Author Archives: Ananda Vrindavan Dasi

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 20 October 2015, Chowpatty, India, Srimad Bhagavatam 10.69.41) Question: It happens, especially in household life, that the desires for sense gratification are many times taking over our focus, although we try to keep Krsna in the center. Years are inevitably going by and those desires are still not being completely wiped off, […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 17 August 2014, Goloka-dhama, Germany, Janmastami Class, Srimad Bhagavatam 10.41.6-10) There are ten effects of Cupid mentioned by Srila Visvanath Cakravarti Thakur: first comes attraction expressed through the eyes, then the intense attachment in the mind and heart, followed by determination and loss of sleep! Next, one becomes emaciated, then disinterested in […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 27 August 2015, Stockholm, Sweden, Srimad Bhagavatam 3.6.6) Srimad Bhagavatam is not a technical manual about the creation as that is not its purpose. Srimad Bhagavatam describes the creation and the essential reason why it describes the creation is to explain how at every stage, creation is intimately connected with the Supreme […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, October 2014, Mayapur, India, Siksastakam Seminar: Verses 1&2, Part 1) Currently, our chanting may not be so complete, in the sense that it is free from any form of anartha or aparadha, and done in a full transcendental knowledge. But all chanting will help in purifying the dust from the heart to […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 27 August 2015, Stockholm, Sweden, Srimad Bhagavatam 3.6.6) The living beings originate in the spiritual world and then come to a state where they enter into tatashta – tatha, it means the edge – the marginal state where they are neither in the spiritual world nor in the material world. It is the […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 26 April 2015, Radhadesh, Belgium, Vyasa Puja Morning Lecture, Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya Lila 24.124) Question: What is the best thing to do to cure our scars and in particular how to cure bad relationships with devotees? By having good relationships with devotees! Focus on the positive, do not focus on scars. Sometimes […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 26 April 2015, Radhadesh, Belgium, Vyasa Puja Morning Lecture, Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya Lila 24.124) Question: Are there any scars from one’s past sense gratification – drug, sex abuse or other previous impious activities – which cannot be changed in this life? It may be that certain drugs have burnt out the brain […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 26 July 2015, Gita Nagari, USA, Srimad Bhagavatam 3.25.8) When our real focus is blocked, we become self-centered, thinking all the time about ourselves – my spiritual life, my advancement, my needs… and this is a problem. The spiritual master is rather the opposite of that. To be a spiritual master, is […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 26 April 2015, Radhadesh, Belgium, Vyasa Puja Morning Lecture, Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya Lila 24.124) The reason why I brought this little bit of astrology into the lecture, is to point out that we have our nature. I will give an example of Krsna Ksetra Maharaj. I like to call him, “His Relaxedness.” Happy […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 10 July 2013, Serbian Summer Camp, Fruska Gouranga, Seminar Part 2) I remember, one year I was with Sacinandana Maharaj and a whole group of devotees on a boat, sailing in Danish waters. Maharaj gave this seminar about Krsna’s sweetness. It was all about Krsna being so sweet, looks so sweet… and […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 26 April 2015, Radhadesh, Belgium, Vyasa Puja Morning Lecture, Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya Lila 24.124) There is story of one sannyasi who was very dear to Srila Prabhupada and very dedicated. He preached so nicely but unfortunately, he found his ashram quite difficult. Of course, he was a young man at the time […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 26 April 2015, Radhadesh, Belgium, Vyasa Puja Morning Lecture, Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya Lila 24.124) I would like to speak about the theme of collecting blessings because that is the reason why we are here. When it comes to spiritual strength, on our own we don’t really have any. The exception might be […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 26 April 2015, Radhadesh, Belgium, Vyasa Puja Morning Lecture, Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya Lila 24.124) I was thinking if I should give any special message today. Should I maybe go through the Caitanya Caritamrta and select a special verse? But then I thought, “No! Every verse in the Caitanya Caritamrta is special so […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 22 December 2014, Cape Town, South Africa, Disciple Meeting) Comment: You were saying how the altar is actually the spiritual world. However, I experience how personal worship of the deity can become mechanical, like a routine ten minute puja. It can be but if every day, you try to do something special […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 26 April 2015, Radhadesh, Belgium, Vyasa Puja Morning Lecture, Caitanya Caritamrta, Madhya 24.124) We wish to come to the stage of pure, unalloyed devotional service so that our heart can become completely satisfied with serving Krsna. Serving Krsna is our only aim – our only pleasure, our wealth and our single possession. […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 12 April 2015, Mauritius, Kirtan Mela, Day 3, Introduction to Kirtan) In the introduction to the Srimad Bhagavatam, Srila Prabhupada quotes a very famous verse (SB 1.5.11): tad-vāg-visargo janatāgha-viplavo yasmin prati-ślokam abaddhavaty api nāmāny anantasya yaśo ‘ńkitāni yat śṛṇvanti gāyanti gṛṇanti sādhavaḥ It means wherever there are devotees who are chanting the […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 22 December 2014, Cape Town, South Africa, Disciple Meeting) Relationships are very much based on indebtedness – that we see the sacrifice that others are making. Relationships between Krsna and his devotees are like that; relationships between guru and disciple are also like that, it is based on indebtedness. A disciple has […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, June 2013, Island Iz, Croatia, Seminar ‘A monk and his mantra’) Question: How can we avoid being inattentive while chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra? The question that has been raised quite often, about the lack of attention and the mind wondering all over the place when we try to sit down and […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 02 January 2015, Simhachalam, Germany, Caitanya Caritamrta Antya 7.16) Caitanya Mahaprabhu pointed out to various devotees what he had learnt from them, so we should try to follow his example. We should see that devotees are giving us gifts. It is the association of vaisnavas, who have done so much service in […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 02 January 2015, Germany, Caitanya Caritamrta Antya 7.16) Question: What can I do to stop my mind from criticizing others? On the surface, we can try to start by glorifying others. We can get out of the habit of criticizing others by creating the habit of glorifying others, but that is external, […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 02 January 2015, Simhachalam, Germany, Caitanya Caritamrta Antya 7.16) It is because we are proud, because we claim to know everything, because we are lazy, because we have no tolerance and everything disturbs us, and because we are addicted to enjoying our senses all the time, that we condemn others and cannot […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 02 January 2015, Simhachalam, Germany, Caitanya Caritamrta Antya 7.16) We must not blindly follow but always use our intelligence to deeply understand our philosophy and all the stories from the different ages. In previous ages, quite outstanding things were possible. In those times, sages had amazing powers and piety was a big […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 02 January 2015, Simhachalam, Germany, Caitanya Caritamrta Antya 7.16) The process of Krsna consciousness works by the association of vaisnavas. We are simply the recipients of their mercy. So many vaisnavas have played a significant part in my life as well. In Vrindavan, the devotees were very kind and merciful to me […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 16 January 2014, Bhaktivedanta Manor, England, Srimad Bhagavatam 9.10.21-22) Devotees of Krsna have somewhat of a different mood than devotees of Lord Rama. Devotees of Rama are very strict about dharma as Lord Rama himself, was extremely strict with executing dharmic principles in this world, even to the point of abandoning Sita […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 16 January 2015, Bhaktivedanta Manor, England, Srimad Bhagavatam 9.10.21-22) The reputation of Krsna’s devotee is essential. A devotee is naturally honest and detached. Dishonesty is a sign of material attachment, it is a sign where we think that we have to be controllers, ‘This situation is getting out of hands! I am not […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 25 December 2014, Cape Town, South Africa, Srimad Bhagavatam, 9.19.25) Question: You explained about the necessity of stretching ourselves and raising the bar of our devotion. How can we know if we are stretching too much or too little? We must begin to accept some of the practices of devotional service and […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, December 2014, Mayapur, India, Nectar of Devotion Seminar, Part 2a) In the Srimad Bhagavatam (3.29.12-13), Srila Kapiladev, while instructing his mother, has given the following characteristics of pure devotional service, ‘My dear mother, those who are My pure devotees have no desire for material benefit or philosophical speculation, and have their mind […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 01 December 2014, Mayapur, India, Srimad Bhagavatam 6.1.50) Question: To a certain degree, we may want to become pure devotes, but how can we make this desire more solid? Srila Prabhupada explains that everything moves by taste, because if there is no taste, then it is very difficult to do anything. Srimad […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 01 December 2014, Mayapur, India, Srimad Bhagavatam Lecture 6.1.50) Question: You have said that we are on our own and it is up to us to go back home, back to Godhead. What are we supposed to do? Take devotional service very serious. Take it very serious! That is what we are […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, October 2014, Mayapur, India, Siksastakam Seminar: Verses 1&2, Part 1) Currently, our chanting may not be so complete, in the sense that it is free from any form of anartha or aparadha, and done in a full transcendental knowledge. But all chanting will help in purifying the dust from the heart to […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 30 March 2014, Cape Town, South Africa, Bhagavad-gita Lecture) Question: How does one become steady in one’s Krsna consciousness? By depending more and more on Krsna. In the beginning, we are not steady in our Krsna consciousness because we do not depend enough. We want to depend on ourselves. We think, ‘I […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 30 March 2014, Cape Town, South Africa, Bhagavad-gita Lecture) Bhagavad-gita as it is, is the pure message of Krsna which was spoken to Arjuna who was at a state that was no longer his normal self. Arjuna was the most exalted personality who could go where none of the other Pandavas could […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 29 October 2014, Vrindavan Dham, India, Srimad Bhagavatam 5.13.22) In the beginning of our spiritual life, we come with lots of enthusiasm. Then, after some time, we lose that initial fire and we come in a realm of struggling with all the high standards of Krsna consciousness. We do not feel the […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 29 October 2014, Vrindavan, India, Srimad Bhagavatam 5.13.22) Kunti Devi is explaining that one must be materially exhausted and take no more pride in the position of one’s birth, wealth, learning or beauty. However, it is very challenging to overcome tendencies of taking pride in those things. On Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance day, […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 29 October 2014, Vrindavan Dham, India, Srimad Bhagavatam 5.13.22) Question: You have mentioned that logic can sometimes make us dull and this maybe is an example of how that works. In your class, I am trying to be logical and I am having a little difficulty, as what you have said seems […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 26 September 2014, Durban, South Africa, House Program) Even if we do not have great qualifications, when we are fortunate, we will come into contact with a great devotee of the Lord and that will awaken in our hearts, a desire to serve the Lord. One who has this desire to serve […]

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 26 September 2014, Durban, South Africa, House Program) There are many thieves in the world but who is the greatest thief? In Vrindavan, everyone knows Krsna is a thief – even as a child, Krsna was a thief; he would steal butter. Even his own mother, Yasoda, caught him one day right […]