The Higher Taste of Krishna Consciousness

In the Bhagavad Gita,  Sri Krishna advises that one can avoid sin not merely by forcing oneself to renounce sense objects, but by developing a "higher taste"—a superior, spiritual satisfaction that makes material pleasures seem insignificant. 

In Bhagavad Gita (2.59), Krishna explains that a soul may be restricted from sense enjoyment, but the desire for those sense objects remains. That craving disappears only when a higher pleasure is experienced. Forced renunciation is likened to a sick person on a restrictive diet who, despite refraining, still longs for the food they are forbidden. In contrast, one who has tasted the bliss of spiritual life loses their attraction for "pale material things". 

To develop this higher, spiritual taste and avoid sin, Krishna advises several practices. 

1. Devotion and chanting (Bhakti Yoga)

Devotional service, or Bhakti Yoga, is the most direct path to developing a higher taste. 

Chanting God's names: Purely chanting the Hare Krishna Maha-Mantra is a key practice. Krishna's holy names are non-different from Krishna himself, purifying the mind and driving out material desires.

Engaging the senses: Rather than suppressing the senses, one should engage them in the service of Krishna. For example, instead of listening to mundane music, one can listen to devotional songs. Instead of eating for personal pleasure, one can eat prasadam (food offered to Krishna). 

2. Surrender to God (Mat-para)

Krishna asks for complete surrender, assuring his devotees that he will free them from all sinful reactions. 

Focus the mind on Krishna: By concentrating the mind on Krishna, all impurities are burned away, making it easier to control the restless senses.

Become mat-para: This term means to make Krishna the supreme goal. As explained in the life of Maharaja Ambarisha, when one engages all their senses and desires in serving the Lord, they become fit for this devotion and gain full control over their senses. 

3. Action without attachment to results (Nishkam Karma)

Performing one's duties without a desire for the fruits of the action purifies the mind and liberates one from sin. 

Righteous duty (Dharma): Focus on performing your righteous duty rather than clinging to outcomes. This focus reduces the mental and emotional noise arising from worldly concerns.

Selfless action: When actions are performed with devotion and the results are surrendered to God, they become spiritualized and do not incur sinful reactions. 

4. Partaking of spiritualized food (Prasadam)

Eating food that has been prepared with devotion and offered to Krishna helps resist material contamination and purifies the consciousness. 

Offer food to Krishna: The Bhagavad Gita states that devotees who eat food offered as a sacrifice are freed from all sins, while those who cook for their own enjoyment eat only sin.

Qualitative change: When food is offered to Krishna with love, it becomes transcendental and helps the individual advance spiritually. 

Summary of the process

The process of acquiring a higher taste is a positive, joyful one, not a painful one of forced deprivation. By cultivating devotion and experiencing a deeper, spiritual fulfillment, one's lesser, material desires spontaneously fall away, and the temptation to commit sin naturally disappears. 

Hear from Srila Gour Govinda Swami

https://youtube.com/shorts/EW_2OnNW5DU?si=s9UDqsz4mcth3t_n 

Mother Haraa Helps Us to Attain The Grace of The Supreme Father Hari

When we chant the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra, Hare refers to Haraa or Srimati Radharani. His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada has explained that Mother Haraa helps us to achieve the grace of the Supreme Father Hari, or Krishna. And The Lord reveals Himself to such a sincere devotee who has been recommended by Srimati Radharani. 

                            

ISKCON Spread Indian Culture Around the World

 The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) has played a significant historical role in globalizing Indian culture, particularly the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition. Founded in New York City in 1966 by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, ISKCON translated ancient scriptures, introduced bhakti yoga and vegetarianism to the West, and established cultural centers worldwide. 

Introduction of Hindu philosophy to Western audiences

Before ISKCON, many Westerners had little exposure to the intricacies of Indian philosophy. The movement's primary contribution was making key concepts accessible to a global audience. 

• Accessible translations: Prabhupada's translation and commentary of scriptures, such as the Bhagavad Gita As It Is and the Srimad Bhagavatam, were instrumental in making Vedic knowledge understandable to Westerners for the first time.
• Bhakti yoga: ISKCON popularized bhakti yoga—the path of devotion and love for God—which became the central spiritual practice for its followers and attracted many seeking a deeper spiritual connection.
• Congregational chanting: The movement widely promoted the public chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra (sankirtan), which became a distinctive and recognizable aspect of the movement and introduced many to Hindu spiritual practices. 

Promotion of Indian cultural practices

ISKCON's spread of philosophy was inseparable from its dissemination of Indian cultural norms and traditions.

• Vegetarianism: The practice of lacto-vegetarianism, a core tenet of the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition, was introduced to a global audience. The "Food for Life" program further promoted vegetarianism by providing free meals to those in need worldwide.
• Indian arts and festivals: Through its temples and events, ISKCON has become a key exporter of traditional Indian culture. The annual Ratha Yatra (Festival of Chariots), for example, is now celebrated in cities around the world, showcasing Indian music, dance, and art to a broader public.
• Vedic lifestyle: ISKCON established numerous farm communities and educational institutes to teach a "simple living and high thinking" Vedic lifestyle, offering an alternative to modern materialism. 

Reinvigoration of Hindu traditions within India and for the diaspora

ISKCON's influence has had a dual effect, strengthening Hindu culture abroad while also contributing to its revitalization within India.

• Resource for the diaspora: In countries with significant Indian immigrant populations, ISKCON temples often serve as the primary cultural and religious resource. They provide a place of worship and a means for transmitting native culture to younger generations.
• Revival of devotion in India: Some scholars note that the sight of Western devotees embracing Krishna consciousness inspired a renewed interest in devotional practices among some sections of Indian society.
• Global acceptance: The movement's legitimacy among Indians, and the acceptance of some Western devotees into Brahmin status, demonstrates how ISKCON successfully transcended cultural boundaries. 

Academic and institutional influence

Beyond its spiritual teachings, ISKCON has also influenced academic and institutional spheres.

• Academic recognition: The establishment of the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies and other educational initiatives has helped legitimize Hindu studies in Western academia.
• Publishing: The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (BBT), ISKCON's publishing arm, became the world's largest publisher of Vedic texts, distributing hundreds of millions of books in dozens of languages.

Pancha Gauda Prabhu Speaks about ISKCON Vrindavan

 https://youtube.com/shorts/KIS6KOsJr8s?si=b9S9-6895xEjXhBc

The Stages of Advancement in Krishna Consciousness

 According to Srila Rupa Goswami, as detailed in his text Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu, there are nine progressive stages on the path to devotional perfection. The culmination of these stages is prema, or pure love of Godhead. 

These nine stages are often grouped into three broader categories: sadhana-bhakti, bhava-bhakti, and prema-bhakti. 

Category 1: Sadhana-bhakti (Devotional service in practice)

This stage is characterized by executing devotional service through the senses according to scriptural rules and the orders of a spiritual master. It consists of seven sub-stages: 

Śraddhā (Faith): A spark of faith is ignited, leading one to believe in the reality of the divine and the spiritual path.

Sādhu-saṅga (Association with devotees): One seeks the company of saints and fellow devotees to nurture their budding faith.

Bhajana-kriyā (Performance of devotional service): The individual begins actively engaging in devotional practices like chanting, prayer, and studying scripture.

Anartha-nivṛtti (Decreasing of unwanted attachments): Through consistent practice, the heart is gradually cleansed of material impurities and desires.

Niṣṭhā (Steadiness): The devotee's practice becomes firm and unwavering, no longer pulled back and forth by material distractions.

Ruci (Taste): Devotional practices become a joyful experience rather than just a duty. The devotee develops a genuine taste for serving the divine.

Asakti (Attachment): Taste deepens into a profound personal attachment to Krishna, leading to constant remembrance. 

Category 2: Bhava-bhakti (Devotional service in ecstasy)

When asakti intensifies, the seed of love for Krishna sprouts into bhava-bhakti, or ecstatic emotion. This state is free from the influence of material nature and is compared to a single ray of the sun of divine love. 

Category 3: Prema-bhakti (Devotional service in pure love of Godhead)

This is the final, most perfect stage, where the ecstatic emotions of bhava fully blossom into prema—pure, selfless, and unconditional love for Godhead. A devotee in this stage is motivated only by the desire to please the Lord, without any expectation of personal gain. 

Hear from Srila Prabhupada

https://youtube.com/shorts/RlPgWciE8Uo?si=oMUhaNd9cm7izZnt 

Krishna Consciousness in Russia

 In 1971, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada visited the USSR and planted the seed of Krishna consciousness. Krishna consciousness is the essence of Hinduism, also known as Sanatan Dharma. In the Bhagavad Gita, Sri Krishna says that He is the Supreme goal of the Vedas, Vedanta, and Vedic culture. Prabhupada was on a closely supervised visit in those days, but he managed to preach to a young man named Ivan, and initiated him giving him the name Ananta Shanti Das. After Prabhupada's visit, Ananta Shanti preached all over the USSR. Many developments took place over the years regarding the history of spreading Krishna consciousness in Russia with much service and sacrifice by many devotees of Krishna, and today in Russia there are people who subscribe to the philosophy of Krishna consciousness numbering in the millions. If you are interested in learning this philosophy, you can read Srila Prabhupada's books free online at the Bhaktivedanta Vedabase. Also, the institution that Prabhupada established is perhaps the largest in the world today that propagates the complete culture of Sanatan Dharma. It is called the International Society for Krishna Consciousness or ISKCON. Today ISKCON has around 1000 temples and cultural centers in many countries around the world. You can visit these centers to learn about and practice Krishna consciousness. You can also practice Krishna consciousness in your own home or anywhere you live. In this modern age, the central focus among Krishna conscious activities is the chanting of the Holy Names of The Supreme Personality of Godhead, via the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare/ Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare 🙏🏼

Srila Rupanuga Prabhu explains Srila Prabhupada's idea for Mayapura Temple

https://youtube.com/shorts/0FhoQHFZsRw?si=RogFdyxZJ_foA6C3 

Hear from Srila BV Narayan Goswami Maharaj

https://youtube.com/shorts/atYO81kJjoE?si=TD675sawmpjKMJs0 

The Hare Krishna Lifestyle

 

Accepting the Hare Krishna lifestyle means having a sane, clean, enlightened, happy life and a very bright future in the next life. It is based on the teachings of the Vedic scriptures and spiritual masters. One worships, glorifies, and serves Lord Sri Krishna while avoiding drugs, alcohol, promiscuity, nonvegetarian food, and gambling. According to the Vedas, suffering in this life and the next life is due to ignorance. People do not know that many of their activities are producing adverse reactions according to the laws of nature or karma. Any person who accepts that he or she is an eternal servant of The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna, and tries their best to follow the path given by the Lord in the Vedas and taught by the spiritual masters in disciplic succession is liberated from the cycle of birth and death in the material world. It may appear that such a person is of defective character but he/she will quickly advance and attain Krishna very soon. We have been in this material world for an inconceivably long time so even a few more births is relatively soon.

Japa

 Japa is chanting the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra, hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare / hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare. In ISKCON Srila Prabhupada set the standard that devotees should chant at least 16 rounds of japa per day. Without chanting on the Krishna bead one starts on the first bead next to the Krishna bead chanting the mantra once per bead to the other end then start at the end bead going back in the other direction etc. There are 108 beads on a strand of japa beads, so one chants the full mantra 108 x 16 times a day. One should also chant the Pancha-tattva Maha Mantra once at the beginning of each round: sri-krishna-chaitanya prabhu-nityananda sri-advaita gadadhara srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrinda. 

The Three Modes of Material Nature

 

As per Vedic philosophy, as jivas or spirit souls we are always under the influence of God's energy. The liberated souls are under the influence and protection of the Divine Nature and the prominent symptom is that they love the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This love of Godhead avails happiness trillions of times greater than the love of this material world. The fallen souls are under the influence of the material energy or maya. This is also called the illusory energy. By eternal constitution we are loving servants of God, not independent enjoyers. The illusory energy facilitates the illusion of being an independent enjoyer, but this illusory "enjoyment" is temporary and not fully satisfying to the soul. The illusory energy is actually functioning as three energies called the three modes of material nature. The three modes are 1) goodness 2) passion and 3) ignorance or darkness. In the mode of goodness one can see things as they are. In the mode of passion one is not sure what is right or wrong. In the mode of ignorance one considers irreligion to be religion and religion to be irreligion. A complete course on this subject matter is found in Bhagavad-gita Chapters 14 and 18. Please click here for the complete Bhagavad-gita As It Is, translation and explanations (purports) by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, founder-acharya of The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON).