Author Archives: Nityananda Chandra Granger

Safety Check – Affected Zones
→ Nityananda Chandra Das' Blog, ISKCON Dallas

This material world is a dangerous place.  In fact, if it had a Yelp review you would be quite surprised.  Every ancient saint of every tradition had the same thing to say.  Whether it was the Buddha, Jesus, or Śrī Krishna, all stated that this material world is a place of crises.  What is the crisis? Everything is temporary.   Which means it is virtually non-existent and we are searching for truth and existence in the wrong place.

A person with an unsatisfied heart may do any damn thing for happiness/pleasure.   They may perform bad or good actions for that end game.  In return, that creates karma, or future arrangement of good and bad reactions in life.  Living millions of such lives separate from seeking the Supreme every one of us has a stockpile of good and bad reactions in our bank account.  Thus no one person can be assured safety.
With the best parents, one cannot assure the safety of their dependants, with the best boat, one cannot be assured that one may not drown, and with the best doctors and medicine, one cannot be assured freedom from death.  Thus the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam states,
samāśritā ye pada-pallava-plavaṁ
mahat-padaṁ puṇya-yaśo murāreḥ
bhavāmbudhir vatsa-padaṁ paraṁ padaṁ
padaṁ padaṁ yad vipadāṁ na teṣām
For those who have accepted the boat of the lotus feet of the Lord, who is the shelter of the cosmic manifestation and is famous as Murāri, the enemy of the Mura demon, the ocean of the material world is like the water contained in a calf’s hoof-print. Their goal is paraṁ padam, Vaikuṇṭha, the place where there are no material miseries, not the place where there is danger at every step. – Bhāg 10.14.58
However after hearing all this gloom and doom a person should not misunderstand.  The Bhāgavatam is encouraging us to taste and experience that ever-practical connection with God right now as a powerful medicine to the material ailment.  Thus those who taste this relationship are known by the ever ripening sweetness of their character.  Just as the mature chanter of the Hare Krishna Mantra experiences it as sweeter and sweeter with every step.
So let us shift our street with the mridanga beat and move to that place where every step is a dance and every word is a song. 

My path to yoga – an academic essay by Priscilla Black
→ Nityananda Chandra Das' Blog, ISKCON Dallas

“Where there is no inner freedom, there is no life.”
-Radhanath Swami, The Journey Home: Autobiography of an American Swami


Yoga- In Hinduism, a set of mental and physical exercises aimed at producing spiritual enlightenment. This is a basic definition I found on google. To me, Yoga is something completely different. Yoga aids an individual in obtaining inner freedom to embrace one’s truest self. Your highest self, detaching oneself from the ego so to fully emerge as the spiritual being you are. I firmly believe that we are not these bodies but, these are our vehicles for this life. What we put into our bodies affects the way we feel not only physically but emotionally and mentally.  Why not cherish our flesh vehicles and provide the proper maintenance to keep them running smoothly?
My Journey with wellness and yoga began 2 years ago. I was a social alcoholic, recently divorced and had just moved back to my hometown in Kentucky. I had been back home for about 6 months before I became pregnant. I lost the false sense of direction I had and knew that I needed to make changes. I was smoking about a pack a day and blacking out almost every night. As soon as I became pregnant I lost everything and anyone I thought was a friend. I made a decision to move to Dallas to live with my parents so that I could concentrate on the tiny human growing inside of me. I had no aspirations of keeping the child. I knew that I would give her up for adoption but still I wanted to make sure that I was the healthiest that I could be. I wanted Her to be healthy.
I researched GMO’s and watched numerous documentaries on agriculture and farming. I was shocked and slightly terrified. ‘I have a tiny human growing inside of me. I cannot feed these chemicals to Her.’ The sense of the unknown was unsettling. Where is this food coming from? From who? Who made it? Was it humane? This is what made my decision to become vegetarian.
My yoga and food  journey begins: I had so much excess negative energy. I was angry, pregnant and alone. I was the perfect example of emotionally unstable. I was exhausted.  This negativity produced copious amounts of anxiety. I had read an article about how  She could feel anxiety in the womb, and cringe. I could not bear the thought of this.  I started going to yoga classes at the Dallas Yoga Center to try and relieve some of the tension. I fell in love with yoga. I could breathe to full lung capacity without the suffocating feeling of anxiety. It was pure bliss. The teachers were so thoughtful and kind. I felt at home here. This was where I felt grounded. I did not have the funds to be able to attend these life altering classes after my 10-Day free trial, I just went as often as I could afford. This inspired me to start my home yoga practice.

Yoga became my comfort blanket. I practiced every day and used the calmness that it brought my heart to console my mind. Through all of this, I still had excess energy that needed to be expressed. Like a puss-filled cyst on the back of your neck. You can’t see it but, you can feel it pulsating and needing to be released.  I tried meditation but my mind would freefall  into the darkness of my thoughts. I had to stay positive at all costs. I had to stay emotionally healthy for Her. I needed to be happy because She deserved it. I researched ‘Hindu Temple Dallas’. I had never been one to seek God for help but at this point, I needed it.  Kalachandji’s was the first result. Unbeknownst to me, this is where I would find my happiness.
“Where there is faith, fear cannot exist.”

I decided to attend a Wednesday program. I remember being nervous. Wondering, if anyone could sense my anxious energy. I was told that there was going to be kirtan. “What is Kirtan?” Kirtan is the chanting of the holy names of God. So I chanted. ‘Hare Krishna Hare Krishna. Krishna Krishna Hare Hare. Hare Rama Hare Rama. Rama Rama Hare Hare.’ Everyone in the room was so happy and blissful. So at peace. This felt right. I could sense that She was happy. After kirtan was a lecture. This lecture was about Bhakti Yoga. Bhakti yoga, like any other form of yoga, is a path to self-realization, to having an experience of oneness with everything. This is what I was longing for. This is what my soul needed. I took notes and listened more intently than I ever have. I learned this lifestyle of non-violence and self-realization and love.  After this night at Kalachandji’s, I never left.

Fast forward to present, I gave birth to a healthy and beautiful baby girl. She is now 1 year and 4 months old and has an amazing beautiful family that loves Her. I have been vegan for 1 year and vegetarian for 1 year prior. I have not been sick in over a year.  I practice yoga every day and love what it has brought to my life. It has brought me stability from within. I have aspirations of becoming a yoga instructor after I become a plant-based chef. I cook every Wednesday for the program at the temple and love it! This is where I found my passion for vegan/vegetarian cooking. I have learned so much but now I want to learn more. I love knowing where my food comes from and how it is made. I make food with love and care because I believe that it is transferred to the food. I want to consume positivity.  Something that is untainted by GMO’s and other chemicals that destroy our bodies.

Through yoga, in whatever form, you attain self-realization. The food you eat feeds your spirit and your physical body. I want to learn more so I may teach others how to love themselves by eating well and being well.

"What does God look like?" asked Todd Burpo, father of Colton who had an NDE
→ Nityananda Chandra Das' Blog, ISKCON Dallas


The famous best-selling Christian book and movie Heaven Is For Real describes the experiences of Todd Burpo’s son, Colton, who had a NDE (Near Death Experience).  Therein the young boy describes the spiritual world, the kingdom of God and also the instructions that he had been told by the divine personality, Jesus.

However when asked specifically about God the father, by his own father, the boy exclaimed something extraordinary.

“What does God look like?” I said. “God the Holy Spirit?”

Colton furrowed his brow. “Hmm, that’s kind of a hard one . . . he’s kind of blue.”      – Heaven Is For Real, Todd Burpo, pg 68                        

15 foot Cake Mountain for Govardhan Puja Maha Festival in Dallas
→ Nityananda Chandra Das' Blog, ISKCON Dallas

Due to the extensive help from a large body of devotees here in Dallas the Govardhan Puja festival has been exceedingly grand this year.  Here is a video of the cake mountain preparations.

Bhaktin Brittany decided to spend the night on Saturday so that she could work the whole evening Saturday and Sunday in preparation.  She is was amazing a real trooper.  She has a wonderful service mood.  Both my wife and her slept just for a few hours and spend both days just working hard.

We also had Anamsha and her husband Caitanya Nitai put in many hours of help

Govinda Kakkad, who just left for Govardhan Puja in Vrindavan also was very instrumental in the organization.  His mother, Kunjesvari, picking up on the inspiration of her Guru Maharaja, His Holiness Giriraj Swami, also help a lot.

Last year HH Giriraj Swami attend the festival and was very much enlivened.  He shared some very encouraging words, saying that, ‘Anyone who helps to put on this Govardhan Puja festival will go Back to Godhead.’  In the mood bringing joy to exalted devotees such as Giriraj Swami, everyone strived to out do the grand scene of the previous year.  There were many beautiful lamps hanging from the trees

Here meet some the Brijbasi residents


Even Indra showed up to offer his prayers of forgiveness with Surabhi and Airavata

Here you see Nanda holding on to a worried Mother Yaśodā and whose left stands Balarāma.


and of course we have the most divinely beautiful, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī

On top of the Carob cake mountain are some Brahma bulls and other animals

Govardhan was also decorated with a beautiful Kusum Sarovar and many kunds.  In fact all the temples and kunds are mapped out on this hill.

Many others helped such as Dr. Murlidhar Govinda Prabhu, Shilpa, Madhurya Sindhu Dd, & Vrinda Priya.





Some other big helpers include ArjunKrishna Prabhu, Adishakti, Chitravasini, Madhava Vrajanatha Prabhu, and Bhakta Steve.

Lest we not forget Prema Sindhu seated next to Bhismadeva Prabhu, who took most of the photos.  You can see the album here.  Prema Sindhu Prabhu helped tremendously for festival as he does every year.  
 

Also we had Ananda Lila and her decorating team arrange a cool scene in the temple room above Śrīla Prabhupāda.

For the festival there was a very entertaining and engaging drama parikrama tour led by the students of TKG Academy under the direction of Mother Gopi Gita.  Each student group had a skit and lovely details of the different major pilgrimage spots on the hill.

I do want to save the best for last! Mother Laxmipriya and her daughter GopiKrishna and other helpers baked all of the 51 carob cakes that it took to make the hill.  That includes the 10 plus gallons of frosting.   

We will bid you farewell with two sweet videos of the Sweet Hill, Govardhan.  Please forgive us if we forgot your name for recognition.

Texas Faith 137: Will a presidential candidate’s religion sway your vote?
→ Nityananda Chandra Das' Blog, ISKCON Dallas

Dallas Morning News,

Each two weeks we will post a question to a panel of about two dozen clergy, laity and theologians, all of whom are based in Texas or are from Texas. They will chime in with their responses to the question of the week. And you, readers, will be able to respond to their answers through the comment box.

So many people are running for president this year that it’s hard to get your voice heard unless you do something outrageous. Donald Trump got the party started by suggesting that the U.S. deport every unauthorized immigrant, then let the “good ones” back.
Republican Ben Carson amped up the insanity with his comment that a Muslim shouldn’t be president, and he reportedly raised more than $500,000 after making that remark. Carson has since backtracked, saying that he could support a Muslim if he or she would swear to uphold the Constitution over Shariah law. (Carson, by the way, is a Seventh Day Adventist, a denomination that has faced criticism from people who believe it’s a cult.)
How important to you is the religion of a presidential candidate?
The Constitution states that no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any government office. Are you more likely to vote for someone who is the same religion or denomination as you? Or is a presidential candidate’s faith a secondary issue or no issue at all to you?


NITYANANDA CHANDRA DAS, minister of ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness), Dallas 

Religious affiliation is unimportant in relation to how spiritually enlightened an individual may be. A highly spiritually enlightened individual may be found in any bona fide tradition, whereas a spiritual ignoramus may be found steeped in religious belief and ritual. However, religion and metaphysics should not be outside of the political dialogue. One’s metaphysical outlook informs and drives one’s decisions. For example, President George W. Bush stated after being out of office, that his campaign in the Middle East was motivated by his religious convictions. He even used the word crusade.


By nature, if a politician must not speak about his religious beliefs then he/she must be in that sense, dishonest rather than giving a full view of his political outlook.

To see all responses of the TEXAS Faith panel click here.


Even the lion cannot kill unrestrictedly
→ Nityananda Chandra Das' Blog, ISKCON Dallas

Śrīla Prabhupāda explains how the tiger or lion, although a killing machine, is restricted by Mother Nature in killing. So similarly even though this dentist desires to kill, his ability is now being restricted.

Here is the quote

Just like a tiger. He is also enjoying. He is thinking, “I am very strong. I have got so power, so much jaws and nails. I can jump over any animal and immediately kill him.” He is pleased in that position, but, you know, the tiger or the lion, they are so unfortunate that they do not get daily food, in spite of becoming so strong. Because prakrti-jan gunan, he is under the influence of the material nature. He… The tiger may be very powerful, but he remains always hungry. Very powerful. Because the other animals, they know that in that corner of the forest there is tiger, nobody goes there. Where he can get food? Hardly chance, by chance he gets one animal and jumps over it. This is called prakrti-jan gunan. He thought, “By becoming tiger I shall be very much proud of enjoying,” but prakrti says, “No, sir, you cannot get even daily food. That is not possible.” Therefore prakrteh kriyamanani gunaih karmani sarva… [Bg. 3.27].

Here the so-called tiger, so-called big men… Just like in America the president is a big man. But now he is put into such a condition that he is full of anxiety. At any moment he may be kicked out. This is the position. You cannot be happy either as President Nixon or tiger or cats and dogs or human being or Lord Brahma. That is not possible. That is not possible. You must be full of anxieties because this is unnatural life. (life in the material realm)
https://prabhupadavani.org/main/Bhagavad-gita/GT121.html

Texas Faith 136: A cup of coffee and other holy rituals
→ Nityananda Chandra Das' Blog, ISKCON Dallas

Dallas Morning News,

Each week we will post a question to a panel of about two dozen clergy, laity and theologians, all of whom are based in Texas or are from Texas. They will chime in with their responses to the question of the week. And you, readers, will be able to respond to their answers through the comment box.

Every faith has its rituals. Hopefully these help put us in the mind of being with God and make us more present in our prayer.
Our lives have their little rituals too.
In a recent article,Rabbi Patrick “Aleph” Beaulier wrote about the ritual of a morning cup of coffee.
The coffee is a pleasure certainly, but it is also a moment set aside, at best, for a little peace, perhaps silence and reflection. These moments apart are important to our lives as people of faith, as people who are trying to draw ourselves nearer to God. We have our rituals in our religious ceremonies too, often freighted or filled with symbolism and intended, in their own way, to draw us away from the run of our thoughts and into the peace we hope faith will bring.
How can our little daily rituals bring us closer to God? How can we make sure that, in everyday moments, we are building our path to the divine?
 










NITYANANDA CHANDRA DAS, minister of ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness), Dallas 

In the Bhagavad Gita Śrī Krishna states in the ninth chapter that the art of doing everything for His sake is the perfection of yoga. In fact this is the perfection of life. To be 24 hours a day engaged in consciousness of Krishna, God. Our daily habits play a huge role to cultivate this consciousness. Upon waking a bhakta first chants the Lord’s holy names and bows with his head down before even leaving the bed. Followed by an early morning shower to not only keep the body clean but to refresh one’s consciousness. Kirtan and prayers begin at the temple at 4:30 am followed by a 2 hour session of meditation. Then again there is kirtan at 7 am followed by a class on the ancient Śrīmad Bhāgavatam. The bhakta follows a similar program in the evening as well, creating a sandwich of transcendental experiences.

 
Speaking of sandwiches this brings up another related topic. Everyone has to eat but food is not simply something for the belly, food is often a practical means to express love. Who better to love than the supreme loveable, Krishna? God is the root of everything, by watering the root all the leaves can be satisfied. Therefore the bhakta does not eat any food that cannot be first offered to God with love. Thus they abstain from eating animals. So not the act of eating can be a spiritual engagement but even the shopping, the cooking, and prep work as well. This is the art of Bhakti, to learn the ancient and blissful science of doing everything in the service of God.
 

To see all responses of the TEXAS Faith panel click here.


Texas Faith 135: When is a city ban on feeding the poor an infringement on religious liberty?
→ Nityananda Chandra Das' Blog, ISKCON Dallas

Dallas Morning News,

Each week we will post a question to a panel of about two dozen clergy, laity and theologians, all of whom are based in Texas or are from Texas. They will chime in with their responses to the question of the week. And you, readers, will be able to respond to their answers through the comment box.

When is a city ban on feeding the homeless in a public place an infringement on religious freedom?

In Florida, a 90-year-old WWII veteran was arrested for feeding the homeless at a public park. He’s been doing it for over 20 years through a program called Love Thy Neighbor. But a new ordinance in Fort Lauderdale has put a mountain of obstacles in the way, making it virtually impossible for the group to operate as it has.

(Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

On one side are local businesses that fear feeding the homeless in a conspicuous place was bad for business and tourism. On the other side are advocates of Love Thy Neighbor who say the group is within its constitutional rights. The city tried to balance the interests of both sides with rules aimed at moving such homeless programs into houses of worship or private property. But the organization wants to continue feeding the homeless as it has, in a seaside public park.

   The clash between religious rights and the public interest is a common story line. We’ve weighed in on the dustup in Houston in which the city tried to subpoena the sermons of evangelical ministers opposed to a gay-rights ordinance. And every week, it seems, there’s a new report in which the advocates of religious liberty decry a rule or action at a public school.

Religious liberty isn’t absolute. There’s no right to hold a serpent-handling service at Disneyland. Or to shout “fire” in a crowded church because your religion told you to. Or to build a megachurch in a city neighborhood with a parking lot for only 10 cars.

In the case of feeding the homeless in Fort Lauderdale, the name of the organization is from a biblical injunction. Its mission is an act of faith. And if some businesses are inconvenienced or tourists would prefer not having to see the homeless by the beach, whose rights should prevail?

That’s this week’s question: Is a city ban on feeding the homeless in a public place an infringement on religious freedom?

 

NITYANANDA CHANDRA DAS, minister of ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness), Dallas 

 

Every body needs a head. So similarly, every society needs saintly intellectuals for guidance. Leadership without such guidance is like a body without a head. Leadership is like the arms of the social body which provides protection and business class is like the belly which facilitates the distribution of goods. All parts of the body are important but the head is the most important for it is the head of body that provides intelligence.

Intelligence means the ability to accommodate and manage two opposing values. It also means the ability to discriminate that which is śreyas, of long term substantial benefit, and preyas, immediate or short term gratification. The short term benefit of commerce is important but it is considered shallow in comparison to charity which can have long lasting or even eternal benefits.

Krishna states that charity, when done properly, even purifies great souls. To completely ban charitable distribution of food in relation to the value of commerce is sign of the lack of saintly intelligent guidance among our leaders.

 

To see all responses of the TEXAS Faith panel click here.

TEXAS FAITH 134: How should we incorporate faith into a secular political world?
→ Nityananda Chandra Das' Blog, ISKCON Dallas

Dallas Morning News,Each week we will post a question to a panel of about two dozen clergy, laity and theologians, all of whom are based in Texas or are from Texas. They will chime in with their responses to the question of the week. And you, readers, …

25 Fun and puzzling Krishna Trivia Questions – #20 is my fav
→ Nityananda Chandra Das' Blog, ISKCON Dallas

  • 1 Answer

    ‪#‎KRISHNATRIVIA‬ At what store, in what city did Arjuna first meet Krishna? And what sparked their friendship?
  • 2 Answer

    KRISHNA TRIVIA: What fruit lost the battle with Krishna’s quads during his pre and early teens? Clue: Nectar of Devotion. ‪#‎krishnatrivia‬
  • 3 Answer
    KRISHNA TRIVIA: With what 5 arrows does Krishna pierce the hearts of His devotees?
  • 4 Answer
    KRISHNA TRIVIA: What name did one of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s relatives give him when he was born?
  • 5 Answer
    KRISHNA TRIVIA: Does anyone remember what Krishna did when Rukmini fainted from His teasing?‪#‎krishnatrivia‬
  • 6 Answer
    Philosophy Trivia: How does the disagreement between Māyāvādī impersonalist philosophers (absolute monist) and Vaiṣṇavas (inconceivable dual & non-dual existence) prove that the Vaiṣṇavas are right?
  • 7 Answer
    KRISHNA TRIVIA: Where is Śrīla Prabhupāda’s place of worship, his office, and his home?
  • 8 Answer
    KRISHNA TRIVIA: Which story in the Bhāgavatam features a dragon? Closed book test only. No internets either.
  • 9 Answer
    KRISHNA TRIVIA: What did people call Nityananda Prabhu when he went to school, how was he addressed? Ref Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta Adi līlā
  • 10 Answer
    KRISHNA TRIVIA: What happens when you bathe Krishna and his land with Ganga and celestial cow milk?
  • 11 Answer
    KRISHNA TRIVIA: Who does Krishna tell? “You are more dear to me than Balarama.”
  • 12 Answer
    KRISHNA TRIVIA: Who is Kamsa actual father?
  • 13 Answer
    KRISHNA TRIVIA: What made Narada laugh when he visited Krishna in the many palaces in Dwaraka?
  • 14 Answer
    KRISHNA TRIVIA: Why did the demigods warn Kaṁsa about Devakī?
  • 15 Answer
    KRISHNA TRIVIA: What is the weapon of Lord Chaitanya? (Ref: Jīva Gosvāmī’s Kramasandarbha and/or Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta)
  • 16 Answer
    KRISHNA TRIVIA: beyond the 1/4 is the 3/4. Explain.
  • 17 Answer
    KRISHNA TRIVIA: Why is Śrī Krishna ontological position called fourth dimension above that of His Maha Vishnu form? (Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta)
  • 18 Answer
    KRISHNA TRIVIA: What color is Krishna’s hair? (Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 2nd canto 2nd chapter)
  • 19 Answer

    ‪#‎krishnatrivia‬ Who are the six Vegans that you have to get to listen to you before you can be a real teacher? Let’s see who get it first.
  • 20 Answer
    KRISHNA TRIVIA: Which avatar stops beings in invisible cloaking spaceships from interplanetary galactic genocide by the strength of his transcendental fashion show?

    If you already heard the answer from me don’t post it.
  • 21 Answer

    ‪#‎KRISHNATRIVIA‬: What the name of the holiday that happens today (Halloween 2014) that inspired Rādhāranī to dress in a costume as a cowherd boy?
  • 22 Answer
    KRISHNA TRIVIA: what is the description of Mother Yaśodā skin color? Hint, answer can be found in the Nectar of Devotion & Krama Dipika
  • 23 Answer
    TRIVIA: What color turban did Krishna like to wear in Vrindavan?
  • 24 Answer 
    ‪#‎KRISHNATRIVIA‬ What unique Sanskrit word was used to describe the Yadus in Ch 70 of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam?

  • TRIVIA: why did the demigoddesses in Dvarpara Yuga pray for the Buddha Avatar?

Appreciations from guests
→ Nityananda Chandra Das' Blog, ISKCON Dallas

Our good friend Woody Winn, a teacher at Brewers High School, a public school in Fort Worth always holds Krishna dear to his heart.  He is a wonderful Christian teacher who engages his students in a 3 week study of the sacred philosophical text, the Bhagavad Gita.  Last week we had a superb visit with 40 of his students. 


News Feed

Nityananda Chandra Granger was an amazing host, guru and most importantly a friend today as he taught and served us. I am so blessed to have someone like him as an example for my precious students. It was an exceptional field trip, one that my kids will not forget! God is Great!
  • Nityananda Chandra Granger Thank you very much Woody Winn Prabhu for you kind words. I always so happy when you come with your wonderful students. I always have confidence that you can present the Gita to them in a proper way, thank you very much. – Your humble servant, Nityananda Chandra Das

  • Sarah Yowell I still tell people what an amazing teacher you were to take us on such educational and inspirational field trips! So glad to hear your newer students still get such an amazing experience.

  • Kristen Noël Vrabel This BLOWS my mind. My Alma Mater taking a field trip to the Temple that I spend the bulk of my time at!!!!

  • Kerrie Jansson Jowers I know a cpl of the students that went with you and they were so stoked to go. Glad it was amazing.

  • Scarlett Laci Pettis I still talk about our visits to the temple. I believe my first visit was also one of Nityananda Chandra Granger‘s first group visits. We had such a good time! It’s a beautiful place with beautiful people, welcoming energy and oh man, the FOOD! ; -)
    So glad you’re still showing kids a broader understanding of service and love, Mr. Winn. 

Oaklawn/Cedar Springs Halloween Block Party Street Kirtan w/ Giriraj Swami
→ Nityananda Chandra Das' Blog, ISKCON Dallas

Every year during this time of the year we have a wonderful kirtan with thousands of folks attending the Oaklawn Halloween Block Party.  The event has more than 100,000 attendees and can be quite PG-13 but everyone loves the chanting.  In fac…

TEXAS FAITH 133: Falling into Sin
→ Nityananda Chandra Das' Blog, ISKCON Dallas

Dallas Morning News,

Each week we will post a question to a panel of about two dozen clergy, laity and theologians, all of whom are based in Texas or are from Texas. They will chime in with their responses to the question of the week. And you, readers, will be able to respond to their answers through the comment box.
Most of us agree on the difference between right and wrong. It is wrong to steal; it is wrong to commit adultery; it is wrong to kill.
The parameters of right and wrong are widely shared in most civil societies. But we often find ourselves, in the practice of everyday life, justifying little wrongs with the balance that we do greater good in some other area. And some of us, over time, begin to justify greater and greater wrongs as we accustom ourselves to lives of what we might call sin.
Think about how this happens in an individual. Is this the spiritual battle we are meant to fight, the push back against the slide into doing wrong? What draws the soul or mind toward sin, and what is the defense against it? – Dallas Morning News










NITYANANDA CHANDRA DAS, minister of ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness), Dallas 

The third chapter of the Bhagavad Gita As It Is verses 37-43 concisely address this issue. That the soul is compelled by lust, the desire to enjoy the temporary, because it false identifies the self with the temporary.  “As fire is covered by smoke, as a mirror is covered by dust, or as the embryo is covered by the womb, the living entity is similarly covered by different degrees of this lust.  Thus the wise living entity’s pure consciousness becomes covered by his eternal enemy in the form of lust, which is never satisfied and which burns like fire.  The senses, the mind and the intelligence are the sitting places of this lust. Through them lust covers the real knowledge of the living entity and bewilders him.  Therefore in the very beginning curb this great symbol of sin [lust] by regulating the senses, and slay this destroyer of knowledge and self-realization.  The working senses are superior to dull matter; mind is higher than the senses; intelligence is still higher than the mind; and he [the soul] is even higher than the intelligence.  Thus knowing oneself to be transcendental to the material senses, mind and intelligence, one should steady the mind by deliberate spiritual intelligence [Kṛṣṇa consciousness] and thus – by spiritual strength – conquer this insatiable enemy known as lust.”
To see all responses of the TEXAS Faith panel click here.

TEXAS FAITH 132: Is religion to blame for the conflicts around the world?
→ Nityananda Chandra Das' Blog, ISKCON Dallas

Dallas Morning News,

Each week we will post a question to a panel of about two dozen clergy, laity and theologians, all of whom are based in Texas or are from Texas. They will chime in with their responses to the question of the week. And you, readers, will be able to respond to their answers through the comment box.

The military crisis in Iraq is typically described in religious terms – a millennia-old conflict between Sunni and Shia. No doubt the sectarian divide has fueled tensions and defined the war. It has given critics ammunition to argue against sending more troops into a religious civil war. There is an emerging view that we should just stay out and let the parties fight it out themselves, as they have done for hundreds of years.

For some, it’s hard not to blame religion. Religion is often in the frame of modern conflicts. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict predated the creation of the modern state of Israel. The civil war in Ireland pitted Catholics against Protestants. Religious tensions in Nigeria divide the country between the Muslim north and the Christian south. Hindus and Muslims oppose each other in South Asia. The conflicts in Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Kosovo involve Orthodox, Catholic and Muslim followers.

Religion seems to be connected with violence virtually everywhere. Critics of religion are quick to put the blame on religion. Advocates of faith counter with religion’s record as a force for peace. One 18th century writer said we have just enough religion to make us hate, but not enough to make us love one another.

As people of faith, how to we talk with those who say religion is to blame? How do we respond when someone asks if religion has succeeded in any of its efforts to unite mankind?

When a critic points to conflicts in Iraq, across the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Europe and says religion is to blame – how do we respond?

NITYANANDA CHANDRA DAS, minister of ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness), Dallas 

Due to a lack of spiritual intelligence, ignorant persons misidentify the eternal self with the temporary body and mind.  Such illusion does not only include ideas such as, ‘I am White’, ‘I am Black’, ‘I am American’, ‘I am Democrat,’ but also the illusion also includes ideas of, ‘I am Hindu’, ‘I am Christian’, ‘I am Muslim.’

For the person who has received spiritual training understands that, ‘I am not this body but rather I am an eternal soul.’  Therefore a spiritually wise soul does not discriminate against others based on temporary bodily designations but rather sees the soul proper.

“He who sees systematically everything in relation to the Supreme Lord, who sees all living entities as His parts and parcels, and who sees the Supreme Lord within everything never hates anything or any being.

One who always sees all living entities as spiritual sparks, in quality one with the Lord, becomes a true knower of things. What, then, can be illusion or anxiety for him?” – Śrī Īśopaniṣad 6-7

To see all responses of the TEXAS Faith panel click here.

Our Cancún Trip–Part 2 Beach, Harinam and Book Distribution
→ Nityananda Chandra Das' Blog, ISKCON Dallas

On Sunday we were able to visit the ISKCON farm and we had just one day left.  So Monday we finally took our dip in the ocean.  We left out early to visit the clear ocean and do a little exploring. 

This guy was the smaller one.  Both were waiting near the bus stop.


In front of Plaza la Isla shopping center we got to meet this friendly spider monkey.   He was very friendly and climbed on our heads and our hands.   When some more kids showed up and started petting him he got a little nervous and bit Visakha finger.  He also doesn’t like cameras so he doesn’t look happy picture as well.   Here you can see him give an upset squeak to the camera.

 

It tickled.  As a Father’s Day present Krishna Mangala had me sit in one of these. 

We distributed a book to the guy running it.

After our little exploration we went to Gopal’s Vegetarian restaurant for some prasadam, harinam kirtan, and spiritual book distribution. Smile

The airport was like a shopping mall trying to confiscate the last of your money. 

 

The plane ride was wonderful.  I was originally supposed to sit next to this nice older couple but my seat was changed to sit next to these two young sisters from Austin.  One was 13 and the other was 15.  The older one started to ask me about my attire.   She then began to explain to me that she is doing a study on the nature of happiness.  From that point on we had a wonderful discussion about happiness, the soul, reincarnation, devotional service and the three modes of nature.   She told me that she is generally quite afraid of flying but did not think about during this flight because of the interesting discussion.   She was very happy to receive a copy of the Bhagavad Gita in Spanish.   It is always nice to bring some BBT books with you where ever you go.  This what she wrote me on Facebook

  Thank you. It was a pleasure to meet you as well. I enjoyed learning about the ancient Indian culture and I have different views of the world now. Thank you so much!

to see the pics that you missed click here.

TEXAS FAITH 131: In love and marriage, do different faiths really matter in America?
→ Nityananda Chandra Das' Blog, ISKCON Dallas

Dallas Morning News,

Each week we will post a question to a panel of about two dozen clergy, laity and theologians, all of whom are based in Texas or are from Texas. They will chime in with their responses to the question of the week. And you, readers, will be able to respond to their answers through the comment box.
Recently, I attended the beautiful wedding of two friends, one from a Jewish family and one from a Christian family. The ceremony largely followed the Jewish tradition with occasional mention of the bride’s Christian upbringing.
I began to wonder, witnessing this blending of two people into one couple bound under God, what place separate faiths really serve in our society. If we are honest, there is no justifying the fundamental difference in belief between Christians and Jews or the other major faiths. But in cases like these, it is our cultural homogeneity that is more important than the tenets of our faith.
Given that, what does faith really mean in circumstances like these? Is faith or religion simply ceremonial? Or are we overcoming divisions in the name of something greater – that is – love?
Read our panelists’ responses below.










NITYANANDA CHANDRA DAS, minister of ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness), Dallas 

Marriage is not just about an attraction of two parties but also those two parties working together to help each other to attain true happiness.  True happiness is found by connecting beyond the temporary to the Supreme Being.  Because marriage relates to that progressive spiritual advancement in the service of God, considerations of compatibility should not be ignored.  The spiritual ideology, or how we see ourselves at our core, and how we individually apply such spiritual ideology must be taken into consideration.  Incompatibilities certainly exist within those of the same tradition.  Therefore it is important in all cases to see that both parties can properly help each other’s growth towards true spiritual happiness.

To see all responses of the TEXAS Faith panel click here.

Our Cancún Trip–Part 1
→ Nityananda Chandra Das' Blog, ISKCON Dallas

Last Friday, the family and I took a nice trip to Cancún, Mexico.   A sweet Gujarati family had asked me if I could officiate their destination wedding in Cancún.  We arrived on Friday night with all the Vedic equipment in our suitcases ready to perform the wedding fire ceremony on Saturday.   We were to take care of all the wedding ceremony which included purchasing flowers for the wedding garlands.  

Uddhava kindly picked us up from the Cancún airport to take us to Gopal’s Vegetarian Restaurant. We were treated to a delicious meal of Mexican prasadam, and then we were off to the late hour flower shops to get ready for our Vedic Oceanside Weddings, or what Mother Kunti likes to call V.O.W. After a swim in the pool the next morning, we went to an organic restaurant seeking something suitable for Vaisnavas to eat.  There were no real supermarkets in the hotel zone so finding food was a little difficult.  Devotees working at the 5 star hotels said that even the more wealthy hotels did not have much to offer for the vegetarian and Hindu community.   After a short trip to Restaurante Natura, we got busy with all the wedding preparations.

The wedding turned out very nicely, and neat things happened during it.  During the wedding, I was playing a bhajan by Krishna Kisor that he performed at the Festival of the Holy Name in Alachua.  The bhajan was playing from a bluetooth speaker, and I would turn it up and down from my iPad while I was doing the arati to the fire.  Then something really cool happened. During the pronouncement of husband and wife, I turned up the kirtan and there was an ecstatic “Nitai Gaura Premanande Hari Hari BOOOOLLLL!! Nitai Gaurapremanande Hari Hariboolll!” Everyone in the audience followed in response.  The surprising thing was that it happened in the bhajan at the perfect time to complement the wedding.

In addition to the wedding, we were also asked by the local devotees of Cancún to do the foundation laying ceremony for the new upcoming temple at their farm community.   After getting all the details from Dallas temple President Nityananda Prabhu, the devotees decided to postpone the ceremony until they had the proper items for the ceremony.  However, they did invite us on a trip to visit the farm for kirtan and prasadam.   They are in the process of building a grand temple there. The farm has peacocks, and they grow okra as well. The prasadam was wonderful. They even had a swimming pool!  During the ride back, we were pleasantly surprised to see the well-attended open air churches from which we could hear devotional songs wafting into the air through the traffic of the night.

 

to be continued….

Mouthwash, Oral Cancer, and Distilled Essence of Rotten
→ Nityananda Chandra Das' Blog, ISKCON Dallas


Alcohol, or distilled essence of rotten (you must say it in an elegant and sophisticated accent), is known as a great sterilizer i.e. purifier, in our contemporary world.  In many places around the globe people do not feel the need to wash one’s hands with water after using the bathroom, when one can just squirt of foamy alcohol hand sanitizer.  However I always remember a class wherein Srila Prabhupada states that it does not purify but rather makes things impure.   Recent oral cancer studies had given some new insight.  But first here is an except by Srila Prabhupada. 

So the Vedic conception is completely different. The… According to modern science, they put things into alcohol to sterilize. Is it not?
Svarupa Damodara: Put alcohol in things.
Prabhupada: Yes. But it becomes more impure. Anything you put into alcohol, that becomes more impure, according to this.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.8.52 — May 14, 1973, Los Angeles

In the study done by Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology with assistance from Glasgow University’s Dental School it is revealed that not only does poor hygiene contribute to cancer risk but also regular use of mouthwashes that contain alcohol.  
     The NPR article can be found here.
It is interesting to note that is found that other intoxicating substances such as tobacco and betel nut contribute to risk of oral cancer. 
Just as impure things cannot truly clean similarly it is stated that hearing kirtan of the Holy Names of Krishna or about Krishna from those who have no faith that Krishna is God cannot purify us in any way and can in fact sometimes be detrimental to our spiritual growth.  The old adage is that milk, although nutritious, when drunk by a serpent becomes poisonous.  

Painting our body of the future with colors of the past
→ Nityananda Chandra Das' Blog, ISKCON Dallas

3 photo c89326b6.png

I just listened to a wonderful lecture of Śrīla Prabhupāda wherein he explains how our present body is decided.  It is our own creation, our own painting.  Done with the colors of the three modes that we associated with in our previous lives.   By associating with the nature of ignorance one is granted birth among the animal species.  By association with the nature of passion, material progress, one is granted birth in among humans, and by associated with the nature of purity, goodness, and clarity one can take birth among the demigods.  Higher than that is one’s very own Godly spiritual form which one attains by association with the nature of God.   The consciousness we are absorbed in at death will be the paint that designs our new life.  Our society functions mainly on the platform of passion and ignorance (rajas & tamas) and it is rare to find someone attracted to goodness, what to speak of being situated in it.   However the bright side is that one’s Godly nature is easily revived by Krishna Kirtan.  It is fun, easy to do, and a person can directly perceive its benefits.   

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hand-painting-illusion (4)guido-daniele-2

Here is the quote:

Śrīla Prabhupāda: That we have explained that you have to accept another body. And there are 8,400,000 different forms of body. And you will be awarded one of the bodies out of the 8,400,000.

The body is awarded according to your karma or action. We are acting in three modes of material nature. Some of them are acting in goodness, some of them are acting in passion, and some of them are acting in ignorance. So there are three different modes of activities. Now, when you mix up three, three into three, it becomes nine. And again if you multiply nine by nine, it becomes eighty-one. So it increases in so subtle division of the mixture of the three qualities.

Just like the painter. He knows how to mix the three original color, namely blue, yellow and red. The red color represents passion, and the yellow color represents ignorance, and the blue color represents goodness. So as the color painter, er, painter knows how to mix and make varieties of colors, similarly, the three modes of material nature being mixed up, they are represented in so many different forms of body.

So at the present moment, in your human form of body, you are also mixing the same qualities in your different desires. That means you are creating your next body. So at the time of death the thoughts and the activities which will be prominent within your mind, you will get a similar body in next life.

Therefore the intelligent man should be very cautious to get the next body. We can get the body like God; we can get the body like the dog. Therefore the best intelligent person should try to endeavor to get the next body like God. That is Krsna consciousness movement, that you endeavor in this life so long you are alive to get a body like God. That will solve your all problems, namely birth, death, old age and disease. 75/02/16 Mexico City, Bhagavad-gita 2.16

Killers don’t kill, so what then of the butcher? – Śrīla Prabhupāda
→ Nityananda Chandra Das' Blog, ISKCON Dallas

“He who thinks that the living entity is the slayer or that he is slain does not understand. One who is in knowledge knows that the self slays not nor is slain.”  [Bg. 2.19]

“For the soul there is neither birth nor death at any time. He has not come into being, does not come into being, and will not come into being. He is unborn, eternal, ever-existing and primeval. He is not slain when the body is slain.”  [Bg. 2.20]

So, in different ways, Krsna is trying to convince us how the soul is immortal. Different ways. Ya enam vetti hantaram [Bg. 2.19]. When there is fight, so if one is killed or… So Krsna says that if one thinks that “This man has killed this man,” so, or “This man can kill this man,” this kind of knowledge is not perfect. Nobody kills nobody. Then the butchers, they may say that “Then why do you complain that we are killing?” They’re killing the body, but you cannot kill when there is injunction “Thou shall not kill.” That means you cannot kill the body even without sanction. You cannot kill. Although the soul is not killed, the body is killed, still you cannot kill the body without sanction. That is sinful. For example, that a man is living in some apartment. So some way or other you drive him away from that, illegally, you drive him away. So the man will go out and will take shelter somewhere. That’s a fact. But because you have driven him away from his bona fide position, you are criminal. You cannot say, “Although I have driven away, he’ll get some place.” No. That’s all right, but you have no power to drive him away. He was in his legal position to live in that apartment, and because you have forcibly driven him away you are criminal, you should be punished.

“Dogs And Cats Don’t Need Freud”

73/08/25 London, Bhagavad-gita 2.19-20

Texas Faith 128: How should we suffer?
→ Nityananda Chandra Das' Blog, ISKCON Dallas

Dallas Morning News,

Each week we will post a question to a panel of about two dozen clergy, laity and theologians, all of whom are based in Texas or are from Texas. They will chime in with their responses to the question of the week. And you, readers, will be able to respond to their answers through the comment box.

The Lenten season is closing now in Holy Week. It comes around each year to remind Christians of Christ’s suffering and the suffering that we all endure in life. But, of course, the question of suffering extends to all faiths and is experienced by people regardless of religion.

David Brooks wrote recently in the New York Times that, in a culture chasing happiness, it is suffering, and suffering well, that truly defines us.

We suffer, and people suffer around us, in so many different ways. Some of it is widespread, the suffering of whole societies under war. Some of it is deeply personal, the death of a loved one or a divorce or a financial collapse. Whatever the circumstance, suffering can be profound.

How can faith sustain us through suffering and how should suffering inform our faith? Is suffering essential to being whole as a human? And what does it mean to accept suffering rather than reject it?

NITYANANDA CHANDRA DAS, minister of ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness), Dallas 

Suffering comes about as a karmic reaction for past deeds to encourage the self to not act against the laws of nature. Because a saintly person realizes that he is not the body, he does not identify with sufferings related to his body and mind.

A simple example is man who works hard and is very attached to his car, when the car gets damaged he practically feels pain. Another man, perhaps extravagantly wealthy, in the same circumstances does not feel the same pain as the man with great attachments to his car.

Therefore, those who are spiritually rich with practical realization of the self beyond the body do not suffer like those who are in the bodily conception of life.

To see all responses of the TEXAS Faith panel click here.

Echo question; Did Krishna become many? – HH Giriraj Swami
→ Nityananda Chandra Das' Blog, ISKCON Dallas

Hare Krishna Giriraj Swami

Please accept my humble obeisances

All glories to Śrīla Prabhupāda

Yesterday I mentioned my doubt about the eko bahu syam verse.  My understanding is that this verse is in relation to the material world. In the following purport to CC Adi 6.14-15 it seems to hint at that, although the verse is not directly quoted. 

“He desired to expand Himself into many living entities, and with such a desire He first created a vast expanse of water within the universal space and then impregnated that water with living entities.”

In addition to that there are the extensive commentaries on the first verse of the catur ślokī, aham evasam evagre. ‘It was I in the past, and only I in the future, and I in the present.’

In the commentaries the acharyas present that I in the past means with associates and abode. Then sastra is quoted that the abode and associates exist prior to this creation and are transcendental to it. 

However the way that this verse is sometimes quoted seems to indicate some sort of creation or existential aspect of Krishna existing alone at some point. Which doesn’t seem correct to me. Perhaps it is an acintya subject and therefore cannot be understood by plain philosophy.  I do not know if there is any commentary on that verse to give a clear indication as to what it is regards to.

The way that I see it is that the Lord and his abode is a confidential subject and those subjects are not always directly spoken about in the Vedas and are rather more intimately revealed in books like Śrīmad Bhāgavatam.  So in this verse it is speaking just in regards to the material realm, Maha Visnu impregnating the pradhana.  Please let me know how you understand it. Thank you. 

Your humble servant,
Nityānanda Chandra Dās

My dear Nityananda Chandra Prabhu,
Please accept my best wishes. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

When you first approached me with your question, I thought to share with you the following passage, and having read your letter now, I still think the passage is relevant. It is an excerpt from a talk that Srila Prabhupada gave in NYC in 1967, which was later edited and rendered as the Introduction to CC.

“Radha and Krsna are one, and when Krsna desires to enjoy pleasure, He manifests Himself as Radharani. The spiritual exchange of love between Radha and Krsna is the actual display of Krsna’s internal pleasure potency. Although we speak of ‘when’ Krsna desires, just when He did desire we cannot say. We only speak in this way because in conditioned life we take it that everything has a beginning; however, in spiritual life everything is absolute, and so there is neither beginning nor end. Yet in order to understand that Radha and Krsna are one and that They also become divided, the question ‘When?’ automatically comes to mind. When Krsna desired to enjoy His pleasure potency, He manifested Himself in the separate form of Radharani, and when He wanted to understand Himself through the agency of Radha, He united with Radharani, and that unification is called Lord Caitanya. This is all explained by Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja in the fifth verse of the Caitanya-caritamrta.”

What I have understood is that Lord Krishna and His energies exist eternally, simultaneoulsy, but because Krishna is primary and His energies are subordinate, we say that they come from Him. For example, we say that the sunshine comes from the sun, because the sunshine is secondary to the sun, but as long as the sun has existed, the sunshine has also existed.

In his introduction to the Bhagavad-gita, Srila Prabhupada states, “Isvara (the Supreme Lord), jiva (the living entity), prakrti (nature), kala (eternal time), and karma (activity) are all explained in the Bhagavad-gita. Out of these five, the Lord, the living entities, material nature, and time are eternal. . . . This material nature is the separated energy of the Supreme Lord, and similarly the living entities are also the energy of the Supreme Lord, although they are not separated but eternally related. So the Lord, the living entity, material nature, and time are all interrelated and are all eternal. However, the other item, karma, is not eternal.”

The same thing seen from different angles will appear different and be described differently, thus to properly understand the Vedic knowledge one must see it from different angles, and then apparent contradictions are reconciled. And, as you mentioned, the subject is acintya – acintya-bhedabheda-tattva.

Anyway, I hope these few thoughts help.

And incidentally, I thought your presentation of the question and your discussion of it were very thoughtful and thought-provoking. Thank you very much.

Hare Krishna.

May this meet you in good health and enthusiastic spirits.

Yours in service to Srila Prabhupada,
Giriraj Swami

TEXAS FAITH 127: In faith and gender politics, what does submission mean — as in, submissive spouse?
→ Nityananda Chandra Das' Blog, ISKCON Dallas

Dallas Morning News,

Each week we will post a question to a panel of about two dozen clergy, laity and theologians, all of whom are based in Texas or are from Texas. They will chime in with their responses to the question of the week. And you, readers, will be able to respond to their answers through the comment box.

When Sarah Palin ran for vice president, as Hillary Clinton considers a race for president and with Wendy Davis actively engaged in a bid for governor, one aspect of that culture war is what it means in religious terms to be submissive – most notably, a submissive wife. A recent USA Today article notes the subject is popping up these days, preached from the pulpit, pontificated about in a spate of new book releases and prominent on the agenda of next month’s Southern Baptist leadership summit. “All seek to answer the question of whether wives are 100 percent equal partners or whether ‘biblical womanhood’ means a God-given role of supporting their husbands — and, in turn, knowing their husbands are honor-bound to die for them, if necessary.”

Biblical references to husbands leading their households have long invited interpretations that sound to many people a lot like inferiority. Where’s the equality in submission?  And yet Cynthia Rigby of the Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary and a member of the Texas Faith panel noted in the USA Today story, the Scriptures came out a world where women couldn’t own property and could be divorced by their husbands saying the word three times. In that world, holding wives up as “holy and without blemish” was a radical idea, she said. In her upcoming book, “Shaping Our Faith: A Christian Feminist Theology,” Rigby explores the idea biblical submission and its implications in the wider public debate.

With gender politics is so much part of our public debate, how do we interpret the idea of submission? What does submission in a religious, political and modern cultural sense really mean?

NITYANANDA CHANDRA DAS, minister of ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness), Dallas 

In order to have a stable culture stable family life is necessary.  If there is irreligion in the form of divorce it breeds lack of faith and stability in the children along other degrading qualities.  Submission by the wife is a psychological tactic for a peaceful and strong marriage.  Men in general like to feel that they are in charge.  If a woman can give him that illusion, that he is the leader, the relationship can be more strongly supported from the danger of break up.  In a traditional Vedic marriage the wife is the queen at home and the husband in the king in public.  Because of this ancient social science there is hardly any divorce in India and outside of the modernized urban areas it is practically non existent.

Ultimately one is to become submissive to God.  The material world is a place where souls go who have ego problems.  Those of us in the material world have a tendency to lord it over others.  Because a good and peaceful family life is conducive towards dharma and spiritual life, a spiritual aspirant will try to cooperate with their spouse towards that goal.  The idea is that pleasure and happiness comes by serving the whole just as watering the root of the tree supplies water to its leaves.  Similarly a spiritual relationship is free from mentality of getting something out of another but rather to work together to serve the whole.  When a couple truly serves the root with love, they, the leaves, become nourished and satisfied.

To see all responses of the TEXAS Faith panel click here.

Breaking News!! Statue of Nirākāra Brahman was stolen from the temple!
→ Nityananda Chandra Das' Blog, ISKCON Dallas

At around 11:08 last night His Grace Ayudhya Prabhu and Nirguna Rupa looked everywhere for the statue and concluded that it must have been stolen.  An anonymous donor had paid the high price of $16,108 for the inconceivable statue and records have shown that the statue was duly shipped.

(This is where the statue was going to be installed – Picture by channel 12 news)

When interviewed by the news, Avyaktā Das and his wife Arupina Devī Dāsī revealed,

“It is really hard to figure out how are we going to find this statue, for we do not know what it looks like, it’s color, it’s height, nor do we even know how we feel about it being missing.  Even Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita 12.5 says that to find Nirākāra Brahman is very troublesome.”

Oh and by the way HAPPY APRIL FOOL’S DAY

You can also read about:

Hare Krishna Miniature Goat Farm Opening day at ISKCON Dallas

MEET ISKCON TORONTO’S NEW PET MONKEY!!!

A NEW INITIATIVE TO BE MORE ECO-FRIENDLY!

Secret service Podcast–guhyam seva
→ Nityananda Chandra Das' Blog, ISKCON Dallas

secret service

Because you are My very dear friend, I am speaking to you My supreme instruction, the most confidential knowledge of all. Hear this from Me, for it is for your benefit. –  BG 18.64

Because of their tendency to hear from authorities, they also transcend the path of birth and death. – BG 13.26

O Janārdana, again please describe in detail the mystic power of Your opulences. I am never satiated in hearing about You, for the more I hear the more I want to taste the nectar of Your words. – BG 10.18

The one verse which Śrīla Prabhupāda gave the most lectures on is BG 7.1  Which is a verse wherein Krishna and Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasize regularly hearing about Krishna Conscious philosophy.  Such hearing spiritualizes ones consciousness and helps one develop a spiritual vision.   As it is said, we see Krishna first with our ears.

Therefore I am happy to let you know that we have a new podcast available.  You can find it here at http://feeds.feedburner.com/KalachandjisAudio  The benefit of a podcast is that you don’t have use your data streaming or lose lots of battery life while streaming.  You can set your podcast app to auto download classes when your in a wifi zone or you can just easily select the ones that you like.  

You can subscribe using the link above or you can also look for Kalachandji’s Audio on iTunes and subscribe there.

Texas Faith 126: How do we forgive?
→ Nityananda Chandra Das' Blog, ISKCON Dallas

Dallas Morning News,

Each week we will post a question to a panel of about two dozen clergy, laity and theologians, all of whom are based in Texas or are from Texas. They will chime in with their responses to the question of the week. And you, readers, will be able to respond to their answers through the comment box.

Three days after police found the body of 17-year-old Ivan Mejia in the woods in Garland, his father, Flavio, offered forgiveness to those responsible for the young man’s murder. It was the family’s first public statement.

Two of Ivan’s classmates are in custody for the murder, something police say occurred because of a fight over a girl.

Forgiveness is central to so many faiths. But how do we forgive? And what does forgiveness do for the one who forgives and the one who is forgiven? Can true forgiveness come so quickly as the Mejia family offered it, or must it come through time and grief?

Below is Flavio’s statement.

First, we want to thank you on behalf of our family for
respecting our privacy and our silence. We want Ivan to be remembered as a good servant of society who sought the well-being of others and gave a friendly hand in very humble ways and without pretensions. Also he held in high esteem his faith and his passion for Jesus.
It is because of the faith that we profess and that we instilled in Ivan that we hold no grudge toward the people involved in this unfortunate event. We pray for their families because we understand that just like us they are going through a very unpleasant time. We thank God for his strength, for his care
of our family. We thank from our heart our congregation El Lugar de Su Presencia, the community, friends and relatives who have been of help and blessing in these moments that are so difficult for our family.
We have the certainty that our Ivan lived each moment of his life impassioned by his Creator and we know that he did it as a good soldier of Christ. Like the word says in 2 Timothy 4:7: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have kept the faith.”
Thanks for your attention. We bless you in the name of Jesus.

NITYANANDA CHANDRA DAS, minister of ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness), Dallas 

In the Vedas is said that the beauty of a saintly person is their forgiveness.  It is the quality of those who trying to advance their spiritual consciousness.  It is described that that the chief of all demigods, Brahmā achieved that post because of his superb quality of forgiveness.  Krishna, God Himself, becomes please with those who are forgiving. 

This quality of forgiveness is realized when one understands that God is the supreme controller.  One should not be upset with the instruments of one’s own karma.  So for one’s own pains a person should be tolerant.  This is personal forgiveness, if others are harmed a person should do their part to protect. This is especially in regards to those who are in leadership, who have the duty and nature to protect others.  Such persons should not avoid corrective methods for the abusive behavior of the unrepentant. 

To see all responses of the TEXAS Faith panel click here.