Krishna Software Newsletter June 2000 BOOKS ARE THE BASIS!

Welcome to the KrishnaSoft's Electronic Newsletter.
This is the June 2000 issue entitled: "Books Are the Basis!"
WEB: http://www.krishnasoft.com; EMAIL: krishna@krishnasoft.com or vdayal@castle.net

This newsletter goes to over 1100 people who either have an interest in Vedic science and/or spiritually entertaining multimedia technology.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:
(1) Books Are the Basis!
(2) Coverings of the Universe
(3) Feedback: Miscellaneous
(4) Editorial Policy and Product List

1. BOOKS ARE THE BASIS!

[The following is the 19th of a series of articles to present to the benefits of the Srimad-Bhagavatam. The Krsna CDROM and the Srimad-Bhagavatam CDROM from Krishnasoft present this great spiritual masterpiece in multimedia format.]

The goal of human life is to please Lord Krsna:

"O best among the twice-born, it is therefore concluded that the highest perfection one can achieve by discharging the duties prescribed for one's own occupation according to caste divisions and orders of life is to please the Personality of Godhead." (Bhag. 1.2.13)

This is easily done by following the order of the bona fide spiritual master who is engaged in pleasing the Supreme Lord:

"The Lord's order descends in disciplic succession through the bona fide spiritual master, and thus execution of the order of the bona fide spiritual master is factual control of the senses ." (Bhag. 2.9.8)

"To act under the direction of a bona fide spiritual master with a motive to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead is PURE DEVOTIONAL SERVICE." (Bhag. 3.29.8)

"It is stated in Bhagavad-gita that no one is barred from rendering service to the Lord . Whether one is a woman or a laborer or a merchant, if he engages himself in the devotional service of the Lord he is promoted to the highest perfectional state and goes back home, back to Godhead . The devotional service most suitable for different types of devotees is determined and *FIXED* by the mercy of the spiritual master." (Bhag. 3.25.28)

We have quoted the above references many times in our previous newsletters. The example set by Srila Prabhupada in his life of carrying out the order of his spiritual master perfectly illustrates the above principles. Srila Prabhupada was always engaged in carrying out the order of his spiritual master of book publishing in order to spread the sankirtana movement:

"Sometime in the year 1935 when His Divine Grace was staying at Radha-kunda, I went to see him from Bombay. At that time, he gave me many important instructions in regard to constructing temples and publishing books. He personally told me that PUBLISHING BOOKS IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN CONSTRUCTING TEMPLES. Of course, those same instructions remained within my mind for many years. In 1944 I began publishing my Back to Godhead, and when I retired from family life in 1958 I began publishing Srimad-Bhagavatam in Delhi. When three parts of Srimad-Bhagavatam had been published in India, I then started for the United States of America on the thirteenth of August, 1965." (Bhag. 8.1.intro)

"I am continuously trying to publish books, as suggested by my spiritual master. Now, in this year, 1976, I have completed the Seventh Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam, and a summary of the Tenth Canto has already been published as Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.... I am neither a great scholar nor a great devotee; I am simply a humble servant of my spiritual master, and to the best of my ability I am trying to please him by publishing these books, with the cooperation of my disciples in America." (Bhag. 8.1.intro)

Lord Caitanya wanted the chanting of the holy name spread in every town and village and transcendental literatures help accomplish this feat easily as per Lord Krsna's order. The temples and other activities that Srila Prabhupada started were all secondary to book distribution. Other activities implemented or initiated by Srila Prabhupada such as temple construction, varnasrama, farms, prasadam distribution, etc., were all dovetailed in his service to his guru of book distribution. They were good in-so-far as they complemented book distribution. The real thing was the Krsna-katha in the form of transcendental books:

"There are two important krsna-kathas current in the world-- Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam. Bhagavad-gita is krsna-katha because it is spoken by Krsna, whereas Srimad-Bhagavatam is krsna-katha because it narrates about Krsna. Lord Caitanya advised all His disciples to preach krsna-katha all over the world without discrimination because the transcendental value of krsna-katha can purify one and all from material contamination." (Bhag. 3.5.10)

"Bhagavad-gita is important on account of its being krsna-katha, or speeches delivered by Lord Krsna. The story of the Battle of Kuruksetra may be interesting for the mass of people, but to a person like Vidura, who is highly advanced in devotional service, ONLY KRSNA-KATHA AND THAT WHICH IS DOVETAILED WITH KRSNA-KATHA IS INTERESTING. Vidura wanted to hear of everything from Maitreya, and so he inquired from him, but he desired that all the topics be in relationship with Krsna. As fire is never satisfied in its consumption of firewood, so a pure devotee of the Lord never hears enough about Krsna. Historical events and other narrations concerning social and political incidents all become transcendental as soon as they are in relationship with Krsna. That is the way to transform mundane things into spiritual identity. THE WHOLE WORLD CAN BE TRANSFORMED INTO VAIKUNTHA IF ALL WORLDLY ACTIVITIES ARE DOVETAILED WITH KRSNA-KATHA." (Bhag. 3.5.10)

Srila Prabhupada dovetailed many material and spiritual activities in his service to his guru and thus all those activities attained the same transcendental quality as the Absolute Truth:

"Anyone, therefore, who is earnestly serious in heart and soul about being in intimate touch with the Personality of Godhead in the relationship of transcendental loving service will always be infallible in words and action. THE REASON IS THAT THE SUPREME LORD IS ABSOLUTE TRUTH, AND ANYTHING EARNESTLY DOVETAILED WITH THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH ATTAINS THE SAME TRANSCENDENTAL QUALITY. On the other hand, any amount of mental speculation on the strength of material science and knowledge without any bona fide touch with the Absolute Truth is sure to be a mundane untruth and failure, simply due to not being in touch with the Absolute Truth. Such godless, unfaithful words and actions, however materially enriched, are never to be trusted. That is the purport of this important verse. A grain of devotion is more valuable than tons of faithlessness." (Bhag. 2.6.34)

All the diverse activities of the Hare Krsna movement were unified by Srila Prabhupada's ability to dovetail it in the service of his guru. The preaching/lecturing were non-different from book distribution; the temple maintenance was non-different from book distribution; the prasadam distribution was non-different from book distribution; etc. Therefore, maintaining or constructing temples, starting varnasrama or farms, etc. without its relation to the real mission of Srila Prabhupada of book distribution are not in-line with the order of the spiritual master. They are all secondary; if book distribution is not being performed, all these other activities cannot stand because they are disconnnected from the real pleasure of the spiritual master which is the same as the pleasure of Lord Krsna.

"We recommend that as soon as money accumulates in our Krsna consciousness movement, fifty per cent of it should be invested in printing books, and fifty per cent for expenditures, especially in establishing centers all over the world. The managers of the Krsna consciousness movement should be extremely cautious in regard to this point. Otherwise money will be the cause of lamentation, illusion, fear, anger, material attachment, material poverty, and unnecessary hard work. WHEN I WAS ALONE IN VRNDAVANA, I NEVER ATTEMPTED TO CONSTRUCT MATHAS OR TEMPLES, RATHER, I WAS FULLY SATISFIED WITH THE SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY I COULD GATHER BY SELLING BACK TO GODHEAD, and thus I would provide for myself and also print the literature. When I went to foreign countries, I lived according to the same principle, but when Europeans and Americans began to give money profusely, I started temples and Deity worship. The same principle should still be followed. Whatever money is collected should be spent for Krsna, and not a farthing for sense gratification. This is the Bhagavata principle." (Bhag. 7.13.34)

Here Srila Prabhupada makes it clear that he was fully satisfied with his service to his guru and only when the money came did he dovetail it in other activities that complemented book distribution. Deity worship was not a newly concocted service unrelated to the order of his spiritual master! In fact, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta was ready to sell the temples in order to publish books. Srila Prabhupada followed the order of his spiritual master exactly. One can see that even in a simple thing as the life-membership program that Srila Prabhupada started in temples around the world, the aim was the distribution of his books NOT to collect funds for Lord Krsna, the richest person in existence. He was not interested in getting some funds and cater to the people's demands of providing them hotel-type accommodations or disney-world type atmospheres for their enjoyment. Those who became life members received a full set of Srila Prabhupada's books so they could eventually become pure devotees. Similarly, all activities were dovetailed in satisfying his spiritual master:

"One should engage in practical service to the Lord. In our Krsna consciousness movement, *ALL* our activities are concentrated upon distributing Krsna literature. This is very important. One may approach any person and induce him to read Krsna literature so that in the future he also may become a devotee.... By fully concentrating on distributing books for Krsna, one is fully absorbed in Krsna." (Bhag. 10.2.37)

Anyone who studies Srila Prabhupada's life carefully will rightly conclude: "Books are the basis!" Without the transcendental books, his whole movement collapses and with the transcendental books in the center, the whole movement flourishes.

2 COVERINGS OF THE UNIVERSE

[The following is sastric evidence of the construction of the coverings of the universe as presented in the multimedia Krsna CDROM Vedic Astronomy section. See also the January 2000 issue of our newsletter for more on Vedic Astronomy.]

The Srimad-Bhagavatam confirms that the universe we live in is only one of many universes comprising the material world and that the universe we live in is covered by seven layers that are NOT transparent:

"The Vedic literature informs us that within this universe there is one sun, which is moving. The Western theory that all the luminaries in the sky are different suns is not confirmed in the Vedic literature. Nor can we assume that these luminaries are the suns of other universes, for each universe is covered by various layers of material elements, and therefore although the universes are clustered together, WE CANNOT SEE FROM ONE UNIVERSE TO ANOTHER. In other words, whatever we see is within this one universe. In each universe there is one Lord Brahma, and there are other demigods on other planets, but there is only one sun." (Bhag. 5.21.11)

The universe we live in is 250 million yojanas or 2 billion miles in radius:

"The sun is situated [vertically] in the middle of the universe, in the area between Bhurloka and Bhuvarloka, which is called antariksa, outer space. The distance between the sun and the circumference of the universe is twenty-five koti yojanas [two billion miles]." (Bhag. 5.20.43)

The innermost layer is the earth layer and this is ten times thicker than the diameter of the universe:

"The coverings of the universes are also constituted of the elements of earth, water, fire, air and ether, and each is ten times thicker than the one before. The first covering of the universe is earth, and it is ten times thicker than the universe itself. If the universe is four billion miles in size, then the size of the earthly covering of the universe is four billion times ten. The covering of water is ten times greater than the earthly covering, the covering of fire is ten times greater than the watery covering, the covering of air is ten times greater than that of the fire, the covering of ether is ten times greater still than that of air, and so on. The universe within the coverings of matter appears to be like an atom in comparison to the coverings, and the number of universes is unknown even to those who can estimate the coverings of the universes." (Bhag. 3.11.41)

There are a total of seven layers that make up the layers of the universe:

"Every universe is covered by seven layers-- earth, water, fire, air, sky, the total energy and false ego-- each ten times greater than the previous one. There are innumerable universes besides this one, and although they are unlimitedly large, they move about like atoms in You. Therefore You are called unlimited [ananta]." (Bhag. 6.16.37)

Since the diameter of the universe is 500 million yojanas, the sizes of each layer beginning from the innermost earth layer are:

Earth layer: 5 billion yojanas
Water layer: 50 billion yojanas
Fire layer: 500 billion yojanas
Air layer: 5 trillion yojanas
etc.

3. FEEDBACK: MISCELLANEOUS

[Here is some feedback regarding transcendental nature of book distribution vs. distribution of other "spiritual" material:]

>u can, of course, develop variations to better suit ur particular situation.
> heres an idea that just popped into my head... we could even offer gaura
>nitai or jagannatha some nice and safe (read ingredients) candycanes, and
>give the conditioned souls prasadam candycanes with their "gift" calendars.
>heh heh... they'll never know what hit them. also, the truly adventurous can
>incorporate books into this scenario, as well. and even if they dont take
>calendars, u can still take donations from them (most nice people will at
>least give something) which can be used to give them a "free" small book or
>to distribute more books later, or for other spiritual activities. the
>(spiritual) sky is the limit!!!

Sorry, I have to disagree with your lack of pin-pointedness as to the mission of the Hare Krsna movement. The basis is the books and those cannot be put off for later. You should take books with you ALL the time. Krsna seems to arrange buyers. 1 book cannot be equalled by 1000 calendars given that via the book they will be hearing from the pure devotee of Lord Krsna. I think it's better to stress the quality of devotion you are giving rather than the quantity sold or the money earned. I rather sell one Srimad-Bhagavatam set than 10 million calendars, but if they can't take the book give them the calendar and/or prasad or whatever else you have. But books should be the main goal in mind-- I thought this is how this thread got started. Now we can't change this goal just because we sold more calendars- this is empirical (ascending) process not the purpose of the movement...

>whats the big deal? Books with Krsna and Tapes of Krsna and Calendars with
>Krsna. They are nondifferent from each other...and money is needed.

Why did Srila Prabhupada write books then??? It's easier to make calendars and tapes! Devotional service means doing what is most pleasing to Lord Krsna and Srila Prabhupada said, "If you want to please me, distribute my books." So everything else is secondary. Don't put it on the same level with your mental speculations. You have given no evidence from sastra that the calendar and the book is the same. And as I said before, it's the quality of devotion which Krsna is conquered by and you are speculating that both items have the same quality of devotion behind them. What a joke.

And no, MONEY IS NOT NEEDED! Krsna is the RICHEST PERSON IN EXISTENCE. And the devotees are working on His behalf. He supplies everything they need- not by your own efforts. You simply have to do what He wants. QED. This is NOT DEBATABLE; it's right in the Bhagavatam...

>If anyone
>came to the temple November 6, 1999, Mother [mmmm] and Mother [jjjjj]
>explained that people in New Vrindavan had to pay to stay in the temple, and
>they have to get a job, and have to give money to Krsna's purpose and have at
>least some to maintain the family. Hence, it is important to collect money to
>do the following
>
>1) Establish better temple quality
>2) Better festivals
>3) Maintaince
>4) for the devotees themselves..
>
>so money should not be a debatable issue...
It's debatable alright. You are calling Lord Krsna a poor, lame person whose devotees are hankering for money for survival and who is unable to distribute His own books, maintain temples, or have good festivals! But you are ABSOLUTELY wrong:

"The Supreme Lord Krsna is described herein as atmarama. He is self-sufficient, and there is no need for Him to seek happiness from anything beyond Himself. He is self-sufficient because His very transcendental existence is total bliss. He is eternally existent; He is all-cognizant and all-blissful. Therefore, any presentation, HOWEVER VALUABLE it may be, is not needed by Him. But still, because He is the well-wisher for one and all, He accepts from everyone everything that is offered to Him in pure devotional service. It is not that He is in want for such things, because the things are themselves generated from His energy." (Bhag. 1.11.5)

Devotees are not in need of anything; nor is Lord Krsna in need of anyone distributing His books. All those items you listed above are NOT GOALS of devotees. They simply SERVE Krsna according to what pleases Him and whatever He provides they accept. First become an actual *SPIRITUAL* warrior before pretending to be one. If you or anyone is need of money, get a job. If you want to serve Krsna, do what He wants without being dependent on money, big temples, big festivals, or big sales...

[The key point is that devotional quality must be considered. As the saying goes, "There is no substitute for quality." Srila Prabhupada's literary works of pure devotion cannot be minimized or put on the same altar as things not done in pure devotion. Other things/activities dovetailed in pure devotional service remain purely devotional as long as they continue to be dovetailed in pure devotional service. We have proved this in this newsletter:

"Anyone, therefore, who is earnestly serious in heart and soul about being in intimate touch with the Personality of Godhead in the relationship of transcendental loving service will always be infallible in words and action. THE REASON IS THAT THE SUPREME LORD IS ABSOLUTE TRUTH, AND ANYTHING EARNESTLY DOVETAILED WITH THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH ATTAINS THE SAME TRANSCENDENTAL QUALITY. On the other hand, any amount of mental speculation on the strength of material science and knowledge without any bona fide touch with the Absolute Truth is sure to be a mundane untruth and failure, simply due to not being in touch with the Absolute Truth. Such godless, unfaithful words and actions, however materially enriched, are never to be trusted. That is the purport of this important verse. A grain of devotion is more valuable than tons of faithlessness." (Bhag. 2.6.34)

Therefore, to think that distributing a Vaishnava calendar independently of books and distributing a book such as the Bhagavad-gita As It Is is the same thing is absurd. "Books are the Basis!".]

4. EDITORIAL POLICY AND PRODUCT LIST

Krishna Software Inc. is dedicated to help people become peaceful and happy via spiritual science presented using modern multimedia technology. Our editorial policy as well as our mission is stated in the Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.2.37 Purport):

"One should engage in practical service to the Lord. In our Krsna consciousness movement, *ALL* our activities are concentrated upon distributing Krsna literature. This is very important. One may approach any person and induce him to read Krsna literature so that in the future he also may become a devotee.... By fully concentrating on distributing books for Krsna, one is fully absorbed in Krsna."

Our newsletters are geared to show you the benefits of the instructions contained in the transcendental books of Srila Prabhupada so you can judge for yourself the value of these books and obtain them in book or CDROM format. We also have video demos of the Gita CDROM and Bhagavatam CDROM available for those without computers or those who want to get a glimpse into what is on the CDROM.

Krishna Software Inc. has produced some multimedia CDROMs and all the details and reviews of these CDROMs can be found at our website http://www.krishnasoft.com. Here is our current list of products:

(a) Multimedia Bhagavad-gita As It Is CD: Lord Krsna's eternal instructions to Arjuna and the rest of the world about Isvara (Supreme Lord), jiva (the soul), karma (activities), kala (time), and prakrti (nature). This is a 30-hour audio-visual CDROM. Also available with Hindi translations.

(b) Multimedia Srimad-Bhagavatam CD: An encyclopedia on the science of Krsna consciousness. This CDROM deals in detail with bhakti-yoga and covers various subjects-- the creation of the universe, Vedic astronomy, transmigration, birth-death, etc. This is about 35 hours of audio-visual presentations.

(c) Multimedia Krsna CD w/Vedic Astronomy: This is a 51-hour audio-visual presentation of the Krsna book and a Vedic Astronomy simulation based on the Srimad-Bhagavatam. All on a single CDROM. Free sample demo downloadable from our website.

(d) Multilingual Word Processor CD [version 4.00]: Type in diacritics, Hindi, Sanskrit, Gujarati, Punjabi, Bengali, and Assamese without knowing the alphabet. This is for those who want to write articles using multiple languages. Free demo downloadable.

All of the above software was tested on various Intel 486 and Pentium processors running Windows 3.1, Windows '95, Windows '98, and Windows NT (client and server).

Latest information and secure ordering is available at our web site: http://www.krishnasoft.com. Any upgrades can be downloaded from this website as well.

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End of Newsletter- written and edited by KSI staff; (c) 1998-2000 Krishna Software Inc.
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All glories to Lord Sri Krsna and His transcendental potencies! All glories to the Srimad-Bhagavatam, the literary incarnation of Lord Sri Krsna!

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