The basics of spiritual life
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 20 March 2016, Durban, South Africa, Sunday Program Lecture)

SP_servingQuestion: Swamiji, can you please give me some basics on spiritual life?

Serve the devotees! That’s the basics. That is where it all begins. And when we serve the devotees, we serve their feet. We serve the lotus feet of the devotees and that means you have to bow down to the devotees – otherwise how will you get there? And bowing down to the devotees is not just a stretching exercise! Bowing down is not only about the gross body but we bow down our subtle body too. We bow down our will before the devotees and do whatever they say. In this way everything will come:

sadhu sanga, sadhu sanga – sarva shastra koya

lava matra sadhu sanga sarva sidhi hoya (Caitanya Caritamrita, Madhya 22.54)

From serving the devotees, all perfection will come. That is where it begins, that’s the basics – to bow down at the feet of the devotees.

​Gita 11.03 – Arjuna’s desire to know Krishna’s glory comes not from doubt but from devotion
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Gita verse-by-verse podcast


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Janmastami: “Today, Krishna, I am Your servant, I am Yours. Kindly accept me.”
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In spiritual parlance there are ‘thin’ places in the world. These are holy places, sacred spaces, where the line between the spiritual and materials worlds is very thin and the ability to feel and perceive our relationship with Krishna is heightened. It’s easier to chant there, to call Krishna deeply from the heart, and thus to call ourselves to experience our spiritual selves.
There are also thin days (and even thin times in the day). Janmastami is one such day. Although Krishna is unborn and eternal, he ‘takes birth’ in this world to share Himself with us and remind us of our relationship with Him. On this day He is extra-present.


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Lord Krishna’s presence in the Belgian Ardennes – a new documentary
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Hare KrishnaBy Vrsabhanu Das

My name is Vrsabhanu dasa. I work in film production and I also make programmes about the Hare Krishna movement as a contribution to the mission of Srila Prabhupada. This film shows some of the activities of the beautiful Radhadesh community and you will hear several interviews with local devotees talking about their lives. In the heart of the Belgian Ardennes, near Durbuy, lies the fairytale castle of Petite Somme. The castle has a long history which now houses the spiritual community, Radhadesh Ardennes. The new residents have thoroughly restored the castle and transformed it into a true spiritual oasis where you can explore the colorful culture of the Indian traditions. Continue reading "Lord Krishna’s presence in the Belgian Ardennes – a new documentary
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‘Walking Monk’ makes his way through Omaha on long, hot trek…
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‘Walking Monk’ makes his way through Omaha on long, hot trek across United States.
Maggie O’Brien / World-Herald staff writer: “The Walking Monk” made a stop in Omaha on Tuesday as part of his journey across America to celebrate his faith and promote an active, healthy lifestyle.
“It’s about going back to the basics,” Bhaktimarga Swami said. “Like Gandhi said, a simple life, high thinking. I see this as doing both of those things.”
Swami, 63, is a Hindu monk from Canada. He is walking from New York to San Francisco to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Hare Krishna religious movement, which emphasizes spiritual well-being and clean, simple living.
Swami changed his name from John Peter Vis when he became a monk in 1973. He wears an orange robe and black Crocs on his feet.
He considers walking an ideal form of exercise, he said, because anyone can do it, and it allows time for self-reflection.
This tour is broken into three parts. He started last fall in Boston, went to New York, then into Pennsylvania. The second leg started again in Pennsylvania over Mother’s Day weekend and took him to Ohio, Michigan, Illinois and Nebraska. He arrived in Omaha on Tuesday.
Next up is Grand Island on Wednesday, where he’ll stop his journey before completing the third leg of the trip next summer.
Swami, who also practices yoga, said he started walking long distances to get away from the chaos of the world.
He has walked across Canada four times. He’s also trekked through Ireland (he said it was wet), Israel (dry), Ghana (hot) and Trinidad (humid).
It hasn’t been easy walking through the Midwest, he said. Swami usually gets up at 4 a.m. to beat the heat and averages about 20 miles a day.
“It’s been a hot, sweaty summer,” he said.
Source: http://goo.gl/OEJaux

Krishna is always victorious!
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Hare KrishnaBy Krishna Kshetra Swami

"The Radharamana temple as embodied community”: Details about the daily worship at the ancient Radharamana temple in Vrindavana. “I spent four months living next door to the temple, because I had learned that [ISKCON’s founder] Srila Prabhupada had instructed some of his pujari disciples to study how they do deity worship there,”. “No one had really done that yet, so I thought, let me do this as a service for ISKCON. While there, I was able to get a copy of their daily worship procedure, which is only eight pages long and is in handwritten Brajabasha Hindi. Continue reading "Krishna is always victorious!
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Gopala-raya asks: Sb 7.10.4, says “…only when one is fully freed from material desires can one be purified, and only in that purified state can one serve the Lord”
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Does this imply that becoming freed from material desires isn’t quite what real purification is?

The post Gopala-raya asks: Sb 7.10.4, says “…only when one is fully freed from material desires can one be purified, and only in that purified state can one serve the Lord” appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Love of God-Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Jesus Christ – 2nd Avenue
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Hare KrishnaBy Dr. Graham M. Schweig

His Grace Garuda Prabhu is a disciple of A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada and known as Dr. Graham M. Schweig, at the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies of Christopher Newport University in Virginia. Garuda was one of the first ISKCON devotees to pursue a formal education. He saw a great opportunity to reach educated circles by inaugurating the field of Vaishnava studies. He earned his doctorate in Comparative Religion from Harvard University. Recently, Princeton University Press published his thesis under the title “Dance of Divine Love- India’s Classic Sacred Love Story: The Rasa Lila of Krishna." Continue reading "Love of God-Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Jesus Christ – 2nd Avenue
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Gracious Devotee family
→ Ramai Swami

imageimage

When I was in Seattle I had the privilege of staying in the home of Senthil Nallasamy, his wife Sujatha, his son Nithin and daughter Navyah.

Originally from India, they moved to Seattle around 15 years ago and became devotees in 2010. They regularly attend and serve at our temple in Sammamish.

image

Swiss Summer Camp 2016
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Written by Nimai

London Ratha Yatra (17 July) had been really great and Kadamba Kanana Swami enjoyed it a lot however he needed to take a few days of rest after such an exhausting event so he decided to go to Amsterdam before continuing with his European tour, and he stayed at the flat of Uddhava and Visakha. Maharaj enjoyed living very simple and peaceful there without having to stress about anything. He took me on several walks during our time in Amsterdam. On the first day, Maharaj took me to the Zandvoort beach front and on other days we went to different parts of the city, every time walking an average of almost 10 km per day. We were really nicely taken care of as well, and Uddhava made a lot of pizza on the day before our departure.

Amsterdam (13) Amsterdam (14)

Maharaj decided to stop in Cologne for a night (22 July), rather than going to Zurich directly. Our train got cancelled and we had to take the bus but eventually we arrived at the Cologne temple just in time for the evening class. Maharaj spoke in German that day and also spent some time with devotees he hadn’t met in a long time.

The next day we took a flight to Zurich, where we spent two nights at the temple in preparation for the 2016 Swiss Summer Camp. While at the temple Maharaj focused on writing his novel before leaving for the retreat which took place at a hotel a bit higher in the mountains, in a valley called Blümlital which translates to “flower valley”. The hotel was reserved completely for devotees for a whole week.

Swiss (4) Swiss (18)

Maharaj started his sequence of lectures by speaking about Uddhava trying to enter into Vrindavan, a theme which he developed throughout his lectures. It wasn’t focused on only that though, Maharaj spoke about many, many other things as well. When speaking about Vrindavan, Maharaj always shared a few personal experiences and stories. On one of the days Maharaj did a presentation entitled “Gouda Mandala”, where he showed pictures of an excursion to Bangladesh that he had done with a group of devotees in October 2011. The slideshow included pictures of Advaita Acharya’s birthplace, different ISKCON temples, Bangladeshi devotees and more. While presenting the slideshow, Maharaj explained what each picture portrayed and explained its significance. The presentation showed several trees too, representative of different holy places.

Sacinandana Swami arrived a few days after us. Many of the devotees at the retreat were his disciples and they couldn’t wait to see their Guru Maharaj. Sacinandana Swami also showed a slideshow, it was about Vrindavan and was really nice.

Maharaj went on a few walks during the retreat. On one day, Maharaj had been invited to go on a walk by an aspiring disciple who got initiated on the last day and received the name Adishekara Das. Together we walked a total of 12 km to see a beautiful waterfall!

Maharaj also agreed to give a “children’s class”. He told the story from the Krsna book where Kaliya is defeated. Some of the kids got a bit wild at the end and Maharaj said that this always happens when he teaches children because he was like that himself in his younger years and the kids can sense it. On that evening Maharaj sang in the final slot of a 12 hour non-stop kirtan.

On 28 July, we departed Switzerland and travelled back to London.

Visit Flickr to see all the photos. 

Swiss (17) Swiss (39) Swiss (40) Swiss (41)

 

Gita 11.02 – Freedom from delusion comes by understanding the ephemeral and the eternal beyond the ephemeral
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Gita verse-by-verse podcast


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Thursday, August 4th, 2016
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Thursday, August 4th, 2016
Eagle, Nebraska

Inside Out

As mentioned, we have broken into night-time walking.  En route to our starting point, an officer stopped us.  Apparently, Mandala (the driver) went 20 miles over the normal speed through town.  Well, it was hard to notice there was a town.  It was tiny.

The officer went through the usual procedure, asking for papers and license.  Mandala complied and as he was handing over documents, despite the darkness, the officer noticed the passenger.  Up until now it looked like a $240 fine was coming Mandala’s way.

“Oh, are you the Walking Monk?” the officer asked.  “They told us you were coming this way.”

Now, I would have to admit, the officer, from the beginning, was one of those stern and cold types.  Meeting someone different, however, seemed to lighten him up a bit.

Mandala and I were both relieved that, in the end, no fine was due us.  Just waving!

Whew!

Taking to the bike trail, in the dark, after the trail-end of a tornado storm whipped through the area, was rather exhilarating.  I was surprised to walk head-on into a massive spider web with its web-designer crawling all over my neck.  Remember, it was pretty dark, but that was the worst of it.

I came to one conclusion about self-analysis.  There’s more darkness inside of us than what is outside.  I began to chant at that point, hoping to turn myself inside out.

May the Source be with you!

16 miles

Wednesday, August 3rd, 2016
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Wednesday, August 3rd, 2016
Elmwood, Nebraska

For “Walking Monk” a Long, Hot Trek

Mandala and I decided, or rather the fireball (the sun) decided, that we would tackle night hours again.  The evening breeze was enlivening as we left the Omaha area and headed towards Lincoln, Nebraska.

Local radio had covered our story and so did the Omaha World Herald Newspaper.  Under the title above, Maggie O’Brien wrote:

“The Walking Monk” made a stop in Omaha on Tuesday as part of his journey across America to celebrate his faith and promote an active, healthy lifestyle.

“It’s about going back to the basics,” Bhaktimarga Swami said.  “Like Gandhi said, a simple life, high thinking. I see this as doing both of those things.”

Swami, 63, is a Hindu monk from Canada. He is walking from New York to San Francisco to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Hare Krishna religious movement, which emphasizes spiritual well-being and clean, simple living.

Swami changed his name from John Peter Vis when he became a monk in 1973. He wears an orange robe and black Crocs on his feet.

He considers walking an ideal form of exercise, he said, because anyone can do it, and it allows time for self-reflection.

This tour is broken into three parts.  He started last fall in Boston, went to New York, then into Pennsylvania.  The second leg started again in Pennsylvania over Mother’s Day weekend and took him to Ohio, Michigan, Illinois and Nebraska. He arrived in Omaha on Tuesday.

Next up is Grand Island on Wednesday, where he’ll stop his journey before completing the third leg of the trip next summer.

Swami, who also practices yoga, said he started walking long distances to get away from the chaos of the world.

He has walked across Canada four times.  He’s also trekked through Ireland (he said it was wet), Israel (dry), Ghana (hot) and Trinidad (humid).

It hasn’t been easy walking through the Midwest, he said.  Swami usually gets up at 4 a.m. to beat the heat and averages about 20 miles a day.

“It’s been a hot, sweaty summer,” he said.

May the Source be with you!

19 miles

Tuesday, August 2nd. 2016
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Tuesday, August 2nd. 2016
Cherry Hills, Nebraska

What the Blazes!

Maggie asked me if I had ever been in Omaha or Nebraska before, now that I’ve officially walked into the city.

“When we were growing up, on Sunday we would watch Mutual of Omaha’s TV show ‘Wild Kingdom,’ about African wildlife.  That is my reference to Nebraska,” I said to Maggie, one of the journalists with the Omaha World newspaper, the major paper in the state.  She was interviewing me.  We both had a good laugh.  I guess she has friends in the yoga industry because she also knew that OM is a sacred Sanskrit word, and I said, “If you were to further analyze, Maha mean--” to which she jumped in with “Great!”

Maggie O’Brien went on to write a beautiful article about our walking mission.

Now, what about our walking mission through Omaha and region?  Mandala, my support person, and I had decided that walking during the course of the day was too much.  I started trekking through a rain storm to begin with.  Then the weather turned into a densely humid, sun-blazing dynamic.  Unbearable!  Rainstorm! Sun storm! Brain storm!

“Let’s try night-walking,” I suggested.  “There’s this lengthy bike-trail called Keystone Trail.  It’ll be safe and we can walk it in the cool night.”

Mandala was game and so we set out on the adventure.  The sun sank at 9 p.m.  I hit the trail.  Mandala was there for me, pumping me with juices and water at intersections.  Though temperatures didn’t go below the 80’s for some time, and muggy weather persisted, we pushed a six and a half-hour, non-stop trek and completed it at 3:30 a.m.

Jaya!

“Jaya” means awesome, in Sanskrit.

May the Source be with you!

19 miles

Monday, August 1st, 2016
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Monday, August 1st, 2016
Omaha, Nebraska

In Any Case—Kind

I hadn’t quite entered the largest city of Nebraska, nor truly entered the state yet, but being that our hosts live in Nebraska, some time was devoted to milling around the edges of the city of Omaha.

I met Ray at a gas station.  Ray was curious, warm and inviting.  While gas was being pumped into his boss’ vehicle, Ray came toward me to ask, “A monk?” 

A friendly dialogue started from there.  He introduced me to his co-worker who was in the driver’s seat and just outside the driver’s seat, with the door open, a young woman known to him for two days--as Ray explained--started being frivolous.  By that I mean, necking with Ray’s friend, quite out in the open.  She even gently grabbed him in a certain region in a kind of lover’s horse-play.  It was a scene monks just don’t usually view.

Ray and I went on about the simplicity of a monk’s lifestyle as a renunciate.  He was keen.

“Can I be a monk?”

“Oh you could.  Your buddy’s got a ways to go (Laughter).”  My remark didn’t halt the frivolity.

This reminds me of a time when I went to a costume house to purchase items for a theatre production.  It was in Gainesville, and a couple--customers who came to rent or purchase--mistook me for being part of the staff, dressed-up.  The woman was particularly all over the man, in love, but in the shop.  He figured it out that I was a customer and a genuine monk.  So he told her, “Chill, I think he’s the real thing,” respecting my vocational position.

Anyways, the couple of today showed less shame, but I won’t judge them in any major way.  They were kind to me and that seems to matter.

May the Source be with you!

12 miles

Sunday, July 31st, 2016
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Sunday, July 31st, 2016
Panora, Iowa

Before Omaha

Either before or after they pass me, most cyclists don’t have a clue as to who or what I represent when they see the saffron/orange cloth from the distance.  Some, however, I could hear saying, “Monk” or “Swami” while in their own conversation, far enough away that they think I’m not hearing them, but I am.  I even heard one cyclist remark among his peers, “We’re supposed to say ‘namaste,’ instead of ‘Hi.’”

In the very least, passersby with their fast bikes take note that “here’s someone a little different.”

When I met Dave, 61, retired, he asked about my stance on Christ.

“He’s the perfect son!”  I stated.

“What made you leave Christianity?”

“I never left.  I added on Krishna.  The fundamentals are the same.”

Dave agreed.  The values are universal.

Sam, I also met for the second time on the trail.

“I looked you up on the internet.  You’ve been to all kinds of places,” he said.

“Like Ireland, where it’s so wet?”

“Yeah!”

“And Israel, which is so dry?”

“I’m sure!”

I explained that as a sanyasi, a monk, there’s an obligation to see the world.  With that, I implied that we view the world from the angle of sacredness.  The world is divine, after all.

May the Source be with you!

14 miles

Looking for the Comedy clip cited by Prabhupada in Montreal to…
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Looking for the Comedy clip cited by Prabhupada in Montreal to the three couples going to London.
We’re writing on behalf of HH Mukunda Goswami to request if anyone might have seen or know of anyone who might have seen the comedy movie clip that Srila Prabhupada narrated to the devotees who were leaving for London to start the movement. It is a clip where Charlie Chaplin (or perhaps Max Linder or perhaps an impersonator) sits on a bench and some boys put glue on it so his coat gets stuck. When he gets up there is a rip and then he starts dancing with a ripped coat tail. He starts to dance with a lot of gusto and enthusiasm that everybody thinks it is a new fashion and they also go and rip their own coat tails and start dancing. In this way he starts a new trend.
Maharaj has been looking for this clip for over 12 years. After talking to film historians we realize that it is even possible that this was not even a Charlie Chaplin movie and could have been done by Max Linder or even an impersonator. If you can kindly spread this message and if we can somehow dig out this piece of our history that would be a wonderful offering to Srila Prabhupada on this 50th year. Our request is if we can share this message on your Facebook pages that might help us reach a much wider group of people who might be able to give us any lead.
If you’ve any leads about this clip, please contact us at: LAGARWAL108@GMAIL.COM
ys
Vidarbhasuta devi dasi & Lokadhyaksa dasa

Bhaktivedanta Hospital & Research Institute attains NABH Accreditation – A hallmark of excellence in patient safety & quality
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Hare KrishnaBy Madhavananda Das

Our Founder Acharya A. C. Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada often emphasised that health should be a key priority for all of us. In today’s age, everyone is talking about holistic health which means taking care of the needs of the body, mind and soul. This was the vision of Bhaktivedanta Hospital & Research Institute when it was founded 18 years ago. With inspiration from and under the guidance of HH Radhanath Swami, the 80,000 sq. ft. Bhaktivedanta Hospital was established at Mira Bhayandar, a suburb near Mumbai, in 1998. Today, it is the only hospital in the whole of Maharashtra that provides its patients holistic healthcare services based on true awareness and understanding of the needs of the body, mind and soul. Recently, it achieved the hallmark of becoming an NABH accredited hospital offering world-class super speciality service. Continue reading "Bhaktivedanta Hospital & Research Institute attains NABH Accreditation – A hallmark of excellence in patient safety & quality
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What was it like to be chastised by Srila Prabhupada. Jahnava…
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What was it like to be chastised by Srila Prabhupada.
Jahnava devi dasi: In Dallas in 1972, the Deities, Sri Sri Radha-Kalachandji, arrived the same day as Srila Prabhupada, and Srila Prabhupada wanted to install Them in two days.
The Deities were covered with something sticky and little pieces of burlap and cloth were stuck to painted areas like Their eyes and so on.
The head pujari, Ichhamati, was concerned because she knew that when we dressed the Deities in the future we would have some difficulty. So, we tried every solvent that we could think of.
Nothing would get this sticky substance off. When we had tried everything, Ichhamati left me in charge of taking this stuff off. I’d already suggested paint remover, and we had thought about it a little bit.
Finally, she left and I began to use paint remover. My great offense was that I was confident that I could take all the paint off the Deities and repaint them in two days time.
I removed all the paint from the Deities and when the head pujari came back, she was in a state of shock. I said, “It’s all right,” but I understood I had done something in an unauthorized way.
I did not know at that time that these Deities were already installed. I didn’t know that they had been worshipped and that they were 500-year-old Deities, although this does not minimize my offense.
Anyway, I was painting the Deities all night in Srila Prabhupada’s quarters. And the next morning the Deity was totally wet. I was using a Japanese dryer but I could see that something was wrong, it was not going according to plan.
So, Satsvarupa Maharaj informed Srila Prabhupada of the situation on a morning walk.
Srila Prabhupada stopped and said, “Pack my bags immediately. I am leaving this temple. You can do whatever you like with the Deities, but just don’t consult me.”
Naturally, I went into a suicidal state. I was emotionally crying and devastated by my offense of having acted in an unauthorized way.
Then the GBC, the head pujari, the temple president, everyone gathered for a meeting in Srila Prabhupada’s room.
Srila Prabhupada said, “Who has done this?” Everyone said, “Jahnava, Jahnava did it.” Srila Prabhupada turned his glance to me and said, “Who told you to do this?”
At that moment, I was choked with emotion. There was no question of speech coming out of my mouth.
And at the same time, I remembered the Srimad-Bhagavatam where the bull does not blame anyone for his condition. I could have pointed my finger a few places but I didn’t.
I felt that I should not do this. And from within, I felt that Srila Prabhupada appreciated me not blaming someone else. Srila Prabhupada said, “Why did you do this?”
And again, I was choked with emotion. I had been crying hysterically for two hours. Srila Prabhupada began to be disgusted with me, and he started turning his glance and his mercy away from me.
I thought, “Krishna’s kicking and His kissing is the same. I want it. I want whatever Srila Prabhupada has to give me. It’s mine. This is my quota.” So I choked it off.
When Srila Prabhupada asked, “Why have you done this?” I said, “Nonsense, Srila Prabhupada.” Srila Prabhupada said, “Suicidal nonsense.”
Then he asked me, “So, what is to be done about it?” Now he’d changed his tone of voice a little bit and he seemed pleased. I felt a little let off the hook.
I said, “I just called Baradraj in L.A. and explained that the paint is not drying, and he suggested I use …”
Srila Prabhupada said, “Baradraj? Baradraj? I am your spiritual master, and I am sitting right in front of you! Why do you not ask me?”
The sound reverberations of that form of Srila Prabhupada as a servant of Lord Nrsimhadev are going out into the universe, still reverberating to this day.
It took me about two or three years to calm down. It was a wonderful, cleansing process. Srila Prabhupada was disgusted with me, and he turned his glance away from me and said, “What is to be done about this?”
Then Ichhamati said the same thing I did, but with humility. She said, “Srila Prabhupada, if we use an enamel paint, it can dry in six to eight hours. Would it be all right with you if we use that kind of paint?” Srila Prabhupada said, “Do it immediately.”
—Jahnava
Excerpt from “Memories-Anecdotes of a Modern-Day Saint”
by Siddhanta das
www.prabhupadamemories.com

La Reunion: Three Day Padayatra Celebrate ISKCON’s 50th Anniversary
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Hare KrishnaBy Narasimha Tirtha Dasa

La Reunion Island is located southwest of Mauritius and forms part of a region of France. The La Reunion padayatra lasted a total of three days and traveled through the towns of Saint Pierre and Saint Louis located in the southern part of the island. The organizers were myself, Narasimha Tirtha Dasa from Mauritius, APREVA (Association Pour le Rayonnement des Enseignements Vediques Authentique) and a group of nama-hatta devotees from the island lead by Bhakta Jean Marc. In total we were a group of 15 devotees, all grhasthas including one young child, a baby and two teenagers. There were some devotees who stayed throughout the padayatra and others who joined from time to time during all three days. We set off on July 15th which coincided with the auspicious occasion of Lokanath Swami’s vyasa puja. A group of 10 of us started at the front of the Saint Pierre Municipality building; we then proceeded to walk for 3 hours in and around the town of Saint Pierre. I led the first hour of kirtana, thereafter we all took turns to lead kirtana during the padayatra. All of Bhakta Jean Marc’s nama-hatta group carried maha-mantra banners, and Srila Prabhupada posters throughout the walk. Continue reading "La Reunion: Three Day Padayatra Celebrate ISKCON’s 50th Anniversary
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What is Harinama all about? Watch this video to find out! Srila…
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What is Harinama all about? Watch this video to find out!
Srila Prabhupada: “Sri Krishna, the Personality of Godhead, who is the Paramatma (Supersoul) in everyone’s heart and the benefactor of the truthful devotee, cleanses desire for material enjoyment from the heart of the devotee who relishes His messages, which are themselves virtuous when properly heard and chanted.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 1.2.17).
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/OCnIyZ

Frustration and absorption in technological no man’s land 
→ The Spiritual Scientist

 When I went to Rourkela, I found that while I was staying in the guest room of the National Institute of Technology, I was lost in a technological no man’s land without any device to write my Gita-daily articles. 

My usual computer had been malfunctioning, so I had submitted it to the service center in Mumbai before I came to Rourkela. I had brought with me my old computer that I have kept as backup for just such emergencies. The next morning after the big college program, this computer just refused to start. 

I had brought a Bluetooth keyboard that works with my phone and it worked in the morning, but later during the day when I was traveling back to Mumbai, it mysteriously stopped working. 

I also had an Ipad, but it had got discharged and I had forgotten to get the charger with me – I was on just a two-day visit and the Ipad was the fourth backup option, something I hadn’t expected to need

I had a backup phone, but I had given it to a friend and hadn’t asked it back before the trip. 

In addition to the Gita-daily article, I had to edit and finalize two articles for BTG urgently; I started feeling frustrated that none of my five devices were available for me. 

And then the number five triggered an epiphany. I suddenly found myself smiling as I thought about how Draupadi had five protectors and still she was left defenseless. I had five devices and yet I was helpless. 

The comparison is outrageous – not having a working gadget is no problem at all when compared with being dishonored and disrobed. But the mind has a way of making problems seem unmanageably huge. And those whose work depends on technology know that having no gadget is terrible – something like having your car break down on an expressway in no man’s land. Actually, when the device stops working, it feels worse – like a plane running out of fuel in mid-air. 

Anyway, the comparison with Draupadi inspired me to similarly take shelter of Krishna. I started reading the sixth canto of the Bhagavatam which I have been studying to prepare for my classes at Govardhan Eco-village. And with that mood of shelter infusing my study, during the journey from Rourkela to Mumbai via Ranchi, I had the most absorbing scriptural study experience in a long time.  

And wonderfully enough, with my consciousness clarified and inspired by being sheltered in Krishna, I was able to do the editing of the articles much more efficiently – the work that would normally have taken several long hours, I was able to do in a few hours. 

I have never thought that the number “five” would become such a powerful uddipana (spiritual stimulus). Truly, the means through which Krishna can help us is amazingly inconceivable.  

The post Frustration and absorption in technological no man’s land  appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Iskcon New Govardhana – Cows, Kookaburras & Flowers – 08…
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Iskcon New Govardhana - Cows, Kookaburras & Flowers - 08 August 2016 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: It is the special mercy of the Supreme Lord that as soon as He knows that one is glorifying His name, fame and attributes, He personally helps cleanse the dirt from one’s heart. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 6.2.12 Purport).
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5 Ways to Love Janmastami
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5 Ways to Love Janmastami
Janmastami is just one day, but how we spend it can deeply inspire us for the whole year.
Krishna consciousness mean we are conscious of Krishna. He becomes an active part of our life – like a close friend or an affectionate family member we love to be around. Krishna consciousness, then, is loving to be around Krishna.

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