Reading Assignment

a) purport Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.5.19

Reading Assignment

Devotee's greatest enemy by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

a) Morning walk conversation in Paris on 12 June 1974

Devotee: Prabhupada, what is a devotee's greatest enemy?

Prabhupada: He himself. Because he is a rascal, he is his own greatest enemy. Give up this rascaldom, and you will become your friend. Nobody is your enemy. You are your own enemy.

b) Sri Caitanya-bhagavata, by Vrindavan Das Thakur.

THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF SRIVAS PANDIT Srila Vrindavan Das Thakura's Chaitanya Bhagavata Antya 5.38-64

Summary: Krsna Consciousness is to be understood by careful application of reason and logic, both from the side of the presenter of Krsna Consciousness, as well as by the receiver. Srila Prabhupada underscores this point in his purport to Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.3.20. This is to be received and applied most carefully, however. Whether East or West, mal-interpretation results in polluted conceptions, and consequent degradation is sure to follow.

Reading Assignment

a) Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.3.20 purport

Summary: The first segment of the passage quoted below, was from the same series of verses discussed during our recent NA Temple President and GBC meeting in Alachua. The passage is discussing the descendents and followers of Advaita Acarya. The root cause of schism, or two opinions, is found within a clear principle: failure to stick to the order of their spiritual master. By the way, "sticking to" goes beyond conceptual acceptance; it extends into the realm of application of orders given by the spiritual master. "There is no scope for adjusting spiritual advancement to material ideas." Second, the faith of the pure devotee is that Krishna will always supply what is needed for His service. This does not mean that one makes no practical arrangements!

Due to our coming to this material world, we are all faced with unwanted problems. Knowing this fact, Srila Prabhupada provided us with many explicit instructions how to address our circumstantial problems from the spiritual platform. Here are some of those instructions.

Reading assignment

At times, there may appear a tendency to neglect those who do not insist on their basic needs.

Reading Assignment:

Summary: The quotes below from Bhaktisiddhanata Sarasvati Thakur on 'reformers' are clearly written from the position of an uttama adhikari Vaishnava who has taken the humble position of one not on the topmost stage of spiritual realization, but who had assumed the position of a madhyama Vaishnava reformer. Bhaktisiddhanata Sarasvati Thakur's appearance in this world was called for by his father, Bhaktivinode Thakur, in a prayer to the Supreme Lord to send a ray of Vishnu to specifically reform the wayward condition of the followers of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Under the direct order of Bhaktivinode Thakur and Gaura Kishor das Babaji, he accepted the service of an acharya, which meant that he voluntarily accepted the position of a preacher of Lord Caitanya's message.

Summary: Text 128 is the very famous verse in which Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu instructs EVERYONE to become guru, in a standard way. yare dekha, tare kaha `Krishna'-upadesa amara ajnaya guru hana tara' ei desa "yare dekha" means "whomever you meet". "amara ajnaya" means "under My order". "guru hana" means "becoming a spiritual master" "tara' ei desa" means 'deliver this country". Kurma was successful and wealthy, but unattached, especially after receiving Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's association. Householders can [and SHOULD!] perform the function of guru while staying in this unattached mood, within their current ashram situation, by taking the order of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu very seriously and personally.