Author Archives: Amrtavani devi dasi

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 03 April 2016, Durban, South Africa, Sunday Lecture at NJP) Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya Lila chapter 19 is a chapter dedicated to the biography of Rupa Goswami and how he receives instructions from Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. What it begins with and which is interesting, is ‘lip service’. The term ‘lip service’ is found […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 03 April 2016, Durban, South Africa, Sunday Lecture at NJP) Life after life, we are adding more building blocks of karma, and more and more, we are adding to our material identity, that material destiny which will bind us deeply into so many complexities. So, we find everything difficult. “Do I really […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 30 March 2014, Cape Town, South Africa, Sunday Lecture) Give your heart to everyone, even if they don’t give anything back. It hurts sometimes when people are hard-hearted and not responding properly but take that pain with patience and carry on. Somehow, keep on chiseling at stone. Get through that barrier. In […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 20 February 2016, Durban, South Africa, Nityananda’s Appearance Day Lecture) Caitanya Caritamrta describes how the happiness of Lord Nityananda is so overwhelming and so intoxicating that he becomes drunk. He is drunk by that happiness, and one knows well that a drunk man cannot see clearly. So in this case, Lord Nityananda […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 24 April 2014, Radhadesh, Belgium, Caitanya Caritamrta Lecture) śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya-dayā karaha vicāra vicāra karite citte pābe camatkāra (Caitanya Caritamrta Adi 8.15) Krsnadas Kaviraj Goswami is saying that the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is just amazing, and the more one tries to logically understand it, the more amazing it is. I like to […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 20 March 2016, Durban, South Africa, Lecture at Sunday Program) Bhagavad-gita makes it very clear – we should not waste our time in trying to control the material energy and make it more and more favourable for our stay in the material world. Rather, we should understand that our stay in the material world […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 12 March, Durban, South Africa, Lecture at House Program) How is it possible for the spiritual world to be present in the material world? Krsna did that, somehow or other, he fit the spiritual world into the material world because Krsna was thinking to himself, “Aaah, there are these conditioned souls. They […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 06 January 2016, Drakensburg Retreat, South Africa, Morning Lecture) We should realise that if we have no faith in ourselves, it is because we think that we are the doers. We believe that we are doing things and the results will depend on our actions. But actually, we should know that everything […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 12 September 2015, Durban, South Africa, BYS Retreat – Lecture at the Goshala) I was at a university in Johannesburg and there was a girl who said, “I have ten boyfriends and I like them very much. What’s the problem? What’s wrong with sex?” Then everyone said, “Yeah! What is your hangup […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, August 2016, Goloka-dhama, Germany, Lecture) Prabhupada was real, Prabhupada was genuine, Prabhupada loved Krsna, Prabhupada saw Krsna and because Prabhupada said God is blue, He is blue! It is as simple as that! Therefore Prabhupada is the living proof of Krsna consciousness, that it all works. Prabhupada is not only our inspiration, […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 06 August 2012, Ljubljana, The Balkans, Lecture on the Pastimes of Krsna) When Krsna walks in Vrindavan as Madhava, carrying his flute tucked in his belt, then the trees which have branches laden with fruits and flowers, are trying to touch Krsna’s feet. The bees are just singing the glories of Krsna. […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 19 September 2014, Cape Town, South Africa, Evening Lecture)   Nothing has changed. Everything is still the same as it was when Krsna was here 5000 years ago performing his pastimes in Vrindavan. Krsna was stealing butter and yoghurt from the houses of all the residents of Vrindavan and all of them […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 10 July 2013, Fruska Gouranga, Serbia, Seminar 2) I can honestly say that after Vrndavan, no place in the world can attract me. What is the point of any hill when it is not Govardhan Hill! What is the point of swimming in some lake when it is not Kusum Sarova, when it […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 26 August 2015, Stockholm, Sweden, Jhulan Yatra Lecture) Our temple in Pretoria, South Africa, is on a street where there are many embassies. You can see signs on various buildings saying Embassy of … and the names of the countries. Then, when you come to our temple, it says, “Embassy of the spiritual […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 26 August 2015, Stockholm, Sweden, Jhulan Yatra Lecture) Krsna consciousness is for idealists. Perfection is possible. It is not necessary to settle for less than your dream because what you can get on the spiritual platform is greater than your dream. In the material world, you know how it is – you […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 15 August 2015, Vrindavan, India, Bhagavad-gita 17.1) Worship of the spiritual master goes beyond offering a flower and offering some incense. It goes beyond one’s own worship to the point of pleasing the spiritual master. The other day I was thinking, “Chant sixty-four rounds?” Then I thought, “That would be nice but wouldn’t it […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 19 May 2015, Melbourne, Australia, BhaktiVvrksha Programme Part 2) Question: What is the purpose of God? Why has he created all the living beings and the spiritual world? The purpose of God is to enjoy the greatest happiness. The greatest happiness is found in loving exchanges. Therefore, the Supreme Lord is engaging in […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 01 June 2015, New Govardhana, Australia, Caitanya Caritamrta Antya Lila 20.12) ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanaṁ bhava-mahā-dāvāgni-nirvāpaṇaṁ śreyaḥ-kairava-candrikā-vitaraṇaṁ vidyā-vadhū-jīvanam ānandāmbudhi-vardhanaṁ prati-padaṁ pūrṇāmṛtāsvādanaṁ sarvātma-snapanaṁ paraṁ vijayate śrī-kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtanam “Let there be all victory for the chanting of the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa, which can cleanse the mirror of the heart and stop the miseries of the blazing […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 01 June 2015, New Govardhana, Australia, Caitanya Caritamrta Antya Lila 20.12) Success on spiritual life does not depend only on our service. I would like to mention Srila Prabhupada’s Godbrother, Bhakti Vaibhav Maharaj, who used to visit us regularly every year for Srila Prabhupada’s Appearance Day. He spoke every year, commemorating Srila […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 12 May 2015, Melbourne, Australia, Personal Address) Ultimately, whatever has to happen will happen at the right time, but still, we have choices to make. When we cross the street, it is not like, “Oh! What is happening? I am crossing the street!” No, you are choosing to cross the street. So […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 25 April 2015, Radhadesh, Belgium, Lecture at Cultural Festival) The material world is the world where you have a facade. The material world is the place where you have a hidden agenda. The material world is the place where you want something from someone without really telling them. In the material world, […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 12 May 2015, Melbourne, Australia, Personal Address) We have grown up in a particular situation; we have integrated into the world and then in the middle of that, suddenly there is Krsna consciousness with a whole new system of values! These two kind of clash, though in some ways they mix fine […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 12 May 2015, Melbourne, Australia, Personal Address) We have grown up in a particular situation; we have integrated into the world and then in the middle of that, suddenly there is Krsna consciousness with a whole new system of values! These two kind of clash, though in some ways they mix fine […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 25 April 2015, Radhadesh, Belgium, Lecture at Cultural Festival) What does it mean to follow the mood of the spiritual master? I think, it means that whatever is really important and essential to the spiritual master, that should also be essential to the disciple. Not that we become cat copies of our […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 12 May 2015, Melbourne, Australia, Personal Address) One who is not a devotee is causes disturbance for others and himself. So be a devotee, but how to be a devotee? Some want to be devotees living in a temple relating to the outside world. Some want to live in the outside world, […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 25 April 2015, Radhadesh, Belgium, Lecture at Cultural Festival) I think it will be really nice if my disciples will have real, genuine relationships amongst one another; positive vaishnava relationships. It would be something that would have power; power for ourselves. It will be something that will nourish us and it will […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 04 April 2015, Durban, South Africa, Ratha Yatra Lecture: The Golden Incarnation) Srila Prabhupada said that attentive chanting means to hear oneself chant. For me, hearing myself chant is easier than trying to fix my mind. I just put all my energy to my ear and I try to listen and the […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 03 April 2005, Durban, South Africa, Lecture: The Power of Humility) The pure devotee sees everything as perfect, “Krsna has kindly sent me all these things for my purification. Krsna has a greater plan. Ah yes, I had my plan, but what are my plans? They are insignificant. Krsna is unlimitedly intelligent […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 04 April 2015, Durban, South Africa, Lecture: The Golden Incarnation) All vaisnavas from the four bonafide sampradayas are standing shoulder to shoulder to expose impersonalism which says that the living entity can become God. Never can the living being become God! All vaisnavas will say that we can only be the eternal servant of […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 04 April 2015, Durban South Africa, Lecture: The Golden Incarnation) Question: Would harinam sankirtan remove all the bad karma accumulated in previous births and purify the soul? Oh yes! Harinam sankirtan surely removes all bad karma. It is said in the Caitanya Caritamrta that Haridas Thakur was known as the namacarya. Haridas Thakur […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 05 April 2010, Durban, South Africa, Lecture at Ratha Yatra) There are many people all over the world who are all adhering to some religion and are worshiping God! They speak about intimacy and about getting close. One day, I was preparing a seminar on the topic of prayer so I had […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 16 January 2015, United Kingdom, Lecture at Matchless Gifts) What do we really need? In the Bhagavad-gita, the quality of simplicity is glorified. If one can be simple, then one has all wealth. A person who is not simple has a hellish life. When you are simple, what do you need!? And […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 16 January 2015, United Kingdom, Lecture at Matchless Gifts) I remember a song from when I was young. I didn’t like that song. It was describing different problems in the world, and the chorus was, “But fortunately we have the key to escape reality.” I was thinking, “But wait a minute! You didn’t […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 19 January 2015, Bhaktivedanta Manor, United Kingdom, Brahmacari Class) There is a story in the Caitanya Bhagavat of Gadhadara Das. Gadhadara Das, one day went to the residence of the Chand Kazi. He stood in the courtyard and called out, “Kazi! Kazi, where are you? Kazi, chant! Chant the holy name of […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 19 January 2015, Bhaktivedanta Manor, United Kingdom, Brahmacari Class) Prabodananda Sarasvati writes in the Caitanya Candramrta that now the whole world has changed. Everyone is chanting, everyone is dancing, everyone is ecstatic. Now, even the meat-eaters, even those who are most fallen, young or old, everyone is just dancing in ecstasy! So he […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 26 January 2015, London, England, Lecture at Matchless Gifts) If we see ourselves as a master, “I am trying to be master. You are all my dogs,” then what will we get? A world where nobody trusts each other and everyone is thinking, “Who is going to exploit me next?” It is a […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 26 February 2013, Vrndavan, India, Caitanya Caritamrta Seminar, Part 1) When Lord Caitanya looks upon this material universe, everything changes. Suddenly, the entire inauspiciousness of the age of kali disappears. Srila Prabhodhananda Sarasvati Thakur mentions in the Caitanya Caritamrta, “Where is the influence of kali now? Where are all the sinful men?  Where […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 26 December 2014, Cape Town, South Africa, Initiation Lecture) I like to compare the taking of the initiation vows to a situation where the candidates are sitting in little boats in the ocean, and we are now preparing for take off. So we are packing the boats. We say, “Here’s your instruction […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 26 December 2014, Cape Town, South Africa, Initiation Lecture) Behind all these temporary manifestations, behind the changing of the seasons, behind the changes that never seem to end, behind the endless waves of the ocean, behind all that, we see Krsna. We see that Krsna is constant, that Krsna never changes, that […]