While on vacation in Germany a few months back I test drove a Tesla Model S. It's quite an amazing car.
The Good:
Styling: the styling of the car feels like Maserati crossed with Mercedes. In fact, a lot of the knobs and switches are the exact same ones used in Mercedes cars.
Instant throttle response: you press down on the pedal, the car accelerates instantly. With any normal car there is a delay while the engine revs up. The electric motor, however, has no delay between the driver giving the command the car accelerating. It makes the car feel very very fast.
Corner: is amazing. The 540kg battery (containing 7104 individual 18650 battery cells) is underneath the floorboards, giving the car a very low centre of gravity. As a result, it feels very secure in corners. Accelerating out into traffic from a T-junction is absurdly quick. In any other car you need to wait for a gap in the traffic then carefully pull out. In the Tesla it feels like you can pull out right behind another speeding car taking a 90-degree turn and accelerating up to at 50km/h in less than a second.
Configurability: using the 17" touchscreen, you can control almost every aspect of the car. For example, you can change how stiff the steering wheel feels with the push of a button: comfort, standard, or sport. The steering is electrically assisted mechanical, enabling faster actuation than traditional hydraulic or mechanical systems.
No petrol/gas required: the car runs entirely on electricity. You plug it in, charge it up and go. Zero pollution, and substantial cost savings, especially if you sign up with a power company that gives you cheaper off-peak rates for electricity and you set the car to only charge itself at night during off-peak times. Or, if you install solar panels on your root, you can charge your car for free with the power of the sun.
The Bad:
Price: while fun to test-drive. At starting price of €78,000 (in Germany), that is way too expensive for me. It's a luxury car, meant to compete with the Mercedes S class, not something for regular people. Tesla's mainstream car is the upcoming Model 3. Let's see how good that one is when it comes out.
Windscreen: the windscreen seems narrow and visibility out of the car isn't great. It's like looking through a small viewport rather than a large windscreen. The Tesla Model X fixes the issue by including a giant panoramic windscreen.
Simulation: the combination of the small windscreen, the lack of any noise and the instant throttle response, and lack of lean during corners makes the Tesla feel like driving a computer simulation of a car. I had to keep remind myself that I wasn't sitting in car-simulator, but was driving an actual car on an actual road.
Size: it's a long car. The Model S is longer than most other cars and sticks out of a normal parking space. Good if you want to carry lots of stuff, but bad for tight corners in cramped city streets.
In a world shrunken by digital connections are we still nourishing the right connections in our lives and in society?
How can we get better connected spiritually ,with ourselves and with each other? Spiritual leader Radhanath Swami addresses these questions in this insightful talk.
Radhanath Swami is a world renowned author, philanthropist and community builder.
He has been a Bhakti Yoga practitioner and spiritual teacher for more than 40 years. He is the inspiration behind a free mid-day meal for 1.2 million school kids across India and he has been instrumental in founding the Bhaktivedanta Hospital in Mumbai.
He has keynoted at Apple, Starbucks, Google and House of Lords. His work has led to meetings with U.S. President Barack Obama and India Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community.
ISKCON Auckland New Zealand: Krishna Holi Festival 2016 (Album with photos)
Kalasamvara Das: Today thousands of guests turn up for a wonderful and colourful day at our annual Holi festival.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/TBVA1c
Choosing to be a part of God’s life.
Ananda Devi Dasi: Every year a group of yoga students from America go to the gardens of a flower grower in Vrindavan (India), who produces large amounts of flowers for the garlands and decorations in the many temples there. This year, however, the gardens did not have much to show. Weather and other factors had wiped out the crop and the gardener, already poor by our standards, was even poorer. As they sat with him he was jovial, telling them stories of Krishna and his temple experiences. ‘How can you be so happy after so much loss?” they asked him. “That part of my life is a struggle, and this year will be hard,” he said. “But my relationship with Krishna has nothing to do with that. That’s always joyful.” Here, I thought, is wisdom in action. Rather than making God a part of his life (and struggle) he was choosing to be a part of God’s life. In other words, as we move along in the world, dealing with the ups and downs, we often lean on God, pray for help, find Him in our little universe, and even complain when we don’t think He is doing his part (i.e., fulfilling our desires). There is nothing wrong with this, and it’s better than not acknowledging His existence at all. Krishna is happy to help and be involved, as he was with Arjuna in the Gita’s battlefield. Yet as students of the science of bhakti yoga we learn that the true goal is to get to know Krishna who exists beyond our mundane life. If Krishna is a person, then He has a life, a place, and all kinds of relationships. The gardener gives us a clue. Instead of pulling God into our own little life, why not set that aside for a while, and start looking into God’s life? Talking time everyday to be in a relationship that has nothing to do with the karma of the world, nothing to do with who we are in this body, nothing to do with the present context of our life – that’s what the gardener was doing. Yes, I lost everything this year, he said, but not Krishna. He is always there. And that’s my joy. Let that be our joy too.
Iskcon Sydney: Workshop with HG Mahatma Das (Album with photos)
“Building Community together”
Srila Prabhupada: Devotee means very liberal and kind to everyone, always gentleman under all kinds of conditions of life. Letter to Hamsaduta, December 10, 1972.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/hvdEk1
Radhanath Swami: When I was young, no one called it Valentines Day, everyone called it Saint Valentine's day. You remember? Now they just call it Valentines Day because they don’t want to think about saints (laughter). Because it’s actually totally contradictory to the whole conception of what valentine’s day is all about. Who was saint valentine?
Avoiding Yamaraja: Ajamila’s story. Ajamila’s story is given in the Bhagavata Purana (6th book, chapter 1) as an example to illustrate that even the most wicked person can attain salvation. Ajamila was a brahmana who was once sent by his father to the jungle to fetch leaves and twigs to make the sacrificial fire. Ajamila met there a beautiful sudra woman. Forgetting everything, the brahmana made her his wife and children were born to them. When that brahmana, who was the very embodiment of all vices, reached the age of eighty-seven, the time came for him to die. Yamadutas (agents of Yama, the god of death) had arrived. The frightened Ajamila shouted loudly the name of his eldest son, “Narayana”. Hearing the repeated call of his name “Narayana”, servants of Visnu appeared there and dismissed the agents of Yama. From that day Ajamila became a devotee of Vishnu and did penance on the bank of the Ganges and after some years attained salvation. Ajamila was saved from hell because he chanted “Narayana” as the Yamadutas approached him. Afterwards Yamaraja forbade his servants from touching devotees who “even if by mistake or because of bewilderment or illusion… sometimes commit sinful acts,” because “they are protected from sinful reactions because they always chant the Hare Krishna mantra.” Yamaraja then told the Yamadutas: “Paramahamsas are exalted persons who have no taste for material enjoyment and who drink the honey of the Lord’s lotus feet. My dear servants, bring to me for punishment only persons who are averse to the taste of that honey, who do not associate with paramahamsas and who are attached to family life and worldly enjoyment, which form the path to hell. "My dear servants, please bring to me only those sinful persons who do not use their tongues to chant the holy name and qualities of Krishna, whose hearts do not remember the lotus feet of Krishna even once, and whose heads do not bow down even once before Lord Krishna. Send me those who do not perform their duties toward Vishnu, which are the only duties in human life. Please bring me all such fools and rascals.”
Oneness with God, Different from God, or both?
Urmila Devi Dasi: OBL Kapoor, godbrother of Srila Prabhupada, explains how the various sampradayas view simultaneous oneness with, and difference from, God, in this chapter of his well-known book. Srila Prabhupada especially liked this book and wanted ISKCON centers to distribute it. This chapter makes the concepts of oneness and difference very clear and as understandable as anything “inconceivable” can ever be!
This chapter is helpful for those are practitioners of bhakti-yoga, for those who teach bhakti, for scholars, and anyone who is spiritually curious.
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/Ot0iQe
We are looking for pujaris/cooks to serve the Deities here in Berkeley temple. The Deities here include Lord Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra who were installed by Srila Prabhupada in 1967. Hence, these are the first Deities in ISKCON.
Anyone interested should contact us by calling 707-426-4672.
It’s always nice to receive e-mails which are from devotees, especially when in work however recently one or two appear to have dark undertones; almost a play for why the reasons that attracted me to ISKCON are unrealistic and a thing of the past.
The opening statement gave me a feeling of impending doom, may be it’s time to leave ISKCON as this new improved corporate; boiling the milk ISKCON which appears to have little to do with my spiritual well-being or advancement. And more to do with how to get as much money out of me and make the whole experience one of sheer misery, a one size fits all, your only a devotee if you do this or that course repulses me and my only response run away.
You see when I first met the devotees their was a family feeling, it was like I had met old friends within a short time my thoughts were how to get to spend more time with them. They tolerated a lot, never asked me for laxmi (Well apart from books, and that was alright, given they were so enthusiastic I read them I became enthusiastic to read)
This family atmosphere this friendship based on loving care for one another, getting to know the individual and developing them at a pace and way that developed trust; eventually one wanted to reciprocate this love and the devotees had you hooked on devotional service. No course, no money just love.
With this simple exchange one became hooked on Japa, reading, sharing and doing some small service; the desire to do more of these increasing the more you had this association, and this is what a lot of individuals speak about, the loving care a feeling of being a part of something, the feeling of family the feeling of love.
What the devotees had shown me was simple and in many ways these loving exchanges meant that you would do almost anything for them, it’s simply something that cannot be learnt in any educational setting, no classroom could teach devotional service in it’s purest form.
Devotional service comes from a basis of love, love comes from being cared and feeling cared for; so the term family appears appropriate as this is the nearest approximation or way of expressing a feeling felt when coming into devotee association.
Personally I miss those early days, this new corporate impersonal ISKCON is choking the life out of me, mentorship was by the devotees leading by example and recommendation was by a senior disciple; now mentorship is tor-mentorship and appears a way to fleece money out of the individual and little of engagement in devotional service, do this course, do that course give us money.
Over the years my inspiration has been a few devotees who by example and loving time spent in association makes ones desire increase, that one wants to do more. Simply put friendship.
I’ve learnt more in discussions with these devotee friends questioning and being questioned, and when one comes across something that appears contradictory one does research studying of Srila Prabhupada’s books and then sharing what has been learnt. Thus real knowledge increases and as it’s personal and not learnt in an educational setting it’s personal one remembers.
The email was explaining how now ISKCON is too big for this, temple presidents cannot get to know those who attend, and the family atmosphere one used to talk about is impractical and not work, one cannot expect recommendation to be as in the early days and spoken about by Srila Prabhupad, we now have a new structure.
The new structure means courses, exams, forms; a committee who decide upon ones suitability not on real knowledge of the individual but how all these look, even the recommendation of the mentor can be overruled by a committee member who has had little association with the candidate; now this is impersonal by any standard and far from the system recommended by Srila Prabhupad’s who wanted initiation recommendation from a senior devotee who actually knew the aspiring devotee, this loving care some describe as family some like me describe as friend. This real knowledge of the aspiring devotee cannot be learnt in a classroom.
Yes temples have grown.
Yes it’s impractical for one individual to know everyone that attends our larger temple.
Yes learning about devotional life is good
Yes studying Srila Prabhupad’s books are good.
But an artificial mentorship system and an artificial impersonal committee, a corporate ISKCON one were the feeling of friendship and family is frowned on; seriously?
My conclusion is this is best avoided by one who wishes to make any real spiritual advancement, and a plea to all those in management and GBC please get rid of this nonsense and return to what Srila Prabhupada showed us, real love and personalise our approach that inspires one to spontaneously increase our desire to increase in devotional activities.
Or may be it’s that ISKCON doesn’t want individual’s like me who don’t need classrooms and form’s to be inspired, just the association of amazing devotees who make you feel like a part of something special; and inspire you to do more service and because your inspired that naturally inspires others.
But my fear is corporate ISKCON rather than personal ISKCON is the one that is winning the day.
And I’m guessing those who see corporate ISKCON as the way forward will use this article not to learn how others function and how to inspire a different group in devotional life, but will simply go look told you so he’s anti-ISKCON, and simply miss the point altogther.
Friendship first and all other things will come in time.
Krishna’s words in chapter three are extremely pertinent to this important debate. Here in this video, Vraja reads from and explains his book, A Simple Gita – which is available at www.vrajakishor.com
One argument for a beardless deity of Advaita Acarya is that we should follow Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. Certainly we should follow the previous acaryas. Sometimes, as in the case of Maharaja Priyavrata, the param-guru may override the decision of the guru. In this regard, Srila Prabhupada wrote, “The duty of a great devotee is to carry out the order of the spiritual master, or the spiritual master of the spiritual master in the parampara system. “ (SB 5.1.20 purport) Unfortunately, neither Srila Prabhupada nor his Guru Maharaja is physically present with us. Srila Prabhupada also wrote, “In the Skanda Purana it is advised that a devotee follow the past acaryas and saintly persons, because by such following one can achieve the desired results, with no chance of lamenting or being baffled in his progress.” (NOD Ch. 7) Continue reading "The Sastric Advisory Committee’s paper on Sri Advaita Acarya’s Deity → Dandavats"
Advaita Acarya, although Visnu Himself, was in the mood of a Vaisnava. As a Vaisnava, He felt compassion for the fallen conditioned souls who were suffering without Krsna consciousness. Although previously Navadvipa had been a great center of devotion, it had deteriorated into a center of dry learning. Thus, Advaita Acarya felt compassion for the fallen souls of the age, so engrossed in material affairs, devoid of devotional service to Krsna. In the mood of a humble Vaisnava, although He was Visnu Himself, He felt that He was not capable of delivering the fallen souls. He believed that only Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself could preach the yuga-dharma of hari-nama-sankirtana and deliver them. Advaita Acarya Prabhu was an ideal householder. He had read in the scriptures that the Lord sells Himself to a devotee who offers Him a Tulasi leaf and a palmful of water. As a grhastha brahmana, He worshipped a salagrama-sila at home. Therefore, He specifically began to worship Salagrama with Ganges water and Tulasi leaves with the aim of bringing about Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's descent. Continue reading "The appearance day of Sri Advaita Acarya → Dandavats"
February 14. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Prabhupada Is Not Ordinary.
The sastras warn us not to think of the spiritual master as an ordinary man. That is very hard for the nondevotees to comprehend. They think the spiritual master is an ordinary person because they see him growing old, or they see him show anger. They misjudge him in many ways. They have no idea what is ordinary and what is extraordinary. It takes spiritual vision to appreciate the pure devotee, but the sastras tell us the truth.
The sastras list certain qualifications of a spiritual master, yet even among those who possess these qualifications, Srila Prabhupada is extraordinary. What is it about him that makes him extraordinary? Or, we can ask, “There appear to be some extraordinary things about Prabhupada, so what is it about Prabhupada that makes these things extraordinary?”
Dr. Harvey Cox said, “Prabhupada is one in a million.” He founded the Hare Krishna Movement, which continues to grow and establish roots in countries all over the world. Fulfilling Lord Caitanya’s prediction that the holy name would be known in every town and village of the world was seen as a near impossible task by other sannyasis. Prabhupada fulfilled the Lord’s prediction. He must be an extraordinary person, someone fully empowered by Krishna, to possess so much pure devotion and determination.
One should not see the spiritual master as an ordinary man. This is not only the proper etiquette described in the Vedas, it is reality. The spiritual master is never ordinary, even if he appears to be growing older, or seems to forget a Sanskrit verse, the disciple should never doubt his spiritual master because of these things. Prabhupada explained that his perfection was that he was always preaching and was fully engaged in Krishna consciousness. The guru is not the Supersoul who knows all things, but he has an intimate relationship with the Supersoul. Srila Prabhupada was always dedicated to Krishna’s mission. He produced amazing, tangible results. He is extremely dear to Krishna. All his displays of anger, or illness, or humanness are transcendental; they are meant to bring us closer to him in loving exchange.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=5
RAIN AND STRONG WINDS… said the weather forecast
Still there was a great turnout of devotees and the Harinam was…
special again. So many nice things happened.
One devotee handed out prasadam to 5-6 police officers, one after the other, all in a row, while we were in Leicester Square. A little later on as we left the Square and moved off towards Piccadilly Circus, one policeman was seen playfully dancing, kicking his legs high into the air.
Over the past 4/5 weeks three young students all doing their GCSE’s this year have been coming down from Archway (North London) and enthusiastically joining in with the Harinams. This week they got soaking from the quite heavy rain, but the enthusiasm was not dampened one iota. They all have copies of Bhagavad-Gita and are happily reading them.
Also in recent weeks there have been two sisters (Deena & Diane) attending regularly. They are always happy to help hand out “On Chanting” Booklets and prasadam. This week I had a little chat with them and was really impressed to hear that they have been taking the day return train from Nottingham each week all the way to London specifically to attend the Samkirtan Parties. They came in contact with Krsna Consciousness through a Hare Krsna Festival programme held in Nottingham not long ago.
“So we are sending our men for street saṅkīrtana. It doesn’t matter whether people are eager to hear it or not, but it is auspicious. It will create an atmosphere which is very, very congenial to the human society. That should be our principle.
Srila Prabhupada 6th April 1973 New York.
800 pieces of prasadam and 1,500 On Chanting Booklets
“A pure Vaisnava should be very careful to engage in his specific duty without criticizing others. This is the safest position. Otherwise, if one tends to criticize others, he may commit the great offence of criticizing a Vaisnava” In the pastime of Jagai and Madhai, prior to them receiving the mercy of Lord Caitanya, they were glorified as having one good quality. The fact that they kept such bad association meant that they had never come into contact with devotees hence their good quality was that they had never committed vaisnava aparadha. There are so many references in sastra as to the importance of avoiding offending vaisnavas, so as I read the words of Daksa it seemed worthwhile to look a little deeper into why he would offend Narada in this way. On the face of it Daksa was extremely upset because his first 10,000 sons, the Haryasvas, whom he had earmarked to populate the planet with good progeny, were convinced by Narada to by-pass the grhastha asrama. Due to the inherent risks of being side tracked by maya while populating the world, Narada suggested they would be better to simply devote themselves exclusively to the path of renunciation. That was bad enough but then Daksa had another 1,000 sons to do the job his previous sons had been diverted away from but Narada had a different idea and did exactly the same again, convincing Daksa’s latest arrivals to follow in the footsteps of their elder brothers. Continue reading "Accepting our Lot, Gracefully → Dandavats"
Suddha-bhakti-cintamani deals with the subject of steadiness from several different perspectives. What does real steadiness mean? nasta-prayesv abhadresu nityam bhagavata-sevaya: “nasta-prayesu,” when almost all the inauspicious things in the heart, which are of so many variations, when they are more or less eradicated then there is steadiness. And this “more or less,” Srila Prabhupada said “75%,” so when 75% of impurities in the heart are eradicated, then the devotee achieves a certain level of spiritual steadiness that enables him to think about Krishna, to chant Krishna’s names, because his mind and senses are no longer distracted from chanting, serving, and thinking of Krishna. Why? Because the effect of the anarthas still remaining in the heart is minimal when compared to the storehouse of devotional energy that the devotee has acquired. Continue reading "Steadiness → Dandavats"
Festival of India set to debut in Nigeria.
TVC E, LIFESTYLE – India is one of the most religiously diverse nations in the world, with some deeply religious societies and cultures.
The artistry and culture of the Indians is set to manifest in Nigeria at the first ever Festival of India, a celebration of cultural unity and diversity.
The international society for Krishna consciousness West Africa in partnership with the indian diaspora made the announcement in Lagos.
The Festival of India also called Rath Yaatra festival originated in the holy city of Puri, India and has been celebrated for thousands of years.
Organizers say, bringing the festival to Nigeria is to project the country in positive light.
The festival would include a display of various Indian costumes, dressing and dance groups representing different states in India.
Source: http://goo.gl/2XlPuz
Saturday Night Harinam London 6-02-2016 (11 min video)
RAIN AND STRONG WINDS… said the weather forecast. Still there was a great turnout of devotees and the Harinam was… special again. So many nice things happened. One devotee handed out prasadam to 5-6 police officers, one after the other, all in a row, while we were in Leicester Square. A little later on as we left the Square and moved off towards Piccadilly Circus, one policeman was seen playfully dancing, kicking his legs high into the air. Over the past 4/5 weeks three young students all doing their GCSE’s this year have been coming down from Archway (North London) and enthusiastically joining in with the Harinams. This week they got soaking from the quite heavy rain, but the enthusiasm was not dampened one iota. They all have copies of Bhagavad-Gita and are happily reading them. Also in recent weeks there have been two sisters (Deena & Diane) attending regularly. They are always happy to help hand out “On Chanting” booklets and prasadam. This week I had a little chat with them and was really impressed to hear that they have been taking the day return train from Nottingham each week all the way to London specifically to attend the Samkirtan Parties. They came in contact with Krsna Consciousness through a Hare Krsna Festival programme held in Nottingham not long ago.
*******
“So we are sending our men for street sankirtana. It doesn’t matter whether people are eager to hear it or not, but it is auspicious. It will create an atmosphere which is very, very congenial to the human society. That should be our principle.” Srila Prabhupada 6th April 1973 New York.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/Cx1euW
800 pieces of prasadam and 1,500 On Chanting Booklets.
Ys
Bhajahari das Adhikary
Travel Adventures of a Krishna Monk.
Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka by Krishna-kripa das - New York City Harinam, Albany. (Sent from Gainesville, Florida, on February 12, 2016)
I rejoined the New York City Harinam party for the second half of December, except for a one-day excursion to see my family in Albany for Christmas Eve. Because of the cold, our NYC Harinam party sang in the subway stations except for a couple days in Union Square and one night in Times Square. New Years Eve was special in that I did harinama with the NYC Harinam party at the subway stations at Times Square and Grand Central, and outside at Bryant Park, and with the Bhakti Center devotees all the way from the Bhakti Center, in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, over the Manhattan Bridge, to Radha-Govinda Mandir in Brooklyn.
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/gXdjpL
Garuda and Yamaraja.
“Our friends, relatives and so-called wives and children are not only fallible, but also bewildered by the outward glamor of material existence. As such, they cannot save us. Still we think that we are safe within the orbit of family, society or country.” One who properly prepares for the time of death is really intelligent, while one who thinks he can remain at home forever and enjoy the association of his wife and children is a fool. In illusion a man thinks, “My bank balance, my nice house, and my family will protect me.” But these cannot protect anyone. In this regard we came across following thought provoking story.
High in the reaches of Mount Kailash is the abode of Lord Shiva. One evening Lord Vishnu, came to see Lord Shiva. He left behind at the entrance Garuda, who served as His vehicle. Garuda sat alone, marveling at the natural splendor of the place. Suddenly his eyes fell on a beautiful creature, a little bird seated on the arch crowning the entrance to Lord Shiva’s place. Garuda wondered aloud, “How marvelous is this creation! One who has created these lofty mountains has also made this tiny bird – and both seem equally wonderful.” Just then Yamaraj came passing by with the intention of meeting Lord Shiva. As he crossed the arch, his eyes went over to the bird and he raised his brows in a quizzical expression. Then he took his eyes off the bird and disappeared inside. Even a slight glance of Yamaraj is said to be the harbinger of death. So Garuda told himself, “Yamaraj looking intently at the bird can mean only one thing – the bird’s time is up. Perhaps on his way back he will carry away the bird’s soul with him.” Garuda’s heart was filled with pity for the helpless creature. That it was oblivious of its own impending doom further agonized Garuda and he resolved to save the bird from the clutches of death. He swooped it up in his mighty talons, rushed to a forest thousands of miles away and left the bird on a rock beside a brook. Then he returned to Kailash and regained his position at the entrance gate. Soon after, Yamaraj emerged from inside, and nodded to Garuda in recognition. Garuda greeted him and said, “While going in, you saw a bird and for a moment you became pensive, why?” Yamaraj replied, “Well, when my eyes fell on the little bird, I saw that it was to die in a few minutes, swallowed by a python, far away from here in a forest near a brook. I wondered how this tiny creature would traverse the thousand of miles separating it from its destiny in such a short time. But there are no such serpents here, high on Kailash, and I was briefly puzzled. Then I forgot. Surely it must have happened somehow.” Saying this, Yamaraj smiled and went away. This story nicely explains us however we hard we try to escape from death, “Death is inevitable”. Death in the form of time, kala, will seize us just like the serpent seizes its prey. Srila Sukadeva Goswami is advising us that understanding the temporary nature of material existence, we must utilize our time for the self-realisation. When we fail to do this we will remain bewildered in this material existence, life after life. When we use our time for Krishna, death is also blissful as after death we will again go back to Krishna.
Puri Retreat (Album with photos)
Deena Bandhu Das: Visiting Baligram, the sweet rural village of Dasya Bauri, a famous out caste devotee of Jagannatha! Then we visited Haridas Thakura’s Samadhi and many important places on Satasana Marg nearby! The Seven Rishis have their asans there. Finally ending the retreat with katha and kirtan.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/RgiWhi
When Mahaprabhu left home, His servant Isana Thakura took care of Sacimata and Vishnupriya. Vamsivadana Thakura who was very dear to Mahaprabhu also always stayed with Vishnupriya and Sacimata. He received so much krpa, mercy, from Sacimata and Vishnupriya, especially from Vishnupriya Thakurani. Vamsivadana Thakura has written one song, which is Viraha Sangita, a song of separation. The beginning line is ara na heriba sonara kamale nayana khanjana naca. When Srinivasa Acarya came to Mayapura, Isana Thakura was an old man at that time. He took Srinivasa Acarya to Vishnupriya and introduced him to Her. Vamsivadana Thakura had also showered his mercy on Srinivasa Acarya. Continue reading "Sri Vishnupriya → Dandavats"
ISKCON Purchases 50 Acres Near Downtown Columbus.
ISKCON of Columbus, Ohio, USA, has purchased fifty acres of prime real estate fifteen minutes’ drive from downtown Columbus. On the land, which they have offered to Srila Prabhupada for ISKCON’s 50th anniversary, devotees plan to develop a Krishna conscious community that offers the best of both urban and rural worlds. The local congregation raised $500,000 and bought the new property outright. Located in a fast-developing suburb called Hilliard, it’s flanked by upcoming million-dollar homes and neighboring land owned by banks. While all amenities are close by, ISKCON Columbus is planning a haven of simple living and high thinking. Within six months to a year, devotees expect to break ground and begin construction on a gorgeous temple with a 500-person capacity temple room, a gift shop, accommodation for celibate students, and a children’s school.
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/Iai8qY
February 13. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Talk to Srila Prabhupada.
I have been going too long without trying to talk to Prabhupada. We shouldn’t refrain from talking to Prabhupada out of lack of faith. If a Christian can talk to Christ, and a yogi can talk to his Supersoul, why can’t a Prabhupadanuga speak his mind to Prabhupada? It just takes faith and hope that he will hear us – hope that Krishna will hear us. We may say, “Well, I definitely have faith in Krishna as the Supersoul,” but that faith may be more an acceptance of the scripture, than direct realization of the Lord in the heart. But the same scriptures tell us that the pure devotee, by Krishna’s grace, can be just as present as the Supersoul in the heart of His disciple. We do not have to doubt that, even if we don’t have direct realization of it. If we do doubt it, then we have to pin our hopes on a prayer to both Krishna and Prabhupada, “Please, Krishna, deliver my message to Prabhupada. Please, Prabhupada, deliver my message to Krishna. Please, Srimati Radharani, forgive me for my offenses, and let me become a devotee of my spiritual master, Lord Krishna, and You.”
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=5
Bhagavad-Gita 12.1 arjuna uvaca evam satata-yukta ye bhaktas tvam paryupasate ye capy aksaram avyaktam tesam ke yoga-vittamah
Translation
Arjuna inquired: Which is considered to be more perfect: those who are properly engaged in Your devotional service, or those who worship the impersonal Brahman, the unmanifested?
The chanting is a spiritual call for the Lord and His Energy to give protection to the conditioned soul.japa, when performed with focus and attention, can subdue the agitating effects of one’s mind and senses. The senses, of which the mind is also one, are constantly being stimulated by the external world - by gross and subtle matter. If you have not chanted before, and would like to participate in this program, we will be very happy to show how you can do this. All welcome. We’ll loan you a set of Beads! Town Hall Meeting On Feb 13,10am-11am in Main Temple Hall
We are very pleased and excited to announce that ISKCON Brampton will be hosting our first Town Hall meeting on Saturday, February 13, 2016 from 10:00 am to 11:00 am. This will present an opportunity for our dynamic congregation to come forward and express their suggestions. The topic of discussion would be buying or leasing of new location. This is very important decision and we encourage and appreciate suggestions from each and every member of our congregation. Please accept this as a warm invitation for you to come and attend our meeting. We will host such meetings every three months to increase communication between the temple management and our dear congregation. (ISKCON Brampton Temple Council)
Monthly sankirtan Festival(MSF)
“One who has life can preach, and one who preaches gets life.”(Previous Acaryas)
Every member of ISKCON should have the opportunity to make advancement in Krishna consciousness by preaching.We encourage everyone to come out and participate and make Srila Prabhupada happy.
Fasting.....................on Thu Feb 18,2016 Breakfast................. on Fri Feb 19,2016 b/w 7.11am-10.44am
Every fortnight, we observe Ekadasi, a day of prayer and meditation. On this day we fast (or simplify our meals and abstain from grains and beans), and spend extra time reading the scriptures and chanting the auspicious Hare Krishna mantra.By constantly ‘exercising’ our minds through regular japa we can train our senses to push the threshold of contentment.
English audio glorification of all Ekadasis is availablehere
Nutritional Consultation
Rashmi is back again to offer her services as a nutrition expert to help devotees with their health and dietary needs.She is offering free one to one consultations and development of Individualized Nutrition Plans on Sundays between 1:30 - 3pm. Please contact (416)569-6373 or (905)488-7272 to book an appointment.
Nityananda Trayodasi(Fasting till Noon) Celebration on Sat, Feb 20,11am-2pm Lord Nityananda, whose name literally means, “eternally blissful” is the eternal companion of Lord Chaitanya and both are worshipped together as are Krishna and Balaram. In the same way that Lord Balaram is considered the original spiritual master, so is Lord Nityananda.
No service is too small to go unnoticed by Lord Nityananda, and no sinner too great not to qualify for his benedictions.
**Details of the program will posted when we get closer to the event**
The Sunday School provides fun filled strategies through the medium of music, drama, debates, quizzes and games that present Vedic Culture to children. However the syllabus is also designed to simultaneously teach them to always remember Krishna and never forget Him. School The Sunday School follows the curriculum provided by the Bhaktivedanta College of Education and Culture (BCEC).
Gift Shop
Our boutique is stocked with an excellent range of products, perfect for gifts or as souvenirs of your visit. It offers textiles, jewellery, incense, devotional articles, musical instruments, books, and CDs inspired by Indian culture.We're open on all Sundays and celebrations marked in our annual calendar.
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare Chant and Be happy
Visiting the temple in Tijuana, meeting and talking with the devotees, having the opportunity to speak, and participating in the kirtan, was a huge inspiration for me, and a super powerful way to begin my speaking tour on the West Coast. Facing death head on and joyfully embracing the possibility of having only a short time left in my body has been greatly beneficial to my life, like a lightning bolt of devotional and practical energy and guidance. Concerned friends ask me how I am doing, and my answer is “fine,” which means normal. Other than my cancer protocols, it is difficult to know that my body must be quite out of balance to have attracted cancer.
As it is said in the alternative treatment universe, I am not sick because I have cancer, but I have cancer because I am sick—which means a compromised immune system. However long I may live, I am taking the worst case scenario seriously and doing everything I can to strengthening the immune system and send the cancer cells elsewhere. At the same time, I am putting aside self-doubt, and embarking on speaking tours to share my realizations on the benefit of facing death so we can fulfill our personal mission, and practice what I think of as “essential spirituality.” I have also increased my writing schedule for producing a number of books. All in all it has been an incredible journey and is very exciting and enlivening—and this is only the beginning!
After 7 nights and 5 days of treatment at the clinic, I moved on to the next part of my journey. I scheduled speaking engagements at a devotee’s home program in San Diego, and temples in Los Angeles, and Silicon Valley.
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, November 2015, Vrindavan, India, Video Interview)
The real meaning of love means to act fully for the pleasure of Krsna and all living beings – to totally dedicate ourselves to Krsna’s well-being and to the well-being of all living beings in Krsna’s creation. This is the real meaning of love.
Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 11, No. 24 By Krishna-kripa das (December 2015, part two)
New York City Harinam, Albany (Sent from Gainesville, Florida, on February 12, 2016)
I rejoined the New York City Harinam party for the second half of December, except for a one-day excursion to see my family in Albany for Christmas Eve. Because of the cold, our NYC Harinam party sang in the subway stations except for a couple days in Union Square and one night in Times Square. New Years Eve was special in that I did harinama with the NYC Harinam party at the subway stations at Times Square and Grand Central, and outside at Bryant Park, and with the Bhakti Center devotees all the way from the Bhakti Center, in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, over the Manhattan Bridge, to Radha-Govinda Mandir in Brooklyn.
I share notes on Srila Prabhupada’s lectures and books. I share a quote of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. I share excerpts from the online journal of Satsvarupa dasa Goswami. I share notes on a Prabhupada remembrance video wherein devotees talk about Prabhupada coming to the London Ratha-yatra. I also share notes from devotees speaking at the Harinam Ashram, including full-time residents like Abhiram Prabhu and Rama Raya Prabhu, and visitors such Bhagavat Purana from the 24-hour kirtana in Vrindavan, Yashoda-dulal Prabhu, a brahmacari doing outreach in Montreal, Deva Madhava Prabhu, who does harinama in Michigan, Isvari Jahnava Devi who does harinama in Vancover, and Bhima-Karma Prabhu, who teaches mrdanga. I also have notes on a recorded lecture by Kadamba Kanana Swami.
As it is the end of the year I provide my accounting report so people who give me money know how I spend it.
Income and Expenses for 2015
CategoryAmount Book Sales67.31 Donations3,796.15 Loans8.16 Total Income$3,871.62
CategoryAmount Book Purchases13.60 Festival Fees54.21 Gifts377.09 Health74.22 Electronics3.64 Maintenance49.07 Prasadam (Food)53.67 Travel3,347.22 Total Expenses$3,972.72 Balance-$101.10
I would like to thank all the people who kindly contributed in 2015 to make my extensive travel possible. These include, in descending order by amount: Sivam of Maryland, Kaliya Krishna Prabhu of New York City, Baladeva Vidyabhusana Prabhu of Gitanagari Press, Vishnu-priya Devi Dasi of Jacksonville, Nanda Kumar Prabhu (IDS), Sivananda Sena Prabhu of Rotterdam, Janananda Goswami, who covered my trip to Paris for Ratha-yatra and harinama, the Newcastle-upon-Tyne temple, Atmanivedana Prabhu, who runs the Saturday evening program at 26 Second Ave., Sankarsan Lila Prabhu of Gainesville, Sankarsana Prabhu of Potomac, Mother Sukhada of Alachua, Prahladananda Swami, for my doing proofreading for him, Alan Miles and the Liverpool Nama-hatta, Janardana Prabhu and the Leeds Nama-hatta, Anthony Bate and the Preston Nama-hatta, my sister Karen, the Bhakti Yoga Club of UNF, Nama Kirtan Prabhu of Tallahassee, Todd of Tampa, Dhruva Prabhu of Kansas City, my sister’s partner Victor, Gaura Karuna Prabhu of the Harinama Ruci traveling party, Janardana Prabhu & Amy, Lukas of Edinburgh, Kishor of Orlando and Tampa, my mother, Kalki Prabhu of Newcastle, Lovelesh of Jacksonville, Sthita-dhi Muni Prabhu (SDG), Jagannath Kirtan Prabhu (Havi’s son), Ali Krishna Devi Dasi, Malini Devi Dasi of Edinburgh, Bhakta Larry of Brooklyn, Martin from Leipzig, Clive of Chester, Eleanora of Ireland, Punya Palaka Prabhu from Czech Republic, Ananta Nitai Prabhu of Dublin, Govinda Prabhu from Scotland, Doug Rowling of Preston, ISKCON South London, Haladhara Baladeva Prabhu of Leeds, Joe of Sheffield, John of Leeds, Locan Das Thakura Prabhu of Brighton, Rima of Edinburgh, other devotees from the Leeds congregation, my niece Fern and her friend Oliver, Kanwar of Sheffield, Vishnujana Prabhu also of Harinama Ruci, Mariana of Sheffield, Caitanya Candrodaya Prabhu from Ukraine, a lady on Dublin harinama, Govardhan Dasi, the Munich public, a Warsaw devotee, Srinivas Prabhu of France, a man in Ybor City, an Oriental man at Lake Ella, a student at FSU, and Krishna Kirtana Prabhu of Warsaw.
Thanks also to my many drivers and those who gave me a place stay for the night. Thanks again to Jagannath Kirtan Prabhu for the Macbook he gave me so I can work on this blog.
Thanks to the many people who were willing to chant Hare Krishna with me in public and those who allowed me to chant with them. Striking among them was Rama Raya Prabhu and his amazing New York City Harinam party with dedicated souls doing harinama in New York City six hours a day.
Itinerary
February 10–February 24: Gainesville area (and UNF and USF campuses)
February 25: New York City
February 26–28: Dublin, Ireland
March 1–3: Mumbai
March 5–10: Mayapur Kirtan Mela
March 12–21: Rishikesh Harinama
March 22–April 11: Vrindavan?
April 13: Mumbai
April 14–: Dublin, Ireland
April 27: King’s Day, Amsterdam
April 30–May 1: Birmingham 24-hour kirtana
May 2–: The North of England and Scotland
July 12–16: Polish Woodstock
September 13–: New York City Harinam
New York City Harinam
We chanted Hare Krishna in the Times Square subway station the first Saturday I was there, and people interacted with us in different ways (https://www.youtu.be/v5J-ENYbmVw):
Once as we were chanting Hare Krishna in the Times Square subway station, a friendly Afro-American guy eagerly asked me, “What do you guys believe?” I explained we come in the Hindu tradition, but we worship “the one God,” as many religions do. According to the ancient Vedas of India, the most powerfully transformational spiritual practice is to sing the names and glories of God with others.” He replied, “That is the best thing I have ever heard!” I think he found it refreshing that we were not just another group claiming we were better than the others, but that we gave him universal knowledge.
I offered one young man who glanced favorably at our Times Square subway station chanting party a Bhagavad-gita. He said he already had it and that it was the best book ever written! I encouraged him to take a Science of Self-Realization, but he declined saying he already had the Gita. I offered to give him an invitation to our weekly Bhagavad-gita classes, but he said he would not come, because he was “a free thinker.” Such a mixture of fortune and misfortune!
One Sunday we had an especially lively harinama in the Union Square subway station. Nikunja Bihari, Rama Raya, and Kishor Prabhus all led some lively chanting of Hare Krishna inspiring people to dance and take photographs and videos. Devotees distributed books and sweets. Here are some highlights (https://youtu.be/CqyNYoLx71k):
One smiling Muslim lady watched our chanting party briefly in the subway station at Union Square, and I offered her an “On Chanting Hare Krishna.” She asked what this was about, and I explained it was a practice of worship of the Supreme Being, Allah, Jehovah, etc. She asked what we were singing, and I said, “As you have one hundred names of Allah in your tradition, in India they have a thousand names of Krishna, and we are singing some of these names.” She danced to the music, and swung around, smiling the whole while. The devotee ladies offered her shakers, and she happily played them with the music.
Sometimes Rama Raya Prabhu sings Hare Krishna to seasonal melodies, such as the tune of “Auld Lang Syne” (https://www.youtu.be/souv1-FQEsc):
Some kids delighted in playing with the shakers on NYC Harinam at Union Square subway station later in the week (https://www.youtu.be/IE-IgR_S6vI):
Once Rama Raya Prabhu sang at Union Square, inspiring Murali Gopal Prabhu to dance, who in turn inspired others to dance (https://www.youtu.be/d2dJNq-pMbc):
Another place we chanted each week was Atlantic Avenue / Barclays Center subway station. On December 22, several devotees chanted very nicely and people were attracted to participate in different ways (https://www.youtu.be/oHRl4d3e7_g):
Even though the month of Karttika had ended, we still gave people a chance to offer lamps to a picture of Krishna for an hour in the evening, and some people participate, sometimes along with their kids.
Christmas Eve
I brought one of the Doughnut Plant’s seasonal doughnuts, the Christmas Tree doughnut, to show to and share with my family. Unfortunately, it lost some of its decoration in transit.
A week earlier, I had met by sister Karen and niece Fern at Penn Station, and shared with them a cocout crème doughnut and a Christmas Tree doughnut, but I wanted the others to see the Christmas Tree doughnut so I brought one home at Christmastime.
I went to the Quaker Christmas Eve program with my family. As usual there was a nice spiritual feeling when singing the songs about the appearance of Jesus in this world.
There was a little nativity drama depicting the story of the appearance of Jesus Christ. I volunteered to be a “wise man from the East” as there were too few volunteers.
While at the Quaker meeting, I read an interesting quote by E. B. White expressing difficulty in trying to improve the world without being seduced by the world. Ideally by working to enlighten people about their spiritual potential and how to achieve it, we can be so much engaged we will not have a chance to be seduced by the material world, and we will purify ourselves and others so much so that the world will benefit both spiritually and materially from our actions.
I made carrot coconut rice and coconut burfifor the Quaker potluck, but I did not stay as my family likes to eat at Indian restaurants on Christmas Eve. My Quaker friends encouraged me to stay, and I promised next year I would come in another vehicle so I could spend half an hour with them before going off with my family.
Christmas Eve was special as my family went to new Indian restaurant this year, and it turned out that the proprietor had visited Gitanagari, the Hare Krishna farm in Pennsylanvia that my mother had also visited at the time of my initiation. He had attended the Chicago Ratha-yatra as well. Because I was a devotee, he gave us all free galubjamuns, and he gave my friend Victor, a free mango lassi, as I let him try mine and he liked it.
Christmas
Christmas was warm enough for us to chant outside in the fresh air at Union Square during the day, a pleasant change from the subway station.
We were also able to sing at Times Square, which was Abhiram Prabhu’s inspiration, in the evening (https://www.youtu.be/VMQqg8KSy8Q):
A Hispanic mother and daughter delighted in watching and listening to the chanting at Times Square, taking pictures, and trying to sing along, reading the mantra from a card.
Some people took great pleasure dancing with the devotees, as did these girls. One of them told me she was from Wisconsin and seeing the Hare Krishnas chanting was a new experience for her.
After Christmas and Before New Years Eve
A young lady who learned of the 26 2nd Avenue program from our harinama came to visit it the day after Christmas. She joined us again on NYC Harinam, this time in the Times Square subway station soon after that.
December 27 was warm enough to chant outside at Union Square.
Some passersby played our instruments.
They also took pictures of each other with us.
Some kids also participated with us.
The next day at Grand Central subway station Rama Raya Prabhu ended Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura’s disappearance day with a fired-up kirtana getting the devotees dancing. Stella, visiting from Montreal, was delighted to record and share it (https://youtu.be/YkiulL-U9EU):
We began chanting at the Times Square Subway Station on New Years Eve at our usual spot just above the 7 train on the long corridor to Port Authority.
It was great chanting with Bhagavat Purana Prabhu as he is so enthusiastic and interactive, and he helped me sing the lead. Deva Madhava Prabhu was also a great asset, playing the drum and loudly singing the response. It was sufficiently fired up passersby took photos and movies. Stella, visiting from Montreal, took a video of me chanting, which you can see if you are my friend on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/krishnakripa.das/posts/10153896073293665).
Then a large group of Christians came. One would pace back and forth and evangelize into an amplifier directly in front of our party. He was so rude. The police solved the problem by telling both of us that the corridor was not wide enough for either of us and we would have to move. Although the police said we could go the subway station at Eighth Avenue, Rama Raya Prabhu thought it would be too chaotic there, and relocated us to Grand Center Subway Station. Around 5 p.m. Abhirama Prabhu took half of our party on a walking harinama from Grand Central up to Bryant Park. People from different parts of the world appreciated the devotees singing on the sidewalks there. Because I like walking harinamas, I went with Abhirama Prabhu and distribute Krishna: Reservoir of Pleasure. After what seemed to be a couple of hours I was so cold that when we passed the Bryant Park subway station I left the party to return to Grand Central only to find that rather than staying out extra late for New Years, our harinama party had finished at 7:30 p.m. as usual. At first we were told that Abhiram Prabhu’s party would be continuing, and so I grabbed another stack of Krishna: Reservoir of Pleasures and planned to rejoin them. Then we learned that party had also finished for the evening. Hladini, of the Bhakti Center, who I knew from doing harinamas in Florida, invited me to their Thursday evening kirtana which was to be followed by a harinama across the Manhattan bridge to Brooklyn, and then kirtana at Radha-Govinda Mandir till midnight. I was not enthusiastic enough to chant till midnight for Radha-Govinda, as I would still be woken up between 3:30 and 4:00 a.m. for our morning service, but I was up for the Bhakti Center kirtana and the harinama. I told my friend Deva Madhava Prabhu about the opportunity, and I was happy that he was eager to come along. He was a great asset on the harinama across the Manhattan Bridge as he has a loud melodious voice and a lot of enthusiasm.
Little Italy was the liveliest spot we passed through.
I found that in each group of people that liked our chanting party at least one was willing to take the Krishna: Reservoir of Pleasure.
My camera does not do videos in dim light, so I waited till we reached a well lit area of Brooklyn to take a little video (https://www.youtu.be/T9aHGfl3sE8):
To see photos I took but did not include above, please click on this link:
From a class on Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi-lila 1.5, in Mayapur, on March 29, 1975:
Bhagavan means full of six kinds of opulence. Not as nowadays there are so many Bhagavans, they have no aisvarya[opulence].
“We should know this, that in the spiritual world, to remain as girlfriend and boyfriend, that is the topmost pleasure, and in the material world, the same thing is the most abominable thing.”
“So when Krishna wants to enjoy—the enjoyment means these loving affairs between man and woman—that is a fact. That is not an artificial thing. Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura has explained Vedanta-sutra, janmady asya yatah [SB 1.1.1]. He has said, adi rasasya janma yatra. Adi-rasa. There are twelve kinds of rasas, mellow. Of all of them, the adi-rasa... Adi-rasameans the loving affair between man and woman. This is called adi-rasa. So, Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura explains, janmady asya means the adi-rasa, loving affairs between man and woman, that is from the Supreme Person. That's a fact. Unless the loving propensity is there in the Supreme, how it can be reflected? Because this is perverted reflection only, so there must be the origin.”
“Our Kaviraja Gosvami says that this Radha-Krishna prema, loving affairs between Radha Krishna, it is a fact. It is not imagination. It is a fact. But this fact is different from the fact we have got experience in this world. That is to be understood. Don’t take... Just like sahajiyas. They take the Radha-Krishna premajust like ordinary lusty affairs in this material world. But that is not the fact. In the Srimad-Bhagavatam there is a verse that the loving affairs of gopis and Krishna, Vishnu, it is not ordinary thing. If one can hear from the proper source, and if he understands the real fact of rasa-lila, then the result will be that his heart, which is full with lusty desire, that will vanish. There will be no more lusty desires.”
“Sannyasa means giving up everything for the Supreme. So for simply to relish a little bit of brahma-sukha [spiritual pleasure], these saintly persons, great, great saintly persons, they are giving up everything. . . . This is very important point. If for understanding little bit of brahma-sukhawe are giving up all material enjoyment, how Krishna can enjoy materially? He is Param Brahman. Therefore those sahajiyas, those who are taking that Krishna is enjoying with ordinary girls, they are very, very, much misled. That is not the fact. Therefore it is said, hladini shakti. This is different. This is in the spiritual world the topmost mellow, hladini shakti.”
Comments by Abhirama Prabhu:
Srila Prabhupada is always reminding us that the loving affairs of Radha and Krishna are completely different from the loving affairs of the material world.
It is like there are two parties going on. One, with Krishna in the spiritual world, where everyone is loving Him and He is perfectly reciprocating everyone’s love, and everyone is feeling spiritual ecstasy. Another one in the material world, where Krishna is not present and everyone is trying to take His position. There everyone is pretending to have a good time, but no one really is.
Prabhupada once explained that the devotee is always looking at Krishna’s feet, and then after some time, when Krishna is satisfied, He bends down to the level of His feet, and smiles at the devotee, and says, “Here I am!”
Our materialistic society, through the media, creates all kinds of illusory stereotypes that people become frustrated trying to live up to because they have no basis in reality.
In America, we are living on land that we obtained by murdering the previous residents, and which we stole. We cannot expect positive cultural stereotypes to come from such a background.
If one has a bias to the truth, he will be the best scientist, because he will lean in the right direction.
From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi-lila 7.171, purport:
“Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu wanted to preach the sankirtana movement of love of Krishna throughout the entire world, and therefore during His presence He inspired the sankirtana movement. Specifically, He sent Rupa Gosvami and Sanatana Gosvami to Vrindavan and Nityananda to Bengal and personally went to South India. In this way He kindly left the task of preaching His cult in the rest of the world to the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. The members of this Society must always remember that if they stick to the regulative principles and preach sincerely according to the instructions of the acaryas, surely they will have the profound blessings of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and their preaching work will be successful everywhere throughout the world.”
From Sri Caitanya-caritamrita,Madhya-lila 19.159, purport:
“Kutinati, or diplomatic behavior, cannot satisfy the atma,the soul. It cannot even satisfy the body or the mind. The culprit mind is always suspicious; therefore our dealings should always be straightforward and approved by Vedic authorities. If we treat people diplomatically or duplicitously, our spiritual advancement is obstructed.”
From a room conversation with Allen Ginsberg, May 12, 1969, in Columbus, Ohio:
“If one loves Krishna, he must love Lord Jesus also. And if one perfectly loves Jesus he must love Krishna too. If he says, ‘Why shall I love Krishna? I shall love Jesus,’ then he has no knowledge. And if one says, ‘Why shall I love Jesus? I shall love Krishna,’ then he has no knowledge either. If one understands Krishna, then he will understand Jesus. If one understands Jesus, you’ll understand Krishna too.”
From Path of Perfection, Chapter 3: Learning How to See God:
“As Lord Jesus Christ said, we should hate the sin, not the sinner. That is a very nice statement, because the sinner is under illusion. He is mad. If we hate him, how can we deliver him? Therefore, those who are advanced devotees, who are really servants of God, do not hate anyone. When Lord Jesus Christ was being crucified, he said, ‘My God, forgive them. They know not what they do.’ This is the proper attitude of an advanced devotee. He understands that the conditioned souls cannot be hated, because they have become mad due to their materialistic way of thinking. In this Krishna consciousness movement, there is no question of hating anyone. Everyone is welcomed to come and chant Hare Krishna, take krishna-prasada, listen to the philosophy of Bhagavad-gita, and try to rectify material, conditioned life. This is the essential program of Krishna consciousness.”
From Srimad-Bhagavatam5.18.11, purport:
“Simply by hearing of the powerful activities of the Lord, the devotee’s heart becomes almost completely cleansed of material contamination, and thus his original position as an eternal servant who is part and parcel of the Lord becomes manifest. While the devotee engages in devotional service, the passionate and ignorant modes of material nature are gradually vanquished, and then he acts only in the mode of goodness. At that time he becomes happy and gradually advances in Krishna consciousness. All the great acaryas strongly recommend that people be given a chance to hear about the Supreme Lord. Then success is assured. The more we cleanse the dirt of material attachment from our hearts, the more we will be attracted by Krishna’s name, form, qualities, paraphernalia and activities. This is the sum and substance of the Krishna consciousness movement.”
From The Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 30:
“It is stated in the Tenth Canto, Thirty-third Chapter, verse 11, of Srimad-Bhagavatam, ‘Upon seeing that Krishna’s arm was placed on her shoulder, one of the gopis engaged in the rasadance became so ecstatically happy that she kissed Krishna on His cheek.’ This is an instance of feeling happiness because of achieving a desired goal.”
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura:
From his commentary on Srimad-Bhagavatam11.17.53:
“Unless a householder worships child Krishna, his attachment for his children will remain strong. As long as the Lord’s pastimes in madhuryarasa do not become the subject of one’s meditation, one will continue to think of his wife as the reservoir of all pleasure. Unless one becomes a pure devotee of the Lord, accepting Lord Krishna as one’s only friend, just like Sridama, one will not be able to give up the hankering for temporary and superficial material relationships. Until one’s propensity for rendering devotional service to Lord Krishna is awakened, one will continue to foolishly demand service from others. One who is actually intelligent should understand that there can be no satisfaction for the self on any planet within the material world. Therefore, like a traveler who has become very tired while traveling, one should go back home, back to Godhead. Eternal peace is the condition of the faithful servant of Sri Krishna.”
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami:
From My Search Through Books:
One time, some of us told Srila Prabhupada that Camus and Sartre saw life as absurd. Srila Prabhupada replied, “It is absurd for him.”
“Today’s drawing shows three bhaktasdancing and chanting with upraised arms. They are dressed very colorfully and are dancing with abandon. The harinamamovement brings out the spontaneous spirit of a person. It is the original nature and is evoked by chanting. It breaks up the material modes of nature and brings one to the transcendental platform. While these men are chanting Hare Krishna they forget their material problems and come directly in touch with Krishna consciousness. They even forget their material bodies and live as spirit souls.”
From a Prabhupada Remembrance Video about Prabhupada at London Ratha-yatra:
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Shyamasundara Prabhu:
I picked up Srila Prabhupada up in a helicopter when he came for the London Ratha-yatra.
Prabhupada did not sit on his vyasasana[seat of honor] on the Ratha-yatra cart, but danced and walked the whole parade. We were all surprised because Prabhupada was sick.
Devotee lady:
After the helicopter ride, I heard Srila Prabhupada say, “I never want to travel this way again.”
Mahavishnu Swami:
I inherited £10,000 from my aunt. I was made in charge of London Ratha-yatra, and I spent the money for the festival.
Devotee lady:
The hairs of my body stood on end. Then I turned around and saw Prabhupada dancing. I felt Prabhupada before I saw him.
Srutakirti Prabhu:
The police wanted Prabhupada to stop dancing because it made the devotees go wild. I ignored their request the first time. The next time I tapped Srila Prabhupada’s shoulder, and said, “They want you to stop.” He turned and looked at me, and then swung around and went back to dancing. I told the police, “If you want him to stop, you will have to tell him yourself because he will not listen to me.” They didn’t, and Prabhupada kept dancing.
Devotee lady:
The way Prabhupada looked at Jagannath was the face of a man in love.
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Abhiram Prabhu:
From a lecture on the disappearance day of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura:
Srila Prabhupada is an emissary from Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, empowered to expand his mission.
Srila Prabhupada spoke on this day in the last year he was present (1977) and made some important points:
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura’s appearance and disappearance was like that of Krishna in that he came to this world from the spiritual world to execute a certain mission.
This human form of life is a rare chance to attain spiritual perfection.
We are called vimudhan (foolish) because although Krishna has come to invite us back to the spiritual world, in this rarely attained life, we are not interested.
To convert us from vimudhan to intelligent, Krishna sends His representative into this world. Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura is such a representative.
The Vaishnava is unconcerned with mundane profit, adoration, and distinction. He is busy doing good to others by enlightening the people with spiritual knowledge.
Mundane people do not know how to do good for humanity because they do not how to elevate them out of this cycle of birth and death.
The human being can take instruction from the scripture that he is a spiritual being and should endeavor for spiritual perfection.
If we do not think of Krishna, we remain in this cycle of birth and death.
The Vaishnava has the great responsibility to share this great knowledge.
The real business of the Vaishnava is not for himself. But to help others.
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura’s spiritual gift is that he wanted every one of his disciples to go out and spread this knowledge.
Lord Caitanya advised everyone to become guru. How to become guru? Just repeat what Krishna has said.
This Mayapur is meant for this purpose to preach Krishna consciousness all over this world.
Take Western money and Indian culture and make the whole world happy.
Notes from a summary of the life of Bhaktisiddhanta Saravati Thakura’s life:
Acyutananda, brother of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, became deathly sick, and Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati took karatalas and chanted Hare Krishna for six days without eating. After that time his brother said that in a previous life he was a Sri Vaishnava and he committed an offense against a Gaudiya Vaishnava. By the pure chanting of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura the offense was destroyed, and Acyutananda left this world.
At age seven, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati saw Bipin Bihari, the guru of his father, Bhaktivinoda Thakura, placed his foot on Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s head. When his father left the room, he questioned that action. He said, “Do you know that my father is a nitya-siddha [eternally perfect] devotee of the Lord. Are you really qualified to place your foot on his head?”
Because of the degraded Vaishnava sampradayas, the shaktas and the followers of Vivekananda and Ramakrishna became prominent.
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura would take on and defeat anyone and everyone to establish unalloyed Krishna consciousness.
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura knew the philosophies of all the Vaishnavas.
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura considered that to awaken the dormant attitude of service to the Supreme Lord is more important than any other activity.
Whatever Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura asked others to do, he followed himself.
He cited Mundaka Upanisad verse 1.2.12: “Tad-vijnanartham sa gurum evabhigacchet samit-panih srotriyam brahma-nistam – To understand these things properly, one must humbly approach, with firewood in hand, a spiritual master who is learned in the Vedas and firmly devoted to the Absolute Truth”] as describing the qualities of a guru.
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura’s presence was so impressive that people were humbled by it.
Of Hari-katha, he especially liked to glorify Govardhan Hill.
Kadamba Kanana Swami:
From a recorded lecture:
Keshava Bharati Maharaja, the guru who initiated Lord Caitanya into the renounced order of life, sannyasa, told him at that time: “I am calling you Krishna because You will make the whole world chant Hare Krishna. I am calling you Caitanya because You will bring life to the hearts of all people.”
Yasoda Dulal Prabhu [brahmacari preaching in Montreal, Canada]:
Even an insignificant living entity can speak nicely by the mercy of the Vaishnavas.
Unfortunately we have been raised in such away as to develop our attachment to our bodies.
You can say Krishna arranged the shop be named Matchless Gifts to remind the devotees of the value of what Krishna is giving. His first gift is the association of his confidential devotee Srila Prabhupada. Then Srila Prabhupada gave us the holy names of Radha and Krishna.
Pure chanting is for the pleasure of the Lord.
The material world is controlled by the Lord, but everyone in the spiritual world is controlled by love [prema], including Krishna Himself.
Even as devotees, our experience of the unlimited is limited.
If we make the holy name the center of our life we can come to experience the matchless gift.
Sincerity has no limit. If we think we are sincere, we are not sincere.
The inner experience of great souls like Srila Prabhupada and the Six Goswamis is only love.
Rupa Goswami’s definition of raganuga-bhakti is to follow an associate of Radha Krishna.
Comment by Bhakta Avatar Prabhu: The Radharani and Lalita deities at the Tota-Gopinath temple are black instead of their usual golden color, and their pujari says the reason for this is that they are absorbed in thinking of Krishna.
Like the fans of Brad Pitt, while watching his different movies, see only Brad Pitt acting, although he is playing different roles, the Gaudiya Vaishnavas see the incarnations of God as Krishna appearing as Nrsimha or Krishna appearing as Lord Rama, etc.
We are already in Gaura-lila. If we are going on harinama every day or distributing books every day, or if we are worshiping the deity every day under Srila Prabhupada’s direction, we are already in Gaura-lila. It is just a question of realizing it.
Gopala Bhatta, as a nine-year-old boy, for four months massaged the feet of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, cooked for Him, and ate His remnants. As a result Gopala Bhatta’s eyes were always filled with tears of love of God, and he was victorious in all scholarly debates because Lord Caitanya was present in his heart.
The Gaudiya Vaishnavas prefer to see Lord Caitanya standing by the side of the Garuda stambha rather than to see Lord Vishnu riding on Garuda, His carrier.
Prabodhananda Sarasvati Goswami says that worshiping the feet of Lord Caitanya leads to the supreme realization.
In Krishna book Srila Prabhupada describes in one chapter about the gopis feelings of separation. There Srila Prabhupada indicates that we are advanced to the extent that we feel separation for Krishna.
As the gopis felt separation from Krishna, Krishna felt separation from the gopis. However the gopis, because they were many, could console each other, while Krishna had to suffer separation alone in Dvaraka.
Sivaram Swami says that the holy name of Krishna is more reliable than Krishna Himself, because you can count on Krishna being present in His holy name, while otherwise Krishna is sometimes here and sometimes not.
Prabhupada disciple Mandakini said when Prabhupada was present they would feel that love of God was even emanating from the walls.
Verses that came to my mind during the class:
“O Brahma, whatever appears to be of any value, if it is without relation to Me, has no reality. Know it as My illusory energy, that reflection which appears to be in darkness. (Srimad-Bhagavatam2.9.34)
“Whatever you desire to describe that is separate in vision from the Lord simply reacts, with different forms, names and results, to agitate the mind, as the wind agitates a boat, which has no resting place.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.5.1)
“One who engages in full devotional service, unfailing in all circumstances, at once transcends the modes of material nature and thus comes to the level of Brahman.” (Bhagavad-gita 14.26)
Rama Raya Prabhu:
Srila Prabhupada wanted 24-hour kirtana in all our temples.
When Lord Caitanya went on harinama everyone went—the scholar Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, the king Prataparudra. Also during Srila Prabhupada’s time, everyone wanted to go on the Saturday night harinama in Times Square. Some two or three people had to stay back to take care of the deities. They would take turns so they all could go on harinama sometimes.
Offering all respects to others in the ultimate issue means to respect them as spiritual souls by engaging them in Lord Caitanya’s sankirtana movement.
Either we are going to give our life to maya or we are going to give our life to Krishna.
Comment by Nihal: I met one person while distributing books who remembered the Saturday night harinamas. There were 60 to 80 persons chanting with such enthusiasm that the traffic would stop. The man telling me the story still felt the wonder of it after so many years.
There are people out there who are suffering and praying for God to help them. Srila Prabhupada said that we have many customers out there.
Seeing prema-bhaktas chanting the holy name is the ultimate coolness.
Lord Caitanya is the supreme revolutionary.
Srila Prabhupada’s prayer in “Markine Bhagavata Dharma” to Krishna “I wish that you may deliver them” was backed up by forty years of service.
“I just tried to blindly follow the order of my spiritual master” – look at how far it got Srila Prabhupada.
Jhansi was a failure, but he got the whole world.
Abhiram Prabhu tells that Stanley Kubrick said in an interview, just before his death from terminal cancer, that he was approached by NASA to make a moon-landing film.
Bhagavat Purana Prabhu:
From an after dinner conversation:
Q (from new devotee): What are salagram-silas?
A: You could describe them as anti-material pet rocks.
From a class on Srimad-Bhagavatam8.5.32:
Scientists, by doing things like cloning, try to imitate the original creator while at the same time they deny the existence of that original creator. They are not humble enough to understand the existence of the original creator.
Although the scientists have advanced intelligence from their past pious activities, they still are subjected to the four material defects of imperfect senses, the tendency toward illusion, the tendency to make mistakes, and the propensity to cheat.
Although people try to insure their friends will be happy by giving them gift cards so they can purchase their own gifts, their friends still purchase items which are temporary sources of satisfaction and incapable of giving them the ultimate happiness they desire, and so they are ultimately frustrated.
As I recall, Srila Prabhupada advised to make harinama banners having gold letters on a light blue background.
Comment by Isvari Jahnava Devi: When I was young in Russia, America seemed to us like a heavenly planet. We somehow got a Sears catalog, advertising things we never had in Russia, and it was like a Bible to us. Krishna arranged that now I came to Times Square, when I had no more material desires. Times Square was hell for me, and I vowed to never come there again, unless I am on a harinama party.
Isvari Jahnava Devi:
One reason Krishna consciousness has become popular in Russia is that the Russian people in Soviet times were brought up with ideals and people who lived for ideals, and they understood value of community.
The communist goal was that people would work and would receive whatever they needed. That is not possible in materialistic consciousness, but it is possible in Krishna consciousness.
Deva Madhava Prabhu:
The demigods teach by their example to first glorify the Lord before asking Him for a benediction, even when they are experiencing supreme distress and want relief.
Arjuna also, before asking Krishna to counteract the weapon fired by Asvatthama, offered prayers to the Lord.
If we understand that Krishna is present everywhere, then we should not feel anything is lacking anywhere at anytime. If we feel such a lack, our realization of Krishna is not complete.
We should not think that seeing Krishna and hearing from Krishna is different.
If we are not thoughtful, we will miss out on the fruit of the experience.
Saying the prasadam prayers helps us to take the prasadam in a devotional consciousness and to get the full benefit of it.
After Christmas and New Years people are down because their expectations are never met by their material enjoyments.
In the beginning of our devotional service, we are more running away from maya, and at the stage of ruci, we are more running toward Krishna.
Bhima-Karma Prabhu:
From a class on kirtana:
The mrdanga is a primary instrument in the sankirtana.
Whenever the question of instruments in kirtana came up, Srila Prabhupada was firm in insisting that mrdanga and karatalas were essential for kirtana. For some temporary preaching purposes, other instruments can be used, but whenever we present kirtana,mrdanga and karatalas should be the main instruments.
In India, among classical musicians, the mrdanga is considered a simple folk instrument.
The natya-sastra covers the art of performance and is a commentary by Bharata Muni on the section of the Sama Veda dealing with that topic.
Kirtana has musical aspects, but primarily it is a spiritual activity.
Srila Prabhupada defines rasa in two ways. One is relationship, such as the mother-child relationship Yasoda has with Krishna.
The ratio of the distance between the big head and the widest part of the drum and the distance between the small end and the widest part of the drum is the golden ratio (0.618).
The difference between a classical musician and a kirtaniya is the classical musician tries to please the audience and the kirtaniya tries to please the Krishna.
Rasa is expressed in terms of kriya or activities.
Before we even touch the mrdanga, we offer respect:
mrdanga- brahma – rupaya lavanya – rasa-madhuri
sahasra-guna samyuktam mrdangaya namo namah
[Unto the mrdanga, that supreme Brahman formed as a clay drum which is infused with the sweet mellows of graceful enchantment, and endowed with thousands of transcendental qualities, I bow down again and again.]
Just as Krishna is the ocean among bodies of water and Krishna is the sun among the luminaries, Krishna is mrdangaamong the drums.
The mrdanga mantra te, re, ke, ta is used to help develop rhythm.
Visakha [the intimate associate of Radha and Krishna] plays the mrdanga.
The example that we can learn from Srila Prabhupada’s mrdanga practice is that he went to a mrdanga guru in the tradition and he remained chaste to his guru, not inventing beats of his own.
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This verse reminds us of the fact that if the holy name of the Lord is chanted, despite many different discrepancies, the function is a complete success:
mantratas tantratas chidram
desha-kalarha-vastutah
sarvam karoti nishchidram
anusankirtanam tava
[Sukracarya, the spiritual master of the demons, said to Lord Vamana, the incarnation of Krishna, regarding sacrifice:] “There may be discrepancies in pronouncing the mantras and observing the regulative principles, and, moreover, there may be discrepancies in regard to time, place, person and paraphernalia. But when Your Lordship’s holy name is chanted, everything becomes faultless.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam8.23.16)
By the Sastric Advisory Committee
By Giriraj Swami
By Praghosa Dasa
By Sivarama Swami
By Gour Govinda Swami
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