Bhagavad Gita

 
… In spite of what the ritviks say, Srila Prabhupada does in fact want his disciples to become qualified diksa gurus and go on to initiate disciples, etc. And the ritviks are lying when they say he does not want this. At the same time Srila Prabhupada is still living in sound and if a sincere follower surrenders to him and makes Srila Prabhupada’s orders his life and soul Prabhupada is still completely potent and powerful and will initiate him into the chanting of the Hare Krishna maha mantra. And ISKCON are lying when they say that Srila Prabhupada can not do this.
 
So as I said we have two groups here and they are both mixing lies with the truth to push forward their own agendas.
 

 
I had traveled to Braj for pilgrimage and to do research for an upcoming book. But while I was there I decided to visit my old friend Aindraji, to see if he would like to be interviewed for Yoga of Kirtan, Part Two, a volume that as it turns out may or may not actually be published. To my delight, he was enthusiastic about the project and invited me up to his room for an intimate conversation, which I taped. What follows is a transcription of that tape.
 
Steven Rosen (SR): Western name, date of birth, etc.
 
Aindra Dasa (AD): Well, I renounced my Western name. …It doesn’t exist anymore. I threw it in the Yamuna.
 

 
After the disappearance of Jayananda Das on May 1, 1977, His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada instructed devotees all over the world to commemorate the event every year as they would any great Vaishnava’s disappearance day. Therefore we respectfully submit these pages to all devotees and friends of ISKCON as a means to remember and understand more about Jayananda’s devotional service. Of course, we will see how he joined ISKCON and how he left this mortal world. More importantly, we shall see the astounding qualities possessed by a true devotee, a sincere disciple and genuine servant of Srila Prabhupada.
 
Jayananda’s Beginnings In Krishna Consciousness
 
Jayananda was the all-American boy. Handsome, strong, intelligent, born in a more than middle-class family, Jayananda (Jim Kohr) took a degree in mechanical engineering from Ohio State University. With a background like that, it is surprising that Jayananda ended up as a cab driver in San Francisco. Karandhara once asked him why he didn’t get a better-paying job. “I didn’t fit in with the upper class crowd,” he said.
 
Always introspective in nature, Jayananda felt empty and unsatisfied within himself during his college years. He would often say that he was “never happy” before joining Krishna consciousness. His depression was almost suicidal when, in 1967, he read a small article in a San Francisco paper, about an Indian Swami who had come to the Bay Area to propagate the chanting of the names of God. Jayananda recalled feeling a “ray of hope” when he read that article. Thinking the Swami may have something to offer, Jayananda made up his mind to attend the Swami’s lectures.
 
Srila Prabhupada’s early lectures in the Bay Area were mostly attended by hippies, and Jayananda was one of the only “straight” people there. Jayananda later recalled that, “I wasn’t much of a religionist, but I was attracted to Srila Prabhupada.” He was especially fond of attending the early morning lectures because at that hour, most of the hippies would be in bed. On some occasions Jayananda would be the only guest listening to Srila Prabhupada speak from the Bhagavatam.
 

    GIGANTIC INDUSTRIAL enterprises are products of a godless civilization, and they cause the destruction of the noble aims of human life. The more we go on increasing such troublesome industries, the more we squeeze the vital energy out of the human being and the more there will be unrest and dissatisfaction of the … Read more

 
Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.2by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami PrabhupadaHonolulu, May 6, 1976 (760506SB.HON)
 

The following class by Srila Prabhupada can be viewed in real time ATS (Audio-Text-Synchronisation) mode, i.e. one can listen to it and simultaneously read along. Click the link next to the icon below to activate the ATS feature. It works with all major browsers but especially well in Firefox. To pause/resume the class press the full stop (.) key on your keyboard or press ‘H’ for further Help options.
 
Click here to activate the ATS feature!
 
Prabhupada: Second verse. (devotees repeat)
 
pravrtti-laksanas caivatraigunya-visayo muneyo ‘sav alina-prakrterguna-sargah punah punah[SB 6.1.2]

So Pariksit Maharaja is trying to understand pravrtti and nivrtti. Pravrtti means here in this material world, anyone who has come, beginning from Lord Brahma down to the small ant, they have come on account of pravrtti, means for enjoying sex. This is material world. So long one will be engaged in sense enjoyment in different varieties, he will have to remain within this material world. Krsna is so kind. We wanted to enjoy this material world; therefore He has given us full chance: “Yes, you enjoy.” Krsna does not want that you should enjoy this material world. That is not He… Sometimes the foolish men, they say that “Krsna has given us this facility for sense enjoyment. Why we shall not take it?” Sometimes the so-called rsis and yogis, they also say, “Yes, when you have got the senses, it is meant for enjoyment. Why it should be stopped?” Yes. Because… Really it has to be stopped. If you want real life of eternal enjoyment, then you have to stop. If you don’t stop, then you remain here.