Monthly Archives: March 2014

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 04 March 2012, New York, USA, Caitanya Caritamrta Adi-lila 9.37) Question: Maharaj, you spoke about associating with the mode of goodness and being natural also. Do we do it step-by-step, little-by-little? I am regularly in Germany and in Germany they have the autobahn (highway) with no speed limit. Some years back, they had a […]

Krsnakrsyate radhaya premna yamuna-tata-kananamlilaya lalitas-capi dhiraih krsna udahrtahBy Her unsurpassed love, Radha charms He who performs wonderful lilas on the banks of the Yamuna. Therefore, those who are sober know Him as Krsna.Srila Jiva Goswami

Harinama is the congregational chanting of the holy names of the Lord as shown to us by Srila Prabhupada. Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu introduced the sankirtan movement 500 years ago and it is the spiritual process recommended in the Vedas for the age of Kali, the age we now find ourselves in. From the beginning of the Krishna consciousness movement in the West, Srila Prabhupada directed the devotees to chant congregationally in the temple as well as in the parks and streets of the towns and cities. Read more ›

Like the Vatican and its shepherding of a disparate flock of many-hued sheep, we may end up with several dozen ‘orders’ within the Hare Krishna movement, but at least they will be working under the same name and style. Theologies have a tendency of variation according to the very genuine physical needs and faith-levels of their proponents. As such, they won’t always mesh together, and practices may not always conform to strict orthopraxis, but splintering might be prevented, and we may all be spared the debilitation of any further reduction in size and influence. Splintering diminishes the strength of collegiate effort and repeated division is a scourge that ultimately ends in a loss of power and increased apathy. If people can be united to do good in the world it is helpful for everyone concerned. Read more ›

Not just the typical Vrindavan pig story that describes the ugly, dirty fellows bowling people over, in the wee hours of the morning, in order to claim their pig breakfasts. Read more ›

Watch it as it happened… Read more ›

Mayapur, India

A Plop That Plopped

A cow patty fell off the side of the village wall as we trekked by.  It got my attention.  The balance of the wall is perfectly populated with this stuff – round finger printed patties stuck to the brick.  They were getting dried by the sun, and just one lost its sticking power.

Cow patties are an excellent source of fuel.  They are there for the taking, free of charge.  The generous cow or bull leaves her or his earthy feces on the ground for people to do something smart with.  You have to be a little daring though.  It’s a hands on situation, and some patience is required to allow for drying time.  Somebody is doing a good job at gathering the stuff around here.  I can’t find fresh plops even if I were to take up the mission to secure even one. 

After the morning walk our small crew went to Radha Bhavan, the actual home of a gracious family from Poland.  Mahasringa, the man of the house, is the epitome of kindness.  He took us up to the roof of his home for a small ceremony, and for a talk that I was to give to a small group.  In the center of the flat roof, and under the sunshine, was a havan kund, a small fire arena.  There in its center was about six cow dung patties with a sprinkled amount of camphor on top of that, it made for a modest flame.  Mantras were to commence after I spoke a few words from the Gita, 2.57.  It’s a great verse:

“In the material world, one who is unaffected by whatever good or evil he may obtain, neither praising it nor despising it, is firmly fixed in perfect knowledge.”

The message was liked by all because it was geared toward the young man from Switzerland taking his second diksa (initiation).  Receiving this honour means that you endeavour to increase your application of wisdom.  To a large extent it also means to be level headed and to maintain one’s equilibrium as much as possible.  You enhance your consciousness. 

As a small fire was burning with its foundational fuel, the cow dung, mantras were recited by the presiding Brahman (priest).  Grains were tossed into the flame.  He had just about all the ingredients there to perform a perfect spiritual ceremony. 

It also made for a perfect last event before leaving the great retreat in Mayapur.  It all ended with some cow dung. 

May the Source be with you!

7 KM

Toronto, Ontario

My First

I took my first trek since returning from India.  So I went down Yonge Street near Dundas Street, a black chap held a stack of publications in one arm.  It is entitled, “Black Heroes”.  I justified not taking one as he extended one issue with his free hand.

“No thanks,” I said.  No racism intended.  In my mind I had three justifications.  In the first place, I carried no money to pay for the publication.  Number two, I was really needing to concentrate on japa meditation without major breaks.  Lastly, I already have the black hero in my life – Krishna.  I did not voice my simple concerns to him even though he demandingly responded with a, “Why not?”

The next person I took particular note of on the street was talking, but to no particular individual.  Paradoxically, he was speaking to everyone who passed by him.  His message was about Jesus.  I could see he was attracting no audience, and that should have no bearing on the personality Jesus himself.  It just appeared to be a gospel that’s been spoken many times over, so people had heard it before. 

The third person to speak to me directly was a woman appealing for change.  She was nice about it when I smiled and nodded, “No.”  I could actually hear her smile as I passed by and she remarked, “Well, maybe next time.”  She was most self-reassuring. 

It was nighttime and moving into the morning when I took this much needed trek.  I was addressing the jet lag syndrome chanting my japa.  Being awake to the non-worldly matters, I realized I was on another continent again, with different people, who have the same kinds of needs as on other continents and in other spheres. 

May the Source be with you!

7 KM

Kolkata / Delhi / Brussels / Toronto

Speed of Wind

Maha Mantra and I were moving with the speed of wind between airports.  First of all, the road from Mayapur to Kolkata is always a rough one, full of potholes and crazy traffic.  I will always love India for its people and its spirituality, but not its systems or lack of.

Delhi’s airport is world class, but not its air, it’s hot and stuffy.  You wonder why you call it an airport.  Our flights are on Jet Airways.  Maha Mantra and I managed to maintain a relative spiritual program on and off board.  It consists of a look at verses from the Gita.  We discuss.  We chant the song, Guruvastakam, in appreciation of the guru, right there in the airport in Brussels.  Of course, I also get a chance to contribute to this blog.  Some much needed dozing also happens to take place.  Then, Maha Mantra, being the disciplinarian and monk that he has been, asked me if there was anything I thought would be appropriate for him to watch on the televised screen in front of his seat.  Surely, I did my homework and gave my honest assessment.  I thought that the only good learning, near enlightening, or historic subject matter, would be a choice of films, “Lincoln”, or “The Butler”.

From Brussels to Toronto we experienced so little turbulence in the air.  The main turbulence would likely be that of mind.  As you may be aware, the Gita states that the wind is easier to harness than the mind. 

A word about that – the mind – is that it is the role played by my associate, Maha Mantra, in our Gita production.  He did splendid playing that sporadic character.  I am grateful to him for being with me in the travels and in the productions. 

I’m also happy about the pilgrimage to India.  I already expressed my likes and dislikes.  In it all, we are supposed to have the vision that God should be seen in all circumstances.  When there is a little bit less favourable circumstance, then it should always turn into an opportunity.

In landing at Toronto Airport, with a zero Celsius degrees, both Maha Mantra and I took a breath of that air, once the doors opened for us at the parking lot.  Personally, I see God in the form of fresh air, one of multiple manifestations.

May the Source be with you!

0 KM

Mayapur, India

I Cannot Walk With You

“I cannot walk with you today,” said Praveen.  He is a local person and I’ve known him for a good 15 years or so.  I was with a Russian devotee, and we were just turning a corner onto Tarumpura Road, toward the Jalangi River, when Praveen expressed that he can’t join us as he did the other day.  He felt unworthy, as he put it, “I didn’t take bath yet today.”  He made further remarks that emerged from the low self esteem platform, “I’m no good.”

Praveen looked disheveled.  His dentures are deteriorated, stained yellow and brown.  In the past when I would meet him on the Tarumpura Road, I would give him an embrace, but I could see he was not in the mood to receive.  He looked intoxicated.  Being pious, believing in God, and what is generally dharmic (moral), he felt rather guilty being in our presence.  He knows what it means to greet or be greeted by a monk.  It is a deeply engrained element in the psyche of people who hail from the land of dharma, India.  That’s why he spoke with an outburst, “Maharaja,” he said out of reverence.

He stood there, humbled, and the only thing I could do for the moment was to cheer him up and let him know he’s not a bad person.

“Do put your faith in Krishna, He’s always there to help.  By the way, please come to see our play, ‘Little Big Ramayan’.  It will be held at the Samadhi Auditorium.”

There’s always the obligation when meeting someone to give them hope.  I saw him get a little excited.  So we went on our way.  I did not see Praveen at our show, but I trust that he will be there in the future.  I pray for him.

“My dear, Krishna, please watch over Praveen who is struggling and having a dark hour.  Please help him to overcome habits he’s not pleased with.  May his devotional sentiments overshadow his weaknesses.”

May the Source be with you!

5 KM

Mayapur, India A Walk, A Song A Russian, an Argentinian, a Quebecois, and Paramatma (the Divine in the heart) became my companions on short trails today. One of those strolls took us to the Kirtan Mela, ‘Festival of Chant…

Mayapur, India

You Can Get Bitten

I do anticipate that anything can happen at any time.  Down any trail, danger can lurk.  What if along the trail of dust, a cobra confronts me and he strikes?  I might have an hour to live.

The last few evenings, just to get away from the crowds, I’ve taken to the path.  I premeditate as to what to do should a fateful event like a snake injecting his venom ever occur.

As I embarked on what’s now a brick-lain trail before it turns to raw soil, I perceived a towering figure who stepped into my shadow.  I turned around to see who it was.  A stranger to me, but in traditional attire, dhoti and kurta – was this tall blonde-haired stocky Russian.

I beckoned him to join.  His English is poor.  My Russian is awful.  We decided to penetrate through the dark together and not talk but chant japa.  I had the trail chalked out. He trusted my turns when they came.

We walked on and on in the quiet of the night.  Only in the distance could we hear a little pop music from across the Jalanghi river.  We weren’t bitten by a cobra, only by that sound which is not congruous to the local spiritual atmosphere.  “Never mind!”  I thought.  Change what you can, not what you can’t.  Focus on the sound that falls off your tongue and your lips.  “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare”.

The Russian-walking comrade goes by the name of Vedaguhya.  It turns out he’s an expert massage therapist.  He offered to massage my legs, feeling an obligation I suppose.  In returning the favour, I offered a newly-acquired lota (a container for water).

In the dham (spiritual abode) everyone tries to resign to exchanges of giving.  It heals.

May the Source be with you!

4 KM

Mayapur, India

Remind Yourself

Today was the first day of some illness.  Nothing major.  Some tummy problems.  I hear some residents of India call it “the Delhi belly”

Like anything in the mundane world it is just temporary.  This is the consolation.  By mid-day, operations were back to normal.

I have written before how tough it is to move from one building to the next without being greeted by admirers of monks.  In Indian culture people adore their swamis, even if you are not born in this mother land.  At least in this Mayapur setting where the Vaishnav culture is in full swing, anyone wearing that saffron with the pleat-free-in-the-back dhoti and perhaps carry that staff (danda) – regardless of your skin colour – will attract attention.

The usual routine is that when a pilgrim spots a sannyasi he/she may halt walking, slip out of the shoes and offer dandavats (where you flatten yourself on the ground or bow with head to ground), all out of reverence.  Some pilgrims while cycling will stop and do the same.

Personally I feel these gestures, sincere as they are, are a little bit overkill.  They are whole-heartedly executed but at least from my side there is an inconvenience when crowds require a flow of movement.  It is one of several austerities that a monastic person has to undertake.  You can’t avoid the celebrity stature.

The question is, “How do you deal with all the attention and not let it all go to your head?”  What comes to mind is the early morning conscientious internal effort made to remind yourself that, “I am a tiny spark of life with a dimension of one ten-thousandth the tip of a hair.  There are trillions of such sparks existing in the world and I am just one of them.  I am small.  I am humble.”  Sometimes a little illness is the best reminder.

May the Source be with you!

4 KM

Mayapur, India The More Dark Side of a Mass Pilgrimage There is something very embarrassing about the culture which I adopted and it has to do with when you are not able to walk through the crowds.  To have ten thousand people descend on a…

Where else can Harinama, the congregational chanting of the Holy Names of the All Attractive Supreme Personality of Godhead, Bhagavan Lord Shri Krishna, can be performed better than here! Read more ›

Mayapur, India

I Was Dozing

I was dozing during a meeting.  It’s not that the topic was boring, in fact, it was a discussion group that went up to the front of our conference room to address the milk controversy – ahimsa milk, which is milk from a non violent source, versus store bought milk.  The topic should be interesting.

Physically, psychologically, I struggle with long sit down sessions.  I need to move.  I get antsy.  One of my monastic brothers came to save me from the embarrassment of being noticed in my drowsiness.

Lokanath Swami needed someone to join him in a ceremony honouring an anniversary of 25 years of padayatra pilgrimage throughout India involving bullock cart, deities, and people on foot.  He got the permission, green light, for me to have an hour leave of absence granted by the conveners of the meeting.  It’s nice to know that the cause of kirtan(chanting) in procession with pilgrims is so much supported by the powers that be.  Once I descended down the stairs, I got my feet to the ground and to the starting point of a chanting session.  Traffic was halted, some of which were buses, cars, scooters, and even tractors.  Finally, our procession moved on and traffic was freed up.  It was a one kilometre long procession, and it was given priority.  I took the lead on singing while eager young men danced and pranced to the sound of mantra.   It was a resounding sound.  Sound speakers were plenty.  Drums, mridangasand djembes, were in full force.  Karatalas (hand cymbals) were clanging in full volume.

I was awake, very much so.  I took a dose of the ultimate panacea, chanting and walking, and it did the trick once again.  The dose got me out of the doze. 

May the Source be with you!

5 KM

Mayapur, India They Snarled They snarled and growled.  I’m referring to dogs.  Then they, only two or three, would have a biting fight which would last as long as you could say, “Lassi!” Stray dogs do enter the dham (sac…

Mayapur, India

Bizarre Dream

One of my female students came up to me and said, “Guru Maharaja, I had a strange dream last night.  It was about you and I was in it.”

“What did you dream?” 

“Well, in the dream, you asked me to be a sacrifice for a dragon, so I was offered to the fiery mouth of the beast.”

I was humoured by this ethereal scenario, and I guess, touched by the fact that she, the dreamer, would be so candid to tell me about this.  She did not ask for an interpretation of the dream or an inner meaning, yet I decided I would offer some comment. 

We both agreed it was rather a silly conjuration.  First of all, I had expressed that we are of the passive kind.  I would in real life never suggest the gesture of human sacrifice.  And entering into the flames of a dragon’s mouth?  That would be out of the question.  As devotional people, we offer ourselves into the fire of devotional service. 

In general, you can’t take dreams too seriously as they are merely a conglomerate of impressions that may not normally be related to one another.  Life is but a dream, and I would say most emphatically, “The only reality is service.”  I can say what isn’t reality, and that is the world in which we live.  This world is dream like, but we mistake it for truth. 

When I became a monk back in the spring of ’73, I cut myself off from gross sense gratification.  I made a commitment, I’ll not go back to that illusion.  I will confess to some day dreaming at times, and those dreams can be outrageously nonsensical.  So I reiterate, “Reality lies in service to others.”  And this is when our hearts are the softest, when our brain is sharpest, and mind is cleanest. 

The big reality for me today was service to Krishna in the form of uttering his name on that quiet trail running along the Jalungi River.  It was absolutely relishable. 

May the Source be with you!

6 KM

1966 March 11: “Panchami. I went to the Paragon Book Gallery. Total 10 sets, add 35 new sets, total 45 sets. Transfer to old stock 25 sets, balance 20 sets. Taken today 4 sets, balance 16 sets new stock. This 16 sets new I shall take at a time when I n…

1967 March 11: “I am so much thankful to you all for encouraging me in my humble attempt to preach the message of Srila Prabhupada in this part of the world. I am sure to be successful if I am blessed by you all Vaisnavas.”Prabhupada Letters :: 1967

1969 March 11: “He is now so much busy in so many ways. In the absence of BTG printing, I gave permission to print some outside work, to get money, but that does not mean we should stop our own work and print something on our press which is against our…

1969 March 11: “The transcendental experience which you had during kirtana is very nice. Relishing the transcendental sweetness of Krishna Kirtana is only possible when one is actually advanced, towards perfection. In the conditioned stage, we chant H…

1974 March 11: “We are coming in disciplic succession from Bhaktivinoda Thakura and you are coming in family succession from Mahatma Sisir Kumar Ghose, so if we combine together in preaching the message of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, it will be a great be…

Calves are very special living entities, and they have their own personalities, just like people do! Last Friday, March 7, 2014, mother cow Anjali had a baby boy calf, who was named Amani. He was very strong right from birth, and there were absolutely no problems.  He began nursing immediately and was quite sociable, after […]

1974 March 11: “At the moment everyone is sudra. The Krishna Consciousness movement is meant to create actual intellectuals to guide society. The process if very simple. If the Varnasrama College is started, I am sure the chaotic condition of human soc…

1974 March 11: “In the beginning if we start a Varnasrama College to teach internationally students from all over the world to learn to be educated as brahmanas, as Ksatriyas, as vaisyas, as sudras, by quality and work, that will be the basic principle…

1975 March 11: “I have just completed a world tour visiting Hong Kong, Japan, United States, South America, Mexico, London, and now Tehran. I will be leaving for Bombay and then Calcutta and from there to Mayapur for Gaura Purnima. I would be happy to …

“Why,” somebody asked me recently “do you want to build something new when there are already so many buildings in Vrindavan?” Of course, ISKCON has a wonderful temple in Vrindavan, with convenient living arrangements at the MVT and the surrounding area. But the town of Vrindavan has become a metropolis, and it has become difficult to find the peace required to enter one’s sacred space. Thus, we recognized the need for a retreat center, which would offer an ideal setting where students could go deep into their spiritual practice. This place would be used exclusively for group and individual retreats. Read more ›

Rejecting the paths of the worms in the poison of sense-gratification and they who think that only they exist, paths that do not attract one to take loving shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead at the fearful time of death, we aspire for Vrndavana, which is flooded with flowing nectar streams of bliss. [Source […]

The world’s happiest event is just around the corner! On Saturday April 19th 2014, ISKCON New Vrindaban will host Pittsburgh’s first annual Festival of Colors. The festival is an exuberant gathering of people united in the desire to celebrate life, where everyone is invited to join in! Festivities include seven hours of continuous music and […]

Mayapura conversation.
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(Kindly transcribed by Mataji Swetha Ganeshan) Download the audio for this lecture here: Download From Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir! Date: February 26, 2014 Speaker: HH Kesava Bharati Dasa Goswami Subject: S.B. 9.4.68 HH Kesava Bharati Swami Maharaja: Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya, Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya. Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya. This morning we are reading from Srimad Bhagavatam. […]

The post Srimad Bhagavatam 9.4.68 – HH Kesava Bharati Dasa Goswami appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Primarily, religion means to know God and to love Him. That is religion. Nowadays, because of a lack of training, nobody knows God, what to speak of loving Him. People are satisfied simply going to church and praying, “O God, give us our daily bread.” In the Srimad-Bhagavatam this is called a cheating religion, because […]

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Dear devotees, Please accept my humble obeisances. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada. Over 10,000 devotees who have been performing the great yajna of Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama for the past seven days, traversing in all the nine islands of Navadvipa, all came together as waves and waves of devotees pouring inside the ISKCON Mayapur Campus for […]

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Download the audio for this lecture here: Download From Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir! Date: February 24, 2014 Speaker: HH Bhakti Vinoda Swami Subject: S.B. 1.2.16 HH Bhakti Vinoda Swami:  We are reading today from SB, Canto 1, Chapter 2, text 16. śuśrūṣoḥ śraddadhānasya vāsudeva-kathā-ruciḥ syān mahat-sevayā viprāḥ puṇya-tīrtha-niṣevaṇāt (Collective chanting and word to word meaning is read) […]

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(Kindly transcribed by Sheela mataji) Download the audio for this lecture here: Download From: Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir! Date: February 24, 2014 Speaker: HH Devamrita Swami Subject: S.B. 5.13.16 The verse that we have been assigned continuing from before the ILS started is Firth Canto, Chapter Thirteen, “Rahugana converses with Jada Bharata” Text 16 prasajjati kvapi […]

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The scene in the pandal with 5 of the 6 Navadvipa Mandal Parikrama parties assembled, celebrating the successful completion of the 25th parikrama. Several thousand devotees, but the Russian party of about 1500 had not arrived at this time. Read more ›