Monthly Archives: January 2015

Living the Dream
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There seems to be a tension between comfort and aspiration in our lives. We seek to explore, to grow, to achieve, yet we also desire security, safety and certainty. It’s clear, however, that we often have to sacrifice one to get the other. If we opt to remain in the comfort-zone, we may have to live with the inevitable feelings of being humdrum, run-of-the-mill and unexciting. On the other hand, if we dive for our dreams we’ll have to ready ourselves to brave the rocky road of uncertainty and opposition. Every significant achievement has its price tag.

In reality, we usually go for something in between. Decisions on where to pitch our life are largely based upon the prevailing social mood of the day. What is everyone else doing? What are the expectations of society? What will keep everyone happy? Breaking free of such barriers and pursuing our ‘inner calling’ is a tough job. As life responsibilities increase, it’s easy to get boxed in, sealed tight and shelved up. Shifting the daily routine becomes more and more taboo. Doing something different may be seen as unintelligent, rash and irresponsible. And even when there are no grounds for such accusation, we conveniently accept those opinions just to reinforce our comfortable life and maintain the status quo.

Life has its way of grounding us down. Very few people have a dream, even fewer seriously consider how to fulfill it, and only a rare soul actually has a decent shot. In an age where security, establishment and balanced prosperity have become the guiding beacons for our comfortable life, a pause for thought may be worthwhile. The Bhagavad-gita reminds us of a broader vision that needs to be etched into our consciousness. The inevitable laws of nature mean we come to this world empty-handed and we leave empty-handed. Everyone, without exception, is guaranteed to lose everything. Although our temporary constructed situations of life seem so real, they are all washed away by the ruthless waves of time. We’re building castles in the sand. It sounds counterintuitive, but I’m trying to invest quality time in developing this “vision of eternity”, hoping that it will make me a whole lot more dynamic in this temporary phantasmagoria.

As I wander around in the spiritual hub known as Vrindavana, I’m reminded of a local saying which is beginning to make more and more sense to me: “All reality outside of Vrindavana is actually a dream, and all dreams in Vrindavana are actually a reality.”

Devotees Remember Sankara Dasi on 30th Anniversary of Her Passing
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By Madhava Smullen Friends and family are remembering Srimati Sankara devi dasi — known for her deep love of her children and quiet dedication to Krishna’s service — as the 30th anniversary of her passing approaches on January 25th, 2015. On that day, the Sunday Feast program at ISKCON New Vrindaban will be held in […]

Advaita Acharya
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 29 November 2008, Lecture at Mamgachi) We will just read something from the Caitanya Bhagavata. Srila Prabhupada said that the nature of scripture is that it is sweet on all sides so it does not matter where you begin, it is always sweet. Lord Visvambhara looked at Advaita Acharya and said, “I […]

Staying with Krishna for the Long Haul by Finding Our Personal Mission and Potential Power—Part 1
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Author: 

Karnamrita Das

photo bridgetoenlightenment_zpsfe0d7408.jpg
In my last blog I spoke of illness or difficulties that can be used to rekindle our spiritual practice. In this blog I am sharing a sample of what of what some friends and I have been discussing about regarding the difficulty in finding one’s personal power and life mission. In a general sense all Gaudiya Vaishnavas, or devotees of Shri Krishna Chaitanya, share the same ultimate mission of prema, or loving service to Krishna and the spiritual practices to obtain it, or sadhana. However, the details concerning how one lives their life to obtain this ultimate mission, whether as a renunciate or married person with countless occupational possibilities, is as varied as are the types of people who come to Krishna. We could think of a personal unique mission, and a general spiritual one. They may look the same or seem very different. Many years ago I discovered I had issues with my personal power—or my lack of it. Reading the comments of devotees on this subject, I realized that I’m not alone, and so the topic of personal mission and personal power is essential to discuss for our long term standing as devotees.

Reflecting on how I grew up in a family situation where I had to turn off my personal power in order in to survive in a negative, violent atmosphere, it is easy to see that using my personal power is a major life lesson. My withdrawal of energy, or not being very conscious of it, continued to cast a shadow over my life when I came to Krishna. At first it helped me focus on my spiritual practices, but later I was practically forced to become a more balanced and integrated devotee. I have always been a late bloomer and so it isn’t surprising to me that it is only now, toward the later years of my life that I have found the gift in this personal deficiency. Of course, we all have our own time in becoming aware of what we need to do in our life. I’m endeavoring and praying to manifest my personal mission in the world—or my corner of it—as my offering for my gurus and Krishna, and to encourage others to do the same.

For the spiritually minded, life is really about managing our human energy in relationship to our spiritual path, and giving it shape according to our personal mission. Some intuitives call our personal mission our “sacred contract,” and I have called it our “karmic mission.”

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Thursday, January 22nd, 2015
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Dallas, Texas

What Do You Think?

In the morning Bhagavatam class, speaker Anuttama, touched on some good topics.  Most topical was the subject of religious fanaticism.  In every camp you have right wingers to the far extreme and it’s these people who are of the mindset to destroy.

The terroristic tendencies to be oppressive to an innocent public is the current concern worldwide.  That type of spirit isn’t religious at all.  I still recall Sheila Copps, a dignitary in Canadian politics say, “It has nothing to do with religion.,” in response to an arson act that destroyed Sita Ram deities in a demolished Hindu temple in Hamilton.  I was there when she said it at a ceremony to lower the deity parts at the base of the harbor.  Some fanatic decided that the peaceful temple was culturally connected to the 9-11 devastation in New York.  Were they ever wrong!

I asked Anuttama after his class whether he had an opinion on what was worse – spiritual arrogance or regular mayic or materialistic arrogance (I also ventured to say that spiritual arrogance is like an oxymoron).

“Well, what do you think?” he asked.

“Absolute power corrupts absolutely!”  And I expressed that when you put God behind your ego, you are worse off.

He nodded.

After his class I felt like I wanted to start an anti-fanatic walking crusade.

May the Source be with you!

4 KM

Wednesday, January 21st, 2015
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Dallas, Texas

The Fabric Came

Nancy had come to drop off the material – fabric that was flowy, dreamy and meant to be used as a prop in the weekend production of “Blue Mystic”.  Nancy I consider to be Miss Fabric herself because she deals with it all the time with her bridal boutique called “Gowns of Grace”.

She was telling me that gorgeous gowns had lost their lace in the sixties.  Princess Diana then reintroduced fancy feminine dresses to the world.  Her trail blazing the attire of glamour or perhaps grace is like Bruce Lee being credited for popularizing martial arts from the east.

I then though how our own guru, Prabhupada, set a trend for bringing kirtan to the west.  He really did trail blaze and made an impact on the world, whether people are aware of it or not.  I discussed this with my dear godbrother, Gunagrahi Goswami, and brought to his attention the article by journalist Brennan O’Connor who declared that we are all now Hare Krishnas.  He admitted that Hare Krishna may not be mainstream, but all their ideas are.

What an honour it is to be a small component to the arrow head of the pioneering of Krishna Consciousness.

May the Source be with you!

0 KM

Tuesday, January 20th, 2015
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Dallas, Texas

Tough guys!

Cowboys?  No!  I haven’t met any yet.  But tough guys, yes.  Pitbulls and other ferocious dogs are abundant, at least in the neighbourhood of Kalachandji’s Restaurant and Palace where our continental meetings are held.  Meetings of sadhus or sages, both men and women, converge at Texas to discuss Krishna Consciousness.

Back to the pitbulls:  young Brajananda, my monk companion and I, venture down this alleyway.  It was daring for both of us to trek down this unused trail, uneven in terrain and overgrown with weeds, yet it became our opportunity for adventure. 

We started to hear the snarls from the other side of the wooden fence.  And then there were these fences that were of steel mesh where teeth and bark are clearly revealed.  The look and bark of these boys coming from both sides of the alley way was rather intimidating.  One particular canine stuck his aggressive head and paw through a hole in the fence and it was hair-raising because a little more push from him and he could have burst through.  Thant would mean open game for us. 

As Brajananda and I ambled along through that noisy trail of barkers, some emotional buttons including fear were pushed.  Believe me, these were mean dogs who looked eager to tear us asunder.  Tough guys made of muscle, hair and teeth, their arousals didn’t let up. 

The alley way continued on but our journey had to come to an end.  We veered off.  We got our thrill for the day.  I guess we were a little like stray dogs.  All the fellows we met had masters.

Come to think of it, we are all dogs, servants to our Master?  You know whom I’m talking about. 

May the Source be with you!

7 KM

“Wintery” Harinama in Gamla Stan, Stockholms Län, Sweden (Album…
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“Wintery” Harinama in Gamla Stan, Stockholms Län, Sweden (Album 8 photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The names of the Lord and the Lord are non-different. So Lord Krishna’s instructions to Arjuna to “remember Me” and Lord Caitanya’s injunction to “always chant the names of Lord Krishna” are the same instruction. (Bhagavad-gita, Introduction)
See them here: http://goo.gl/zfWqfK

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BBC: The hazards of too much stuff Srila Prabhupada: Everyone…
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BBC: The hazards of too much stuff
Srila Prabhupada: Everyone requires possessions such as food grains, clothing, money and other things necessary for the maintenance of the body, but one should not collect more than necessary for his actual basic needs. If this natural principle is followed, there will be no difficulty in maintaining the body. According to scriptures, collecting of more than necessary (atyahara) is prohibited. Now the entire world is suffering because of it. (The Nectar of Instruction, 2)
Here is today’s article from BBC which presents practically the results of such over accumulation: http://goo.gl/kvlGx3

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Auckland New Zealand Friday night ecstatic Harinam (Album 32…
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Auckland New Zealand Friday night ecstatic Harinam (Album 32 photos)
Srila Prabhupada: We have seen many philosophical speculators. They simply talk in the meetings and that’s all. And if we examine their private character it is less than ordinary. A person may be a nice speaker but will that help you in your spiritual realization? On the other hand, if you chant Hare Krishna, it will give you immediate results. (Lecture 1968, Los Angeles)
See them here: http://goo.gl/kgn1j2

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Bhakti Groove (Album 15 photos) SUBANG JAYA – Inspired by the…
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Bhakti Groove (Album 15 photos)
SUBANG JAYA – Inspired by the success of Kirtan Mela in Malaysia, the youths from Klang and Kuala Lumpur gathered at one of the youth’s home in Subang Jaya to start a monthly gathering of spiritual and fun bliss called “Bhakti Groove.”
Bhakti means devotion emphasizing the mutual intense emotional attachment and love of a devotee towards the Supreme Lord, Sri Krishna. Groove in the urban dictionary is an adjective describing a rhythmic quality of music that is emotionally communicative and soulful.
The combination of both words “Bhakti Groove” formed a mystical formula of invocation, assisting communion with Sri Krishna.
See them here: http://goo.gl/5QxSJP

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