Monthly Archives: March 2014

New Vrindaban Daily darsan @ March 31, 2014.
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

In Vrinda?vana the leaves on the trees are made of emeralds, the flowers of diamonds, the new flower buds of beautiful pearls, the newly sprouting leaves of red kuruvinda jewels, the many fruits, all filled with various kinds of nectarean tastes, of rubies, the rain of an incessant shower of nectar, and the bumblebees of […]

Harinama and Prasadam distribution at Murari Gupta Village in Mayapur (Album 55 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

Sri Murari Gupta was a very intimate associate whose pastimes with Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu were steeped in the loving bond of their eternal relationship. As an incarnation of Hanuman, Murari Gupta is as dear to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu as Hanuman is to Lord Rama. He appeared in Sri Hatta, the hometown of Jagannatha Misra (father of Lord Caitanya) and Srivasa Pandita, but became a resident of Mayapur when he was a young boy. He was only a few years older than Lord Caitanya and a close neighbour so they shared many experiences while growing up. Born into a lineage of Ayurvedic doctor, Murari Gupta followed that profession, but because of his elevated spiritual potencies, he also cured the spiritual diseases of his patients along with their physical ailments. Murari Gupta also wrote the first biography on Gauranga Mahaprabhu named Sri Caitanya-carita. Read more ›

A Treasure-trove Of Nectar: ancient Gaudiya Sampradaya palm-leaf scriptures! (Album 11 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

Indradyumna Swami: This morning we discovered a treasure-trove of nectar in a private collection next to an old temple here in Orissa. Amongst many valued articles were ancient Gaudiya Sampradaya palm-leaf scriptures and a piece of sannyasa cloth worn by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur. Read more ›

New Vrindaban Daily darsan @ March 30, 2014.
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

In Vrinda?vana the effulgent ground is fashioned with many very wonderful colorful cinta?an jewels, the trees and vines are full of blissful spiritual fruits and flowers, the birds make a great tumult by reciting the hymns of the Sa?ma Veda, and the lakes and streams are filled with transcendental nectar. May my heart meditate on […]

“I’ll carry what you lack”
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 08 March 2014, Sydney, Australia, Bhagavad-gita 13.3) Arjuna Acarya was a pundit who was writing a commentary on the Bhagavad-gita, and as he was writing he came along this verse, which basically says: “I’ll carry what you lack and I’ll preserve what you have.” When Arjuna Acarya was reading this verse, he […]

Thursday, March 27th, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

Columbus, Ohio
I Went To Prison
My dear friend, Akhilananda, from Salem, Ohio, took me to the Trumbull Correctional Center to see Arjuna, a prisoner (aren’t we all?), and who will serve time for another 8 years.  Because of his great conduct, officers and inmates at the institution love him.  He has been put in charge of the art department for the whole place.  Arjuna isn’t anyone I can walk with until he is discharged, but I can certainly visit him annually.  He gave the good news that he’s soon to be engaged which will last until marriage, and which also won’t happen until the sentence is terminated.  Both Akhila and I are thrilled about this new development and are impressed with Arjuna’s patience. 
To Columbus I went.  There, I had the pleasure to trek with our sole monk from Krishna House located in the Ohio State University District.  Nitai Gauranga is the name of the monk who accompanied me along the Olentangy River, a stream of constant water that flows to the Mississippi.  The city here has put incredible energy into revitalizing and beautifying the river banks and protecting it from erosion.  I’m told the trail along the way goes a good 22 miles. 
To be explored at a later date.
Finally, evening came along and the usual Thursday gathering showed up.  From the Bhagavad Gita we spoke on 11.54 regarding unbroken service which repairs the broken heart. 
In hindsight, at the prison, a janitor asked, “What order do you belong to?” 
I had to repeat myself more than once, “Hare Krishna.” 
He obviously never heard the term before, and asked, “What kind of Christians?” 
I repeated, “Hare Krishna.” 
Thinking he got it right this time, he said what he thought I said, “Oh, Happy Christians.” 
“Alright, whatever,” I thought, and he went back to sweeping.
May the Source be with you!
8  KM

Wednesday, March 26th, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

Cleveland, Ohio
In Cleveland
I arrived at the bus depot in downtown Cleveland, and while I enjoyed this new space, so did some meadowlarks that happened to get inside.  They flew from light fixture to light fixture, pooping around and sometimes they came in for a landing pickingup a snack scrap or two left on the floor.  They appeared to be trapped though, and they weren’t sure how to get out. 
This dynamic nearly reminded me of a famous episode in the epic, The Mahabharat, where Abhimanyu, the young warrior, so expertly was able to penetrate through the military barrier.  Once in, he was unable to exit as the barrier closed in on him. It is actually a sad moment in the story, and it meant Abhimanyu’s end. 
Dayal Nitai, my host in Cleveland, had come to fetch me while I had eyes on birds, and mind on the battlefield.  Once we arrived at his home at Hillsdale Road, he treated me to some of his raw food preparations.  He tells me he’s writing a book which includes those recipes of his, “Masterpiece Recipies”.
Now to work off the calories of that fine food, I ventured off, but only for an hour, taking in good air and moving my limbs.  I satisfy myself in breathing in what is one of the greatest gifts, and I appreciate that my legs  are the most outstanding mobilizers that a human can savour in.
A Wednesday group met at Dayal’s in the evening, and after a kirtan, our discussion based on the Bhagavad Gita 11.53/54, was all about the aspiration to see God.  Our conclusion was that as you pursue devotion, the eagerness to have a vision of someone calms down, and that energy transforms to “doing”, at which time, God sees you. 
May the Source be with you!
5 KM

The Sacred Stone (Album 65 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

Indradyumna Swami: Yesterday we visited the ancestreal home of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu in Jajpur, Orissa. Mahaprabhu’s parents, Jagannatha Mirsa and Saci Mata lived there before migrating to Bengal. Their home no longer exists, but there is a temple on the grounds that has deities of Gaura Nitai that have been worshipped since the time of Lord Caitanya. While traveling to Jagannatha Puri after taking sanyasa, Lord Caitanya passed through Jajpur. Because He was a sannyasi He did not enter His ancestrael home, but instead sat on a stone outside the complex for sometime. That stone still exists and is worshipped daily in the temple by a 93 year old brahmacari who had a dream of Mahaprabhu when he was 12. Read more ›