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↓ अधिक पढ़ने के लिए नीचे स्क्रॉल करें... परिचय श्रीला प्रभुपाद ने उनकी शिक्षाओं पर बहुत अधिक महत्व दिया, इस प्रकार वाणिपीडिया श्रीला प्रभुपाद की शिक्षाओं के प्रति विशेष रूप से समर्पित है; जिसमें पुस्तकें, रिकॉर्ड किए गए व्याख्यान और वार्तालाप, पत्र आदि शामिल हैं। पूरा होने पर वाणिपीडिया दुनिया का प्रथम वाणी-मंदिर कहलायेगा। यह एक पवित्र स्थान होगा जहां प्रामाणिक आध्यात्मिक मार्गदर्शन प्राप्त करने वाले लाखों श्रद्धालु श्रीला प्रभुपाद की शानदार शिक्षाओं से उत्तर और प्रेरणा ग्रहण करेंगे। जितना संभव हो सका है वाणिपीडिया को उतनी भाषाओं में एक विश्वकोश प्रारूप में प्रस्तुत किया गया है। वाणिपीडिया के लक्ष्यों का विवरण सहयोग से श्रीला प्रभुपाद की बहुभाषी वाणी-उपस्थिति को आमंत्रित करना और पूरी तरह से प्रकट करना। सहयोग से सैकड़ों लाखों लोगों को कृष्णभावनामृत के विज्ञान को जीने की सुविधा प्रदान करना। और सहयोग से भगवान चैतन्य महाप्रभु के संकीर्तन आंदोलन के माध्यम से मानव समाज को फिर से आध्यात्मिक बनाने में मदद करना। सहयोग के कार्य वाणिपीडिया जैसा एकमात्र ज्ञानकोश का निर्माण करना केवल हजारों श्रद्धालुओं के सामूहिक सहयोगात्मक प्रयास द्वारा संभव है जो कि श्रीला प्रभुपाद के उपदेशों का परिश्रमपूर्वक संकलन और अनुवाद करते हैं। हम कम से कम १६ भाषाओं में श्रीला प्रभुपाद की सभी पुस्तकों, व्याख्यानों, वार्तालापों और पत्रों के अनुवाद को पूरा करना चाहते हैं और उसके अतिरिक्त नवंबर २०२७ तक वाणिपीडिया को कम से कम १०८ भाषाओं के कुछ प्रतिनिधित्व स्तर तक पहुंचाना चाहते हैं। अक्टूबर २०१७ तक पूर्ण बाइबिल को ६७० भाषाओं में अनुवादित किया गया है, न्यू टेस्टामेंट का १५२१ भाषाओं में अनुवाद किया गया है और बाइबल के भागों या कहानियों को ११२१ अन्य भाषाओं में अनुवादित किया गया है। इन आंकड़ों से पता चलता है कि श्रीला प्रभुपाद की शिक्षाओं में पर्याप्त वृद्धि होने के दौरान हमारा उद्देश्य उन प्रयासों की तुलना में बिल्कुल भी महत्वाकांक्षी नहीं है, जो की ईसाई लोग अपनी शिक्षाओं को विश्व स्तर पर फैलाने के लिए कर रहे हैं। हम सभी भक्तों को आमंत्रित करते हैं कि वे सभी मानवता के हित के लिए इंटरनेट तथा वेब पर श्रीला प्रभुपाद की बहुभाषी वाणी-उपस्थिति को प्रकट करने और बनाने के इस नेक प्रयास में शामिल हों। आह्वान १९६५ में श्रीला प्रभुपाद अमेरिका में बिन बुलाए पहुंचे। भले ही १९७७ में उनकी शानदार वापु उपस्थिति के दिन समाप्त हो गए हों, लेकिन वह अभी भी अपनी वाणी में उपस्थित हैं और यही उपस्थिति का अब हमें आह्वान करना चाहिए। वह हमारे समक्ष तभी उपस्थित रहेंगे जब हम उन्हें होने अंतरमन से पुकारेंगे और उनके प्रकट होने की भीख मांगेंगे। हमारे बीच उन्हें रखने की हमारी तीव्र इच्छा वह कुंजी है जिसके माध्यम से हम श्रीला प्रभुपाद का हमारे समक्ष प्राकट्यय संभव है। पूर्ण अभिव्यक्ति हम हमारे सामने श्रीला प्रभुपाद की आंशिक उपस्थिति नहीं चाहते हैं। हम उनकी पूर्ण वाणी-उपस्थिति चाहते हैं। उनके सभी रिकॉर्ड किए गए उपदेशों को पूरी तरह से संकलित किया जाना चाहिए और कई भाषाओं में अनुवादित किया जाना चाहिए। इस ग्रह के लोगों की भावी पीढ़ियों के लिए हमारी एकमात्र पेशकश है - श्रीला प्रभुपाद की शिक्षाओं का पूर्ण आश्रय। वाणी-उपस्थिति श्रीला प्रभुपाद की पूर्ण वाणी-उपस्थिति दो चरणों में दिखाई देगी। पहला - और आसान चरण - सभी भाषाओं में श्रीला प्रभुपाद की शिक्षाओं का संकलन और अनुवाद करना है। दूसरा - और अधिक कठिन चरण - सैकड़ों लोगों को पूरी तरह से उनकी शिक्षाओं के आश्रय लेने में सहयोग देना। अध्ययन करने के विभिन्न तरीके आज तक, हमारे शोध में, हमने पाया है कि श्रीला प्रभुपाद ने अपनी पुस्तकों को पढ़ने के लिए ६० अलग-अलग तरीके बताए हैं। इन विभिन्न तरीकों से श्रीला प्रभुपाद की पुस्तकों का अध्ययन करके हम उन्हें ठीक से समझ और आत्मसात कर सकते हैं। अध्ययन की विषयगत कार्यप्रणाली का अनुसरण करके और फिर उन्हें संकलित करके आसानी से प्रत्येक शब्द, वाक्यांश, अवधारणा या व्यक्तित्व के अर्थों के गहरे महत्व में प्रवेश कर सकते हैं जो कि श्रीला प्रभुपाद प्रस्तुत कर रहे हैं। निःसंदेह उनकी शिक्षाएं हमारा जीवन और हमारी आत्मा हैं, और जब हम उनका अच्छी तरह से अध्ययन करते हैं तो हम कई प्रभावशाली तरीकों से श्रील प्रभुपाद की उपस्थिति को देख और अनुभव कर सकते हैं। दस लाख आचार्य मान लीजिए कि आपको अब दस हजार मिल गए हैं। हम सौ हजार तक विस्तार करेंगे। यह आवश्यक है। फिर सौ हज़ार से लाखों, और लाखों से दस लाख। तो आचार्य की कोई कमी नहीं होगी, और लोग कृष्णभावनामृत को बहुत आसानी से समझ पाएंगे। ऐसी संगठन का निर्माण करें। मिथ्या अभिमानी मत बनें। आचार्य के निर्देश का पालन करें और अपने आप को परिपूर्ण, परिपक्व बनाने का प्रयास करें। तब माया से लड़ना बहुत आसान हो जाएगा। हाँ। आचार्य, वे माया की गतिविधियों के खिलाफ युद्ध की घोषणा करते हैं। – श्रीचैतन्य-चरितामृत पर श्रील प्रभुपाद का व्याख्यान, ६ अप्रैल १९७५ टिप्पणी श्रीला प्रभुपाद का यह दृष्टि कथन स्वयं के लिए बोलता है - लोगों के लिए कृष्णभावनामृत को आसानी से समझने की सही योजना। दस लाख सशक्त शिक्षा-शिष्यों ने विनम्रतापूर्वक हमारे संस्थापक-आचार्य श्रीला प्रभुपाद के निर्देशों को जीया है और हमेशा पूर्णता और परिपक्वता के लिए प्रयास किया है। श्रीला प्रभुपाद स्पष्ट रूप से कहते हैं कि "ऐसी संगठन का निर्माण करो"। इस दृष्टि को पूरा करने के लिए वाणिपीडिया उत्साहपूर्वक इस कार्य में संलग्न है। कृष्णभावनामृत का विज्ञान भगवद गीता के नौवें अध्याय में कृष्णभावनामृत के इस विज्ञान को सभी ज्ञानों का राजा, सभी गोपनीय चीजों का राजा और पारलौकिक बोध का सर्वोच्च विज्ञान कहा जाता है। कृष्णभावनामृत एक पारलौकिक विज्ञान है जो एक ईमानदार भक्त को प्रकट किया जा सकता है जो भगवान की सेवा करने के लिए तैयार है। कृष्णभावनामृत शुष्क तर्कों से या शैक्षणिक योग्यता से प्राप्त नहीं होती है। कृष्णभावनामृत एक विश्वास नहीं है, जैसे कि हिंदू, ईसाई, बौद्ध या इस्लाम धर्म, लेकिन यह एक विज्ञान है। यदि कोई श्रीला प्रभुपाद की पुस्तकों को ध्यान से पढ़ता है, तो उन्हें कृष्णभावनामृत के सर्वोच्च विज्ञान का एहसास होगा और सभी लोगों के वास्तविक कल्याणकारी लाभ हेतु समान रूप से कृष्णभावनामृत फैलाने के लिए अधिक प्रेरित भी होंगे। भगवान चैतन्य का संकीर्तन आंदोलन भगवान श्री चैतन्य महाप्रभु संकीर्तन आंदोलन के जनक और उद्घाटनकर्ता हैं। जो व्यक्ति संकीर्तन आंदोलन के लिए, अपने जीवन, धन, बुद्धि तथा शब्दों को परे रखकर भगवान श्री चैतन्य महाप्रभु की आराधना करता है, प्रभु ना केवल उसको पहचान जाते हैं बल्कि उसकी आराधना को अपने आशीर्वाद से संपन्न करते हैं। अन्य सभी को मूर्ख कहा जा सकता है, क्यूंकि उन सभी बलिदानों में से वह बलिदान सबसे यशस्वी है जिसमे व्यक्ति अपनी ऊर्जा का प्रयोग संकीर्तन आंदोलन के लिए करता है। संपूर्ण कृष्णभावनामृत आंदोलन, श्री चैतन्य महाप्रभु द्वारा उद्घाटन किए गए संकीर्तन आंदोलन के सिद्धांतों पर आधारित है। इसलिए जो संकीर्तन आंदोलन के माध्यम से ईश्वर के सर्वोच्च व्यक्तित्व को समझने की कोशिश करता है वह सब कुछ पूरी तरह से जान जाता है। वह सुमेधा हो जाता है, एक पर्याप्त बुद्धि वाला व्यक्ति। मानव समाज का पुनः आध्यात्मिकरण वर्तमान समय में मानव समाज, गुमनामी के अंधेरे में नहीं है। समाज ने पूरे विश्व में भौतिक सुख, शिक्षा और आर्थिक विकास के क्षेत्र में तेजी से प्रगति की है। लेकिन बड़े पैमाने पर सामाजिक निकाय में कहीं न कहीं एक झुंझलाहट है, और इसलिए कम महत्वपूर्ण मुद्दों पर भी बड़े पैमाने पर झगड़े होते हैं। एक सुराग की जरूरत है, कि कैसे मानवता एक सामान्य कारण से जुड़कर शांति, मित्रता और समृद्धि में एक जुट हो जाए। श्रीमद-भागवतम इस जरूरत को पूरा करता है, क्योंकि यह संपूर्ण मानव समाज के पुन: आध्यात्मिकरण के लिए एक सांस्कृतिक प्रस्तुति है। सामान्य आबादी सामान्य रूप से आधुनिक राजनेताओं और लोगों के नेताओं के हाथों में उपकरण हैं। यदि केवल नेताओं का हृदय परिवर्तन होता है, तो निश्चित रूप से दुनिया के वातावरण में मौलिक परिवर्तन होगा। वास्तविक शिक्षा का उद्देश्य आत्म-साक्षात्कार, आत्मा के आध्यात्मिक मूल्यों की प्राप्ति होना चाहिए। सभी को दुनिया की सभी गतिविधियों को आध्यात्मिक बनाने में मदद करनी चाहिए। इस तरह की गतिविधियों से, प्रदर्शन करने वाले और प्रदिर्शित किए गए कार्य दोनों आध्यात्मिकता के साथ अधिभारित हो जाते हैं और प्रकृति की विधा को पार कर जाते हैं। वाणीपीडिया का मिशन वक्तव्य श्रीला प्रभुपाद को दुनिया की सभी भाषाओं में कृष्णभावनामृत के विज्ञान का प्रचार करने, शिक्षित करने और लोगों को प्रशिक्षित करने के लिए एक निरंतर, विश्वव्यापी मंच प्रदान करना। अन्वेषण करना, खोजना और व्यापक रूप से दृष्टि के कई कोणों से श्रीला प्रभुपाद की शिक्षाओं को संकलित करना। श्रीला प्रभुपाद की वाणी को आसानी से सुलभ और समझने योग्य तरीकों में प्रस्तुत करना। श्रीला प्रभुपाद की वाणी पर आधारित कई सामयिक पुस्तकों के लेखन की सुविधा के लिए व्यापक विषयगत शोध का भंडार प्रदान करना। श्रीला प्रभुपाद की वाणी में विभिन्न शैक्षिक पहलों के लिए पाठ्यक्रम संसाधन उपलब्ध कराना। श्रीला प्रभुपाद के ईमानदार अनुयायियों के बीच उनके व्यक्तिगत मार्गदर्शन के लिए श्रीला प्रभुपाद की वाणी से परामर्श लेने की आवश्यकता की एक असमान समझ को जगाना, और सभी स्तरों पर श्रीला प्रभुपाद का प्रतिनिधित्व करने के लिए पर्याप्त रूप से उन्हें सीखाकर सक्षम बनाना। विश्व स्तर पर सहयोग कराने के लिए सभी देशों से श्रीला प्रभुपाद के अनुयायियों को आकर्षित करना ताकि वह सब मिलकर ऊपर लिखे लक्ष्यों पर काम कर सकें। वाणीपीडिया के निर्माण के लिए हमें क्या प्रेरित कर रहा है? हम स्वीकार करते हैं की श्रीला प्रभुपाद एक शुद्ध भक्त हैं, और वह सभी जीव आत्मायों को भगवान श्रीकृष्ण की प्रेमपूर्ण भक्ति सेवा में संलग्न करने के लिए सीधे भगवान श्रीकृष्ण द्वारा हि सशक्त किये गए हैं। यह सशक्तिकरण उनकी शिक्षाओं के भीतर पाए जाने वाले निरपेक्ष सत्य पर उनके अनूठे प्रदर्शन में सिद्ध होता है। श्रीला प्रभुपाद की तुलना में आधुनिक समय में वैष्णव दर्शन का कोई बड़ा प्रतिपादक नहीं रहा है, और न ही कोई बड़ा सामाजिक आलोचक, जो इस समकालीन दुनिया को यथारूप समझा पाए। श्रीला प्रभुपाद की शिक्षाएँ भावी पीढ़ियों के उनके लाखों अनुयायियों के लिए प्राथमिक आश्रय होंगी। श्रीला प्रभुपाद चाहते थे कि उनकी शिक्षाओं का व्यापक रूप से वितरण किया जाए और उनकी शिक्षाओं को ठीक से समझा जाए। एक विषयगत दृष्टिकोण के माध्यम से श्रीला प्रभुपाद की शिक्षाओं के भीतर पायी जाने वाली सच्चाइयों को समझने की प्रक्रिया बहुत बढ़ती है, और यह कि दृष्टि के हर कोण से उनकी शिक्षाओं का अन्वेषण करना, उसमे खोजबीन करना और उसे अच्छी तरह से संकलित करने का अपार मूल्य है। श्रीला प्रभुपाद की सभी शिक्षाओं का किसी विशेष भाषा में अनुवाद करना श्रीला प्रभुपाद को उन जगहों पर अनंत काल तक निवास करने के लिए आमंत्रित करने के सामान है, जहाँ जहाँ उन भाषाओं को बोला जाता है। अपनी शारीरिक अनुपस्थिति में, श्रीला प्रभुपाद को इस मिशन में उनकी सहायता करने के लिए कई वाणी-सेवको की आवश्यकता है। इस प्रकार, हम श्रीला प्रभुपाद की शिक्षाओं के भीतर पाए जाने वाले पूर्ण ज्ञान और वास्तविकताओं के व्यापक वितरण और उसकी उचित समझ की सुविधा के लिए वास्तव में एक गतिशील मंच बनाने के लिए प्रतिबद्ध हैं, इसलिए उन पर खुशी से काम किया जा सकता है। यह बस इतना आसान है। वह एकमात्र चीज़ जो हमें वाणीपीडिया के पूर्ण समापन से रोक रही है वो है समय; और वह भक्तगण जो इस कार्य को पूर्ण करने के लिए प्रतिबद्ध हैं, उनकी वाणी-सेवा के वो सारे बहुमूल्य पावन घंटे जो अभी देने शेष हैं। मैं, आप सभी का बहुत-बहुत धन्यवाद करता हूं, मेरी विनम्र सेवा की सराहना करने के लिए, जिसे मैं अपने गुरु महाराज द्वारा दिए गए कर्तव्य के रूप में प्रस्तुत करने का प्रयास कर रहा हूं। मैं अपने सभी शिष्यों से सहकारिता से काम करने का अनुरोध करता हूं और मुझे यकीन है कि हमारा मिशन बिना किसी संदेह के आगे बढ़ेगा। – श्रीला प्रभुपाद का तमाला कृष्णा दास (जी बी सी) को पत्र - १४ अगस्त, १९७१ Srila Prabhupada's Three Natural Positions A culture of shelter at the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada's teachings can only be realized when these three positions of Srila Prabhupada are awakened in the hearts of all his followers. 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 You are all my limbs of my body. Unless you cooperate, my life will be useless. The senses and life are correlative. Without life the senses cannot act and without sense, life is inactive. – Srila Prabhupada Letter to Brahmananda das (TP), 17 July 1968 I am fervently appealing to you all not to create fracture in the solid body of the Society. Please work conjointly, without any personal ambition. That will help the cause. – Srila Prabhupada Letter to Brahmananda and Gargamuni Swamis, 31 July 1970 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 1977 Srila 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 I shall remain your personal guidance, physically present or not physically, as I am getting personal guidance from my Guru Maharaja. – Srila Prabhupada Room Conversation, 14 July 1977 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 The mass-media can become such an important instrument in spreading our Krishna consciousness movement and I am glad to see that you are endeavoring to explore how this can be done. – Srila Prabhupada Letter to Nayanabhirama das (TP), 9 January 1971 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 You should try and get these TV personalities to show our books and advertise them over the air. This will be the real success of our endeavors with the media. - Srila Prabhupada Letter to Mukunda das, 21 February 1973 His Divine Grace was very pleased to hear your proposal for systematically amassing a subject by subject encyclopedic compilation of all of Srila Prabhupada's teachings and instructions as found in his books. – Letter from Srila Prabhupada's Secretary to Subhananda das, 7 June 1977 Comment 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 Donations can be received online or through our PayPal account titled [email protected]. If you prefer another method or have more queries before donating, then email us at [email protected] We Are Grateful - Prayers We Are Grateful Thank you Srila Prabhupada for giving us this opportunity to serve you. 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.