Topic: Parampara

This time the attack against our parampara was coming from a young Indian scholar (once a member of ISKCON) who was representing the arguments and objections of the anti-party guru - an elderly Hindu scholar. As it turned out, in their opinion, not even Bhaktivinode Thakur is bona-fide, what then to speak of Saraswati Thakur and his followers

Our readers are invited to allow for our standpoint as first-generation members of the disciplic succession of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Where we differ from other disciples of Bhaktivedanta Swami that have chosen to remain in iskcon, and of particular relevance to this article is in the claim that our disciplic line prominently includes Sridhara Goswami.

We avail of the opportunity offered by the Anniversary Celebrations of the advent of Thakura Bhaktivinoda to reflect on the right method of obtaining those benefits that have been made accessible to humanity by the grace of this great devotee of Krsna. Thakura Bhaktivinoda has been specifically kind to those unfortunate persons who are engrossed in mental speculation of all kinds.

So a few words to all the Vaishnavas. I would like to say something about Srila Prabhupada, His Divine Grace. I thought of three particular things regarding His Divine Grace. I thought about his mission, I thought about his highest ideal and I thought about his achievements.

Study, learning, discourse on philosophy so many things are possible prior to initiation (diksha), but unless one gets this ashraya one does not gain admission to the descending flow of bhakti-rasa. To remain in that flow there are requirements also, not that just because I have taken shelter by initiation that I am always connected.

Srila Prabhupada Samadhi Aratika composed by Swami B G Narasingha & Swami B V Giri (Sung daily at 5:30 am at Govindaji Gardens)

Srila Prabhupada's faith in the instruction of his Guru Maharaja, his faith in Krsna was so absolute that he had no fear-- there was no question of success or failure. His success was that he endeavored, that he did it and there was no demand. This is the nature of pure devotion, that it is rendered without any desire of compensation.

Srila Prabhupada Lila-Smarana-Mangala-Stotram composed by Swami B.G. Narasingha Maharaja

Srila Prabhupada came to America in 1965 as "an aggressor." Aggression against illusion is the highest service to humanity. The cost of this war is absolute humility, for souls in this world are often less than thankful, unaware as they are of their own self-interest. The reward, however, is great. It is the dignity of the soul.

In many places in Srimad-Bhagavatam,we find Lord Brahma, the creator of the universe, being tested by Krsna. And still, Brahma is our gurudeva.He is the original guruof our line. That he could become bewildered is so perplexing and difficult to understand that Madhvacarya eliminated that section from the Srimad-Bhagavatam.He could not accept those two chapters of Srimad-Bhagavatamwhere Brahma was under illusion, where he had some misunderstanding about Krsna. But Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu accepted everything in toto.

With his fellow godbrothers, Srila Puri Goswami Maharaja shared an indomitable faith in the service of his Guru and the message of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. This service was the sole purpose and highest aspiration of his being. This conviction led him to spend his entire life in the pursuit of Srila Prabhupada and Mahaprabhu’s pleasure and the fulfillment of their desires.

His genuine affection was incomparable to anything in this world. He had no dislike for his competitors or his enemies. Even to those who received his mercy, he did not demonstrate any external favor. He used to say "In this world there is no one who is the object of my liking or disliking. I consider everyone to be respectable."