The Lord has said in the Gita as well, in the fourth chapter, approach such a seer of the truth, approach the Acharya, and they will make you knowledgeable. Acaryavan puruso veda—he himself is knowledgeable, so by coming into contact with him, by hearing from him, you yourself will become knowledgeable. This is what we keep saying:

om ajñana-timirandhasya jñanañjana-salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah

He will open our eyes. Sastra-caksusa—he will give us those eyes so that we can see.

A common, general understanding has happened regarding the Acharyas, but Srila Prabhupada is not only an Acharya, a Gaudiya Acharya, but at the same time, he is the Founder Acharya. He is the Founder Acharya, Samsthapaka-acharya, of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. So, by being the Founder Acharya, his role becomes supreme and his place, his position, becomes eternal. For the next 10,000 years, coming 10,000 years, ISKCON will remain functional, and the Founder Acharya, Samsthapaka-acharya of this ISKCON, will remain Sri Prabhupada. So understanding this position is mandatory.

Anyway, Prabhupada has given an order to all of us: wherever or whenever ‘International Society for Krishna Consciousness’ is written, there it must be written: Founder-Acharya Samsthapaka-acharya Sri Bhaktivedanta Swami Sri Prabhupada. The International Society for Krishna Consciousness and Sri Bhaktivedanta Swami Sri Prabhupada are inseparable. They cannot be separated. Such an intimate relationship exists of the Founder Acharya with the institution, with this ISKCON. So all future gurus and members will continue to act as his representatives, and his—meaning Prabhupada’s—books and instructions will be kept at the center of the movement. So, to say it in a brief manner, an understanding was presented as to who the Samsthapaka-acharya is or what his role is.

The Senapati Bhakta Prophecy & The Disciplic Succession

In the book named Chaitanya Mangala, whose author is Lochana Das Thakura—just like there is Chaitanya Charitamrita, Chaitanya Bhagavata, so there is also a book named Chaitanya Mangala—there it comes, what we keep hearing, that Sri Prabhupada is the Senapati Bhakta (commander devotee). Lochana Das Thakura has mentioned this in his book Chaitanya Mangala:

If someone leaves their own dharma, or leaves Sanatana Dharma, Bhagavata Dharma, and goes to another country, my Senapati Bhakta will chase him, he will reach there. So that Senapati Bhakta, whom Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is calling mora senapati bhakta—that Senapati Bhakta, what kind of commander? Mora—my commander devotee. So that Senapati Bhakta is Bhaktivedanta Swami Sri Prabhupada.

prthivite ache yata nagaradi grama
sarvatra pracara haibe mora nama

And on the entire earth, this Senapati Bhakta of mine will preach the Holy Name, in towns and in villages.

senapati bhakta ai amara krsna nama
tari sakala samsara

In a way, this is the prophecy of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu that took place in this Chaitanya Mangala, that my commander devotee will appear in the future, now after 400 years, and will deliver the entire world while preaching the Holy Name.

Then Prabhupada, who became the Senapati Bhakta, so Sri Prabhupada is representing Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and along with Him, all the predecessor Acharyas. He has done so; this we are seeing. By the way, there is Goloka. There are Radha-Krishna. And it is none other than Radha-Krishna who are Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, and there are the Acharyas of the disciplic succession. Prabhupada is seated on the Vyasasana and we are all sitting at his feet—you are seeing such a sight. So what Sri Prabhupada has presented, he has presented the spiritual masters and Gauranga. That is why, anyway, in the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition we keep saying, guru gaurango jayatah—victory to Guru, victory to the Acharya, and victory to Gauranga.

So the thoughts or books or purports presented by Sri Prabhupada… he has presented the Bhagavad Gita spoken by Vyasadeva and Gopal Krishna, and he has presented it As It Is. This is the uniqueness, the Bhagavad Gita presented by Prabhupada, As It Is (Yatha-rup). Srimad Bhagavatam, which is the essence of all scriptures or is supreme… according to Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, srimad-bhagavatam pramanam amalam—Srimad Bhagavatam is the spotless authority. Yad vaisnavanam priyam—it is dear to all Vaishnavas. Srila Prabhupada presented such a scripture too, Srimad Bhagavad Gita, Bhagavatam. And this remained the uniqueness of Srila Prabhupada: he presented Chaitanya Charitamrita, and along with that, Chaitanya Bhagavata and Chaitanya Mangala too, these books, which no one else had ever done before, or at least not at a global level.

Along with this, he is the one who introduced Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to the whole world through the presentation of Chaitanya Charitamrita. The world knew Balarama. The world knew Krishna, so to speak, and other incarnations of God, but that world did not know Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. So Srila Prabhupada shed light on Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to the whole world, presented Gauranga. And then Gauranga’s pastimes too, Gauranga’s activities too… what to speak of the mantra given by Gauranga Mahaprabhu himself. So I was thinking, the religion of love given by Gauranga Mahaprabhu—prema pum-artho mahan—and the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra too, Sri Prabhupada presented on behalf of Krishna, on behalf of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, and on behalf of all the Acharyas.

When Prabhupada wrote purports, there he everywhere—of course, he kept mentioning—the commentaries of Vishvanatha Chakravarti Thakura, Baladeva Vidyabhushana, etc., etc., Sanatana Goswami. Sri Prabhupada himself translated Rup Goswami’s Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu book, and along with that, Sri Prabhupada is making us all Rupanuga. Sri Prabhupada also presented Rup Goswami’s Upadesamrita book. All the songs of Narottama Das Thakura, all the songs and bhajans of Bhaktivinoda Thakura, he made them renowned across the whole world, and along with this, he presented the predecessor Acharyas to the whole world.

As you are seeing here, these are our Acharyas, we all were listening about them. So Madhavendra Puri and Ishvara Puri, that was also a team, so to say. And Sri Goswami-vrinda, this was a special team, this group, the six Goswamis of Vrindavan. Right after them, even simultaneously toward the end when Jiva Goswami was left, Narottama Das Thakura, Srinivasa Acharya, and Shyamananda Pandit received education from Jiva Goswami. And these three combined are called Acharya-traya (the trio of Acharyas), three Acharyas after the six Goswamis. So they also played a very big role. Jiva Goswami sent them: “Go to Bengal, go to East India, go to Odisha, and preach.” So they started the preaching work. They distributed books as well.

Then after about 200 years, a team of two Acharyas remained together: Vishvanatha Chakravarti Thakura, who at one time was practically the protector of our sampradaya, and his disciple Baladeva Vidyabhushana. (Everything okay?) And they composed many books, wrote commentaries. And then the next one, okay… so after the six Goswamis, then the Acharya-traya, the two Acharyas Vishvanatha Chakravarti and Baladeva Vidyabhushana, finally the three Acharyas: Sri Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, and Bhaktivedanta Swami Sri Prabhupada ki jaya! Consider this team of three.

Bhaktivinoda Thakura, by the way… this International Society for Krishna Consciousness which Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada established, before him, anyway, it starts with Bhaktivinoda Thakura. The thought and vision of building an organization belonged to him. He is the one who starts the Nama-hatta preaching, and of course, gives and writes many books. This matter of Parikrama, Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama was his conception. He published it. By the way, who knew about Navadvipa Dhama and the birthplace of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu? So Sri Bhaktivinoda Thakura discovered and fixed it.

And then his son, and the disciple of his disciple, his grand-disciple, Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, established the Gaudiya Math in that very Mayapur, and he started the Parikrama according to the desire of Bhaktivinoda Thakura. And across the whole of India—all over India—and even outside India, Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura established sixty-four maths.

And then comes the turn of Sri Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. So he gives him the order to preach in Western countries. Then Bhaktivedanta Swami Sri Prabhupada establishes an organization, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. So the organizational work that Bhaktivinoda Thakura had started, had laid the foundation for, and which was carried forward by Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, was then further expanded and spread at a global level by Sri Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. So Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada established this Hare Krishna movement in 1966.

The Core Principles of ISKCON Governance & Varnasrama

And gradually he is going to establish, or did establish, the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust because of the order he had received: “If you get money, print books.” Print books, distribute books. So Bhaktivedanta Swami Sri Prabhupada, while establishing the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, started the publication and distribution of his books at a global level. And Prabhupada also kept saying that “Books are the basis.” These books are the foundation. So making these books the foundation, Prabhupada was preaching all over the world; he did it.

And Sri Prabhupada made a special arrangement regarding ISKCON, and that is the Governing Body Commission, which we call the GBC. Sri Prabhupada established it and he said that “GBC, this will be… they will be the ultimate managers.” The responsibility for supreme management will belong to this GBC. And this was a very significant arrangement and decision of Sri Prabhupada.

Because Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura had also established the Gaudiya Math and expansion was also happening, but in the future, when Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura passed away, someone became an acharya from among them, and gradually many acharyas emerged and the Gaudiya Math broke into pieces, division happened. As many acharyas, as many gurus… one guru, one institution. So this deterioration that happened, in a way, the organization of the Gaudiya Math was destroyed, it did not remain organized, there was no unity among them.

Therefore, Srila Prabhupada, call it a rectification or call it an improvement, established this GBC (Governing Body Commission), and the responsibility for all arrangements would belong to the GBC, not to individual gurus. Whichever acharyas remain will be preachers or sannyasis, they will not be in the ultimate management. They will preach, read, write, teach, or preach, but as far as management is concerned, this is the responsibility… and Prabhupada had more trust not in one head, like “This person will be my successor in the future, this individual will represent me.” No. Prabhupada wanted not one person, but a group of devotees, a team of individuals. Two heads are better than one, of course, four heads are better than three. So Prabhupada made these heads—made the GBC the head, which contains many members—so everyone together will take decisions and handle the management.

So this is a very important principle that we all must understand, otherwise… a third acharya I cannot explain, or guru groupism, due to which anyway ISKCON also had a narrow escape. So the Governing Body Commission… Sri Prabhupada is the Founder Acharya, Sri Prabhupada is the founding acharya, and this Governing Body Commission consists of the ultimate managers. Understanding this and acting upon it, following it, is mandatory to keep the unity.

So everything started just like that in 1922. Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura gave an order to Abhay Babu at an address known as 1 Ultadanga Junction Road. There he gave the order to Abhay Babu, the future Bhaktivedanta Swami Sri Prabhupada: “You go abroad and preach and spread.” And until when is this preaching to be done, or until when will it keep happening? In the Brahma Vaivarta Purana, call it a prophecy, the arrangement of the Lord Himself has been mentioned. Where the dialogue between Mother Ganga and Lord Krishna Kanhaiya comes, it is mentioned there:

kale dasa-sahasrani haris tisthati bhu-tale

In the 10,000 years of Kali-yuga, whose counting will begin with the appearance of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu… the counting will begin. So for 10,000 years, this Krishna consciousness, this Sanatana Dharma, this Bhagavata Dharma, especially this movement of Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu will keep spreading, keep spreading, keep spreading.

kale dasa-sahasrani mad-bhaktah santi bhu-tale

The Lord is saying, “For 10,000 years My devotees will remain, will preach, will live a devotional life.” But after 10,000 years, Kali is going to become very active. And then gradually: bhakta-sunya prthivi kali-grasta bhavisyati. How will this earth become? It will be devoid of devotees, devoid of devotional sentiment. And then kali-sudra-sambhava—everyone will become of one caste, eka-varna bhavisyati, that one caste will be, by the way, the sudra caste, everyone will become sudras.

So this dialogue and mention from the Brahma Vaivarta Purana is very important, and making this the basis, we keep saying and will keep preaching. For 10,000 years, this preaching is going to grow, is going to spread. Nagaradi grama sarvatra pracara haibe mora nama—all this within a period of 10,000 years. That is why Prabhupada also said, “By the way, for 10,000 years my books will guide the world.” “My books will be the law books, yes,” or “My books will be a kind of constitution, and according to that only, preaching and propagation will happen, and my books will guide the whole world.”

And of course, we know that guidance is not Prabhupada’s own. That guidance is of the Lord Himself, or it is also of the predecessor Acharyas, and then there are Sri Prabhupada’s own realizations too. So they all will keep guiding the entire world, the whole universe. Prabhupada by the way said, “Practically there is no credit for me.” Whenever it was said, “Prabhupada, this is because of you, this is happening because of you, such fame is being received, such preaching is spreading everywhere,” Sri Prabhupada used to say repeatedly, “No, no, no, no credit goes to my spiritual master, the credit should go to my Guru Maharaj because I just kept following him. To my Guru Maharaj, to my predecessor Acharyas.” Strictly following the instructions of his spiritual master and the previous acharyas. Prabhupada carried this tradition forward and wants to carry it forward. So whatever fame kept coming, Prabhupada never gave credit to himself, always gave credit to “My Guru Maharaj, my Guru Maharaj, my predecessor Acharyas,” and of course, due to Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who is the cause of all causes, because of the Lord, because of Gauranga Mahaprabhu.

Global Impact, Statistics, and Legal Framework

So Sri Prabhupada gradually had 5,000 disciples too across the world, in every corner of the world. 14 times Prabhupada traveled, became a jet-age parivrajakacharya (wandering renunciant), and such a Prabhupada kept giving credit to his disciples too. We are grateful because of them, we kept appreciating their help. 5,000 disciples. Prabhupada and so many disciples across the world helped him. At one time, I heard this thing from Prabhupada that he used to say, or he said in Mumbai, “Will I ever obtain any Indian who has some foreign servant, driver, or cook?” Such used to be his ambition as an Indian. But hardly anyone had foreigners as servants or on their staff—maybe some rare individuals, very rare. But here, Sri Prabhupada had 5,000 assistant servants—meaning servants—where the Britishers or other foreign people had made Indians slaves. So Prabhupada got so many… 5,000 slaves, though of course, it wasn’t even thought of that way, but so many did become Prabhupada’s servants. So how great is this glorious saga of Sri Prabhupada, and only with their assistance, with their help, was he able to spread this Hare Krishna movement across the world, was able to establish it.

Prabhupada also established the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, or Prabhupada kept writing books. He was writing books, translating books, and to distribute them, he was depending upon these 5,000 disciples. So they distributed Prabhupada’s books, and along with this, the movement kept spreading. Along with it, ISKCON’s constitution too… just like every country has a constitution, so ISKCON also has a constitution. All of you listen and understand. Of course, our Governing Body Commission, the Commissioners, were working on this. Spent a lot of time. But finally, now ISKCON’s constitution is ready. So with the help of this, the governance and arrangement of ISKCON will be based on this constitution.

Sri Prabhupada gave activities to the whole world so they could stay busy. Prabhupada was a practical man, his feet on the ground. He wanted all of us to stay busy 24 hours in the service of the Lord. To keep everyone busy, Prabhupada did not have to make any separate arrangement like other people keep doing, but the arrangement of the Lord, the Varnasrama arrangement, that is what Sri Prabhupada presented. Catur-varnyam maya srstam guna-karma-vibhagasah—the Lord has said in the Gita anyway. Sometimes one name of our religion is also Varnasrama Dharma. So, to keep all of us busy all day, every day, we can stay busy according to our respective varnas. Varna means Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya, Sudra. And this guna-karma-vibhagasah—every person, according to one or the other of his qualities, belongs to one or the other varna anyway. So according to your respective varna tendencies or natural qualities, you all stay busy, keep yourselves busy. Prabhupada was keeping people busy. He inspired them to keep busy.

Prabhupada was emphasizing Varnasrama a lot. We also hear that Prabhupada had said in his final days, “By the way, the further preaching, propagation, and establishment of Varnasrama Dharma… this work of mine still remains incomplete.” In his final days, Prabhupada was traveling to America, or was going to Gita Nagari—thank you—Gita Nagari farm. And why was he going? “So that by staying at that Gita Nagari farm, I will establish Varnasrama Dharma or will set an example of such a system, so that from it, all the devotees across the whole world can learn.”

So the work of temple construction is a sudra’s job; construction etc., engineering, is a sudra job. And as far as patram puspam phalam toyam is concerned, for maintenance, or agriculture, cow protection, and commerce (krsi-go-raksya-vanijyam), that is the work of the vaishyas. And as far as management is concerned, Prabhupada anyway started many agricultural farms. Sri Prabhupada himself went to Gita Nagari, and before that went to New Vrindaban farm and stayed. Prabhupada, by the way, even in India, had a farm near Hyderabad and many other farms. Prabhupada himself used to go and stay there. So Prabhupada started agricultural farms so that agriculture, cow protection, and commerce could happen there, to keep the vaishya-natured devotees busy.

And kshatriya means administration—so the Governing Body Commission (GBC), and temple managements, and presidents, and temple commanders, all these come under kshatriya dharma. And then brahmana—so reading, writing, studying, teaching, deity worship, all these are the works of brahmanas. And anyway, samsiddhir hari-tosanam—we do not remain of that varna, we become Vaishnavas when we offer every work, every action performed under those varnas, in the service of the Lord. Then we do not remain sudras, by the way, we do not remain vaishyas, we do not remain kshatriyas, we do not remain brahmanas either. We become Vaishnavas, we reach gunatita (transcendental to the modes). So this Varnasrama system Prabhupada gave. Cannot explain the whole thing. So to keep all of us busy 24 hours, there is the varna system, and to keep us busy throughout our whole life, for a lifetime, there is this ashrama system: Brahmacharya, Grihastha, Vanaprastha, Sannyas. All life long, these ashramas will keep you busy from one to another to another to another. So such a beautiful and supreme arrangement which the Lord Himself has made, Krishna has made—maya srstam catur-varnyam maya srstam—such a created Varnasrama system Sri Prabhupada has given to the whole world, has given to ISKCON too.

Anyway, it’s a big topic, I can’t… So Prabhupada said, “My mission is to preach Krishna consciousness all over the world.” So Prabhupada was making plans, made them, and even started them, and Prabhupada himself established more than 100 temples. Made arrangements for worship too, deity worship and what not. So now, I have some statistics, figures, numbers. There are more than 800 ISKCON temples. 10 million—that is 1 crore—is the estimate that there are 1 crore followers or practitioners of ISKCON around the world. And this is just a beginning, of course. And this Hare Krishna movement is located at 2,001 locations. Among them, of course, 801 are full-fledged temples, but there are also agricultural farms or Nama-hattas, or this one, that one, eco-villages. Agricultural farms are 64. In 700 cities around the world, Jagannath Ratha Yatra is being performed. And as far as book distribution is concerned, this is 8.7 billion—that means 87 crore books have been distributed. Listen with open ears, wake up, then you also do something. 8.7 billion… sorry, I am sorry, the meals, meals distributed. These many plates of prasadam have been distributed. Let’s see further, it’s coming up, it’s coming up ahead. And the translation of Prabhupada’s books has been done in 89 languages. And here is the number of books: 600 million—that is 60 crore, 60 crore books have been distributed. And it is counting. And padayatris also have walked some 4 lakh kilometers so far. And all these are figures or numbers of the last 60 years. And until when will we remain busy? Another 9,500 years, this is gonna be multiplying like anything. Go fast, will…

The Four Regulative Principles & The 11-Year Cycles

So the preaching work that Prabhupada did in this age of Kali, and he had expectations from his followers—rather he insisted—that they follow the four rules. Follow four regulative principles. Meaning they should not commit the four major sins. So dyutam panam striyah sunah. Prabhupada was indeed preaching Bhagavata Dharma, he did it, its basis is the scripture Bhagavatam. So in the scripture itself, in Srimad Bhagavatam, it is said: kali yatra adharmas catur-vidhah. In this very age of Kali, four irreligious acts happen: dyutam (gambling), adyapanam (intoxication), this illicit connection between men and women, and meat-eating. So this is the only movement in the world, and call this the only religion too—not even Hinduism, neither Christianity, nor Muslim, nor our Buddhist brothers, no one else, no one else on this planet insists that they follow these four rules. This is the specialty.

So facing such challenges, Sri Prabhupada established his movement based on these four pillars of dharma: tapa (austerity), satya (truthfulness), daya (mercy), saucam (cleanliness). I will not explain this now. Every irreligious act is going to oppose one of these—oppose austerity, truth, mercy, cleanliness. So Prabhupada established his movement based on these four pillars of dharma.

And in Prabhupada’s life, after every 11 years, some special event kept happening. By the way, I hope… how it was every year, I am not narrating that to you, but: in 1922, his meeting with Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura took place. In 1933, 11 years later, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura gave initiation to Abhay Charanaravinda; Prabhupada got initiated. And 11 years later, he started the publication of Back to Godhead, which was an important part of his life or was the instruction: “If you get money, print books.” So Sri Prabhupada started that work of book printing and distribution in 1944. In 1955, Prabhupada before that used to come and go, used to come to Jhansi, keeps coming and staying. He settles in Jhansi, becomes a vanaprasthi, and at the same time was also establishing an organization named League of Devotees, based on which, by the way, his establishment of ISKCON happened in the future. And then in 1966, he established ISKCON, registered ISKCON in New York. And then he had only 11 years, and in ’77, his departure to Goloka took place. So all that he did, by the way, in 1911 years only… he spread all the activities of ISKCON in 11 years.

India’s True Wealth & Closing Reflections

“Anyway, Swamiji, why have you come? To our country, England?” it was asked. People used to ask like this. So Prabhupada’s answer used to be that “The real wealth of my country, of Bharatvarsha, to give that wealth, to give it as a gift, I have come. You people also came, foreigners came, the British came, and you plundered our country anyway; whatever thing or object you considered valuable, you kept plundering it. You became plunderers. But you did not recognize the real wealth of our country. So, I have brought the real wealth. And the real wealth is the ancient culture of our country, the culture of ancient India, and the books of our country—this is the wealth. Gita, Bhagavatam, Ramayana, Mahabharata—this is the wealth of our country, it is everywhere in our country, the Lords of our country are by the way omnipresent, yours too, whom you had forgotten. We are giving Krishna, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu especially, as a gift. So please accept. And we are giving the mantra too, the Maha-mantra; this is the biggest contribution or gift or offering, accept it.”

“So to give all these gifts I have come, I have not come here to take anything from you. By the way, you don’t even have anything that you can give me, by which I can be benefited. No way. But come on, I myself give the gift of Bharatvarsha to you, to the whole world.”

So he gave different services to all disciples, kept them busy. Anyway, there was no need for this. So he gave many orders to me too, out of which one special order was to perform Padayatra, to start a bullock-cart sankirtan party and preach the Holy Name; Prabhupada gave this order. So for this, I am very… what should I say, obliged or whatever it is, grateful to Prabhupada. So in this way, when this Krishna Balaram Temple opening was happening in 1975, that is a group photo. So Prabhupada gave us Vrindavan, gave us Mayapur, gave us Jagannath Puri, gave us all the dhamas.

So all this has happened in the last 60-odd years, by the way, this is 2026 running, note it down. So exactly 60 years ago, Prabhupada established this ISKCON, the Hare Krishna movement, in 1966. This year, we are celebrating the 60th Anniversary of ISKCON’s foundation. So you all have to participate in it. For you, this ISKCON… this festival has already begun. You all understand what all you can do. How you can participate in this celebration. 60th Anniversary of ISKCON. Sri Prabhupada made the prophecy of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu come true. Spread the Holy Name everywhere. Cannot say this… spread it everywhere, spread it too, and at least started the preaching and propagation, and the remaining work, we have to carry it forward.

He used to call ISKCON, “This is the United Nations of the spiritual world.” The UNO that is in New York, for that they say, “This is Disunited Nations, not United, see how many flags, division of so many countries.” But when all the devotees from around the world come to Mayapur, come to this headquarters, and then there at the time of the festival flag hoisting happens, so that flag, that flag, one flag under the banner of one flag, United Nations of the spiritual world, Goloka headquarters. Prabhupada established it right where Chaitanya Mahaprabhu appeared, where Chaitanya Mahaprabhu started sankirtan, and its inauguration, opening, is also going to happen next year. You all help open-handedly so that with funds the construction gets completed and we perform the opening. You all are cordially invited to the opening. And One World One Family—meaning this motto or vision of our religion and culture, vasudhaiva kutumbakam—Prabhupada gave a practical shape to this while establishing the Hare Krishna movement: One World One Family. Other people just keep saying it, but if one has to experience it, one can experience it in this International Society for Krishna Consciousness.

So the world has seen many, many revolutions. French Revolution, this revolution, that revolution. Then the Communists came, so they tried some revolution. Then the Christians came, rather the British came, they did some revolution, and they used to say, “In our empire, the sun never sets.” But Prabhupada used to say, “But in their empire sun never sets, but in England sun never rises.” In England, the sight of the sun is not obtained at all, it’s cold, the sky remains covered with clouds. But Prabhupada… or now where is that, where is their empire of the British? Collapsed, disintegrated, and in its place, the empire of ISKCON, the empire of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, is spreading everywhere. And somewhere or the other, Mangala-arati is happening, somewhere Shringara-darshana is happening, somewhere Rajbhoga-arati is being performed, or Sandhya-arati is happening. Like that, in the empire of ISKCON, the sun does not set. Understand what we are saying or what the understanding is. So to spread such an empire across the world, or at least he made the beginning of spreading it, Prabhupada.

To such Sri Prabhupada… so he, addressing all of us, Prabhupada… I will just take a few more minutes, we will wind up. Prabhupada, by the way, kept appealing to us, kept calling upon us, or there are some matters, some items, I will say this in brief. On one hand, the words of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu himself:

bharata-bhumite haila manusya-janma jara
 janma sarthaka kari’ kara para-upakara

Prabhupada kept repeating this repeatedly: “You are born in India, and if you want the success of your birth, what should you do? Do para-upakara (welfare work for others).” And then Prabhupada used to say, “Every activity of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness is a work of welfare. If you do this, your life will be successful.”

Prabhupada used to say when he wouldn’t be there… when Prabhupada was among us, he used to say, “What should you do? When I am not there, I would like to experience your love, your affection for me. If you love me… just saying ‘I love Prabhupada’, just saying it like that is not enough. Demonstrate to me, show me. Demonstrate your love. How? How you cooperate? How you contribute to each other, how you take and give?” “Then I will understand, yes, then you love me.” He wanted this cooperation, wanted your contribution now, to… for what? To protect this movement. For the protection of this movement, for the alignment and unity of this movement, you have to cooperate so that this movement remains strengthened and united, aligned and strong, fully empowered, strong, okay.

Prabhupada, of course, emphasized his book distribution. “If you want to please me, distribute my books.” If you want to please me, distribute my books. So remember this too, what Prabhupada’s desire was, what the expectation is from all of us, that we all distribute his books. Of course, his books have to be studied as well, and along with that, Prabhupada’s books have to be distributed too. Ah… so Prabhupada has built such a house in which the whole world can live, and that house is ISKCON. So in this house, in this institution, there should be such relationships, there should be such an atmosphere, there should be such an environment, there should be such a culture, so that we all feel that we are all members of the same family. We are all brothers and sisters. That vasudhaiva kutumbakam, we are members of that one family of the world. Yeah. So like that, I think I will hurry, hurry.

So thank you. Param vijayate sri-krsna-sankirtanam. We have to see these words of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, that this Sri Krishna movement, the movement of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, keeps being victorious, and in the victory of this Hare Krishna movement alone lies the victory of all of you too. So, param vijayate sri-krsna-sankirtanam, and along with that, may victory be to all of you too. Thank you. Prabhupada ki jaya! And Premanande Hari Hari Bol

Concluding Gratitude & Prayers by the Host

Param Pujya Sri Lokanath Swami Guru Maharaj ki jaya! So today, on the occasion of Padmini Ekadashi, Guru Maharaj Ji gave us his time, guidance, and especially made us all Sri Prabhupada conscious. Developed and increased Sri Prabhupada consciousness in all of us. So come, let us all, by chanting the Maha-mantra in our traditional method, express our heartfelt gratitude to Guru Maharaj. Not only for today’s session, but this entire program that took place over the last 10-11 days, that whole thing could be concluded under the direction of Guru Maharaj, with Guru Maharaj’s guidance and Guru Maharaj’s blessings. Where right at the beginning of the Purushottam month, we heard about the Acharyas of our Gaudiya Vaishnava sampradaya. So a very beautiful sentiment in itself has been established, that where before hearing about the Lord, we hear about the Acharyas. And as we said in the beginning, we heard for these 10-11 days, and now from tomorrow, we will see some practical application of this, which will bring improvement in our name-chanting, which is, as we say, the goal of human life: Krishna-prema (love of Krishna).

So come, while offering our gratitude at the feet of Guru Maharaj, we also pray, we beg for his blessings, that he may show mercy to all of us so that we too can give some work or service or cooperation, can give dedication in this mission of Guru and Gauranga, in this mission of Sri Prabhupada, and the mission which is Prabhupada’s mission, Guru Maharaj has made that his own mission. So in this mission of Guru Maharaj, with such a sentiment, let us chant the Maha-mantra:

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna
Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

And again at the feet of all of you, we pray, with folded hands we pray, please join, and the program which is going to happen from tomorrow… throughout the Purushottam month, special programs have been organized in this Zoom Mandir. Out of them, one event concluded today by the mercy of Guru Maharaj, with the cooperation of all of you, and from tomorrow the second event is starting: Japa Workshop or Japa Reform Workshop. Thereafter, there will be some special discourses from Srimad Bhagavatam, and in the final week of Purushottam month, we will hear Srimad Bhagavata Katha from the lotus mouth of Guru Maharaj and some devotees. And in the Purushottam month, hearing the Tenth Canto has a special glory or importance. And the Tenth Canto, which in a way can be called the essence of the entire Bhagavatam, or in the Bhagavatam it has been described as the face of the Lord. In the entire complete form of the Bhagavatam, the status of the face has been given to the Tenth Canto. The most beautiful and captivating pastimes are in it. So we will hear that in the final week of the Purushottam month.

So again we pray to all of you, with folded hands we pray, please join and inspire other devotees too so that everyone can take advantage of it. Again, while offering obeisances at the feet of Guru Maharaj, while offering gratitude, we give rest to today’s session right here.

• Sri Hari Nama Prabhu ki jaya!
• Hare Krishna Maha-mantra ki jaya!
• Sri Sri Pancha-tattva ki jaya!
• Gaudiya Vaishnava Acharya Bhakta-vrinda ki jaya!
• Ananta Koti Vaishnava Bhakta-vrinda ki jaya!
• ISKCON Founder Acharya His Divine Grace Bhaktivedanta Swami Sri Prabhupada ki jaya!
• Param Pujya Sri Lokanath Swami Guru Maharaj ki jaya!

Vañcha-kalpatarubhyas ca krpa-sindhubhya eva ca
 patitanam pavanebhyo vaisnavebhyo namo namah.

Ananta koti Vaishnava vrinda ki jaya!

Japa Talks
Date: 9th May 2026
Theme – Purushottam maas

Hare Krishna
Respectful greetings to the feet of all devotees.
Let’s begin today’s spiritual journey with Shri Chaitanya Shikshashtakam,
Ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanaṁ bhava-mahā-dāvāgni-nirvāpaṇaṁ
Śreyaḥ-kairava-candrikā-vitaraṇaṁ vidyā-vadhū-jīvanam
Ānandāmbudhi-vardhanaṁ prati-padaṁ pūrṇāmṛtāsvādanaṁ
Sarvātma-snapanaṁ paraṁ vijayate śrī-kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtanam

Translation
Let there be all victory for the chanting of the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa, which can cleanse the mirror of the heart and stop the miseries of the blazing fire of material existence. That
chanting is the waxing moon that spreads the white lotus of good fortune for all living entities. It is the life and soul of all education. The chanting of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa
expands the blissful ocean of transcendental life. It gives a cooling effect to everyone and enables one to taste full nectar at every step.

Nāmnām akāri bahudhā nija-sarva-śaktis
Tatrārpitā niyamitaḥ smaraṇe na kālaḥ
Etādṛśī tava kṛpā bhagavan mamāpi
Durdaivam īdṛśam ihājani nānurāgaḥ

Translation
My Lord, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, in Your holy name there is all good fortune for the living entity, and therefore You have many names, such as “Kṛṣṇa” and “Govinda,” by
which You expand Yourself. You have invested all Your potencies in those names, and there are no hard and fast rules for remembering them. My dear Lord, although You bestow such
mercy upon the fallen, conditioned souls by liberally teaching Your holy names, I am so unfortunate that I commit offenses while chanting the holy name, and therefore I do not
achieve attachment for chanting.

Tṛṇād api su-nīcena
Taror iva sahiṣṇunā
Amāninā māna-dena
Kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ

Translation
who thinks himself lower than the grass, who is more tolerant than a tree, and who does not expect personal honor yet is always prepared to give all respect to others can very
easily always chant the holy name of the Lord.

Na dhanaṁ na janaṁ na sundarīṁ
Kavitāṁ vā jagad-īśa kāmaye
Mama janmani janmanīśvare
Bhavatād bhaktir ahaitukī tvayi

Translation
O almighty Lord, I have no desire to accumulate wealth, nor do I desire beautiful women, nor do I want any number of followers. I only want Your causeless devotional service, birth
after birth.

Ayi nanda-tanuja kiṅkaraṁ
patitaṁ māṁ viṣame bhavāmbudhau
kṛpayā tava pāda-paṅkaja-
sthita-dhūlī-sadṛśaṁ vicintaya

Translation
O son of Nanda Maharaja! I am Your eternal servant, yet somehow I have fallen into the terrible ocean of material existence. Please, by Your mercy, consider me as a particle of
dust at Your lotus feet.

Nayanaṁ galad-aśru-dhārayā
Vadanaṁ gadgada-ruddhayā girā
Pulakair nicitaṁ vapuḥ
Kadā tava nāma-grahaṇe bhaviṣyati

Translation
O Lord, when will my eyes overflow with streams of tears? When will my voice choke up while chanting Your holy name? And when will my body become covered with ecstatic
symptoms as I chant Your name?

Yugāyitaṁ nimeṣeṇa
cakṣuṣā prāvṛṣāyitam
śūnyāyitaṁ jagat sarvaṁ
govinda-viraheṇa me

Translation
O Govinda! In Your separation, even a moment seems like an age, my eyes pour forth torrents of tears like rain, and the whole world appears empty.

Āśliṣya vā pāda-ratāṁ pinaṣṭu māṁ
adarśanān marma-hatāṁ karotu vā
yathā tathā vā vidadhātu lampaṭo
mat-prāṇa-nāthas tu sa eva nāparaḥ

Translation
Let Krishna tightly embrace me, or trample me under His feet. Let Him break my heart by never appearing before me. He may do whatever He likes, for He is completely free—but He alone is
the Lord of my life; no one else.

The mirror of consciousness clears away worldly illusions, spreading the moonlight of pure knowledge, bringing joy to life’s bride (the soul), leading the mind step by step to
complete fulfillment, tasting absolute bliss, merging with the whole self this is the supreme victory.

The holy name of Shri Krishna’s chanting is powerful beyond measure. When you regularly remember it with devotion, time can’t stop divine grace. Oh Lord, please remove my
hardships, ignite my love for you, and hear my humble prayers.

Always chant the holy name, never seeking wealth, birth, or beauty just the joy of singing Hari’s name forever.

From birth to birth, O Lord, without devotion to You, what is the use of being born? Oh son of Nanda, how can one ever fall if guided by Your lotus feet? Just by thinking of You, my eyes
are soothed, my throat calmed. Speaking Your name constantly, how can the world ever be empty? Govind, with Your pure hand touching me, my mind is steady. My life is Yours, O
Lord of life. Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Ram Hare Ram, Ram Ram Hare Hare. Oh Lord, just Your name is enough to bring all kinds of blessings to a soul. Krishna, Govind—You have countless names. In these names, You have embedded all Your divine powers. These names There are no rules about time or place when it comes to remembering and chanting. Because of Your grace, Lord, You have made it so easy for us to attain the divine just by chanting Your name. But I’m so unfortunate that I still haven’t
developed a strong love for Your name. Glory to the teachings of Shri Chaitanya. Glory to Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

The ten offenses in chanting the Lord’s name harinam
satāṁ nindā nāmnaḥ paramam aparādhaṁ vitanute
yataḥ khyātiṁ yātaṁ katham u sahate tad-vigarhām

Translation
To blaspheme or criticize saintly persons who have dedicated their lives to propagating the glories of the Holy Name is the greatest offense to the Holy Name. The Holy Name, which
spreads through such devotees, can never tolerate criticism of them.

śivasya śrī-viṣṇor ya iha guṇa-nāmādi sakalaṁ
dhiyā bhinnaṁ paśyet sa khalu hari-nāmāhita-karaḥ

Translation:
“One who considers the names, qualities, or powers of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu to be separate or independent in a material sense commits offense to the Holy Name.”
guror avajñā

Translation:
“To disrespect, neglect, or disobey the spiritual master.”
śruti-śāstra-nindanam

Translation:
“To blaspheme or criticize Vedic scriptures or scriptures supporting devotion.”
tathārtha-vādaḥ

Translation:
“Even after hearing the glories of the Holy Name, one who remains attached to ego and material possessiveness commits offense.”
These ten are traditionally remembered by devotees before chanting to cultivate humility and attentive chanting of the Hare Krishna Mahāmantra.

Every Vaishnav devotee should always avoid these 10 types of offenses so that love for Lord Krishna’s lotus feet can be gained quickly, which is the ultimate goal of human life. Let
us all offer our respects at the feet of all Vaishnavas, who are like a pot that fulfills all desires. They are an ocean of mercy and the wish-fulfilling tree for rescuing fallen souls.
Salutations again and again to the Vaishnavas who have attained the holy name. Victory to the infinite Vaishnavas! Victory to Acharya Shri Haridas Thakur! Victory to Shri Prabhupad!
Glory to the revered Loknath Swami Guru Maharaj! Hail to all the devotees present!

Nityananda, Gaur, Premanand, Hari Hari! Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare! Hare Ram, Hare Ram, Ram Ram, Hare Hare!
Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Rama Rama, Hare Hare. Krishna Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Rama Rama Rama, Hare Hare. Hare Hare Krishna, Rama Hare Hare Krishna,
Krishna Krishna Hare. Hey! We are Vaishnavas, Krishna Krishna. We are Krishna, we are Hare Rama, Hare Rama. Not Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare Rama Rama. Hare Krishna, Hare
Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare. Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare, Hare Hare. Hare Rama Rama, Hare. Hello Krishna Krishna, we have a question, Swami. Who is inside? We are many now. Hey, we are Krishna
Rama’s devotees. Victory to Vrindavan, those who gather in Vrindavan to chant!

Hare Ram Hare Ram Ram Ram Ram Hare Hare Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Ram Hare Krishna Prabhupad, my respectful greetings to all devotees.
Let’s start our talk today, but before that, I have an important announcement to share with you all. In a few moments, we’ll share something on your screens. As you all know, or must
be aware, a very important time is coming up in the lives of all of us practitioners—the Purushottam month. To celebrate this, special programs have been organized in our Zoom temple.

So, I urge all of you to make the most of it and inspire other devotees too. After more than three years, this month is coming, and for all the practitioners and devotees around the
world, especially Vaishnavs, this is a golden opportunity, a golden moment. To celebrate this, we’ve arranged various interesting talks throughout the month at our Zoom temple.

You must have seen the posters, and we’ve actually started the celebrations since yesterday. As you all know, tomorrow is Sunday, the 10th. The plan is to listen to tomorrow’s talk from Srila Prabhupada on the 10th, and then on the 11th, we’ll listen to Sriman Sachidananda Prabhu. After that, on the 12th, we’ll hear some special messages or talks from Guru Maharaj Ji. Then, as you see on the poster, on the 13th and 14th of May, we’ll listen to two days of special talks from Sriman Ananta Sesha Prabhu about the significance of the Purushottam month.

Prabhu Ji will cover so many important points and the greatness of Purushottam month described in the scriptures, all in two sessions lasting about 30 to 40 minutes each. It’s impossible to explain or describe. Because of this, for two days we will listen to Shri Ananta Prabhu’s words, and then after one day, for the first time in our Zoom temple, the head priest of Mayapur—though Shri Jananivas Prabhu is officially the head priest, as you all know, his health isn’t good and he’s quite elderly—so the person he personally trained, Shri Krishna Chaitanya Prabhu, will come to our Zoom temple for the first time. On the 16th, and around the 13th or 14th, we will listen to Ananta Sesha Prabhu about the significance of the urushottam month, and then on the 16th. Since the Purushottam month is starting just one day from now, we will listen to Sriman Krishna Chaitanya Prabhu one day earlier to understand how we can accept this month.

What kind of awareness should a practitioner have? What should be the right mindset? For years, he has been staying at Mayapur Dham and has received special guidance and training from the highly respected Shri Jay Pataka Swami Maharaj. Along with that, Jananivas Prabhu and many disciples of Prabhupada, as well as several senior devotees, have trained him. Because of this, we understand what Prabhupada’s mood was like and what our mood should be In the Purushottam month, after discussing it, from the 17th we will start a special event on this Zoom temple.

From the 17th to the 27th, we’ll be listening to talks about the Gaud Vaishnav Acharyas—kind of like a tribute or praise series, or you can call it a Gaud Vaishnav Acharya story series, whatever you prefer. For 10 days, different devotees will share insights about each Acharya. This is the first time we’re doing such an event on the Zoom temple. During this extra month, we’ll focus on listening to stories about the Lord and also about His devotees Listening, especially to the teachings of the acharyas, is considered very important. It nurtures our devotion and helps us progress in our spiritual journey. So, a special 10-day event has been organized where several prominent speakers will come and share talks about our Vaishnav acharyas. Guru Maharaj will speak, Shri Amarendra Prabhu will address us, and we’ll also listen to several sannyasis. Shri Amog Leela Prabhu will speak as well. Efforts are ongoing to arrange this. If we also get the opportunity to be in the company of Shri Gaurang Prabhu, that would make this event even more special.

It has happened, and after that, some workshops were also organized. Then, in the last seven days of the entire month, we will listen to the Bhagavat Katha recited by Shri Anant Shesh Prabhu. Prabhu Ji was saying that during the Purushottam month, listening to the tenth Skandha of the Bhagavat Katha holds special importance according to the scriptures. We will listen to it and savor it deeply. So, the whole month has been organized as a very special event for all of you. I just have one request—fold your hands and sincerely urge you to make the most of this. Don’t just limit yourself to what our Guru Maharaj says Only Guru Maharaj has the right to say this, but we’re repeating it: people come and go all the time. Someone shows up today, disappears for two days, then comes back after three or four days, then maybe not for a whole week. A lot of effort has been put in, and we’ll get to spend time with such great devotees. We just need to do one thing: take their time, be with them. Nothing else. This is the only temple where nothing is asked from you for any event except your time. That’s it. You’re not even asked to register Go ahead. They don’t even say much about this or that for him. You just need to join Zoom on your phone, computer, or mobile.

That’s it. So you have to get up. Obviously, when Anushesh Prabhu listens, Krishna Chaitanya Prabhu listens too, and there will be some discussion on that. Some devotees take personal vows or usually do during Purushottam Maas, Chaturmas, Kartik Maas—different times when Madhav Tithi Bhakti Janani Jatan took care of things. Shrimad Bhakti Vinod Thakur has said this. So make use of it. Just letting you know well in advance. Often, this too It’s believed that since we don’t announce or inform beforehand, the number of devotees remains quite low—they simply don’t know about it. So, there’s no need to book or manage anything. You just need to wake up and join the Zoom. That’s it, only two things from you. We’ll handle the rest. So, we hope you all will definitely join. We’ll share all the posters through our official WhatsApp group.

We’ll post everything on the Loknath Swami Official WhatsApp group, Guru Maharaj’s group. So, you all can share those posters with other devotees from there You can share this too. So, you have to do both things—you have to make your life meaningful and also take care of yourself, while helping others. You can encourage other devotees to join as well. So, today’s talk is about to begin. We will listen to Guru Maa Ji’s words. I request all of you to pause your name chanting and listen to today’s talk attentively. Hare Krishna. Also, a quick note—please forgive me if I’m wrong—but among all the participants in both IDs, hardly anyone might be familiar with or aware of some senior devotees They probably know she’s our very senior god-sister, Hargress Ladli Mataji, who’s in San Diego, USA. Maybe the younger generation among us doesn’t really know her. There are many devotees who might not know her either, but just listen about her. She’s known as Ladli Mataji and is our god sister. Her health isn’t good right now. Yesterday, we spoke with Guru Maharaj about her, or had him talk about her. Back when Guru Maharaj started the Pad Yatra in America, we heard from him yesterday how Mataji was during those times.

During kirtan, they used to perform beautiful dances and also distribute scriptures and prasad. That’s their philosophy. You see, about two years ago, when Guru Maa Ji’s 75th Vyas
Pooja was celebrated and Mata Ji came to India, to Vrindavan, here are some photos from the Gaushala Vrinda VI. This is a photo from MVT. Ladli Mata Ji is a very senior disciple of
Guru Maa Ji, our god-sister. Look here, Vrindavan Leela Mata Ji, Prashanta Mata Ji, Ladli Mata Ji—many of us devotees probably weren’t even born back then. Before that, all these
devotees were initiated or Since they are initiated but not feeling well, I kindly request all of you to join me in chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra and praying for dear Mother Ji.
She has served Guru Maa Ji a lot, served Srila Prabhupada, served the Lord, and served Sri Sri Radha Giridhari, Sri Nitai Gaur Sundar. She has also served during the padayatra. So
let’s all pray for her, asking Lord Sri Nitai Gaur Sundar, Srila Prabhupada, Lord Narasimha Dev, and our beloved Guru Maharaj to do whatever is best for her.

May everyone be in good health and move forward in life, and may they find a place at the feet of Srila Prabhupada and Guru Maharaj. May they also find a place at the feet of Shri
Nitai Gaur Sundar. With this feeling, let’s chant the Hare Krishna maha-mantra once and pray for our senior guru sister, Ladli Mataji.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare

Gauranga, Gauranga, you are servants of God, though we don’t always know whose servants we truly are. Krishna is the employer, and who are we? The employees. Employer and Employees, Jagannath is our lord, and we are his servants. Serving means having a servant mindset or connection. The one to be served is worthy of service, and those who serve—like servants, workers, or employees—report to work, go to the office or factory, punch in at 10 or 11 o’clock. But you all report at 4:30 in the morning. Those who come for the morning Mangala Aarti—you come, God watches, and we watch too. So, God as the employer is really happy with you all. He’s pleased with you. Are you happy too? I didn’t get to see Jagannath today, but I did yesterday evening. So I can just keep remembering that image in my mind. Like I said yesterday, there won’t be any darshan for the next two weeks.

By the way, I haven’t seen this much in India, but when the deity falls sick abroad, it’s like everywhere around the world, all countries, the deity gets sick at the same time—it’s their
sick season. So devotees come, but there’s no darshan. Then they pray, saying, “Jagannath, get well soon.” That’s a nice feeling. By the way, we usually come for the Mangala Aarti. Do
you come? In Golok Vrindavan, the daily routine starts at the Brahma Muhurat, the early pre-dawn hour. Radha’s friends, her companions, and the girls from Barsana all get up
super early in the morning, right at Brahma Muhurat. Similarly, Krishna’s buddies—the cowherd boys and his close friends—also wake up at the crack of dawn and immediately
rush out. They take the cows with them and head to the forest for the divine play of Krishna.

Waking up early and going to meet Radha or Krishna at Brahma Muhurat is just how things roll in Golok Vrindavan. This is the kind of culture and values the devotees there live by So,
one day we have to go too, but where exactly? Sometimes you think, whenever someone plans to go abroad, they try to figure out what language is spoken there, what the climate is
like, and what the rules are. Like, over there they drive on the left side, here it’s the opposite.

In America, they drive on the right side, and people there won’t tolerate any mess. How could an Indian gentleman not follow some rules? America is super clean, and if someone
litters, they get fined. Like, this guy threw banana peels around and got a ticket for it They just keep spitting like that sometimes, chewing paan masala and spitting. Because of doing
that, they were fined. Yeah, a fine. Okay, so they got the fine, and they even got the receipt for it, but they just threw the receipt away. Then they got fined again. So wherever you go,
you have to follow the laws of that place. They call it the laws of the land. You have to learn and understand all that. Similarly, the biggest country is the Vaikunth country. Vaikunth
country has many different parts. There’s Ayodhya, Dwarka, Mathura—hail Vrindavan dham! There’s Navadwip too, and Jagannath Puri as well. We are the residents of that country. Well, of that country We live here. Where the Ganga and Yamuna rivers are, all those rivers are there too.

The Yamuna and all the rivers, so we have to practice and get perfect beforehand. We need to get used to practicing so that as soon as we get there, we’ll be ready. Your training and apprenticeship don’t start once you arrive; it’s happening right here already. As soon as you get there, you just jump into action. Everyone who needs to go, has to go. But honestly, we can’t even take this body there. Who’s going? They say, “We’ll go, we’ll go,” meaning Does the body come with us? The personal body doesn’t. The ego— “I” and “mine”—only that goes. Just the ego, and the worldly pride, the arrogance, that doesn’t go either. The arrogant self stays here. Only the soul goes. The body doesn’t go, not even the gross body, nor the subtle body. The mind, intellect, and ego—they’re all elements, all matter. Mind, intelligence, false ego—they’re all matter too. Matter matters.

So, we need to be free from the body. When death happens, we’re free from the body Gone. But from what haven’t we been freed yet? The mind, intellect, and ego—they’re like one
body. Like when a person wears a coat. Those who wear a three-piece suit—yes, the coat over the suit. And inside the court, what else do they wear? An undershirt. You see, just like
the body, there’s this subtle body made up of mind, intellect, and ego that doesn’t leave us.

The soul is always covered, wrapped up with this subtle body of mind, intellect, and ego. The soul stays attached and covered by it. That’s why the soul remains tied up and covered
by the mind and intellect even now. Ego makes us go through rebirth again and again. Hare Hare Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare. Hare Ram Hare Ram. Honestly, I don’t even know what I’m saying. But I’m telling the truth. So, we need to cleanse the mirror of our consciousness.

The mirror of our mind is covered with dust—the dust of ego. When we go there, our body takes a definite form, called the perfected body. Even the body that binds us is made up of
the five physical elements. But our real body or form is something else The “siddha deha” means the perfected body. We practice spiritual disciplines to achieve siddhi, or perfection. So, before going there, or as part of the preparation, we have to spend a lifetime preparing—just like Prabhupada did to establish this. It’s not just one lifetime; it can be many lifetimes, different names, different births, like “Hari Hari.” When they go there, they go with that perfected body. Also, the name they will have is already decided. Of course, they have a form, a specific dress, and their service is also determined, along with their relationships or connections So now, is this whole eternal thing gonna stay the same forever, or will there be changes? Like, what does 8.4 million yonis even mean? It means 8.4 million types of bodies a soul wears. The soul is dressed in these bodies. The soul lives in these worn-out, temporary bodies. As the Lord says in the Gita, the body is just a garment, a covering. The soul is like a person—it has a personality. The soul has a form, a name, a place it belongs to. It has a definite duty and eternal relationships. Some people are servants of God, some are friends of God, some are like God’s parents, and some are God’s beloved.

The relationships like servant, friend, parent, and lover—understanding these rasas (emotional flavors) is important. These relationships are all fixed, and we need to prepare ourselves accordingly. Now, this perfected body we talk about—it’s not something you can buy from a market or shop. So, where is this perfected body? Is it at home? In your shop? Or somewhere far away? Where is it exactly? The perfected body is in God’s abode, and you? Where are you, perfected soul? It’s all about the mind, rituals, and illusion In the Bhagavad Gita, it’s said that the soul is actually seated in the body. It’s sitting inside.

Sometimes the body is called a machine, sometimes it’s called clothing, sometimes a tree, sometimes something else. It’s also called a flower, a city with nine gates, a house—yeah,
the body is like a home, a city, even a machine. It’s like a machine because it’s controlled by illusion or maya. That’s why when a machine breaks down, we take it to a garage.
Similarly, when the body has some problem, we take it to a hospital. So, a car has a garage and the body has a hospital. Both are machines or both are clothes. Once upon a time, a
long time ago, I fell and got a small cut on my head. So, we went to the doctor. The doctor came with a needle and thread. They didn’t give me any anesthesia. I was awake and watching while they stitched me up. That’s when I thought, the body is like clothes. So, stitch in time saves nine. If there’s a hole, you should fix it immediately.

Otherwise, if you just do it like that, the thread won’t hold and you’ll have to add more stitches, or else it’ll tear. That’s why it needs to be stitched on time. So, it was kind of like an interview for me when the doctor brought the needle and thread and started stitching. That’s how it is with a person—the soul is the person, and this soul has hands, feet, all the
senses, and a spiritual mind, spiritual intelligence, and spiritual… what do you call it… mind, intelligence, ego. The ego is the ‘I am’—like “I am this” or “I am that.” Or “I am a
servant,” “I am a slave.” That ego is the sense of ‘I am.’ Prabhupada writes that there are two kinds of ego, two types of ‘I am.’ There’s the real ego, the eternal ego, and then there’s the false ego—the ego that’s all lies and illusions. We always have some kind of ego. The real ego is the one that tries to go beyond the illusion. Those who are into spirituality try to end the ego itself. They see the ego as Brahman—the ultimate reality. The ego says “I am Brahman,” and then the goal is to merge Brahman into Brahman, or to dissolve into the divine light. It’s like merging light with light. This process is sometimes called “committing suicide,” but really, the soul can’t be killed. Still, the personal sense of existence—the
individual self—tries to let go.

They try to end the soul, but that’s an illusion. Actually, killing the soul isn’t possible because, as God says about the soul: no weapon, no matter how sharp, can cut it; no fire
can burn it; no wind can dry it out; no water can soak it. The five great elements—earth, fire, air, water, and sky—can’t harm the soul at all. So how can you kill the soul? But illusionists, like Krishna’s enemies, still try Maya is an illusion, Krishna is an illusion, so be careful, be aware of illusion. Always remember, the soul is beautiful. How is the soul? Beautiful, completely beautiful. Since the soul is a son, daughter, or part of God, and God is beautiful, the child is also beautiful. It’s all in the genes—if the parents are beautiful, then the children will be beautiful too. You must have seen this. Now, this is about the soul’s parents, just like the body has parents. But the soul’s parents—you are the mother and you
are the father—that is Krishna, and He is beautiful. Kamdev is incredibly charming and beautiful. Actually, Kamdev himself is beautiful. Kamdev is handsome and captures our hearts. He carries a bow and arrows, and when he shoots them, he wounds the heart. You know the heart, right? That’s Kamdev’s arrow. Kamdev is very beautiful. Even gods are attracted to such handsome gods like Kamdev. Kamdev is also called Kandar or Ananga.

He is known by many names. He is a god too.

God is a divine being too, and so incredibly beautiful. Why is the lotus special? That’s why we say “Namah Pankaj” (salutations to the lotus), “Namah Pankaj Netraya” (salutations to
the lotus-eyed one), “Namah Pankaj Maline” (salutations to the one adorned with lotuses), and “Namaste Pankajang.” Pankaj means beauty. People understand beauty in their own
way, and the most beautiful thing they know is a flower — specifically, the lotus flower. So, when someone wants to describe or compare God’s beauty, they think of a lotus. For
example, Queen Kunti is saying how beautiful God is. Look at His navel — it’s like a lotus.

Look at His eyes — they are like lotuses too. Padma is the eye, salutations to the lotus. The lotus is in the navel eye, wearing a garland, and the feet are like lotuses too. Hari Hari Kora! If the Lord is so beautiful, and we are His beings, His children, His parts, then we are beautiful too. But the beauty of the body and the beauty of the soul can’t even be
compared. There’s a huge difference in beauty—like the difference between earth and sky.

Those who truly realize the beauty of the soul see how beautiful God is. I, as His part, as a servant, am beautiful too. Now, when such a person looks in the mirror at their own face,
what will they do? They’ll spit on it. What is this? Dirt! Skin has a little shine and glow. That’s what makes our minds spin around. We get confused. We don’t think ahead. We don’t go
beyond the skin. We don’t wonder what’s behind this skin. There’s blood, pus, mucus, wind, bile, urine, and feces inside. Who wants to touch all that? But this bag full of urine
and feces—that’s Prabhupada’s body. What is this body? It’s a bag filled with blood, bones, fat, urine, and feces. And the confused soul wants to hug this? If you want to hug
something, Wishing you blessings from the wish-fulfilling tree and the ocean of grace, salutations to the pure Lord and to all the Vaishnavas. The soul is the soul, and when we greet
Vaishnavas, we’re not greeting the body. The soul inside the body, the one seated next to the Supreme Soul, is who we salute. The pure Lord purifies the fallen; it’s not the body that
does this. So who purifies the fallen? It’s the soul—its thoughts and feelings. The body doesn’t think. Can a hand ever think? Or a hair? Is your hand or foot, nose or ear ever just
dead matter? It’s the thoughts and feelings that matter.

The soul emerges from within. So, as we practice more and purify ourselves, our consciousness gets cleansed like a mirror, and the qualities of the soul start shining through. The feelings and thoughts of the soul—if you keep practicing, you will definitely succeed. What kind of practice? With enthusiasm, determination, patience, then taking action, along with renunciation and dedication—these six qualities lead to devotion. Through devotion, you will achieve success. Thank you. I hope you all listened to Guru Maa Ji’s talk and will apply whatever she taught in your own lives. Now, we’ll end today’s session here. Tomorrow, we’ll gather at Guruji’s place to chant the holy name of Hari and have a talk.

Glory to Shri Hari Nam Prabhu! Hail the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra! All hail Srila
Prabhupada! All hail the revered Shri Loknath Swami Guru Maharaj!
Salutations to the lineage, the ocean of blessings, and the sacred names of the Vaishnavas.
Endless glory to the countless Vaishnavas!