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什麼是Vanipedia

Vanipedia是一個聖帕布帕德教導(vani)的動態百科全書.通過合作,我們探索並全面編譯聖帕布帕德的教導從各個角度進行展示,並以易於理解的方式展示它們.我們正在建立一個聖帕布帕德無與倫比的數位教學資料庫,提供給他一個持續不斷的全球傳道平台,向全世界教導奎師那意識的科學,造福所有人.

Vanipedia計畫是一項全球性的多語言合作努力因許多聖帕布帕德的奉獻者而成功,他們將以各種方式參與其中.每一語言不同的發展階段. 我們希望聖帕布帕德全部錄製的講課,對話及書信至少有16種語言,及另32種語言至少完成25%作為他2027年11月離開五十周年的獻禮. 繁體中文將會是其中一種語言嗎?

願繁體中文能將聖帕布帕德的教導呈現給更多的人

中文內容連結(繁體)

這是Vanipedia現在提供所有內容的繁體中文連結 :

這裡你可以找到聖帕布帕德1080個中文繁體字幕的視頻

聖帕布帕德的講課錄音與影片目錄

此宣言是對Vanipedia整個任務的描述.

聖帕布帕德-Srila Prabhupada: 國際奎師那意識協會(ISKCON) 的創辦靈性導師 - 管理委員會(GBC)創辦文獻

與我們合作

根據北京官方的人口統計時鐘顯示,中國每年約增加一千兩百至一千三百萬人口…而這只是中國大陸的部分.使用中文聽說讀寫還包含了香港,台灣,新加坡…遍布全球.在地球上每五個人中就有一人來自於中國的血統.難道這些理由不足以將聖恩A.C.巴克堤韋丹塔.斯瓦米.帕布帕德教導以中文形式翻譯傳播出來嗎?現在就入我們的行列吧!

博伽梵歌原意詩節

Bhagavad-gita 5.10

ब्रह्मण्याधाय कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा करोति यः ।
लिप्यते न स पापेन पद्मपत्रमिवाम्भसा ॥१०॥
brahmaṇy ādhāya karmāṇi
saṅgaṁ tyaktvā karoti yaḥ
lipyate na sa pāpena
padma-patram ivāmbhasā

SYNONYMS

brahmaṇi—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; ādhāya—resigning unto; karmāṇi—all works; saṅgam—attachment; tyaktvā—giving up; karoti—performs; yaḥ—who; lipyate—is affected; na—never; saḥ—he; pāpena—by sin; padma-patram—lotus leaf; iva—like; ambhasā—in the water.

TRANSLATION

One who performs his duty without attachment, surrendering the results unto the Supreme God, is not affected by sinful action, as the lotus leaf is untouched by water.

PURPORT

Here brahmaṇi means in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. The material world is a sum total manifestation of the three modes of material nature, technically called the pradhāna. The Vedic hymns, sarvam etad brahma, tasmād etad brahma nāma-rūpam annaṁ ca jāyate, and, in the Bhagavad-gītā, mama yonir mahad brahma, indicate that everything in the material world is the manifestation of Brahman; and, although the effects are differently manifested, they are nondifferent from the cause. In the Īśopaniṣad it is said that everything is related to the Supreme Brahman or Kṛṣṇa, and thus everything belongs to Him only. One who knows perfectly well that everything belongs to Kṛṣṇa, that He is the proprietor of everything and that, therefore, everything is engaged in the service of the Lord, naturally has nothing to do with the results of his activities, whether virtuous or sinful. Even one's material body, being a gift of the Lord for carrying out a particular type of action, can be engaged in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. It is beyond contamination by sinful reactions, exactly as the lotus leaf, though remaining in the water, is not wet. The Lord also says in the Gītā: mayi sarvāṇi karmāṇi sannyasya: "Resign all works unto Me [Kṛṣṇa]." The conclusion is that a person without Kṛṣṇa consciousness acts according to the concept of the material body and senses, but a person in Kṛṣṇa consciousness acts according to the knowledge that the body is the property of Kṛṣṇa and should therefore be engaged in the service of Kṛṣṇa.


聖帕布帕德視頻剪輯


聖帕布帕德錄音剪輯


Nectar Drops from Srila Prabhupada
"We, as living entities, we are part and parcel of the Supreme, sac-cid-ānanda. We want pleasure. So, impersonal feature does not give us that pleasure which we want, which is our demand. That pleasure is available in the spiritual planets. If you enter in any of the spiritual planets, then that spiritual happiness and exchange of pleasure you can attain."
661116 - Lecture BG 08.14-15 - New York



Vanipedia的聲明

↓ Scroll down to read more...

簡介

聖帕布帕德(Srila Prabhupada)十分重視他的教導,藉此Vanipedia致力於他的主體工作,包含了書籍,錄製的講座及對話錄...等.完成後,Vanipedia將成為世界上前所未有的Vani-temple提供一個神聖的空間,數百萬尋求真正靈性指導的人將從聖帕布帕德傑出教導中得到答案與啟發,呈現在這部 盡可能地多語言形式的百科全書中.

Vanipedia願景

以團隊合作之力量來全面顯示聖帕布帕德多國語言呈現的Vani,藉此促進數百萬的人生活於Krishna意識的科學並協助聖主柴坦亞瑪哈帕布(Caitanya Mahaprabhu)的桑克依坦(sankirtana)運動重建人類靈性化的社會.

團隊合作

Vanipedi計畫是建立起一部相當品質的百科全書,唯有透過成千上萬奉獻者的集體合作,共同彙編和勤奮地翻譯聖帕布帕德(Srila Prabhupada)的教導

我們要完成翻譯聖帕布帕德(Srila Prabhupada)所有書籍,講課,對話錄及書信至少16種語言,於2027年11月達到至少108種語言的部分呈現在Vanipedia中.

自2017年10月整部聖經已經被翻譯成670種語言,聖經新約翻譯出1521種語言,還有聖經的部分或是故事1121種其他的語言.這些統計顯示出我們增加聖帕布帕德(Srila Prabhupada)教導字幕所訂定的目標與基督教向全球傳播他們教義比較起來並不是那麼的規模宏大.

我們懇請所有的奉獻者們加入我們,在這種崇高的努力中,運用網際網路完全展現聖帕布帕德的多國語言Vani教導來利益全體人類.

起源

1965年聖帕布帕德(Srila Prabhupada)抵達了未獲邀請的美國.他的Vapu訓示於1977年結束,但他依然存在於他的Vani中,我們必須喚起這個存在.唯獨我們懇求聖帕布帕德(Srila Prabhupada)顯現他才會這麼做.我們強烈的渴望他在我們之間是我們掌握他顯現的關鍵.

整體展現

我們不希望聖帕布帕德(Srila Prabhupada)的部分顯現於我們面前.我們要的是他完整的Vani訓示.他所有的教學紀錄應該要完整的編纂並翻譯成許多語言.這是我們提供給地球上下一代的人們聖帕布帕德(Srila Prabhupada)教導的完整庇蔭(ashraya).

Vani訓示

聖帕布帕德(Srila Prabhupada)的完整Vani訓示將以兩個階段呈現.第一階段 - 簡易階段 - 完成並用所有的語言翻譯聖帕布帕德(Srila Prabhupada)全部的教導.第二階段- 較困難階段 - 上百萬的人們完完全全的活在他的教導之中.

不同方式學習

  • 至今,在我們的研究中, 我們已經發現有60種不同的方式 聖帕布帕德(Srila Prabhupada) 指示奉獻者們讀他的書籍.
  • 藉由學習聖帕布帕德的書籍用 這些不同方式,我們可以好好的了解並吸收他們.經由遵循研究這個主題的方法並編譯他們,我們可以容易的洞察並深度的進入聖帕布帕德所陳述的每一個字義,片語,概念或人格性中.他的教導無疑是我們的生命和靈魂,當我們 徹底的學習這些 我們可以感知與體驗聖帕布帕德存在於許多深刻的地方.


一千萬阿查亞(Acaryas)

  • 假設你現在擁有一萬.我建議增加到十萬.那是必須的.然後十萬到百萬,百萬到千萬.那就不會缺乏阿查亞(acharya),人們將會了解Krishna意識非常簡單. 因此建立起這組織. 不要虛假的誇大其辭. 遵循阿查亞(acharya)的訓令,先讓子自己成熟完美. 然後就會非常容易的擊退瑪亞(maya).是的. 阿查亞們(Acharyas), 他們向對抗瑪亞(maya)的活動宣戰. – Srila Prabhupada Lecture on Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, 6 April 1975

註解

這個聖帕布帕德(Srila Prabhupada)的願景聲明已經自己說明了--- 這項完美的計畫使人們容易的了解Krishan意識.一千萬個被賦予力量的聖帕布帕德(Srila Prabhupada)訓示門徒們(siksa-disciples)謙卑的按照創辦靈性導師的訓示生活,一直為追求完美與成熟而努力.聖帕布帕德(Srila Prabhupada)明確的指出"建立起這組織." Vanipedia 正熱衷積極的幫助實現這一願景.

Krishna意識的科學

博伽梵歌第九章這個Krishna意識的科學稱為一切知識之王,一切機密事物之王,而且是超然覺悟至高無上的科學.Krishna意識是一門超然的科學,這門科學能對一位已經準備好為神服務真誠的奉獻者揭示出來. 達到Krishna意識不是經由枯燥的辯論或經由學歷資格. Krishna 意識不是一個宗教教派,比如印度教,基督教,佛教或伊斯蘭教等,它是一門科學. 如果有人仔細地讀了聖帕布帕德的書籍,他將會領悟到Krishna意識最高等的科學,並同樣的會激起向所有人們真正的福祉與利益而傳播.

主柴坦亞(Caitanya)的派發聖名運動

聖主柴坦亞瑪哈帕布(Caitanya Mahaprabhu)是桑克依坦(sankirtana)運動的始祖.一個崇拜祂的人藉由獻出生命,金錢,聰明才智及話語從事桑克依坦(sankirtana)運動,就會被主認可並且賦予祂的祝福.其他人可能會說是愚蠢的行為,一個人所做的所有犧牲奉獻可能需要能量,一個為桑克依坦運動犧牲奉獻的人是最榮耀的. 整個Krishna意識運動是以聖主柴坦亞瑪哈帕布(Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu)創建的桑克依坦(sankirtana)運動為基礎. 因此一個人從桑克依坦(sankirtana)運動的媒介去了解至尊人格首神知道了完美的一切.他就是sumedhas,一個實實在在有聰明才智的人.

重建靈性化人類社會

人類社會至今,還沒進入被遺忘的黑暗裡.在遍布全球的物質舒適,教育及經濟發展的領域中快速進步.但在整個社會中的某處卻有一個痛楚,對於不那麼種要的議題還是有大規模的抗爭.有一個如何讓人類社會合為一處在和平,友誼及繁榮的共同目標中的線索--博伽瓦譚(Srimad-Bhagavatam)滿足了這個需求,它是一種文化的展現讓整個人類社會再度靈性化.群眾,一般來說,是政客級領導者手中的工具.如果僅只改變領導者的心性,一定會使整個世界氛圍的重大改變.

真正教育的目標應該是自我覺悟,覺悟靈魂的靈性價值.大家都應該協助將世界上所有的活動靈性化.藉由這樣的活動,執行者及被執行的工作兩方面都變得充滿靈性並超越物質自然的模式.

Vanipedia的使命聲明

  • 提供聖帕布帕德(Srila Prabhupada)一個永續,世界性的平台,用全世界所有的語言來傳播教育及培訓人們Krishna意識的科學
  • 從多角視野探索,發現全方位編纂聖帕布帕德(Srila Prabhupada)的教導
  • 以淺顯易懂的方式呈現聖帕布帕德(Srila Prabhupada)的Vani
  • 提供一個綜合專題研究的資料庫便利於編寫許多以聖帕布帕德(Srila Prabhupada)的Vani為主題的書籍
  • 提供課程資源使各種教育活動引入聖帕布帕德(Srila Prabhupada)的Vani
  • 教授追隨聖帕布帕德(Srila Prabhupada)的忠誠奉獻者們,使參照聖帕布帕德的Vani成為個人指導或充分學習後變得在各個層面上能代表他的一個必要性的明確理解
  • 吸引聖帕布帕德(Srila Prabhupada)所有的國家的跟隨者們以全球合作的視野達到以上所述

我們建立Vanipedia 的動機是什麼?

  • 我們接受
  • 聖帕布帕德(Srila Prabhupada)是一位純粹的奉獻者,由聖主Krishna直接授權使生物體從事愛神的奉獻服務.他的教導中發現他無與倫比的揭示絕對真理而被證實了這授權.
  • 在現代沒有比聖帕布帕德(Srila Prabhupada)更偉大的外士那瓦哲學擁護者及更偉大的社會評論家,依其原貌解釋當代的世界.
  • 聖帕布帕德(Srila Prabhupada)的教導將成為他百萬跟隨者們及所有後代的主要庇護所.
  • 聖帕布帕德(Srila Prabhupada)希望他的教導大量散播並被正確的理解.
  • 聖帕布帕德(Srila Prabhupada)的教導以主題方式分類大大的增強其中真理的理解過程,從每個視角探索,發現及徹底編寫他的教導具有龐大的價值.
  • 翻譯所有聖帕布帕德(Srila Prabhupada)的教導至一種特定語言,如同邀請聖帕布帕德(Srila Prabhupada)永恆的居住在那個語言的所在地.
  • 在他物質軀體的不在時,聖帕布帕德(Srila Prabhupada)要求許多vani僕人來協助他這項任務.

因此,我們致力於創造一個真正具有機動性的平台來促成聖帕布帕德教導內完美知識的正確理解及領悟,並大量的傳播使其教導能快樂的被執行.就是那麼簡單.但唯一把我們從完成Vanipedi分開的是”時間”,許多Vani服務的神聖時間,那個奉獻者們承諾及尚未被呈獻的願景.

我非常感謝你們,你們所有人,給予我謙卑的服務的感謝,我盡力履行靈性導師給予我的職責.我請求我所有的門徒們一起合作並且我確信我們的任務將毫無疑慮的向前邁進. – Srila Prabhupada 給 Tamala Krishna das (GBC)的信 - 14 August, 1971

聖帕布帕德(Srila Prabhupada)的三個固有的地位

一種文化庇護於聖帕布帕德蓮花足下的教導,只能在他跟隨者的心中被這三個聖帕布帕德的地位喚醒時才能被實現.

聖帕布帕德(Srila Prabhupada)是我們傑出的訓示古茹(siksa-guru)

  • 我們接受所有聖帕布帕德的跟隨者們不論是個別或是與其他人討論時都能從他的教導中體驗到他的臨在與庇護.
  • 我們淨化我們自己並以學習與他生活為我們的良知指南,建立與聖帕布帕德(Srila Prabhupada)的穩固關係.
  • 我們鼓勵奉獻者們感受到與聖帕布帕德的離別,慢慢地在他的訓示之中找尋他的臨在及慰藉.
  • 我們分享聖帕布帕德的慈悲及他所有的追隨者們,包含那些在他傳承啟迪的及那些以不同能力跟隨他的人.
  • 我們以事實教育奉獻者們聖帕布帕德是我們傑出的訓示古茹,而我們師徒關係處在離別的狀態中.
  • 我們建立一個授權訓示門徒傳承來維護聖帕布帕德的遺產始終世代延續.

聖帕布帕德(Srila Prabhupada)是ISKCON的創辦人

  • 我們推動他的Vani為主要的驅動力來保持ISKCON的成員們忠實於他,藉此鼓舞,熱情且堅決的讓他現在及未來的每一個活動都按他的期許實現.
  • 我們促進外士那瓦-婆羅門規範的發展,以聖帕布帕德的教導及他傳教策略為中心的”vani-文化”
  • 我們教育奉獻者們依照聖帕布帕德為ISCKCON創辦靈性導師導師的地位,並服務他及他的活動.

聖帕布帕德(Srila Prabhupada)是世界的靈性導師

  • 我們提升極重要的全球意識---藉由聖帕布帕德當代環繞每個國家的實質教導,他的靈性重要性為世界的靈性導師(world-acharya).
  • 我們啟發一派欣賞及尊重聖帕布帕德教導的文化,藉由世界人口引發積極參與奎師那意識的實踐.
  • 我們意識到聖帕布帕德建造了一間整個世界都可居住的房子為前提,藉由建立他這間既是基底又是屋頂的---庇護所(the ashray)訓示教導(Vani)可保護這間房子.

Vital to Establish 聖帕布帕德(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 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


  • 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




  • 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



  • 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



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

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.


Other resources

hare kṛṣṇa hare kṛṣṇa - kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa hare hare - hare rāma hare rāma - rāma rāma hare hare