A Sense of Belonging

I have finally found what I have been searching for my entire life. I have always been spiritual but never had an organized religion that filled my needs. I almost gave up and resigned myself to being spiritual but no religion. But things happened, and in a matter of a month several things came into my life that directed me.

I remember a saying: "When the student is ready, the Master will appear." Little did I know it would be when I was in my 50's. What a gift! Krsna is so good, and I am so lucky.

When I start talking to a devotee, I just want to hang on and not let go. I am in the process of changing my life so I can spend time studying and listening, surrounded by devotees.

This is the first time in my life I feel I belong somewhere. How wonderful!

Fran Mazza
Egg Harbor, New Jersey

Increased Devotional Service

May I please know what is the best method of increasing our devotional service unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead Sri Krsna? I have been chanting sixteen rounds of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra daily for many days and reading copies ofSrimad-Bhagavatam and Sri Caitanya-caritamrta that I bought from ISKCON Nepal, of which I am a Life Member. But I am not satisfied with my devotional service unto Lord Krsna; hence I would like to request you to suggest more methods of devotional service.

Tanka Rana
Via the Internet

Our reply: Because Lord Krsna is so qualified and we ourselves are so insignificant compared to Him, it is not surprising that devotees like yourself may feel dissatisfied with their devotional service. That you want to improve your devotional service is a good quality.

Some powerful ways of invoking the favor of the Lord, besides the ones you suggested, are associating with devotees, living in a holy place, and worshiping the deity in the temple with faith. Over and above this, if you try to share Krsna with others, you will be greatly blessed. Lord Caitanya wants His holy name distributed all over the world, and whatever you can do to help Him, with your intelligence, skills, and wealth, will help you greatly. The Lord comes to uplift the fallen souls, and so if you can assist Him in this endeavor, that is the best service.

Evolution and the Vedas

It is said that scriptures like the Vedas existed from the time of creation. That means that a living being must have been there to preserve this great knowledge. But now it is proved that there was no human being on earth at the period of microorganisms and dinosaurs. Then who has preserved the Vedas?

Why did human beings come to exist later than these creatures? Why did God not create human beings at the beginning of creation?

Do you agree that man comes from apes? If so, why is Manu (the father of mankind) mentioned in the Vedas? If evolution is a gradual change from ape to man, then is there any need for a creator? Human and other forms will automatically appear along with adaptation, and so forth.

Ramesh Bhandari
Via the Internet

Our reply: The Lord reveals the Vedic knowledge to the original living being, Lord Brahma, from within his heart, and Brahma expands it through his descendents.

There is evidence that human beings existed during the time of the dinosaurs. You can find this in Forbidden Archeology or its condensed version, The Hidden History of the Human Race.

First God creates Brahma. Then Brahma creates the prajapatis, and the prajapatis create humans, animals, and plants. This is described in Human Devolution.

We do not accept that humans descended from apes. If you look at the evidence in Forbidden Archeology, you will see that apes, ape-men, and humans appear to have all existed for millions of years into the past. The fossil record is missing transitional forms between the vast majority of species. In fact, the evolutionists had to dream up a scheme called punctuated equilibrium to justify the lack of evidence in this area. It is simply blind faith to accept the process of gradual evolution based on the scanty evidence for it.

More About Radharani

Can you suggest how I can find more resources about Srimati Radharani, either online or in your bookstore?

I have read articles posted on Krishna.com and have read Krsna book too. But apart from these, is there any other place I can learn more about Goddess Radharani?

Guru Krishna Ram
Via the Internet

Our reply: We consider Srila Prabhupada the greatest authority on Srimati Radharani in recent times, and Her greatest servant, because personally, and through his faithful followers, he has created hundreds of Radha-Krsna temples all over the world. Besides his Krsna book, the other books of his that discuss Srimati Radharani are The Nectar of Devotion and Sri Caitanya-caritamrta. Of these it is better to read The Nectar of Devotion first. It contains many descriptions of Radharanis pastimes and feelings of love for Krsna.

Ultimately appreciation of Radharani is possible for one whose only aspiration is to serve Krsna, for that is Her only desire. The beautiful instructions of Rupa Gosvami, as explained for our time by Srila Prabhupada in The Nectar of Devotion, can help us become pure devotees of Krsna and thus come to appreciate more fully the glories of Krsna's foremost devotee, Srimati Radharani.

Corrections

Please correct a misquote in your article "Hare Krsna Youth on Tour" [Jan/Feb 2004]. I never said that we drove the Radha-Damodara busses "into the ground" or that we didn't repair the transmissions. The Radha-Damodara party always had a dedicated maintenance crew. At its peak, Dayal Candra Dasa headed up a crew of five devotee repairmen in a large garage in Manhattan.

Dravinaksa Dasa
Alachua, Florida

As author of the article "When the Road Becomes a Temple" [May/June 2004], I have come to realize that it was left with a major oversight. Tattva Darsana Dasa, a trusted and loyal person, was hardly mentioned. Without his good Vaisnava support, as in driving the support van, doing laundry, preparing delicious veggie wraps, shopping for supplies, arranging accommodations at campsites or people's homes, contacting media, and just providing companionship, the cross-Canada trek could not have gone on. It goes to show that Vaisnava association is essential in undertaking any devotional project. My greatest appreciation goes to him.

Bhaktimarga Swami
Toronto, Canada

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