Sunday, August 29, 2021

Vyasa puja offering to Srila Prabhupada on the 125th anniversary of his wonderful appearance 1st September 1896, celebrated on August 31st 2021.

I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, who is very dear to Lord Kṛṣṇa, having taken shelter at His lotus feet. 

Our respectful obeisances are unto you, O spiritual master, servant of Sarasvatī Gosvāmī. 

You are kindly preaching the message of Lord Caitanya deva and delivering the Western countries, which are filled with impersonalism and voidism.

śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu-nityānanda śrī-advaita gadādhara śrīvāsādi gaura bhakta vṛnda 

Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare

Thank you, Śrīla Prabhupāda, for giving us so much vast knowledge and wisdom explaining the real meaning of surrender, devotion and love. 

You have taught us the following: 

Śrīla Prabhupāda - "So everyone can know that independence means one can use it properly, or one can misuse it. That is independence. If you make it one way only that is not independence, that is force." (Los Angeles, June 23, 1975) 

Śrīla Prabhupāda - "Unless there is a possibility of misusing our free will, there is no question of freedom." (Dialectical Spiritualism, Critique of Descartes) 

Ultimately each individual soul is a unique PERSON who can choose for themselves how to voluntarily serve Kṛṣṇa the Supreme Personality of Godhead and cause of all causes, or ignore Him if they want. 

As Prabhupāda explains, Kṛṣṇa never forces the jīva-soul to surrender to Him, never forces them to love Him, that must be voluntary in a "two-way" exchange otherwise love can never exist without voluntary reciprocal exchanges. 

Srila Prabhupada - "Free will means that you can act wrongly. That is free will. Unless there is chance of doing wrong or right, there is no question of free will. Where is free will then? If I act only one sided, that means I have no free will. Because we act sometimes wrongly, that means free will."

Hayagriva - "A man may know better but still act wrongly."

Srila Prabhupada - "Yes, but that is free will. He misuses his. Just like a thief, he knows that his stealing, it is bad, but still he does it. That is free will. He cannot check his greediness, so in spite of his knowing that he is doing wrong thing—he will be punished, he knows; he has seen another thief, he was punished, he was put into prison— everything he knows, but still he steals. Why? Misuse of free will. Unless there is misuse of free will, there is no question of free will." (Excerpt from: Philosophy Discussions with Srila Prabhupada – Rene Descartes)

Srila Prabhupada - "The jiva-soul's position in the spiritual world is voluntary. Some devotee wants to serve Kṛṣṇa as flower; they become flower there. If I want to be a flower, I shall lie down at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa," he becomes flower, voluntarily, and he can change his, from flower to human body. That is spiritual life. There is no restriction. If some devotee wants to serve Kṛṣṇa as cow, he serves Kṛṣṇa as cow, as calf, as flower, as plant, as water, as ground, field, or as father, as mother, as friend, as beloved, anything. It is inconceivable, yet a fact." (SB Canto 6.1.1-4 - Melbourne, May 20, 1975)

Śrīla Prabhupāda - "Unless there are ‘two persons’, where is the question of love? . . . Love means ‘two persons’, . . . then there is exchange, . . .  then there is love." (Aug, 9, 1976, Tehran) 

Devotion, surrender and genuine loving selfless service can only exist when "two" are involved in a "two-way" trade off based on a reciprocal relationship of loving exchanges. 

The experience of loving exchanges between the devotee, guru and Kṛṣṇa can never exist in a selfish,  inconsiderate ‘one-way’ forceful domineering impersonal way. 

In other words, loving expressions and exchanges can never exist in a dictatorial forceful one-sided relationship of just being told what to do, without the jīva-souls having their own personal voluntary contributions and offerings in Goloka Vṛndāvana and Vaikuṇṭha too. 

Śrīla Prabhupāda - "Kṛṣṇa never forces you to love Him, that must be voluntary." (Melb, June 25, 1974) 

This is because loving devotion, obedience, trust and loyalty between Kṛṣṇa and His devotee is never a "one-way affair" in the spiritual planets, it is always a "two-way" voluntary loving affair of intimate exchanges.

Of course in the material creation under the guidance of a bona-fide spiritual master, the conditioned soul is being trained up to always remember Kṛṣṇa. 

Therefore such strict (sometimes even forceful) instructions by the genuine spiritual master are meant to help the embodied jīva-soul wake up from their material conditioning and realize that real freedom is always voluntarily serving Krsna. 

This should be understood properly by realizing the difference between the restricted material creation where free will almost does not exist and one’s full freedom in the spiritual worlds. 

Loving devotional service can only truly exist when the conditioned jīva-souls are trained up to eventually reach their full potential and original position as Kṛṣṇa’s pure devotee, where they naturally express their constitutional nature as Krsna's "marginal living entity" who always reciprocates with Kṛṣṇa in a "two-way" exchange of loving intimacy. 

Only then can love or service be genuinely expressed in a natural two-way relationship based on reciprocal exchanges between Kṛṣṇa and the individual jīva-souls. 

A relationship ‘between two’ can only experience love, and that is why Kṛṣṇa gave the jīva-souls their freedom (free will) in the first place. 

The full expression or potential of the individual jīva-souls (marginal living entities) is only fully expressed, experienced and realized in the spiritual worlds by expressing their free will in full, and not while in a temporary material bodily vessel in the restricted temporary decaying material worlds (Brahmanda universes). 

Surrendering to Kṛṣṇa is enriched and further enhanced by the jīva-soul’s personal unique loving voluntary contributions of unique service Prabhupāda taught us. 

Such unique voluntary service increases, enriches and magnifies the relationship of loving  exchanges and reciprocation eternally between Kṛṣṇa and the jīva-souls in a "two-way exchange of feelings." 

Kṛṣṇa gave the jīva-souls their freedom (free will) for this purpose of establishing a "two-way" voluntary relationship so they can express personal unique loving feelings experienced differently with each individual jīva-soul. 

The fact is, real freedom, or experiencing the full potential of one's (the jīva-souls) personality, is only fully experienced in Goloka Vṛndāvana and Vaikuṇṭha where no one is forced to do anything. 

This is because our loving relationship with Kṛṣṇa in the spiritual world is never founded on a demanding forceful relationship with Kṛṣṇa where one is always told what to do, and just obey without personal voluntary contributions (offerings) and intelligent inquiry. 

The fact is, mindless impersonal surrender to a so called God or Spiritual Master without being encouraged or nurtured to participate in a relationship with personal contributions or offerings, only exists in a ‘one-sided’ impersonal dominant relationship, where the jīva-soul’s personality and character are artificially restricted and suppressed, is Mayavadi nonsense.

This means their natural constitution of independent self-expression of choosing their own personal contributions to offer to Kṛṣṇa, is replaced by that "one-way dictatorship" of being told what to do and what to offer and how to think. No, the spiritual worlds are not loveless and impersonal like that. 

Śrīla Prabhupāda - "Love means two persons. . . I must deal with you open-hearted, you must deal with me open-hearted, then there is love . . . So if you want to love Kṛṣṇa, God, then these things MUST be there." (Evening darśana, August 9, 1976, Tehran) 

Love or genuine selfless service is always based on a "two-way" exchange of feelings, this means each jīva-soul provides their own individual contributions of personal inputs to express their own independent individuality and free will. 

Śrīla Prabhupāda - "Kṛṣṇa does not want to become a lover like that, on the point of revolver. ‘You love me, otherwise I shall kill you!’ That is not love; that is threatening. Love is reciprocal, voluntary, good exchange of feeling. Then there is love. Not by force; that is rape. Why one is called lover, another is called rape?" (July 8, 1976 in Washington, D.C.) 

Serving Kṛṣṇa is not impersonal in anyway, meaning it is never a "one-sided" domineering forceful relationship of always being told what to do and think. 

Surrender to Kṛṣṇa does not mean giving up your intelligence, free will, individuality and the awareness of being an independent unique PERSON you are eternally, who can choose to voluntarily serve Kṛṣṇa with personal contributions, or even ignore Kṛṣṇa if they want. 

Such a choice must always be there in the spiritual worlds for free will to truly exist because part of having free will means being able to reject Krsna too as Prabhupada explains above.

Goloka-Vṛndāvana and Vaikuṇṭha are not dictatorial (oppressive) abodes for the individual jīva-souls in their relationship with Kṛṣṇa or Viṣṇu. 

No, the Kingdom of God is not like that, there are always loving exchanges of feelings, respect and service based on reciprocation and cooperation between Kṛṣṇa and His dear devotees. 

Without this free will and the ability to reciprocate, the jīva-soul or marginal living entity is no better than dead stone that can never receive or give love. 

Śrīla Prabhupāda - "If you have no free will, then you are a stone. The stone has no free will. You want to be stone Then you must have free will! But don’t misuse your free will. But don’t try to become stone either. That is not life." (Aug, 5, 1976, New Mayapur, France) 

The spiritual worlds of Vaikuṇṭha and Goloka-Vṛndāvana are personal Kingdoms based on loving exchanges and cooperation between Kṛṣṇa and His devotees, it is never a "one-way" demanding forceful Kingdom. 

Ultimately we are all Kṛṣṇa’s eternal servants and very dear friends, however, that does not mean we have to give up our free will and individuality under the heading of surrender that some foolish immature devotees believe. 

Śrīla Prabhupāda - "Love is reciprocal, voluntary, good exchange of feeling. Then  there is love. Not by force, no, Kṛṣṇa does not want to become a lover like that, ‘You love me, otherwise I shall kill you!" (Washington, DC, July 8, 1976)

Vipina Purandara - "Why doesn’t Kṛṣṇa protect me from thinking independently from Him?"

Srila Prabhupada - "That means you lose your independence. That is force, in Bengali it is said, ‘If you catch one girl or boy, ‘You love me, you love me, you love me.’ ” Is it love? “You love me, otherwise I will kill you!’ Is that love?" (July 8, 1976 in Washington, D.C.)

As already explained, free will in its full potential only fully exists in Vaikuṇṭha and Goloka Vṛndāvana and is greatly restricted in the material creation. 

The conclusion is, of course free will exists fully in Goloka Vṛndāvana and Vaikuṇṭha because it is part and parcel of the constitutional make up of the marginal living entities (jiva-souls)

And Kṛṣṇa always allows free will in Goloka-Vṛndāvana and Vaikuṇṭha because if He didn’t, then loving exchanges would never exist. 

If Kṛṣṇa denied the jīva-souls their free will, then they could never experience love, or know what love is, it would be just a "one-sided" dominated loveless impersonal dead affair.

Therefore, love is always a "two-way" exchange of feelings, it is never "one-way or one-sided affair" because as said above, relationships expressed in a "one-sided dominance" without having loving exchanges between two, is not love at all, it is impersonalism and forced captivity (slavery). 

Without free will, without being allowed to contribute personal offerings and having independent choices, even though fully dependent on Kṛṣṇa, the jīva-soul can never experience wonderful loving exchanges of reciprocation, and offering personal unique individual contributions to Kṛṣṇa. 

Free will or the ability to choose is eternally part and parcel of the jīva-soul’s (marginal living entities) natural constitution and always exists without beginning or end. 

As said above, this means the jīva-souls can choose to serve Kṛṣṇa, or even reject Him if they want, it is their choice and always has been their choice that only free will can allow. 

This is one of the reasons why part of the Spiritual Sky (25%) is the material creation. 

Krsna allows the jiva-souls to choose to go to the material creation if they voluntarily no longer want to serve Kṛṣṇa however, their real home is always Vaikuntha or Goloka Vrindavana that makes up 75% of the Spiritual Sky.

Kṛṣṇa does not force the jīva-soul to surrender to Him, if He did, then that is not love, it is forced obedience or bogus surrender. 

As Prabhupada says above, if you catch a girl or boy, then force them to love and serve you, is that love? "Love me otherwise I will kill you!" No, Kṛṣṇa does not want to be a cruel lover like that, forced to serve by the point of gun.  

The amazing thing is, Kṛṣṇa always serves (loves) His pure devotees far more than they can ever serve Him!

The individual jiva-souls (marginal living entities) can never exist independently from Krsna even though they can express their independent free will that Krsna provides separately for the purpose of allowing "two-way" voluntary exchanges of loving expressions and encouraging unique personal offerings.

Thank you, Śrīla Prabhupāda, for inspiring all these realizations based on your teachings. 

Your fallen yet determined servant, Gauragopala Dasa (initiated July 10th 1972)

P.S. My love for your wonderful saṅkīrtana mission grows stronger every year.^^^.







Tuesday, August 24, 2021

Srila Prabhupada - "Tattva is manifested in different ways: 1 - Viṣṇu-tattva, 2 - Viṣṇu-śakti-tattva, 3 - jīva-tattva, like that".(Lecture on SB 6.2.7 -- Vrndavana, September 10, 1975)

Krsna who is compared to the Sun-disc and His variety of living entities above are compared to the sun-rays, only Krsna's Visnu-tattva and Visnu-sakti-tattva living entities are direct expansions of Krsna that are almost equal to Krsna. 

The Sun-disc and the sun-rays CANNOT exist separately from each other, similarly the variety of the living entities (Krsna's parts and parcels) cannot exist separately from Krsna.

Each "jiva-soul" (marginal living entity) is a one of a kind independent individual with their own unique personality different from all other personalities, including Krsnas.

No two individual jiva-souls are the same, and no jiva-souls can EVER become God (Krsna or Visnu).

Loving devotional service to Krsna is ALWAYS based on a "two-way" voluntary exchange of personal feelings, manifesting in loving acts of reciprocation between Krsna and His devotees, where His devotees voluntarily contribute their own unique expressions (offerings) of devotion to Him. 

This is the real meaning of surrendering to Krsna's will that NEVER denies the "free will" (freedom of individual expression) of each jiva-soul.

On the other hand serving associating with a so called God based on a "one-sided" domineering forceful patronizing relationship within His Kingdom, that does not allow personal voluntary contributions in a "two-way" exchange of repectful sentiments, is dangerous impersonalism.

Therefore by always having a "two-way" voluntary exchange of feelings with Kṛṣṇa expands, enriches and multiplies loving reciprocation and exchanges with Krsna.

Just like with the Sun-disc and the sun-rays (sunshine) cannot exist apart similarly Krsna and His parts and parcels can also not exist separately.  

However, there is a difference between the Sun-disc and sun-rays, the molecules of the "sun-rays" are not equal to the "Sun-disc" because the sun-rays radiate out from the Sun-disc.

Srila Prabhupada - "Tattva is manifested in different ways:
1 - Viṣṇu-tattva,
2 - Viṣṇu-śakti-tattva,
3 - jīva-tattva, like that". (Lecture on SB 6.2.7 -- Vrndavana, September 10, 1975)

Krsna who is compared to the Sun-disc and His variety of living entities above are compared to the sun-rays, only Krsna's Visnu-tattva and Visnu-sakti-tattva living entities are direct expansions of Krsna that are almost equal to Krsna. 

The marginal living entities (jiva-souls) are smaller living entities not equal to Krsna, just like the molecules of the sunshine (sun-rays) are not equal to the molecules of the Sun-disc.

In this way we (the jiva-souls) are simultaneously one with Krsna yet at the same time are different individual personalities who are SEPARATE from Krsna's Personality, but ALWAYS dependent on Krsna just like the sun-rays existence depends on the Sun-disc.

So to be clear, Krsna is compared to the "Sun-disc" and the many different categories of Sakti-tattva living entities, like Visnu-tattva, Visnu-sakti-tattva and jiva-tattva expansions, are all compared to the surrounding "sun-rays".

By this example we can also understand that the "Sun-disc" and the "sun-rays" can NEVER be separated, similarly Krsna can never be separated from His parts and parcels (the many varieties of living entities).

Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and cause of ALL causes, who is ALWAYS surrounded by His many parts and parcels (the living entities) like the Sun-disc is surrounded by the sun-rays (sunshine).

The living entities are expansions of Krsna's energy.

The various types of living entities are - 

1 - Visnu-tattva (Visnu/Narayana expansions who are different manifestations of Krsna's Personality) 

2 - Visnu-sakti-tattva is Kṛṣṇa's internal potency, who are also MANY different expansions of Krsna's Personality, who play in different roles in a particular lila (pastimes) within His own Vrindavana and Lord Caitanya pastimes. 

Although Srimati Radharani, who IS the personification of the internal energy of Kṛṣṇa, is actually none different from Krsna and has His exact same 64 qualities that no other Visnu-sakti-tattva or Visnu-tattva has.

3 - Jiva-tattva-souls are the independent marginal living entities who have their own individuality and Personality separate from Krsna's Personality, unlike the above two.

All are eternal like Krsna, meaning they were NEVER created.

Although it is said Krsna created Radharani just to experience the love of a women however, this is a paradox because Radha and Krsna have eternally existed without beginning or end.

Obviously many "living entities" appear for a particular pastime because some expansions manifest for that lila or pastime however, within the "eternal presence" of Krsna their existence is without beginning or end too and such lilas are going on eternally.

Just like from the Sun-disc, the sun-rays (sunshine) manifest and exist simultaneously with the Sun-disc, similarly Krsna and the living entities can NEVER exist without each other also.

Both are eternal without beginning or end as said in Bhagavad Gita As It Is Chapter 2 Text 12

"Never was there a time when I did not exist, nor you, nor all these kings; nor in the future shall any of us cease to be".

Krsna is fully complete AS Himself, who can NEVER be alone because Krishna is EVERYTHING and EVERYTHING resides in Him

In this way Krsna is ALWAYS enjoying with His unlimited parts and parcels (living entities) mentioned above, just like the Sun-disc is always shining magnificently and seen simultaneously as the surrounding sun-rays emanating from the Sun-disc.

The Sun-disc and the Sun-rays CANNOT exist separately from each other, similarly Krsna cannot exist separately from His parts and parcels.

However, the idea of Krsna being without His expansions can NEVER exist or happen, just like the Sun-disc and sun-rays can never exist separately as emphasised above.

The reason why Krsna is fully complete within Himself is understood in this way -

Krsna is NEVER alone by himself, He is never alone because EVERYTHING is situated within Him and simultaneously different from Him.

This means Krsna is one individual independent PERSON, and at the same time different as "many independent expansions" making Krsna simultaneously one and different.

As said above, this means Krsna can NEVER be alone because He is already EVERYTHING and EVERYTHING is always part and parcel of Him.

Krsna's most dear and intimate associate is His eternal consort Srimati Rādhārāṇī, She is the internal potency of Krsna and eternally intensifies the pleasure of Śrī Krsna, so how can He ever be alone?

All the devotees of Krsna must win the attention of Srimati Radharani to get Krsna's favour, as all service to Krsna only reaches Him through Her.

Srila Prabhupada - "I offer my respects to Rādhārāṇī, whose bodily complexion is like molten gold and who is the Queen of Vṛndāvana. You are the daughter of King Vṛṣabhānu very dear to Lord Kṛṣṇa.

So if we approach Kṛṣṇa through Rādhārāṇī, through the mercy of Rādhārāṇī, then it becomes very easy. If Rādhārāṇī recommends that "This devotee is very nice," then Kṛṣṇa immediately accepts, however fool I may be. Because it is recommended by Rādhārāṇī, Kṛṣṇa accepts.

Therefore in Vṛndāvana you'll find all the devotees, they're chanting more Rādhārāṇī's name than Kṛṣṇas. 

Wherever you'll go, you'll find the devotees are addressing, "Jaya Rādhe." You'll find still in Vṛndāvana. They are glorifying Rādhārāṇī. They're more interested, worshiping Rādhārāṇī. 

Because however fallen I may be, if some way or other I can please Rādhārāṇī, then it is very easy for me to understand Kṛṣṇa.

However, if you go by the speculative process to understand Kṛṣṇa, it will take many, many lives. But if you take devotional service, just try to please Rādhārāṇī, and Kṛṣṇa will be gotten very easily. 

Because Rādhārāṇī can deliver Kṛṣṇa. She is so great devotee, the emblem of mahā-bhāgavata.

Even Kṛṣṇa cannot understand what is Rādhārāṇī's quality.

Even Kṛṣṇa, although He says vedāhaṁ samatītāni (BG 7.26), "I know everything," still, He fails to understand Rādhārāṇī. Rādhārāṇī is so great.

Actually, Kṛṣṇa knows everything however, in order to understand Rādhārāṇī, Kṛṣṇa accepted the position of Rādhārāṇī. 

Kṛṣṇa wanted to understand the potency of Rādhārāṇī and thought that "I am full. I am complete in every respect, but still, I want to understand Rādhārāṇī. Why?" This propensity made Kṛṣṇa obliged to accept the propensities of Rādhārāṇī, to understand Kṛṣṇa, Himself.

One who is advanced in Kṛṣṇa consciousness and well conversant with the śāstras can understand this. 

When Kṛṣṇa wanted to understand Himself, He took the tendency of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. And that is Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Rādhā-bhāva-dyuti-suvalitam

Caitanya Mahāprabhu is Kṛṣṇa, but He has accepted the propensities of Rādhārāṇī. 

As Rādhārāṇī is always in feelings of separation of Kṛṣṇa, similarly, in the position of Rādhārāṇī, Lord Caitanya was feeling separation of Kṛṣṇa. 

That is the teachings of Lord Caitanya, feelings of separation, not meeting.

The process of devotional service taught by Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His disciplic succession is how to feel separation from Kṛṣṇa. 

That is Rādhārāṇī's position, ALWAYS feeling the separation". (Srimati Radharani's Appearance Day, London, August 29, 1971)

Srila Prabhupada - "Regarding your question about our relationship with Srimati Radharani, She is the internal energy, we are marginal energy. Marginal means sometimes internal, sometimes external. 

When we are under the internal energy, that is our normal life, and when we are under the external energy, that is our abnormal life. 

Therefore, we are called marginal energy; we can be either this way or that way. 

But being qualitatively one with the purusa, our tendency is to remain in the internal energy. Being in the external energy is our artificial attempt. (Letter to Lilavati, Allston, Mass 25 April, 1969)

Srila Prabhupada - "When Kṛṣṇa kills the demons outside Vṛndāvana, He is not original Kṛṣṇa; He is Vāsudeva. Vāsudevaḥ sarvam iti (BG 7.19). When Kṛṣṇa is acting universally, that is Vāsudeva. Original Kṛṣṇa is ALWAYS in Vṛndāvana.

Jayatīrtha - "If the original Kṛṣṇa is always in Vṛndāvana, then why do the gopīs and Rādhārāṇī feel separation from Him?"

Srila Prabhupada - "That is here, in this material world. In the spiritual world Kṛṣṇa does not leave.

Jayatīrtha - "Oh".

Srila Prabhupāda - "And even in the material world, Kṛṣṇa superficially has gone to Mathurā, but He has captured the heart of the gopīs. So He is not leaving. Gopīs are enjoying Kṛṣṇa by separation. That is Caitanya Mahāprabhu's feeling, how He is appreciating Kṛṣṇa by separation. (Morning Walk, July 17, 1975, San Francisco)

Guest - "What category is Radharani in?

Srila Prabhupada - "She is śakti, Cit-śakti. Bhagavān ke pleasure potency. Śakti, śakti-tattva, Śaktimān. Bhagavān is Śaktimān, and that śakti is Rādhārāṇī or Sītā or Lakṣmī. Durgā is also śakti, another feature of Rādhārāṇī".

Guest - "Śakti in original form, is Rādhā?"

Srila Prabhupāda - "Yes. Parāsya śaktih..., parāsya śaktir vividhaiva śrūyate (CC Madhya 13.65, purport). Originally cit-śakti. That cit-śakti is expanding. Just like we are..., rāmādi mūrtiṣu kalā-niyamena tiṣṭhan (Bs. 5.39). Kalā means part and parcel. 

So we are also part and parcel, but we are very small part and parcel. But rāmādi mūrti, they are bigger part and parcel.

Just like if you throw one brick on the floor, so there will be so many small particles, big particles, this particle, that. 

They are all part and parcel of the brick, but one part very small atomic part, and one big part, this part, this part, then this part, then this part. 

So all, Kṛṣṇa is the origin, and everyone is part and parcel. Some of them are bigger and some of them are smaller. So Viṣṇu-tattva is almost like Kṛṣṇa".

Guest - "Like Kṛṣṇa".

Srila Prabhupāda - "Others, they are very small. So according to the size, or according to the power..."

Guest - "Power".

Srila Prabhupāda - "The part and parcel exercises his position. Some of them are Viṣṇu-tattva, some of them are Jīva-tattva, some of them are Śakti-tattva and some of them para-tattva. Like that".

Guest - "Para-tattva?"

Srila Prabhupāda - "Para-tattva is Bhagavān. Para-tattva means Kṛṣṇa, Rāma, Nārāyaṇa, Viṣṇu. These are all para-tattva. Bhagavān avatāra, rāmā, nṛsiṁha, varāha, kūrma, vāmana, daśāvatāra, all avatāra.

Or śakti-tattva, material energy, aparā-tattva, matter.

Similarly cit-tattva, spiritual world. The living entities, although they are in the material world, they belong to the spiritual world.

Therefore Kṛṣṇa says, apareyam. This material energy is inferior. Itas viddhi me prakṛtiṁ parām. 

Beyond this material world is another, superior energy that includes jīva-bhūta and jiva-tattva". (Room Conversation, November 11, 1971, New Delhi)

This is the full expression of Lord Krsna's energies, coming from Krsna the Supreme Personality of Godhead and cause of ALL causes.

Krsna is fully satisfied in Himself, enjoying through all of His different expansions.

Krsna is always with the jiva-souls in the material creation as Paramatma (Super Soul), in fact all of His Visnu-tattva (souls) expansions and independent jiva-tattva-souls are also found together even within every atom.

The jiva-soul and Visnu (Paramatma) are in every atom too.

Tamala Krsna - "Srila Prabhupada, someone asked a question the other day about the atom which I couldn’t give the answer to. His question is that if we say that within the atom the living entity, the jiva-soul, is present, and life symptoms means six symptoms of birth, growth"

Srila Prabhupada - "That’s all right. Their life symptoms has not yet come. But there is".

Jayadvaita - "Potential".

Srila Prabhupada - "Yes".

Tamala Krsna - "His question was, it was sort of a dual question. At what time, or what…? Just like at the time of disintegration of this body, the living entity leaves this body and the body disintegrates, so does the atomic body also disintegrate when the living entity leaves it and moves to a higher body?"

Srila Prabhupada - "Atomic body? Atomic body means material body. Unless you are free from this material body, the atomic body will go on with you. That means unless you are mukta, the atomic body will go on. Mind, intelligence, ego — they are also atomic, finer atomic body (subtle body)".

Tamala Krsna - "But within each atom the living entity is present?"

Srila Prabhupada - "Yes. God is present; therefore living entity is present".

Tamala Krsna - "So the living entity is present within the atom just as I am present within this body. When I leave this body, my body breaks apart".

Srila Prabhupada - "Yes, you leave this body, enter another body".

Tamala Krsna - "Right".

Srila Prabhupada - "By nature’s law".

Tamala Krsna - "And when I leave this body, the body breaks apart".

Srila Prabhupada - "Eh?"

Tamala Krsna - "When I leave this body, the body dis…"

Srila Prabhupada - "The body is already atomic combination".

Tamala Krsna - "Yes".

Srila Prabhupada - "So it remains atomic combination. You leave the body".

Tamala Krsna - "Yes. It remains…"

Srila Prabhupada - "You leave the house. That does not mean the house is finished".

Tamala Krsna - "Right, I can understand that".

Hamsaduta - "He’s asking that if the soul leaves the atomic particle, then does the particle break apart. Isn’t it?"

Srila Prabhupada - "No, no. You have not left atomic particle".

Tamala Krsna - "No, but you, you’re… I think you were saying that within the atom there’s also a living entity. So when that living entity leaves the atomic particle does the particle break apart? Or doesn’t it? I mean what…?"

Srila Prabhupada - "Just try to understand. From the sastra, you understand that andantara-stham: “God lives within the atom.”

Tamala Krsna - "Yes".

Srila Prabhupada - "And when the God is there, living entity’s also there. This… This much you try to understand. Because God and living entity, they remain together, as two friends. God is trying to save this fallen friend. That is the information from Upanisad. So when God is there, the living entity is also there". 

Rupanuga - "So Paramatma and jiva-soul are always together?". 

Srila Prabhupada - "Yes". 

Pancadravida - "The jivas inside the atom, are they like impersonalists who are in the Brahman?" 

Srila Prabhupada - "That you consider. He has not developed his consciousness. Practically, it is like dead". (Morning Walk April 4 1975, Mayapur)

As said above, Krsna is compared to the Sun-disc and the different types of living entities are compared to the Sun-rays, the Sun-disc and the Sun-rays can never exist without each other, just like Krsna cannot exist without being surrounded by His parts and parcels (the living entities)

In this way, Krsna IS the Supreme Lord who is simultaneously one with all that there is, but at the same time different and an independent PERSON from all of His expansions.

Krsna's eternal consort Srimati Rādhārāṇī is the manifestation of His pleasure potency and was created by Krsna so He could experience the loving intimate exchanges with a women.

Guest - "Srila Prabhupāda, are we expansions of Rādhā?"

Srila Prabhupada - "No. Rādhā is the internal potency, we are marginal potency. Of course, originally, in that sense, everything is Kṛṣṇa's expansion. Sarvaṁ khalv idaṁ brahma. But even there are expansions... That is the difference between Māyāvāda philosophy and Vaiṣṇava philosophy.

Caitanya Mahāprabhu teaches acintya bhedābheda. We are always simultaneously one and different. Always. 

We should remember we are expansion of Kṛṣṇa, we are expansion of Rādhā also because Rādhā is also expansion of Kṛṣṇa. But still, different. That is our philosophy -

"One and different simultaneously - Acintya bhedābheda".

This is Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahāprabhu's philosophy which is known as "inconceivable simultaneously one and different".

This is explained in the Seventh Chapter of Bhagavad-gītā. The energies and the energetic is the same. Śakti-śaktimator abheda.

Just like the Sun-disc and the Sun-rays (sunshine) are seemingly the same and no different, the fact is the molecules of the sunshine particles (Sun-rays) are NOT equal to the Sun-disc. 

These truths we shall always remember. Acintyāḥ khalu ye bhāvāḥ. Therefore these are inconceivable. 

We are simultaneously one with Kṛṣṇa and Rādhā, and at the same time different". (Lecture on BG 4.5 -- Montreal, June 10, 1968)

Srila Prabhupada - "Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa are "one and the same", but They have assumed two bodies. Thus They enjoy each other, tasting the mellows of love. The two transcendentalists Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa are a puzzle to materialists. 

The description of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa from the diary of Śrīla Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī is a condensed explanation, but one needs great spiritual insight to understand the mystery of these two personalities.

One is enjoying in two.

Śrī Kṛṣṇa is the potent factor, and Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is the internal potency. 

According to Vedānta philosophy, there is no difference between the potent and the potency; they are identical. We cannot differentiate between one and the other, any more than we can separate fire from heat.

Everything in the Absolute is inconceivable in relative existence. Therefore in relative cognizance it is very difficult to assimilate this truth of the oneness between the potent and the potency. 

The philosophy of inconceivable oneness and difference propounded by Lord Caitanya is the only source of understanding for such intricacies of transcendence.

In fact, Rādhārāṇī is the internal potency of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, and She eternally intensifies the pleasure of Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

Impersonalists cannot understand this without the help of a mahā-bhāgavata devotee.

The very name “Rādhā” suggests that Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is eternally the topmost mistress of the comforts of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. 

As such, She is the medium transmitting the living entities’ service to Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

Devotees in Vṛndāvana therefore seek the mercy of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī in order to be recognized as loving servitors of Śrī Kṛṣṇa". (Caitanya Caritamrita Adi 4.56, Translation and Purport)

As said above, all the devotees of Krishna must win the atten0tion of Radharani to get Krsna's attention, as all service to Krsna only reaches Krsna by going through Her.

Srila Prabhupada - "When Krsna wants to be attracted by a woman, He has to create such a woman from His own energy. That woman is Rādhārāṇī". (Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 3 Chapter 31 text 38 Purport)

Krsna divided Himself into "two" so He could experience loving exchanges. 

For even Krsna, love can NEVER exist when there is just "one", there MUST be His expansions headed by Srimati Radharani and then His Visnu-tattva and jiva-tattva expansions that allow Kṛṣṇa to have a two-way loving exchange.

Love can NEVER exist with just one, there MUST be two for loving exchanges to exist.

To experience loving exchanges and emotions with a women, Krsna divided Himself into two, that women is Srimati Radharani.

Krsna wanted to experience loving emotions and affection with a women, this is why He divided Himself into "two" - Radha and Krsna, just so He could experience those loving exchanges.

Madhudviṣa Swami - "Śrīla Prabhupāda, you spoke of inferior energy and superior energy. Those are two general categories. Are there other categories of energies besides that, and specifically how could we understand Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī Is She?"

Srila Prabhupāda - "She is spiritual energy".

Madhudviṣa Swami - "But is She jīva-bhūta or?"

Srila Prabhupada - "No, no, no. She is Kṛṣṇa. If everything is Kṛṣṇa and Rādhārāṇī is not Kṛṣṇa, what is that? Kṛṣṇa. He (She) is Kṛṣṇa. She is the Kṛṣṇa's pleasure potency".

Madhudviṣa Swami - "She is not jīva?"

Srila Prabhupada - "No, no, no. She is Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa divided Himself into His energy and Himself. That energy, original spiritual energy, is Rādhārāṇī. That is stated by Jīva Gosvāmī. Rādhā kṛṣṇa-praṇaya-vikṛtir hlādinī śaktir asmāt. When Kṛṣṇa wants pleasure, He cannot accept the inferior energy.

The same superior energy, Kṛṣṇa, is divided into two. That is Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. And again, when they unite, that is Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Divided, they are Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa, and united, Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya rādhā-kṛṣṇa nahe anya. Anya means another.

So Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya is combination of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. And when they are divided into two, that is Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. 

This is the purport. Rādhā kṛṣṇa praṇaya vikṛtir hlādinī śaktir asmād ekātmānāv api bhuvi purā deha-bhedaṁ gatau tau, śrī-caitanyākhyaṁ prakaṭam adhunā tad-dvayaṁ caikyam āptam [Cc. Ādi 1.5]. 

These are the conclusion. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa combination but He is playing the part of Rādhārāṇī to understand Kṛṣṇa. 

This is Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Rādhārāṇī is the chief gopī and all Her young girl friends, they are also gopīs. (Lecture on SB 2.1.1-5 -- Melbourne, June 26, 1974)

"Rādhikā is the transformation of Kṛṣṇa’s love. She is His internal energy called hlādinī". (Caitanya Caritamrita Adi 4.59, Translation)

Srila Prabhupada - "Srimati Radharani's Mind, senses and body are steeped in love for Kṛṣṇa. Radha is Kṛṣṇa’s own energy, She helps Him in His pastimes. 

Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is as fully spiritual as Kṛṣṇa. No one should consider Her to be material. She is definitely not like the conditioned souls, who have material bodies, gross and subtle, covered by material senses. 

She is all-spiritual, and both Her body and Her mind are of the same spiritual embodiment.

Because Her body is spiritual, Her senses are also spiritual. Thus Her body, mind and senses fully shine in love of Kṛṣṇa. She is the personified hlādinī-śakti (the pleasure-giving energy of the Lord’s internal potency), and therefore She is the only source of enjoyment for Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

Śrī Kṛṣṇa cannot enjoy anything that is internally different from Him. Therefore Rādhā and Śrī Kṛṣṇa are identical. 

The sandhinī portion of Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s internal potency has manifested the all-attractive form of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, and the same internal potency, in the hlādinī feature, has presented Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, who is the attraction for the all-attractive. 

No one can match Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī in the transcendental pastimes of Śrī Kṛṣṇa". (Caitanya Caritamrta Adi 4.71, Translation and Purport)

"Just as the fountainhead, Lord Kṛṣṇa, is the cause of all incarnations, so Śrī Rādhā is the cause of all these consorts". (Caitanya Caritamrita Adi 4.76, Translation)

"Rādhā is the one who gives pleasure to Govinda, and She is also the enchantress of Govinda. She is the be-all and end-all of Govinda, and the crest jewel of all His consorts". (Caitanya Caritamrita Adi 4.82, Translation)

"The transcendental goddess Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is the direct counterpart of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa. She is the central figure for all the goddesses of fortune. 

She possesses all the attractiveness to attract the all-attractive Personality of Godhead. She is the primeval internal potency of the Lord". (Caitanya Caritamrta Adi 4.83, Translation)

Srila Prabhupada - "When Krsna wants to be attracted by a woman, He has to create such a woman from His own energy. 

That woman is Rādhārāṇī. 

It is explained by the Gosvāmīs that Rādhārāṇī is the manifestation of the pleasure potency of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. 

When the Supreme Lord wants to derive transcendental pleasure, He has to create a woman from His internal potency and that women is Srimati Radharani" (Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 3 Chapter 31 text 38, Purport)

Love can only exist when there are "two or more" involved in voluntary loving reciprocations and exchanges, this is why Krsna created Radharani.

Srila Prabhupada - ''We have got the propensity to love. Love means somebody else. 

Love cannot be "one" or love cannot be executed only one, there must be another one. 

I love somebody; somebody loves me, there must be lover, there must be beloved, and the transaction, then love''. (Lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 1 Chapter 2 text 6, Delhi, November 12, 1973)

Srila Prabhupāda – ''Love means two persons, then there is exchange, then there is love. I must deal with you open-hearted, you must deal with me open-hearted, then there is love. So if you want to love Kṛṣṇa, God, then these things must be there". (August 9, 1976, Tehran)

Krsna is ALWAYS complete in Himself and is NEVER alone because within Krsna is EVERYTHING and therefore can become two personalities or more anytime likes.

For example, as explained above Krsna is always enjoying in Vrindavana with His consort Srimati Radharani, who Krsna created by dividing Himself into two just so He could experience loving exchanges with a women.

Krsna is "FULLY COMPLETE" as Himself but simultaneously different as all of His unlimited expansions who are all His parts and parcels.

In other words, just like the sun-disc is fully manifest when surrounded by the Sun-rays (sunshine), similarly Krsna's full potential of loving expressions is fully exhibited when He is surrounded by His loving devotees especially Srimati Radharani. 

This is what it means when it is said Krsna is fully complete within Himself.

For none devotees these teachings are inconceivable and very difficult to understand.

Krsna is "FULLY COMPLETE" as Himself enjoying unlimited pastimes as follows-

1 - With His internal energy headed by Srimati Radharani who is none different than Krsna. Other Sakti-Visnu-tattva expansions (the many gopis, cow herd boys etc) do NOT possess the full qualities of Krsna that Radharani ALWAYS has.

2 - His Visnu-tattva expansions on the Spiritual Vaikuntha Planets are an unlimited number of Visnu/Narayana expansions, each with their own Spiritual planet and different names. This also includes Maha Visnu and Garbhodakashayi Visnu, who manage the material creation.

Both Visnu-sakti-tattvas (not including Radharani who has 64 qualities like Krsna) and Visnu-tattva expansions of Krsna have 93.75% of Krsna’s qualities which means they have 60 of Krsna's 64 qualities.

The above two categories ARE direct expansions of Krsna's Personality who are also God where Krsna is playing a different role within His own pastimes.

3 - His Siva-tattva expansions is Lord Siva, but Siva also expands as many other personalities to.

Siva-tattva has 84.375% of Krsna's qualities, which means he "and his expansions" have 55 of Krsna's 64 qualities.

4 - His jiva-tattva-soul expansions (the marginal living entities) who have 78.125% of Krsna's qualities which means they have 50 of Krsna's 64 qualities.

These two (Siva-tattva and the jiva-tattva souls) are NOT "God" meaning they are NOT Visnu-sakti-tattva (internal potency headed by Srimati Radharani) or Visnu-tattva, (Balarama, Narayana, Visnu, Maha Visnu, Garbhodakashayi Visnu etc).

Both multiple expansions of Siva and the "individual" jiva-souls have their own independent personalities separate from Krsna's Personality, and can NEVER become God like Visnu-tattva or Visnu-sakti-tattva are.

All these variety of living entities are ALWAYS dependent on Krsna the Supreme Personality of Godhead and cause of ALL causes being His parts and parcels, just like the Sun-rays cannot exist separate from the Sun-disc.

Therefore the living entities can NEVER exist independently from Krsna.  

Although the marginal living entities (jiva-souls) can express their own independent free will that Krsna allows for the purpose of encouraging self expression that is only possible in a "two-way" exchange of voluntary service, based on individual contributions that forever enhance and deepen those mellows of loving exchanges.

Krsna allows this free-will so the jiva-souls can experience a voluntary two-way exchanges of feelings with Krsna.

The fact is loving relationships can NEVER exist on a one-way or one sided dictatorial domination.

Nothing can be separated from Krsna even though the jiva-souls have their own separate identity and personality different from Krsna's Personality.

The marginal living entities (jiva-souls) are a different and more independent category of Krsna's energies but can NEVER be separated from Krsna, just like the Sun-rays can NEVER be separated from the "Sun-disc.

EVERYTHING is part and parcel of Krsna, this is the top most realization of understanding Krsna.

Krsna as His original form never leaves Vṛndāvana as explained above.

Krsna IS the Supreme Personal Lord (God) who has His own two armed individual bodily Form (Vigraha) as shown in His Vrindavana pastimes. 

Krsna expands as a variety of different living entities in different categories as explained above, who expand from Him.

However, the only expansion of Kṛṣṇa who is completely equal to Him is Srimati Radharani.

Srila Prabhupada - "Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa are "one and the same", but They have assumed two bodies. Thus They enjoy each other, tasting the mellows of love. 

One is enjoying in two, we cannot differentiate between one and the other, any more than we can separate fire from heat.

The philosophy of inconceivable oneness and difference propounded by Lord Caitanya is the only source of understanding for such intricacies of transcendence.

Rādhārāṇī is the internal potency of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, and eternally intensifies the pleasure of Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

Impersonalists cannot understand this without the help of a mahā-bhāgavata devotee. 

The very name “Rādhā” suggests that Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is eternally the topmost mistress of the comforts of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. 

As such, She is the medium transmitting the living entities’ service to Śrī Kṛṣṇa. 

Devotees in Vṛndāvana therefore seek the mercy of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī in order to be recognized as loving servitors of Śrī Kṛṣṇa". (Caitanya Caritamrita Adi 4.56, Translation and Purport)

Srila Prabhupada - "When Krsna wants to be attracted by a woman, He has to create such a woman from His own energy. That woman is Rādhārāṇī". (Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 3 Chapter 31 text 38 Purport)

As already explained, devotees must win the attention of Srimati Radharani to get Krsna's favour, as all service only reaches Krsna through Her.

As said above, REAL loving expressions can NEVER exist on a "one way street", the jiva-souls MUST have their "free will" too that makes the relationship a "two-way" exchange for the purpose of allowing loving voluntary expressions in the mood of reciprocation.

Srila Prabhupada clearly says without "free will" you are no better than DEAD stone, so attempting to give up your free will or surrender your free will is impersonalism.

Therefore we MUST have our "free will" and act in ways that expands our loving exchanges with Krsna, and NEVER deny that free will or one's unique quality of self expression that all jiva-souls have as part of their eternal constitution.

This is what REAL Personalism is.

Srila Prabhupada - "If you have no free will, then you are a stone. The stone has no free will. You want to be stone? Then you MUST have free will! But don't misuse your free will. But don't try to become stone either. That is not life". (August 5, 1976, New Mayapur France)
























Monday, August 23, 2021

Should we follow the teachings of a Guru "blindly without question and inquiry?" Is it offensive to question a conclusion by a Spiritual Master that does not seem quite right?

How to maturely understood comments in the Srimad Bhagavatam like "Canto 8 Chapter 10 Text 38 Purport" that clearly does not appear to be correct after weighing up all the evidence. 

ISKCON needs to clear up these controversies on Vedic Cosmology with a thorough investigation into some of conclusions by Prabhupada in order to be more factual and, most importantly, attract more people of the world to Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu's GREAT Sankirtan Movement.

In other words, ISKCON authorities should have another look at some problematic teachings (only a few) that have long been proven questionable and even wrong.

For example - 

In the 8th Canto Chapter 10 Text 38 Purport of Srimad Bhagavatam, Srila Prabhupāda claims the Moon is further away from Earth than the Sun is.

The fact is, today in 2021 no schools of modern Cosmology or Astronomy and even many Vedic scholars like the late Sadaputa dasa phd believe the Moon is further away from Earth than the Sun is.

Sadly many intelligent and well educated people have rejected ISKCON because of such teachings.

Furthermore, since Japanese space crafts have taken photos of some of the Apollo landing sites from 1969 to 1972, (in 2008) it is ridiculous to keep denying man never went to the Moon, well, the gross Moon we at least can see.

So how should we understand what is in the 8th Canto Chapter 10 Text 38 Purport of Srimad Bhagavatam?

This what people ask me, what should we say to them then? Should we say just follow blindly (LOL) and NEVER question a Spiritual Master?

This is what Prabhupada says on another issue of being FORCED to follow -

Srila Prabhupada - "Love is reciprocal, voluntary, good exchange of feeling. Then there is love. NOT by force, no, Krishna does not want to become a lover like that, ‘You love me, otherwise I shall kill you!"(Washington DC July 8, 1976)

Real love or Bhakti is reciprocal, as said above, it is NEVER a one way street where surrender to Krishna takes away one's sense of self, individuality, desire to question (free will) and personal contributions.

Many people have read these following comments in Srimad Bhagavatam 8.10.38,

Srila Prabhupada - "The Sun is supposed to be 93,000,000 miles above the surface of the Earth, and from the Srimad Bhagavatam, we understand that the Moon is 1,600,000 miles above the Sun. Therefore the distance between the Earth and the Moon would be about 95,000,000 miles." (Srimad Bhagavatam 8.10.38)

How would YOU explain these comments to an Astronomer or Cosmologist aspiring devotee who would know such massive distances are incorrect and ridiculous?

These are very sincere honest questions and conclusions asked by many aspiring sincere devotees.

So by ignoring them, or calling those who question Prabhupada's conclusions on Cosmology, demons, is silly immaturity that only makes ISKCON a fringe fundamentalist "mindless" cult to many people out there.

Think about it.

And this will not go away by ignoring those comments above. 

Sadly only more devotees will leave ISKCON when they read such teachings that the Moon is 95,000,000 miles away from Earth.

The point being made here is it is a proven fact that the Moon is 238,000 miles from earth and NOT 95 million miles from Earth as Prabhupada claims in the 8th Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam. 

One Astronomer at the Parks Radio Telescope in Australia purchased the Srimad Bhagavatam but when he read that he laughed and then sent the Books back to me.

Such comments by Prabhupada need to be explained more clearly and not ignored.

And what will ISKCON leaders do in 2024 when the United States SpaceX company (owned by Elon Musk) in partnership with NASA, go back to the Moon, followed by China, India and Japan.

Will they still foolishly keep claiming its all a hoax?

Many have left ISKCON but some have come back when the late Sadaputa dasa set the record straight and agreed the Moon is at least 256,000 miles from Earth.

He had found this information in the Surya Siddhanta by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura (Prabhupada's Spiritual Master), that Prabhupada had no access to in 1975 when he finished translating the 5th Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam.

Prabhupada admitted he did not know everything about Vedic Cosmology, and that is why he sent Tamal Krishna Maharaj to Southern India in the mid 1970s, in search for a Vedic Brahmin scholar to teach us about Vedic Cosmology.

One was brought back to Prabhupada who proved to be useless.

So Prabhupada told Sadaputa to research it all but it seems ISKCON leadership are not pushing his conclusion that the Moon is NOT 95 million miles from Earth but 238,000 miles from Earth.

Actually Sadaputa gave us this answer 34 years ago but devotees do not know how to deal with Prabhupada's comment of 95,000,000 miles which is clearly incorrect according to Sadaputa. 

If you seriously believe the Moon is further away from Earth than the Sun, then how do you justify such a questionable comment scientifically? 

We are NOT meant to blindly follow, we MUST test EVERYTHING a Spiritual Master says instead of being sentimental and foolishly thinking he should never be questioned.

Not even Prabhupada himself believed that you should never question.

We must face the truth in 2021 beyond sentimentality and nonsense conspiracy theories.

The following is about present day Hare Krishna beliefs by devotees and comments the ISKCON founder Srila Prabhupada made about the NASA Moon landings.

I do not fully agree with many devotees regarding the Moon landings being a hoax however, I do understand their sentiment and beliefs in their attemps, out of respect, to show love for Srila Prabhupada.

However, that love should NEVER be blind based on sentimentality because such immaturity will only blind one from seeing the REAL truth and deny others they preach to from seeing that truth too instead of following blind sentimentality.

For example, some devotees, including leading sannyasis, believe the International Space Station and communication Satellites are all a hoax made up by NASA, India, China, Russia, European Union, Japan and Israel.

However, the opinion of these conspiracy theorist devotees ARE not true.

The fact is, through my personal home telescope I can see the International Space Station and many communication satellites as well, very clearly orbiting our globe.

And I can also see craters clearly on the Moon too which are 238,000 miles from Earth and NOT 95 million away as claimed in Srimad Bhagavatam, my telescope is not designed to see such detail on a planet or the Sun that far away.

Therefore it is absurd that some devotees today still claim man cannot visit the Moon in three days, enter outerspace, claim all Moon landings are a hoax, air exists in outerspace but the International Space Station does not exist in outer space.

They also foolishly claim man's space crafts have never been to Mars and recently Pluto, these are foolish beliefs.

These conspiracy theorist devotees say we cannot see what is really going on in outer space because we all have faulty material senses?

However, having faulty material senses does NOT mean you never rely on them in a basic way, like crossing the road or knowing if water is too hot or too cold.

And also knowing the higher you go, the air up there DOES get thinner and thinner until there is no breathable air at all when you reach outer space, we DO experience this fact though our " so called faulty" material senses.

The fact is Prabhupada's use of the faulty senses argument refers the difference between Spiritual and Material life, this is his point.

There are many interpretations of what Bhagavatam means when said that air DOES exist in outerspace and holds up all the planets.

This kind of air may refer to so called solar winds which are light particles, but one thing is 100% certain, there is NO breathable air in outerspace.

In fact there is very little air with oxygen even on the top of Mt Everest (29,000 feet)

And when Prabhupada said they can never go to the Moon, as far as I understand this comment, he really meant the subtle heavenly realm called Chandraloka that is invisible to our material reality and gross material body.

This "subtle heavenly realm of Chandraloka" seemingly exists on the Moon but we cannot see it, nor are qualified to visit such a heavenly realm while in these gross human biological bodily forms (vessels) and the gross machines they build and travel in.

Only with the right subtle material body and qualified piety, can one enter Chandraloka, a higher heavenly dimensional reality existing on the Moon.

However, we CAN see the "gross Moon" in the sky and without any doubt the astronauts DID land on that Moon in six Apollo missions from 1969 to 1972.

Many devotees are wrong by denying these fact because they ignore the overwhelming evidence seemingly out of sentimentality of agreeing with Prabhupada's opinion out of blind love.

Even Prabhupada never clearly explained the Moon landings because so little was known 50 years ago when Prabhupada was with us by both devotees and the public.

He was actually referring to the subtle material realm of Chandraloka on the Moon and was right, the Astronauts could not enter that realm but DID go to the gross Moon we see that he never explained clearly.

Today we know space crafts are still going to the Moon from many nations including India, Japan, China, European Union, Russia, United States and Israel taking 10s of thousands of high quality photos, some Japanese photos even show the original Apollo landing sites from 1969 to 1972 as said above.

So how can anyone keep calling the Moon landings a hoax?

Maybe the real answer is simple, they feel insecure disagreeing with Prabhupada's many comments, afraid to entertain the fact that a pure devotee's opinion's need further research and explanation because they are questionable and are afraid to admit they maybe wrong.

This is because Prabhupada's opinions were said at a time when very little was known about the Apollo missions, the science in the 1960s was in its very early pioneering stages and outside of NASA ordinary Americans could not understand this new science.

Steady mature devotees today in 2021 will understand this.

It is therefore silly to keep denying the fact that man DID go to the Moon (but only the gross moon WE see).

In 2021 it is nonsense to think otherwise based on 45 year old converations with Prabhupada at a time when the devotees and Prabhupada knew very little about the Apollo missions.

Back in the 1970s very few fully undertood the Moon landings, it was all so new.

In fact it was so new in the 1960s and early 70s, very few in society understood or could comprehend that man went to the Moon (the gross Moon we see) reaching there in 3 days from our Earth globe.

But Prabhupada says in Bhagavatam it is not possible for NASA to reach the Moon in 3 days which today we know is incorrect.

If Prabhupada had access to the Surya Siddhanta when he was here translating the 5th and 8th Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam, he would of also understood the the Moon is NOT further away from Earth than the sun in a straight line from Earth globe to the Moon, and that it IS possible to reach the Moon in 3 days.

The Surya Siddhanta clearly reveals the Moon is 258,000 miles from Earth which is close to the REAL distance of 238,000 miles as Sadaputa prabhu also reveals.

Sadaputa explains the Moons distance from earth in a 1988 Srimad Bhagavatam Class after discovering the Surya-siddhanta in 1978.

As said above, Prabhupada never had a copy of Surya-siddhanta in 1975 when translating the 5th Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam.

Devotee - "Using radar and lasers, scientists have recently obtained very accurate estimates of the earth-moon distance. This distance is about 238,000 miles. How do you reconcile this with Vedic calculations?"

Sadaputa - "According to the Surya-siddhanta, the distance from the earth globe to the moon is about 258,000 miles. This is in reasonable agreement with the modern value". (From Vedic Cosmography and Astronomy by Richard L. Thompson - Sadaputa dasa)

In 1969 I was at the Radio telescope in Parks Australia and we measured the distance then because the Apollo Astronauts left beckons on the Moon, there was no silly conspiracy or nonsense hoax by the scientists there!

Devotees who keep pushing this Moon hoax nonsense are immature sentimentalist fools.

I asked Prabhupada in 1972 about the Moon and the way he explained it to me was that EVEN if they did go to the Moon, they could never enter the heavenly realm of Chandraloka on the Moon.

I always believed they went to the Moon because of my experience at the Parks Radio telescope in 1969.

As explained above, you cannot fully deny the use of your material senses, if you doubted them, you would never choose to walk across a road or judge if the shower is too hot or cold.

You cannot use this stupid excuse that claims we do not know if man has reached outerspace because our material senses are faulty LOL.

Another foolish silly comment devotee conspiracy theorists use.

Sadly sentimental devotees today use this "faulty senses silly excuse" all the time when challenged about the Moon landings.

When proper logic is given they foolishly claim "our material senses are faulty and we cannot see what is really going on!"

What a lot of nonsense! I fully depend on my material senses when I walk across the road or stand near a hot fire place or have a hot cup of milk.

Anyway back then in the 1970s when with Prabhupada, most of us were in our early 20s and very naive, immature and fanatical.

We were also so absorbed in Book distribution, the Moon thing was never really a big deal with us, no one really cared if they went and or not, we were just young immature men and women happy (fired up) to chant Hare Krishna and eat heaps of prasadam, especially Halva and simply wonderfuls LOL.

And Prabhupada also had doubts about whether or not they went to the Moon. He often asked devotees to find out, regardless of his other opinions he said in discussions with devotees on morning walks and in classes.

He had his opinions on some subjects like Cosmology claiming all Moon rocks came from the Arizona desert however, that is all they were, just his opinions and this Arizona comment is simply not true, those Moon rocks DID come from the Moon.

In 1976 Prabhupada asked Tamal Krishna Maharaj to go to Southern India and find a Vedic Brahmin who is knowledgeable in Vedic Cosmology because Prabhupada said he did not know EVERYTHING about Vedic Cosmology.

Only one Vedic Scholar was found as said above but knew nothing and was useless Prabhupada said. That converation is on our decoding Vedic Cosmology site.

Prabhupada then told the late Sadaputa Dasa, our ISKCON scientist to research this area and establish the Bhaktivedanta Institute.

Final word by Srila Prabhupada.

Srila Prabhupāda - "It appears that you are again constantly disturbed by the same nonsense doubts.

These things are not very important, we may not waste our time with these insignificant questions.

If we are seeking to find out some fault, maya will give us all facility to find any small thing and make it very big, that is maya.

But to ask these questions,  why there is so-called discrepancy between the views of Bhagavat and modern scientists regarding the moon and other planets, and whether Hitler is good or bad man, these are most insignificant matters, and for anyone who is sincerely convinced that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, for him these questions do not arise.

Our information comes from Vedas, and if we believe Krishna, that

vedaham samatitani
vartamanani carjuna
bhavisyani ca bhutani
mam tu veda na kascana
(BG 7.26)

that He knows everything, and "vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyo vedanta-krd veda-vid eva caham (BG 15.15)," that Krishna is non-different from Vedas, then these questions do not arise.

But because you have asked me, I am your spiritual master, I must try to answer to your satisfaction. Yes, sometimes in Vedas such things like the asura's decapitated head chasing after Candraloka, sometimes it is explained allegorically.

Just like now we are explaining in 4th Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam the story of King Puranjana. Just like the living entity is living within this body, and the body is described there as city with nine gates, the intelligence as the Queen.

So there are sometimes allegorical explanations. So there are many things which do not corroborate with the so-called modern science, because they are explained in that way.

But where is the guarantee that modern science is also correct?

So we are concerned with Krishna Consciousness, and even though there is some difference of opinion between modern science and allegorical explanation in the Bhagavat, we have to take the essence of Srimad-Bhagavatam and utilize it for our higher benefit, without bothering about the correctness of the modern science or the allegorical explanation sometimes made in Srimad-Bhagavatam.

But this is a fact that in each and every planet there is a predominant deity, as we have got experience in this planet there is a president, so it is not wonderful when the predominating deity fights with another predominating deity of another planet.

The modern science takes everything as dead stone. We take it for granted that everything is being manipulated by a person in each and every affair of the cosmology.

The modern scientists however could not make any progress in the understanding of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, therefore we do not accept modern science as very perfect. We take Krishna's version:

gam avisya ca bhutani
dharayamy aham ojasa
pusnami causadhih sarvah
somo bhutvah rasatmakah
(BG 15.13)

"I become the moon," and "yac chandramasi yac cagnau," (ibid, 12) "I am the splendor of the moon," and "jyotisam api taj jyotis," (BG 13.18) "I am the source of light in all luminous objects," so no one is able to give us the correct information than Krishna, that you should know.

Regarding Hitler, so Hitler may be good man or bad man, so what does he help to our Krishna Consciousness movement?

But it is a fact that much propaganda was made against him, that much I know, and the Britishers are first-class propagandists.

And I have heard that his officers did everything without informing him, just like in our ISKCON there are so many false things:

 "Prabhupada said this, Prabhupada said that." But we have nothing to do with Hitler in our Krishna Consciousness.

Do not be deviated by such ideas "Jnanam jneyam jnana-gamyam," (ibid), Krishna is knowledge, He is the object of knowledge, He is the goal of knowledge,

you mam evam asammudho
janati purusottamam
sa sarva-vid bhajati mam
(Bg. XV, 19).

"Whoever knows Me as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, without doubting, is to be understood as the knower of everything, and he engages himself therefore in devotional service".

This is the understanding of advanced devotee, so my best advice to you is to agree to come to this understanding. (Letter to Krsnadasa -- Vrindaban 7 November, 1972)^^^