Vanipedia is a dynamic encyclopedia of Srila Prabhupada's words (vani). Through collaboration, we explore and comprehensively compile Srila Prabhupada's teachings from various angles of vision and present them in accessible and easily understandable ways. We are building an unparalleled repository of Srila Prabhupada's digital teachings to offer him a continual, worldwide platform to preach and teach the science of Krishna consciousness to the world, for the benefit of all.
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bandhuḥ—friend; ātmā—mind; ātmanaḥ—of the living entity; tasya—of him; yena—by whom; ātmā—mind; eva—certainly; ātmanā—by the living entity; jitaḥ—conquered; anātmanaḥ—of one who has failed to control the mind; tu—but; śatrutve—because of enmity; varteta—remains; ātmā eva—the very mind; śatruvat—as an enemy.
TRANSLATION
For him who has conquered the mind, the mind is the best of friends; but for one who has failed to do so, his very mind will be the greatest enemy.
PURPORT
The purpose of practicing eightfold yoga is to control the mind in order to make it a friend in discharging the human mission. Unless the mind is controlled, the practice of yoga (for show) is simply a waste of time. One who cannot control his mind lives always with the greatest enemy, and thus his life and its mission are spoiled. The constitutional position of the living entity is to carry out the order of the superior. As long as one's mind remains an unconquered enemy, one has to serve the dictations of lust, anger, avarice, illusion, etc. But when the mind is conquered, one voluntarily agrees to abide by the dictation of the Personality of Godhead, who is situated within the heart of everyone as Paramātmā. Real yoga practice entails meeting the Paramātmā within the heart and then following His dictation. For one who takes to Kṛṣṇa consciousness directly, perfect surrender to the dictation of the Lord follows automatically.
"This material body how it can become purified? Yes it can be, the example is just like you take an iron rod and put it in the fire and get it warm, it becomes warm, warm, warmer and at last it becomes red hot. At that time it is no longer iron rod, it is fire. You touch anywhere it will burn, similarly if you chant Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra regularly according to the principles then gradually the your whole body becomes spiritualised. Then it is apāpa-vidham no more sin. So you have to make your life completely pure then you will be admitted into the kingdom of God, back to Godhead, back to home."
Шрила Прабхупада им придава големо значење на неговите учења, така што Ванипедија е посветена исклучиво на неговото дело кое се состои од книги, снимени предавања и разговори, писма итн. Кога ќе биде завршен, Ванипедија ќе биде првиот Вани-храм во светот кој нуди свет простор каде што милиони луѓе кои бараат автентично духовно водство ќе најдат одговори и инспирација од славните учења на Шрила Прабхупада, претставени во формат на енциклопедија на што е можно повеќе јазици.
Изјава за визијата на Ванипедија
Соработка за да се повика и целосно да се манифестира повеќејазичното Вани-присуство на Шрила Прабхупада, со што ќе им се олесни на стотици милиони луѓе да ја живеат науката за свесноста за Кришна и да му помогнат на санкиртана движењето на Господ Чаитанја Махапрабху повторно да го продухови човечкото општество.
Соработка
Изградбата на енциклопедијата до степен што е прикажан во Ванипедија е можно само со масовен заеднички напор на илјадници приврзаници кои соработувајќи ги составуваат и вредно ги преведуваат учењата на Шрила Прабхупада.
Сакаме да го завршиме преводот на сите книги, предавања, разговори и писма на Шрила Прабхупада на најмалку 16 јазици и да достигнеме најмалку 108 јазици со одредено претставување во Ванипедија до ноември 2027 година.
Од октомври 2017 година, целосната Библија е преведена на 670 јазици, Новиот завет е преведен на 1.521 јазик и библиските делови или приказни на 1.121 други јазици. Овие статистички податоци покажуваат дека нашите цели, иако учењата на Шрила Прабхупада се значително зголемени , не се воопшто амбициозни во споредба со напорите што христијаните ги прават за ширење на нивните учења на глобално ниво.
Ги покануваме сите приврзаници да ни се придружат во овој благороден потфат за повикување и целосно појавување на повеќејазичното Вани-присуство на Шрила Прабхупада на интернет за доброто на ЦЕЛОТО човештво.
Повикување
Во 1965 година, Шрила Прабхупада пристигна непоканет во Америка. Иако деновите на неговото славно присуство на Вапу завршија во 1977 година, тој сè уште постои во неговото Вани и токму тоа присуство сега мораме да го повикаме. Само со повикување и молење на Шрила Прабхупада да се појави ќе го стори тоа. Нашата интензивна желба да го имаме меѓу нас е клучот што го држиме за неговата појава.
Целосно појавување
Не сакаме делумно присуство на Шрила Прабхупада пред нас. Сакаме негово целосно Вани-присуство. Сите негови снимени учења треба да бидат целосно соединети и преведени на многу јазици. Ова е нашата понуда за идните генерации на луѓе на оваа планета - целосно засолниште (ашраја) на учењата на Шрила Прабхупада.
Вани-присуство
Целосното Вани-присуство на Шрила Прабхупада ќе се биде во две фази. Првата - и лесна фаза - е да се состават и преведат сите учења на Шрила Прабхупада на сите јазици. Втората - и потешка фаза - е стотици милиони луѓе целосно да ги живеат неговите учења.
Различни начини за учење
До денес, во нашето истражување, откривме дека постојат 60 различни начини на кои Шрила Прабхупада ги поучил посветениците да ги читаат неговите книги.
Со проучување на книгите на Шрила Прабхупада на овие различни начини можеме правилно да ги разбереме и асимилираме. Следејќи ја тематската методологија на проучување и потоа нивното составување, лесно може да се навлезе во длабочината на значењата на секој збор, фраза, концепт или личност што ги прикажува Шрила Прабхупада. Неговите учења се без сомнение наш живот и душа, и кога ги проучуваме темелно, можеме да го согледаме и доживееме присуството на Шрила Прабхупада многу продлабочено.
Десет Милиони Ачарји
Да претпоставиме дека имате сега десет илјади. Ќе се прошириме на сто илјади. Тоа се бара. Потоа сто илјади до милиони, а од милион до десет милиони. Така, нема да има недостаток на ачарји, а луѓето многу лесно ќе ја разберат свесноста за Кришна. Затоа направете ја таа организација. Немојте лажно да се гордеете. Следете ги упатствата на ачарјите и обидете се да се направите совршени, зрели. Тогаш ќе биде многу лесно да се борите со маја. Да. Ачарјите, тие објавуваат војна против активностите на маја.– Лекција на Шрила Прабхупада од Чаитанја Чаритамрита, 6 Април 1975
Коментар
Оваа изјава за визијата на Шрила Прабхупада зборува сама по себе - совршен план за луѓето лесно да ја разберат свесноста за Кришна. Десет милиони овластени шикша-посветеници на Шрила Прабхупада понизно ги живеат упатствата на нашиот Основач-ачарја и секогаш се трудат за совршенство и зрелост. Шрила Прабхупада јасно вели „направете ја таа организација“. Ванипедија со ентузијазам помага да се исполни оваа визија.
Наука за Свесноста за Кришна
Во деветтото поглавје од Бхагавад-гита науката за свесност за Кришна се нарекува крал на секое знаење, крал на сите доверливи нешта и врвна наука за трансцендентално остварување. Свесноста за Кришна е трансцендентална наука која може да му се открие на искрениот приврзаник кој е подготвен да му служи на Бога. Свесноста за Кришна не се постигнува со суви аргументи или со академски квалификации. Свесноста за Кришна не е вера, како што е хиндуистичката, христијанската, будистичката или исламската вера, туку таа е наука. Ако некој внимателно ги чита книгите на Шрила Прабхупада, тој ќе ја сфати највисоката наука за свесноста за Кришна и ќе биде повеќе инспириран да го рашири истото на сите луѓе како нивна вистинска благосостојба.
Санкиртана Движењето на Господ Чаитанја
Господ Шри Чаитанја Махапрабху е татко и промотор на санкиртана движењето. Оној кој го обожува, жртвувајќи го својот живот, пари, интелигенција и зборови за санкиртана движењето, Господ го препознава и дадени му се Неговите благослови. За сите други може да се каже дека се глупави, бидејќи од сите жртви во кои човекот може да ја употреби својата енергија, жртвата направена за санкиртана движењето е најславна. Целото движење на свесноста за Кришна се заснова на принципите на санкиртана движењето инаугурирано од Шри Чаитанја Махапрабху. Затоа, оној кој се обидува да ја разбере Севишната Божја Личност преку медиумот на санкиртана движењето знае сè совршено. Тој е сумедхас, личност со значителна интелигенција.
Повторно Продуховување на Човечкото Општество
Човечкото општество, во овој момент, не е во темнината на заборавот. Тоа постигна брз напредок на полето на материјалните удобности, образованието и економскиот развој низ целиот свет. Но, постои зрно на раздорот некаде во општественото тело и затоа има големи расправии, дури и за помалку важни прашања. Има потреба за решавање на прашањето како човештвото може да стане еднинствено во мир, пријателство и просперитет со заедничка цел. Шримад-Бхагаватам ја исполнува оваа потреба, бидејќи тоа е културна презентација за повторно продуховување на целото човечко општество. Повеќето луѓе, генерално, се алатки во рацете на современите политичари и лидери на народот. Ако има промена на срцето само на лидерите, сигурно ќе има радикална промена во атмосферата во светот.
Целта на вистинското образование треба да биде самореализација, остварување на духовните вредности на душата. Секој треба да помогне да се продуховат сите активности на светот. Со таквите активности, и изведувачот и извршената работа се надополнуваат со духовност и ги надминуваат начините на природата.
Изјава за мисијата на Ванипедија
Да се понуди на Шрила Прабхупада континуирана, светска платформа за проповедање, едукација и обука на луѓето во науката за свесност за Кришна на сите јазици во светот.
Да се истражат, откријат и сеопфатно да се состават учењата на Шрила Прабхупада од повеќе агли на гледање.
Да го претставиме Вани на Шрила Прабхупада на лесно достапни и разбирливи начини.
Да се понуди складирање на сеопфатни тематски истражувања за да се олесни пишувањето на многу тематски книги засновани на Вани на Шрила Прабхупада.
Да се понудат ресурси за наставна програма за различни образовни иницијативи во Вани на Шрила Прабхупада.
Да се всади недвосмислено разбирање меѓу искрените следбеници на Шрила Прабхупада, за неопходноста да се консултираат со Вани на Шрила Прабхупада за лично насочување и да станат доволно едуцирани да го претставуваат на сите нивоа.
Да се привлечат следбениците на Шрила Прабхупада од сите нации да соработуваат на глобално ниво со цел да се постигне сето горенаведено.
Што не мотивира да ја изградиме Ванипедија?
Го прифаќаме тоа
Шрила Прабхупада е чист посветеник, директно овластен од Господ Шри Кришна да ги вклучи живите суштества во посветена служба на Бога полна со љубов. Ова полномоштво е докажано во неговото неспоредливо изложување на Апсолутната вистина што се наоѓа во неговите учења.
Немало поголем проповедник на Ваишнавската филозофијата во модерното време, ниту поголем општествен критичар кој го објаснува овој современ свет КАКОВ ШТО Е, од Шрила Прабхупада.
Учењата на Шрила Прабхупада ќе бидат основно засолниште за неговите милиони следбеници за сите идни генерации.
Шрила Прабхупада сакаше неговите учења да бидат обилно дистрибуирани и соодветно разбрани.
Тематскиот пристап кон учењата на Шрила Прабхупада во голема мера го подобрува процесот на разбирање на вистините во нив и дека има огромна вредност во истражувањето, откривањето и темелното составување на неговите учења од секој агол на гледање.
Преведувањето на сите учења на Шрила Прабхупада на одреден јазик е исто како да се покани Шрила Прабхупада вечно да живее во местата каде што се зборуваат тие јазици.
Во неговото физичко отсуство, Шрила Прабхупада бара многу ванислуги да му помогнат во оваа мисија.
Така, ние сме посветени на создавање навистина динамична платформа за да се олесни обилната дистрибуција и правилното разбирање на совршеното знаење и сознанија кои се наоѓаат во учењата на Шрила Прабхупада, за да може радосно да се постапува по нив. Тоа е толку едноставно. Единственото нешто што нè дели од завршувањето на Ванипедија е времето и многуте свети часови на ванишева што допрва треба да ги понудат посветениците кои се посветуваат на оваа визија.
Многу ви благодарам на сите што ја цените мојата скромна услуга што се обидувам да ја остварам како должност дадена од мојот Гуру Махараџа. Ги замолувам сите мои ученици да работат заедно и сигурен сум дека нашата мисија ќе напредува без никакво сомневање.– Писмо на Шрила Прабхупад до Тамал Кришна дас(ГБС) - 14 август 1971 година
Трите природни позиции на Шрила Прабхупада
Културата на засолниште кај лотосовите стапала на учењата на Шрила Прабхупада може да се реализира само кога овие три позиции на Шрила Прабхупада ќе се разбудат во срцата на сите негови следбеници.
Srila Prabhupada is our pre-eminent siksa-guru
We accept that all of Srila Prabhupada's followers can experience his presence and shelter within his teachings – both individually and when discussing them with each other.
We purify ourselves and establish a firm relationship with Srila Prabhupada by learning to live with him as our guiding conscience.
We encourage devotees feeling separation from Srila Prabhupada, to take the time to seek his presence and solace within his Vani.
We share Srila Prabhupada's compassion with all his followers, including those who take initiation in his line as well as those who follow him in different capacities.
We educate devotees in the truth of Srila Prabhupada's position as our pre-eminent siksa-guru, and our sisya relationship with him in separation.
We establish a succession of siksa-empowered disciples to uphold Srila Prabhupada's legacy throughout successive generations.
Srila Prabhupada is the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON
We promote his Vani as the primary driving force that keeps the members of ISKCON connected and faithful to him, and thus inspired, enthused and determined to make his movement everything that he wished it to be – both now and in the future.
We encourage the sustainable development of Vaishnava-brahminical standards centered on Srila Prabhupada's teachings and his preaching strategies – a "vani-culture."
We educate devotees in the truth of Srila Prabhupada's position as the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON and our service to him and his movement.
Srila Prabhupada is the World-acharya
We increase the global awareness of the significance of Srila Prabhupada's spiritual stature as the world-acharya by establishing the contemporary relevance of his teachings in all circles in every country.
We inspire a culture of appreciation and respect for Srila Prabhupada's teachings, resulting in active participation in the practices of Krishna consciousness by the world's population.
We realize the premise that Srila Prabhupada built a house in which the whole world can live by establishing his Vani as simultaneously the foundation and roof – the shelter, the ashraya – that protects this house.
Vital to Establish Srila Prabhupada's Natural Position
Our ISKCON society needs educational initiatives, political directives, and social culture to facilitate and nurture Srila Prabhupada's natural position with his followers and within his movement. It will not happen automatically or by wishful thinking. It can only be achieved by intelligent, concerted and collaborative efforts offered by his pure-hearted devotees.
Five Key Obstacles Concealing Srila Prabhupada's Natural Position within his Movement:
1. ignorance of Srila Prabhupada's teachings – he has given instructions but we are not aware they exist.
2. indifference to Srila Prabhupada's teachings – we know the instructions exist but we do not care about them. We ignore them.
3. misunderstanding of Srila Prabhupada's teachings – we apply them sincerely but due to our over-confidence or lack of maturity, they are misapplied.
4. a lack of faith in Srila Prabhupada's teachings – deep within we are not fully convinced and think of them as utopian, neither realistic nor practical for the "modern world."
5. in competition with Srila Prabhupada's teachings – with full conviction and enthusiasm we go in a completely different direction than what Srila Prabhupada has instructed, and in so doing influence others to go with us.
Comment
We believe these obstacles can easily be overcome with the introduction of integral, structured educational and training programs aimed at nurturing our relationship with and increasing our knowledge of Srila Prabhupada's teachings. This will only succeed however if fueled by a serious leadership commitment to create a culture deeply rooted in Srila Prabhupada's Vani. Srila Prabhupada's natural position will thus automatically become, and remain, apparent to all generations of devotees.
Devotees are his Limbs, ISKCON is his Body, and his Vani is his Soul
Make the covers of the book very much attractive so that automatically they will read the knowledge inside. The covers are like the mind and the senses, and the contents of the book are the soul.– Srila Prabhupada Letter to Amogha das (TP), 22 May 1972
I wish that it will be noted down in history that this Krishna consciousness movement is responsible for saving the world. Practically, our movement is the only hope for saving the world from complete disaster.– Srila Prabhupada Letter to Sucandra das (TP), 1 January 1972
You should always remember that whatever we are doing, it is in the parampara system beginning from Lord Krishna, down to us. Therefore, our loving spirit should be more upon the message than the physical representation. When we love the message and serve Him, automatically our devotional love for the physique is done.– Srila Prabhupada Letter to Govinda dasi, 7 April 1970
Comment
We are Srila Prabhupada's limbs. To successfully cooperate with him to his full satisfaction we must be united in consciousness with him. This loving unity develops from our becoming fully absorbed in, convinced by and practicing his Vani. Our holistic success strategy is for everyone to assimilate Srila Prabhupada's teachings and boldly place them at the heart of everything we do for his Krishna consciousness movement. In this way, Srila Prabhupada's devotees can flourish personally, and in their respective services to make ISKCON a solid body which can fulfill Srila Prabhupada's desire to save the world from complete disaster. The devotees win, the GBC wins, ISKCON wins, the world wins, Srila Prabhupada wins, and Lord Caitanya wins. There will be no losers.
Distributing the Teachings of Parampara
1486 Caitanya Mahaprabhu appears in order to teach the world Krishna consciousness – 533 years ago
1488 Sanatana Goswami appears in order to write books on Krishna consciousness – 531 years ago
1489 Rupa Gosvami appears in order to write books on Krishna consciousness – 530 years ago
1495 Raghunatha Gosvami appears in order to write books on Krishna consciousness – 524 years ago
1500 Mechanical printing presses begin to revolutionize the distribution of books throughout Europe – 520 years ago
1513 Jiva Gosvami appears in order to write books on Krishna consciousness – 506 years ago
1834 Bhaktivinoda Thakura appears in order to write books on Krishna consciousness – 185 years ago
1874 Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati appears in order to write books on Krishna consciousness – 145 years ago
1896 Srila Prabhupada appears in order to write books on Krishna consciousness – 123 years ago
1914 Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati coins the phrase "brhat-mrdanga" – 105 years ago
1922 Srila Prabhupada meets Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati for the first time and is immediately requested to preach in the English language - 97 years ago
1935 Srila Prabhupada receives the instruction to print books – 84 years ago
1944 Srila Prabhupada starts Back to Godhead magazine – 75 years ago
1956 Srila Prabhupada moves to Vrndavana to write books – 63 years ago
1962 Srila Prabhupada publishes his first volume of Srimad-Bhagavatam – 57 years ago
1965 Srila Prabhupada arrives in the West to distribute his books – 54 years ago
1968 Srila Prabhupada publishes his abridged Bhagavad-gita As-It-Is – 52 years ago
1972 Srila Prabhupada publishes his full version of Bhagavad-gita As-It-Is – 47 years ago
1972 Srila Prabhupada establishes the BBT to publish his books – 47 years ago
1974 Srila Prabhupada's disciples start the serious distribution of his books – 45 years ago
1975 Srila Prabhupada completes the Sri Caitanya-caritamrta – 44 years ago
1977Srila Prabhupada stops speaking and leaves his Vani in our care – 42 years ago
1978 The Bhaktivedanta Archives is established – 41 years ago
1986 The world's digitally stored material amounts to 1 CD-ROM per person – 33 years ago
1991 The World Wide Web (brhat-brhat-brhat mrdanga) is established – 28 years ago
1992 The Bhaktivedanta VedaBase version 1.0 is created – 27 years ago
2002 The Digital Age arrives - worldwide digital storage overtakes analog – 17 years ago
2007 The world's digitally stored material amounts to 61 CD-ROMS per person – 12 years ago, that makes 427 billion CD-ROMs. (all full)
2007 Srila Prabhupada's Vani-temple, the Vanipedia begins construction in the web – 12 years ago
2010 Srila Prabhupada's Vapu-temple, the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium begins construction in Sridhama Mayapur – 9 years ago
2012 Vanipedia reaches 1,906,753 quotes, 108,971 pages and 13,946 categories – 7 years ago
2013 500,000,000 of Srila Prabhupada's books have been distributed by ISKCON devotees in 48 years – an average of 28,538 books every single day - 6 years ago
2019 21st March, Gaura Purnima day at 7.15 Central European Time, Vanipedia celebrates 11 years of inviting devotees to collaborate together to invoke and fully manifest Srila Prabhupada's Vani-presence. Vanipedia now offers 45,588 categories, 282,297 pages, 2,100,000 plus quotes presented in 93 languages. This has been achieved by over 1,220 devotees who have performed more than 295,000 hours of vaniseva. We still have a long way to go in order to complete Srila Prabhupada's Vani-temple thus we continue to invite devotees to participate in this glorious mission.
Comment
The unfolding of the mission of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu under the banner of the modern day Krishna consciousness movement is a very exciting time to be performing devotional service.
Srila Prabhupada, the Founder-acarya of the International Society of Krishna Consciousness has brought onto the world scene a life-changing phenomenon in the form of his Translations, Bhaktivedanta Purports, Lectures, Conversations, and Letters. Here lies the key to the respiritualization of the whole human society.
Vani, Personal Association and Service in Separation - Quotes
My Guru Maharaja passed in 1936, and I started this movement in 1965, thirty years after. Then? I am getting the mercy of guru. This is Vani. Even the guru is not physically present, if you follow the Vani, then you are getting help.– Srila Prabhupada Morning-walk Conversation, 21 July 1975
In the absence of physical presentation of the Spiritual Master the Vaniseva is more important. My Spiritual Master, Sarasvati Gosvami Thakura, may appear to be physically not present, but still because I try to serve His instruction I never feel separated from Him. I expect that all of you should follow these instructions.– Srila Prabhupada Letter to Karandhara das (GBC), 22 August 1970
From the very beginning I was strongly against the impersonalists and all my books are stressed on this point. So my oral instruction as well as my books are all at your service. Now you GBC consult them and get clear and strong idea, then there will be no disturbance. Disturbance is caused by ignorance; where there is no ignorance, there is no disturbance.– Srila Prabhupada Letter to Hayagriva das (GBC), 22 August 1970
So far personal association with the Guru is concerned, I was only with my Guru Maharaja four or five times, but I have never left his association, not even for a moment. Because I am following his instructions, I have never felt any separation.– Srila Prabhupada Letter to Satyadhanya das, 20 February 1972
Please be happy in separation. I am separated from my Guru Maharaja since 1936 but I am always with him so long I work according to his direction. So we should all work together for satisfying Lord Krishna and in that way the feelings of separation will transform into transcendental bliss.– Srila Prabhupada Letter to Uddhava das (ISKCON Press), 3 May 1968
Comment
Srila Prabhupada offers many revealing truths in this series of statements.
Srila Prabhupada's personal guidance is always here.
We should be happy in feelings of separation from Srila Prabhupada.
In Srila Prabhupada's physical absence his Vaniseva is more important.
Srila Prabhupada had very little personal association with his Guru Maharaja.
Srila Prabhupada's oral instruction, as well as his books, are all at our service.
Feelings of separation from Srila Prabhupada transform into transcendental bliss.
When Srila Prabhupada is not physically present, if we follow his Vani, we get his help.
Srila Prabhupada never left Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati's association, not even for a moment.
By consulting Srila Prabhupada's oral instructions and his books we get clear and strong ideas.
By following Srila Prabhupada's instructions we will never feel separated (disconnected) from him.
Srila Prabhupada expects all his followers to follow these instructions in order to become empowered siksa-disciples of him.
Using Media to Spread Krishna's Message
So go on with your organization for distribution of my books through press and other modern-media and Krishna will certainly be pleased upon you. We can use everything – television, radio, movies, or whatever there may be – to tell about Krishna.– Srila Prabhupada Letter to Bhagavan das (GBC), 24 November 1970
I am very encouraged by the reports of the tremendous success of your TV and radio programs. As much as possible try to increase our preaching programs by using all the mass media which are available. We are modern day Vaishnavas and we must preach vigorously using all the means available.– Srila Prabhupada Letter to Rupanuga das (GBC), 30 December 1971
If you are able to arrange everything so that I can simply sit in my room and be seen by the world and speak to the world, then I shall never leave Los Angeles. That will be the perfection of your L.A. Temple. I am very, very encouraged by your proposal to flood the medias of your country with our Krishna Consciousness program, and see that it is practically taking shape under your hands, so I am all the more pleased.- Srila Prabhupada Letter to Siddhesvar das and Krishnakanti das, 16 February 1972
Following in the footsteps of his Guru Maharaja Srila Prabhupada knew the art of engaging everything for Krishna's service.
Srila Prabhupada wants to be seen by the world and speak to the world.
Srila Prabhupada desires to flood the media with our Krishna Consciousness programs.
Srila Prabhupada wants his books distributed through the press and other modern-media.
Srila Prabhupada was happy to hear about the plan for a subject by subject encyclopedia of his teachings.
Srila Prabhupada says we should increase our preaching programs by using all the mass media that is available.
Srila Prabhupada says we are modern day Vaishnavas and we must preach vigorously using all the means available.
Srila Prabhupada says we can use everything – television, radio, movies, or whatever there may be – to tell about Krishna.
Srila Prabhupada says that the mass-media can become such an important instrument in spreading our Krishna consciousness movement.
Modern-media, modern opportunities
For Srila Prabhupada, in the 1970's, the terms modern-media and mass-media meant the printing press, radio, TV and movies. Since his departure, the landscape of mass media has dramatically transformed to include Android phones, cloud computing and storage, e-book readers, e-commerce, interactive TV and gaming, online publishing, podcasts and RSS feeds, social networking sites, streaming media services, touch-screen technologies, web-based communications & distribution services and wireless technologies.
In line with Srila Prabhupada's example we are, since 2007, using modern mass media technologies to compile, index, categorize and distribute Srila Prabhupada's Vani.
Vanipedia's aim is to increase the visibility and accessibility of Srila Prabhupada's teachings on the web by offering a free, authentic, one-stop resource for
• ISKCON preachers
• ISKCON leaders and managers
• devotees studying devotional courses
• devotees wishing to deepen their knowledge
• devotees involved in inter-faith dialogues
• curriculum developers
• devotees feeling separation from Srila Prabhupada
• executive leaders
• academics
• teachers and students of religious education
• writers
• searchers of spirituality
• people concerned about current social issues
• historians
Comment
There is still more to be done to make Srila Prabhupada's teachings accessible and prominent in the world today. Collaborative web technologies provide us the opportunity to surpass all our previous successes.
Vaniseva – the Sacred Act of Serving Srila Prabhupada's Vani
Srila Prabhupada stopped speaking on the 14th of November, 1977, but the Vani he gave us remains ever fresh. However, these teachings are not yet in their pristine condition, nor are all of them readily accessible to his devotees. Srila Prabhupada's followers have a sacred duty to preserve and to distribute his Vani to everyone. We are therefore inviting you to perform this vaniseva.
Always remember that you are one of the few men I have appointed to carry on my work throughout the world and your mission before you is huge. Therefore, always pray to Krishna to give you strength for accomplishing this mission by doing what I am doing. My first business is to give the devotees the proper knowledge and engage them in devotional service, so that is not very difficult task for you, I have given you everything, so read and speak from the books and so many new lights will come out. We have got so many books, so if we go on preaching from them for the next 1,000 years, there is enough stock.– Srila Prabhupada Letter to Satsvarupa das (GBC), 16 June 1972
In June of 1972 Srila Prabhupada said that "we have got so many books" that we have "enough stock" to preach from for the "next 1,000 years." At that time, only 10 titles had been printed, so with all the extra books that Srila Prabhupada published from July 1972 to November 1977 the number of years of stock could easily be expanded to 5,000. If we add to this his oral instructions and letters, then the stock expands to 10,000 years. We need to expertly prepare all these teachings to be accessed and properly understood so that they can be "preached from" for this whole period of time.
There is no doubt that Srila Prabhupada has unending enthusiasm and determination to preach the message of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. It does not matter that his vapu has left us. He remains in his teachings, and via the digital platform, he can now preach even more widely than when he was physically present. With complete dependence on Lord Caitanya's mercy, let us embrace Srila Prabhupada's vani-mission, and with more resolve than ever before, expertly prepare his Vani for 10,000 years of preaching.
Over the past ten years I have given the framework and now we have become more than the British Empire. Even the British Empire was not as expansive as we. They had only a portion of the world, and we have not completed expanding. We must expand more and more unlimitedly. But I must now remind you that I have to complete the translation of the Srimad-Bhagavatam. This is the greatest contribution; our books have given us a respectable position. People have no faith in this church or temple worship. Those days are gone. Of course, we have to maintain the temples as it is necessary to keep our spirits high. Simply intellectualism will not do, there must be practical purification.
So I request you to relieve me of management responsibilities more and more so that I can complete the Srimad-Bhagavatam translation. If I am always having to manage, then I cannot do my work on the books. It is document, I have to choose each word very soberly and if I have to think of management then I cannot do this. I cannot be like these rascals who present something mental concoction to cheat the public. So this task will not be finished without the cooperation of my appointed assistants, the GBC, temple presidents, and sannyasis. I have chosen my best men to be GBC and I do not want that the GBC should be disrespectful to the temple presidents. You can naturally consult me, but if the basic principle is weak, how will things go on? So please assist me in the management so that I can be free to finish the Srimad-Bhagavatam which will be our lasting contribution to the world.– Srila Prabhupada Letter to All Governing Body Commissioners, 19 May 1976
Here Srila Prabhupada is stating "this task will not be finished without the cooperation of my appointed assistants" to help him make "our lasting contribution to the world." It is Srila Prabhupada's books that have "given us a respectable position" and they are "the greatest contribution to the world."
Over the years, so much vaniseva has been performed by BBT devotees, book distributors, preachers who have held firmly to Srila Prabhupada's words, and by other devotees who have been dedicated to distribute and preserve his Vani in one way or another. But there is still much more to do. By working together via the technologies of the brhat-brhat-brhat mrdanga (the World Wide Web) we now have an opportunity to build an unparalleled manifestation of Srila Prabhupada's Vani in a very short period of time. Our proposal is to come together in vaniseva and build a Vani-temple to be completed by November 4th, 2027, at which time we will all be celebrating the final 50th anniversary. 50 years of serving Srila Prabhupada in separation. This will be a very appropriate and beautiful offering of love to Srila Prabhupada, and a glorious gift to all the future generations of his devotees.
I am glad that you have named your printing press the Radha Press. It is very gratifying. May your Radha Press be enriched in publishing all our books and literatures in the German language. It is a very nice name. Radharani is the best, topmost servitor of Krishna, and the printing machine is the biggest medium at the present moment for serving Krishna. Therefore, it is really a representative of Srimati Radharani. I like the idea very much.– Srila Prabhupada Letter to Jaya Govinda das (Book production manager), 4 July 1969
For the better part of the 20th century, the printing press provided the tools for successful propaganda from so many groups of people. Srila Prabhupada stated how expert the communists were to spread their influence in India via the pamphlets and books they distributed. Srila Prabhupada used this example to express how he wanted to make a large propaganda program for Krishna consciousness by distributing his books all over the world.
Now, in the 21st century, Srila Prabhupada's statement "the biggest medium at the present moment for serving Krishna" can undoubtedly be applied to the exponential and unparalleled power of internet publishing and distribution. In Vanipedia, we are preparing Srila Prabhupada's teachings for proper representation on this modern mass distribution platform. Srila Prabhupada stated that the Radha Press of his devotees in Germany was "really a representative of Srimati Radharani." We are therefore certain that he would consider Vanipedia to be a representative of Srimati Radharani as well.
So many beautiful Vapu-temples have already been built by ISKCON devotees – let us now build at least one glorious Vani-temple. The Vapu-temples offer sacred darshans to the forms of the Lord, and a Vani-temple will offer the sacred darshan to the teachings of the Lord and His pure devotees, as presented by Srila Prabhupada. The work of ISKCON devotees will naturally be more successful when Srila Prabhupada's teachings are situated in their rightful, worshipable position. Now there is a wonderful opportunity for all his current "appointed assistants" to embrace the vani-mission of building his Vani-temple and to inspire the whole movement to participate.
Just as the enormous and beautiful Vapu-temple rising from the banks of the Ganges in Sridham Mayapur is destined to help spread Lord Caitanya's mercy all over the world, so too can a Vani-temple of Srila Prabhupada's teachings strengthen his ISKCON mission to spread all over the world and establish Srila Prabhupada's natural position for thousands of years to come.
Vaniseva – Taking Practical Action to Serve
Completing Vanipedia means Srila Prabhupada's teachings will be presented in a way that no one has ever done for the works of any spiritual teacher. We invite everyone to take part in this sacred mission. Together we will give Srila Prabhupada a unique exposure to the world on a magnitude only possible via the web.
Our desire is to make Vanipedia the No.1 reference encyclopedia of Srila Prabhupada's teachings in multiple languages. This will only happen with the sincere commitment, sacrifice, and support of many devotees. To date, over 1,220 devotees have participated in building Vanisource and Vaniquotes and translations in 93 languages. Now in order to complete Vaniquotes and build the Vanipedia articles, the Vanibooks, the Vanimedia, and the Vaniversity courses we need more support from devotees with the following skills:
• Administration
• Compiling
• Curriculum Development
• Design and Layout
• Finance
• Management
• Promotion
• Researching
• Server Maintenance
• Site Development
• Software Programming
• Teaching
• Technical Editing
• Training
• Translating
• Writing
Vaniservants offer their service from their homes, temples, and offices, or they can join us full-time for certain periods in Sridham Mayapur or Radhadesh.
Donating
For the past 12 years Vanipedia has been primarily financed by the book distribution from Bhaktivedanta Library Services a.s.b.l. To continue its construction, Vanipedia needs funding beyond the current capacity of BLS. Once completed, Vanipedia will hopefully be sustained by small donations from a percentage of many satisfied visitors. But for now, in order to complete the initial phases of building this free encyclopedia, the service of offering financial support is crucial.
Supporters of Vanipedia can choose from one of the following options
Sponsor: A person donating any amount they desire
Supporting Patron: An individual person or legal entity donating at least 81 euros
Sustaining Patron: An individual person or legal entity donating at least 810 euros with the possibility to make 9 monthly payments of 90 euros
Growth Patron: An individual person or legal entity donating 8,100 euros with the possibility to make 9 yearly payments of 900 euros
Foundational Patron: An individual person or legal entity donating 81,000 euros with the possibility to make 9 yearly payments of 9,000 euros
We will do our best to please you in your mission.
May your teachings give shelter to millions of fortunate souls.
Dear Srila Prabhupada,
please empower us
with all good qualities and abilities
and continue to send us long term
seriously committed devotees and resources
to successfully build your glorious Vani-temple
for the benefit of All.
Dear Sri Sri Panca Tattva,
please help us to become dear devotees of Sri Sri Radha Madhava
and dear disciples of Srila Prabhupada and our Guru Maharaja
by continuing to facilitate us to work hard and smart
in the mission of Srila Prabhupada
for the pleasure of his devotees.
Thank you for considering these prayers
Comment
Only by the empowering grace of Srila Prabhupada, Sri Sri Panca Tattva, and Sri Sri Radha Madhava can we ever hope to achieve this herculean task. Thus we incessantly pray for Their mercy.
