Trivikrama Swami .com

Question:
Srila Prabhupada said: “You don’t need to change anything. Simply add Krsna to your life. “But he also said: “Spiritual life is like walking on the razor’s edge, therefore you have to be very careful.”

I mean, such a man because of his material entanglement may be a burden for his spiritual master. On the other hand, life’s experience teaches that there is no happiness in material life and even though one is engaged in executing material duties, Krsna consciousness brings more satisfaction. But one can’t also ignore his conditions, contaminations and material engagements. Therefore I ask whether such a man should take a “risk” and responsibility in the same time? It’s about honesty. Is it better to be honest materialist than not honest bhakta? I’ll be glad for your answer and opinion.

Answer:
Dear Bh Artur,

Hare Krsna! Thank you for your questions. Actually spiritual life is one of internal intentions. If you “really” want to serve Krsna then Krsna will give you such intelligence that will you will be able to make spiritual progress from whatever position you happen to find yourself in. So we should try to cultivate this kind of sincere determination, that so long I have been serving Maya… this one life time I want to serve Krsna. If we have this mentality then Krsna will help us in every way including sending us to a bona-fide guru.

Your sincerely,
Trivikrama Swami

Question:
Should a person lead his/her life according to heart or mind? What is the most important in the life of every person? What is the difference between action in pure love and false love?

Answer:
Dear Bhaktin Kasia,

Hare Krsna! Thank you for your inquiry. Actually a person should lead their life according to the principles set forth by guru, sadhu and sastra. Sastra is the base, we must judge guru and sadhu according to sastra. Therefore Srila Prabhupada put so much emphasis on translating, writing purports, publishing in so many languages, and distributing his books. But in order to understand the books properly we definitely need guru and sadhus.

Otherwise at our present neophyte position we will be mislead by both our heart and our mind. When we are fully realized then our mind, which is actually situated in the heart, will continuously, and spontaneously, engage us in loving service to Krsna. But this is a very advanced state which we should not imitate at present. Therefore we should now follow the principles of sadhana bhakti out of duty until we come to that stage.

Pure love always seeks to please the beloved, false love or lust seeks it’s own gratification at the expensive of others.

I hope this finds you happily engaged in devotional service to Lord Sri Krsna.

Your sincerely,
Trivikrama Swami

Question:
How can a disciple develop full faith in his guru when we hear so many different accusations among disciples of Srila Prabhupada?

Bhakta Nitay

Answer:

Dear Bhakta Nitay,
Hare Krsna!
Thank you for your intelligent questions.

Srila Prabhupada once said that we can learn from the Rama Krishna Mission how to keep the Acarya in the center. If we all study Srila Prabhupada’s books, listen to his lectures, read his letters and conversation books, see his videos, hear from those who knew him personally, etc… then we will come to know and love him also, and thus become his true followers.

When we are strong in this regard then we can judge others, even our own guru, according to this standard. After all guru means one who follows his guru. Without that qualification no one can be guru. So if someone is claiming to be a disciple or follower of Srila Prabhupada but we see that he or she is not following the standard given to all of us by Srila Prabhupada then we have a right, even a duty, to question them. And if we are not satisfied by their answers then we can approach our GBC man with our doubts. In Iskcon all gurus are under the authority of the GBC body.

So this answers your first point, we can have full faith in our guru or anyone if we see that they are fully representing the teachings of Srila Prabhupada in all situations. Of course we should be intelligent enough not to associate with those who are envious of the Vaisnavas. That again requires are own qualification. Generally a Vaisnava does not like to accuse others or find faults in them, if someone relishes this faultfinding business then we should avoid their association.

As Srila Prabhupada said about himself, “I took the order of my spiritual master as my life and soul.” Because of that he became empowered by Krsna. So let us all take Srila Prabhupada’s order to show our love for him by working cooperatively together to push on his mission. Then we will be empowered, individually and collectively.

Recently I gave a class in our temple in Minsk where there was about 200 people in attendance. I asked the question, “How many of you have had dreams in which Srila Prabhupada came to you? Over half the people there raised their hands. One was saying how he was becoming hopeless after his guru Harikesa fell down. He was thinking how can I be Krsna conscious when he who is so much more advanced then me has given it up. In the dream Srila Prabhupada was telling him strongly, “Why are you hopeless. Don’t you know that I am here for you.” This was just one temple, and one person but this is happening all over the world…… Srila Prabhupada Ki jay!

Even if we lack full faith in someone, still we should be ready to cooperate with them for preaching. They may not be perfect but if they are sincerely taking the process of sadhana bhakti seriously then they should be considered saintly. Of course we should personally associate and reveal our minds to those who we have more faith in.

I hope this finds you in a happy serving mood.

Sincerely,
Trivikrama Swami

Question:
How to explain the fact that before and after initiation I was seduced by ghosts?

Answer:
Initiation is not magic. However if we continue to follow the process of sadhana bhakti, of which initiation is one of the items, then gradually we will gain protection from all bad influences. We read in the 11th Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam in the chapter concerning the Avanti brahmana that it is the mind which is the cause of all our problems. Neither ghosts, nor karma, nor planets, nor other living, etc. can check our spiritual progress if our mind is determined to serve Krsna. So please remain determined to continue this process and surely your future will be bright.

Yours sincerely,
Trivikrama Swami

Question:
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Please accept my humble obeicances.

The position of Srila Prabhupada is so unique, there is no doubt about it. Without him we all would be drowning in deep and dark ignorance, but there is this kind of wicked spirit nowadays among some of the devotees, at least in Wrocław city that wants to lessen the position and merits of Srila Prabhupada, they openly state his being wrong etc. My question is: “How should we respond to such behaviour?” I mean, I don’t want to offend any of the devotees, but at the same time I can’t stand listening such things and knowing that others, especially newcomers, may come accross such statements, for such things one can even hear during a Sunday lecture.

Answer:
Dear Bhakta Pawel,
Please accept my prayers for your advancement in Krishna consciousness

Thank you for your letter
You are right when you say it is a “wicked spirit” on the part of those who try to lessen the position of Srila Prabhupada. My advise is that you should respond by strongly and loudly objecting, even if it means disrupting the whole class… even if it means that you may be physically thrown out of the temple… even if it means you may be killed. Yes it is better to die than to hear this most grave offense. By strongly objecting you will save yourself and other innocent devotees from being implicated in this most serious and sinful Vaisnava and Guru aparada. Don’t worry that they are chanting Hare Krsna longer then you are, it doesn’t matter. They have become RASCALS, and Krsna will be pleased when He sees that you are very serious to defend His most dear devotee Srila Prabhupada.

Yours sincerely,
Trivikrama Swami