Author Archives: Swami B.K. Giri

Changes to our book sales and book distribution.

Posted on by

 

Rising costs of book sales.

We have always strived to offer the best service possible for sincere seekers with a desire to acquire and study the books of Sri Gaura Saraswati. To that end we make every effort to package and ship our books within 24 to 48 hours using USPS Priority Mail with a three day delivery window and tracking number to follow the shipments and insure their delivery.

We have offered this service for many years as shipping costs continually rise. Despite the rise in these costs we have not raised the price of our books. Now we feel we must.

For the most part, after deducting the shipping costs, we receive an amount less than or equal to the cost of printing. In many cases our Mission’s devotees are actually subsidizing the cost of printing so that our books can be shared with the widest possible audience.

Within a short period of time we will be raising the price of all our books and other items from our ”Shop” by $1.00. If you’d like to avoid these increases we suggest you place any orders you’ve been considering as soon as possible.

If you appreciate the value of printing and distributing the books of our Sri Guru Varga please help us continue this important work.… Read More...

Enjoying Election Day in the USA

Posted on by

Today we are observing the disappearance of His Divine Grace Srila A.C. Bhaktvedanta Swami. It is also the day voters in the USA will vote to elect their next President. Remembering the many things Srila Prabhupada had to say about democratic elections, observance of first event led to remembrance of the next and I took a look to see what Srila Prabhupada had to say about these matters.

I recall once hearing about Srila Sridhara Maharaja speak to the question of how we should vote. He said this: ”Vote against the Communist.”

In the following talk Srila Prabhupada expands on the same point. I found reading it to be very enjoyable. I  became quite happy doing so. I hope you will have the same experience.

Swami B.K. Giri

”So if the world becomes full of Communists, then the human civilization will be finished.”

Prabhupāda: …two classes of men = the Communist and the non-Communist. Not exactly Communist and Capitalist, but Communist and non-Communist. Out of these two, the Communist are going to be powerful. This is the world tendency. So if the world becomes full of Communists, then the human civilization will be finished. All rogues and rascals, that’s all. The American government wants to check this tendency.… Read More...

“Free Books” is Not Authorized

Posted on by

10/16/24

Dear Sriman Gaura dasa,

Please accept my humble obeisances.

I don’t think I’ve heard from you for about 2 years.

In one of your last emails to me (9/22/22) you wrote:

I apologize to you for asking you if you have any books you would like me to distribute. I had never distributed any of Srila Sridhar Maharaja’s books before, but I thought if I met any professors at any universities I visited along my travels, they might also appreciate them, in addition to Srila Prabhupada’s books.  I have met devotees over the years that have asked me to distribute a box of Srila Prabhupada’s books so I thought to ask if you were interested in having me do that.

I have never been one to generate much profit from distributing books.  When devotees have sponsored a box of BBT books to me in the past, I do not generate profit for myself from the books other than trying to cover  basic vehicle maintenance for any books that I distribute because the maintenance of a vehicle to distribute them, as well as the cost of gas is very high and almost cost prohibitive. I just received a bill of $ 1400 for new tires, oil change, transmission oil change, coolant, undercoating for rust in the winter etc… A brake job soon due is $ 800.… Read More...

Giri Makes the News!

Posted on by

The Russian Giri

Giri village near Belitsa, Russia

Locals report Ukrainian military is in Giri village near Belitsa, Russia.

As the Ukraine army moves to liberate Giri from those intent on repressing it, I wish them well.

Our Giri

All glories to Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharvika Giri-dhari. May They bestow Their blessings upon us all.

Swami B.K. Giri

Gandhi? Yes. Mahatma? No! His God was charka not Kṛṣṇa.

Posted on by

Yes; there was a Gandhi, but he was no mahatma. Srila Prabhupada explains—

Guest: What about the argument, not [indistinct], but India we see that every great saint personality has surrendered to Kṛṣṇa, even Mahatma Gandhi?

Prabhupāda: No, no, no, no.

Guest: He was also taking his…

Prabhupāda: No, no. Don’t say like that. Surrender of Kṛṣṇa is different. Then you have to understand what is surrender. Mahatma never surrendered to Kṛṣṇa. He surrendered to yourself; therefore you killed him. [Indian laughs] He surrendered to his countrymen, and his countrymen killed him. He was working for his countrymen. That’s all. He never worked for Kṛṣṇa.

Guest: But the Gītā was always with him.

Prabhupāda: But, but, no “but.” You see from the action.

Guest: I also read Gītā. What’s the difference? I mean, Mahatma Gandhi…

Prabhupāda: He never surrendered to Kṛṣṇa. I wrote him letter, “Mahatma Gandhi, you have got so much influence. You just preach the gospel of Kṛṣṇa…, Bhagavad-gītā. Now we have attained svarāj. You don’t be in politics.” But he was still in politics after attainment of svarāj. And his assistants became disgusted because he was interfering, and therefore he was killed.… Read More...

Prabhupada on COVID Vaccines, Doctors & More.

Posted on by

 

Revatīnandana: Should we try to avoid getting injections as much as possible?

Prabhupāda: That is my opinion.

 

”Germs are everywhere.” — Srila B.S. Govinda Maharaja

Sometime in 2009 (probably around the time of Gaura Purnima) Srila Govinda Maharaja summoned me to cut his hair.

I was very enthusiastic for the opportunity to serve His Divine Grace in such a personal way. However, I had been suffering for some time with influenza or something that produced similar symptoms. Even though I thought it might ruin my chance to render service to Srila Govinda Maharaja I thought it best to inform him of my hesitation since my being in such close proximity might cause my infection to spread to him. Raising his hand he waived it in a manner of dismissiveness and said ”Germs are everywhere.”

As the panic over the COVID pandemic intensified, pressures arose from many quarters to enforce measures ‘believed’ to limit the spread of the SARS II virus. The first imposition was the wearing of face masks or other cloth coverings.

Two entirely contradictory actions were also imposed: 1) maintain minimum distance of six feet from everyone and 2) remain indoors.

Remembering Srila Govinda Maharaja’s declaration ”Germs are everywhere.”… Read More...

The Four Regulative Principals

Posted on by

Attached below is a stern reminder of the importance of following the four regulative principals.

It is dated 12/6/94, dictated by Srila Govinda Maharaja and sent as a fax to the leaders of Brasil.

May it serve us well.

Krsne matir astu,

Swami B.K. Giri

Our Two Lords

Posted on by

3/11/24

Dear Justin ______,

Dandavats.

We received your book order #14522 (Search for Sri Krsna: Reality The Beautiful) with payment.

It will ship via USPS Priority Mail to the following address with phone #.

[Omitted]

We expect the books to ship tomorrow and you should receive them within three days henceforth.

Recently we celebrated Lord Nityananda’s appearance.

In 1987 I completed work on the book Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, His Life and Precepts by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura on Lord Nityananda’s appearance day and printed it soon thereafter.

I had originally intended to publish a different work — The Bhagavat Speech — by the same author. When I asked Srila Sridhara Maharaja for his permission to do so he said ”The more important work is Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, His Life and Precepts” so I undertook the task of printing that instead. Your book order caused me to remember this. As a result I am including a copy of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, His Life and Precepts in remembrance of Sri Nityananda Prabhu’s merciful dispensation of the teachings of his master Sri Krishna Chaitanya.

In this Kali Yuga there would be no ”Search for Sri Krishna” — either in the form of a book or otherwise — without the mercy of Lord Nityananda.… Read More...

Two Businesses: Gold & Gurus

Posted on by

2/27/24

Dear Darren,

You’ve asked me a few times about guru and at least once asked if I am a guru. I sidestepped the question a bit because my direct answer to such a question is not very relevant. Suppose, for example, I answered your question ”Yes, I am a guru.” So what? Would the answer mean you should accept me as your guru? No. That is a matter for you to decide, not me, nor anyone else.

The better question for you to ask is ”What is a guru?” That is a question I can easily answer. Then, after knowing what a guru is, you can search for a guru, when your knowledge is firm that you know what to look for and you feel an urgent need for the spiritual guidance that only a spiritual guru can give.

If you want to buy gold, you have to know what gold is. Only then will there be any profit in searching for it.

If someone offers to sell you gold and you ask him ”Is it really gold?”, of course he will say ”Yes.” whether it is or not. There is not much value in such a question and answer.… Read More...

Appearance day festival of Lord Nityananda.

Posted on by

Sri Nityananda’s Avirbhava

CC Ādi 1.35

mantra-guru āra yata śikṣā-guru-gaṇa

tāṅhāra caraṇa āge kariye vandana

Synonyms

mantra–guru — the initiating spiritual master; āra — and also; yata — as many (as there are); śikṣā–guru–gaṇa — all the instructing spiritual masters; tāṅhāra — of all of them; caraṇa — unto the lotus feet; āge — at first; kariye — I offer; vandana — respectful obeisances.

Translation

I first offer my respectful obeisances at the lotus feet of my initiating spiritual master and all my instructing spiritual masters.

In pursuance of the above formula—

I offer my humble obeisances to my initiating (nama and mantra) spiritual master His Divine Grace Thakura Bhaktivedanta Swami — a Shaktyavesa Avatar of Sri Nityananda Prabhu — who appeared in this world to dispel the darkness of ignorance, give relief to the sufferings of all jivas, enlighten and give spiritual joy to his devotees and help us realize the purport of this verse:

CC Ādi 1.2

vande śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya-

nityānandau sahoditau

gauḍodaye puṣpavantau

citrau śan-dau tamo-nudau

Translation

I offer my respectful obeisances unto Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya and Lord Nityānanda, who are like the sun and moon. They have arisen simultaneously on the horizon of Gauḍa to dissipate the darkness of ignorance and thus wonderfully bestow benediction upon all.… Read More...