If Arjuna being a kshatriya was anyway going to fight, why did Krishna speak the Gita?
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Answer Podcast


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Dasha Mula Tattva 2 – Scripture is the only way to know inconceivable Absolute Truth
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Friday, January 8th, 2016
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Friday, January 8th, 2016
St. John's, Newfoundland

Rocking/Walking

Sheeshan and I took to walking along the harbour's edge but just to get there you have a series of tight switch-backing to do, via residential streets. St. John's is a rocky place and its protected harbour is nestled in that rock.

If someone were to ask me, "Does the place rock?" I would answer with a forthcoming "yes," because of its friendly folks. Although the early people waiting at bus stops find our morning presence a fascination, no one hesitates to say "Good Morning!"

At the very crest of the rock dynamic of St. John's is the museum called "The Rooms." It was there, later in the morning, when I met in a casual cue, some of the attendees of last night's function. Amongst them was Terrance, who is serious about chanting on his beads. Toby is a yoga instructor whom I suggested to keep his guidance for men only. Since the world of yoga in the West has become largely a women's domain why not give the guys a break. And Heather I met last June. ‘Interested in making life simple’ is a motto she wishes to live by. "Why not?" I say.

Two more gatherings occurred. One was a meeting with volunteer staff of the ‘East Coast Trail,’ one of National Geographic's ten best adventure destination in the world. Jan and I plan on making a portion of it a pilgrimage experience in October, with enthusiastic trekkers. It's in the early planning stage. The second group to meet was the ‘Indian Youth Association’ at Memorial University, and other friends from June's visit. I'm so happy to see follow-up people from before. Either as a pilgrim, or as a novel Swami in Newfoundland, I find it a good sign that people here are either initially drawn or remember us to the point of connecting again. People here rock on the rocks.

May the Source be with you!

6 km

 

Thursday, January 7th, 2016
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Thursday, January 7th, 2016
St. John's, Newfoundland

The Newfie Chill

By the courtesy of our dear friend Jan Peters, I got settled in at one of those charming wood framed homes on Battery Rd. Overlooking the St. John's Harbour. Just after stepping into the cozy space with Jan and Sheeshan, a recently arrived Krishna devotee from Mauritius, I realized that I'm in Newfoundlandnow. It's like another planet, an actual huge island within the Atlantic all by itself.

"I have to slow down and simply chill because that's the spirit here. It's like old times," I thought. A visitor came who's going through life's challenges and I basically listened to what he needed to say.

It was the evening engagement at Memorial University where it was a Q & A session on the topic "The Walking Monk: ABCs of life as a Swami." Questions ranged from monastic life and walking, to meditation. The audience of close to 60 people had mild to provocative questions but one question got us laughing,

"Do you ever get grumpy?" Now Jan has known me for twenty years, so I deferred the question to her. "I've never seen it," she says. In all frankness I do at times feel grumpy but I masquerade it with a smile. I learned from my Dad and my guru that upbeat-ness is the way to be.

Basically I thrust the audience's attention to a Vedic sutra- message- such as "I am not this body, but a soul."

That message is powerful

May the Source be with you!

7 km

 

Wednesday, January 6th, 2016
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Wednesday, January 6th, 2016
Halifax, Nova Scotia

Breathing Space

The title of this entry says it all. We went to the ‘Breathing Space Yoga and Wellness Centre’ today where we did just that. On the ground floor of this new condo building you enter a spacious room with air a little stifling. Lights low and neutral colours for walls, decor is nil except for the bust of Buddha. We made ourselves home here for three hours.

Set-up means to lay out a table with Prabhupada's books for sale, chairs put out in the back, and typical yoga mats placed in the front to face a chair (for me) and more mats for the mrdanga (drum) player Chaitanya, harmonium played by Mukunda and karatalas chimed in by Etienne.

People trickled in and at the start of the presentation I began speaking from a chair, about the power of chanting. I didn't say much. I moved rapidly towards the mantras. Boy did they ever chant.

The key to realizing this is by choosing a simple melody. What also added to the success of the evening was the dance. This is where breathing came into play. It is obvious that some folks are out of step but it is those people that work harder than to those who pick it up so naturally.

Once again, we keep everything simple, even the steps. Those with highlander blood understand the value of dance whether they are a pro or a con when it comes to keeping in time. I would say the muscles used for smiling expanded as the minutes wore on, especially when it came to free-style by each and all, when they have their moment on the dance floor. This is the crescendo of the night before mingling with each other.

Feedback on all of this was super super positive. "The Breathing Space" on Cobourg Rd. was filled with bhakti as much as it was breath.

May the Source be with you!

4 km

 

Tuesday, January 5th, 2016
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Tuesday, January 5th, 2016
Fredericton, New Brunswick

By a Hydro Pole

Verinder and I drove by a hydro pole. He pointed out that perched on top there's an eagle's nest, but I questioned whether it belong to an osprey. Whatever the bird of prey may be, it is good to know that such creatures can survive in an industrial world that imposes and encroaches on a territory that should be shared.

There isn't a day that goes by that I don't contemplate how it would be good to go back to the basics, to a simpler and not necessarily primitive way of existence.

People coming together to partake in music and song is a basic practice known and executed by the ancients since time immemorial. At the ‘Enrichment and Counselling Service’ on Queen St., we came for a second visit, this time to speak about, and join in on the power of mantra meditation. Back in June I spoke of the glories of walking. On this day the presentation was about its companion--the mantra.

We only had an hour and it was remarkable how some local office people took their lunch break off to join in. I asked for feedback in one word responses and the messages were: "connected", "united", "present", "happy", and “peaceful". Some folks came into town from quite the ways to participate in the chanting.

Wouldn't it be nice if all lunch hours were like this?

A second round of chanting took place at the Norfolk Motel. Prabhir Sarkar, the proprietor, invited us to honour his mom's recent passing. It was more of a Hindu crowd that came to acknowledge the grace of chanting for the sending off of a dear soul to a greater world, where all is organic and untouched by the industrial component… where the eagles and osprey fly.

May the source be with you!

7 km

Monday, January 4th, 2016
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Monday, January 4th, 2016
Fredericton, New Brunswick

Getting Warm

We had worked up a sweat at the upstairs art gallery next to the shop, ‘Radical Edge’. Wade and a group of Krishna guys from Montrealbacked me in a presentation on the power of chanting. The greatest partner to chanting, of course, is dancing, and that’s what warmed up the group, consisting of us and some local people.

I would liken our style of dance to something that is quite folk-ish. It involves swaying to the left, and swaying to the right, then moving forward and back, and then turning around. When everyone keeps synchronized, then oneness is achieved. All the while that our bodies were in motion, the mantra is as well.

Hridaya Chaitanya did great at rhythms on the mridanga, and Etienne was on karatalas, hand cymbals. The rest of us only had to worry about the mouth moving along only with the body.

What a great warm up it was to start a year’s beginning.

But that was not all, Verinder, my host in Frederictonand I, braved the cold Arctic air that set in. We decided to trek home despite the 26 degree below Celsius with wind-chill factor after getting our warm up session. When I suggested to do the walk, he came on with a spontaneous, “Yes!” He told me he goes to the gym twice a week. I was trying to convince him that to trek every day, as a program, is far superior. To his delight, the trek built up heat inside his parka. I guess it was a revelation to him to know that you can be warm in the cold. Just dress warm, be warm, and think warm.

May the Source be with you!

10 km

a different perspective
→ everyday gita

The key to good photography is perspective. The key to excellent photography is having the ability to capture different perspectives of the same object. It's incredible how a different view of something that might be quite common place can offer us new insights.

I had an experience of this today whilst talking to a good friend. We were speaking about the topic of temporality when she said something quite astounding.

"I find comfort in the temporality of this world."

It invoked a lot of curiosity in me as for most of us, it is the very temporality of our lives that causes us great anxiety and fear. Whether it be death itself or the "mini-deaths" we experience in our day to day lives that manifest in the form of change (i.e. whether it be successes or failures), suffice it to say, impermanence is something that does not sit well with most of us.

And so, I asked her what specifically brought her comfort. Her answer was simple but profound.

When we understand that the world and everything in it is temporary, it has the capacity to take a lot of pressure off of us.

Let me elaborate. Relationships, whether personal or professional affect us greatly. The words and behaviours of others can wreck havoc on our ego and emotions. However, if we view those same experiences through this perspective of temporality, it can invoke greater peace within us. How so? Because we recognize that those words or behaviours have a limited shelf life and in due course come to the conclusion that defining our value and self-worth on something that can change and fluctuate so quickly is a bad investment.

We learn not to take ourselves (and our ego!) so seriously. We become more compassionate with ourselves and others. And for some, we can start taking risks. Whether it be volunteering to give a presentation (which we would have never dreamt of doing!) or learning how to compromise in a situation where we really want to do things our way, recognizing that everything is temporary truly can take the pressure off.

What would you be inspired to do if the pressure was taken off of you?

Astrology
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 05 October 2015, Melbourne, Australia, Srimad Bhagavatam 3.14.22)

zodiacIn the 11th canto of Srimad Bhagavatam, it says that astrology is relevant to that which takes birth because after all, astrology is about making a birth chart. And then it says that the soul never takes birth. This kind of gives us the final conclusion on astrology; it is not relevant to the soul. Therefore through astrology, one cannot actually determine the destiny of the soul but one can determine the destiny of the body, the destiny of the mind and one can determine destiny according to karma.

Yukta vairagya or using everything in Krishna’s service
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Hare KrishnaBy Haripada Dasa

Once during the rasa dance, when Radharani left the arena and Krishna went to seek Her out, one of the dear friends of Radharani addressed Krishna thus: "My dear Krishna, You have been very much obliging in serving the form of our Sri Radharani, and now You have left all the other gopis to search for Her. Please allow me to inquire how You want Her to treat You." This is an instance of feeling pride on account of exquisite beauty. Sometimes Radharani felt pride within Herself and said, "Although the cowherd boys prepare nice flower garlands for Krishna, when I present My garland to Him, He becomes struck with wonder and immediately accepts it and puts it on His heart." Similarly, in the Tenth Canto, Second Chapter, verse 33, of Srimad-Bhagavatam, Lord Brahma says, "My dear Madhusudana, persons who are pure devotees of Your Lordship actually feel Your ecstatic friendship, and as such they are never vanquished by enemies. They know they are always protected by You, and so they can matter-of-factly pass over the heads of their enemies without any care." In other words, one who has taken complete shelter under the lotus feet of the Lord is always proud of being able to conquer all enemies. Continue reading "Yukta vairagya or using everything in Krishna’s service
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Who are the leaders in Iskcon?
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By Kesava Krsna dasa

Let’s face it; nobody in this material world likes to be bossed around. There is one experimental reality show called ‘Survivor’ in which contestants get stranded in some remote place far removed from modern civilization. Working in tribes, the members have to compete and cooperate at the same time. There is a process of elimination as fellow tribe members vote off those deemed as threats to their ambition to win the ultimate million dollar prize.

Those individuals, who display natural leadership traits and get things done around the camp, are usually the ones to get voted out ‘ people do not being bossed around. The canny ones however, keep low profiles; yet manipulate things to their advantage and improve their chances of winning.

This scene is quite far removed again from how things play out in the devotee community, yet Iskcon needs leaders. But how to choose them based upon what criterion has often been a thorny issue. Are we looking at spiritual advancement? Are we demanding expertise and administrative abilities? Do we consider those high in the popularity stakes? How about those with strong personality types? Or even those who are together and balanced and so on.

If we look back at our disciplic succession we will find unlikely leaders and acaryas who may not fit our modern day portrayal of leadership as required by Iskcon. Our largely vaidhi and sadhana based lifestyle would probably not accommodate them.

If we take Srila Gaura Kishora Dasa Babaji Maharaja for instance, would he fit in comfortably into one of our temples as a leader? He isn’t just a leader, but an acarya recognizable by those possessed of pure spiritual vision. Yet his penchant for seclusion, constant chanting and avadhuta behavior may not endear him very much to those who see with external vision. In fact, hardly anyone would recognize his true worth, and his apparently unproductive contribution to the temple may result in his sadly being asked to leave the temple.

His leadership is borne of sheer purity and renunciation, and he performed spiritual life in his siddha-deha in tune to the asta-kaliya times of the day. He wasn’t a coordinator or anything like that, but his command would be sacrosanct to Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur who coordinated and organized thousands of disciples.

From the above example we can see that being a leader is not all about organizing, coordinating and administrative work. Needless to say, those who are vaisnavas are above all other designations. If a sannyasa or brahmana is a leader of the various orders of life, this role is fulfilled more by exemplary behavior, giving wise counsel, advising, teaching and so on.

When the sannyasa and brahminically minded devotees engage in affairs of management more suited for a ksatriya administrative type, even though vaisnavas can bypass the varna and asrama roles, it does not bode well for any prospect of implementing varnasrama-dharma within Iskcon. We either stick with what we are doing now, or forget about varnasrama talk for a couple more decades.

It usually happens if someone excels in a particular service, they become party leaders or departmental heads. Then we get some individuals who are competent or educated, will also be given a chance to manage. Then the vexing question must arise, does the position being held equal the spiritual advancement of the devotee? We can turn the question around and ask, does one have the spiritual qualifications for a certain managerial or important position?

The questions are raised because in many cases there seems to be a fixation on awarding outward results with responsibility, as opposed to apparent meager results shown by more inward brahminical devotees. Yet both types are leadership material in their own rights. Then we could have a scenario where a less spiritually qualified person is dictating to a more spiritually qualified devotee under his care, which has happened before.

So really there are two types of leaders under discussion, and they are not always being occupied in the right places. The GBC can be likened to a collective king or monarchy, but we do not have an advisory council for this body. Do we need one?

Not too long ago there were times when Srila Prabhupada countered and overruled certain policies endorsed by the then GBC. Was he not playing the sagely advisory role then, even though it was his solemn right to do so? In other words, the sannyasis and brahminical devotees who are presently managing the GBC affairs which could be done by trained sober ksatriya devotees can find their rightful place in an advisory council for the GBC.

This is not to say the GBC loses its power. It still retains the ultimate managerial authority. In politics the general politicians run the country. But they do not decide on every single bit of legislation that passes before them. The important ones are passed on to the upper chamber, or upper house (House of Lords) for the wise experienced men to deliberate and pass judgment. It goes back to parliament, or in Iskcon’s case, the GBC, where it is passed into law or whatever. By the way, this British system has endured for centuries, so something must be right.

Such a system in Iskcon will provide equitable employment for the brahmanas and sannyasis in the upper house of the advisory sagely committee, and the naturally gifted ksatriya devotees to run the GBC. Should this ever happen it will kick start the implementation of varnasrama-dharma at it would have started from the top.

There has been talk of a leadership academy to help train future leaders in Iskcon. While nothing can compensate for real ‘tread of the mill’ training learnt through the local temples with a little outside ‘pundit’ management know-how, nothing can beat following the core principles set by Srila Prabhupada. We want the right devotees to be in the right places.

If any insinuation of exclusivity is attached to the academy it will brew resentment and other unwanted feelings. In the military and corporate world the officers and management have their own canteens, bathrooms and other amenities separate from the gentry. We cannot emulate their ways.

While doing service in management, if it is taxing enough to interfere with basic hearing and chanting, we cannot always plead for Srila Prabhupada’s example of managing Iskcon and doing many other things too. He was after all a self realized soul. For him, managing or living in a grass hut were the same, his equilibrium stayed intact. For a Sadhaka busily engaged in management while trying to be self-realized, can be a slower way if the basics are compromised.

The devotees within Iskcon try to develop humility and glorify other devotees. This very liberal behavior can empower a leader among us who must have his senses under control. The humility of the devotees can cause a leader to abuse his position. It should go without saying that choosing the right devotees for leadership positions is a serious duty.

The ideal blend of being together and organized, and spiritually serious should put one up for candidature. It may be difficult to detect unwanted motivation in a leader until some unpleasant behavior is exposed. But then, if it comes to choosing between someone who wants to be a leader and someone who doesn’t, would it not be better to go for the reluctant leader?

Ys, Kesava Krsna dasa.

Cures That Work – Devotee Testimonials
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Dear fellow Vaishnavas,

Throughout the years we have all sought natural cures for many of the illnesses we have had. In doing so, at times we have met with great difficulty trying to decipher which of the cures would actually be effective, often spending an undue amount of time in research or experimentation, even failing in the end. With the blessings of HH Prahladananda Swami, ISKCON’s Minister of Health, we are beginning a website called “Cures That Work.” It will consist of personal testimonials from devotees who have been successful in treating their illnesses or others’ effectively with natural remedies. If you or an acquaintance from any walk of life would like to submit an account, we encourage you to do so. Please include as many details as possible. Upon acceptance, your submission will be posted on the site as soon as we are up and running, which we hope will be by the end of January. The testimonials should be in English and include your name and also permission for further contact if you are agreeable to being reached by those who seek more information.

After this beginning phase gets established, we are considering expanding the website to provide additional resources, so we welcome any ideas you might have. Bhagavan das (GdG) is our project manager, and he will be receiving all testimonials and suggestions. He can be reached at bhagavandas.gdg@gmail.com.

We are praying that the devotees will be benefited by this undertaking.

Yours in Srila Prabhupada’s service,

Gunagrahi das Goswami

Preaching in Bangalore (Album with photos) Srila Prabhupada:…
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Preaching in Bangalore (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Others, who are not devotees, may think, “How can people devote so much time simply to talks of God?” The chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra is simply the repetition of three words, Hare, Krishna, Rama, but still devotees can go on chanting this Hare Krishna mantra twenty-four hours a day without feeling fatigued. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 4.13.1Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/SjV4v7

January 10. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations. By…
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January 10. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
By Satsvarupa dasa Goswami.
Our remembrance of Srila Prabhupada is more than nostalgia for a wonderful person who was here, but who is now gone. Remembering Prabhupada is the cutting edge of our life at every moment.
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura said that when one forgets his guru, then all one thinks of is, “I run in a hurry for my bath. I become busy for preventing a cold. I run after other occupations different from the service of Sri Gurudeva.”
How do I remember Prabhupada? First of all, I remember that there was (and is) such a person as Prabhupada. Descartes said, “I think, therefore I am.” That was his bottom line of truth. Our bottom line is, “I remember Prabhupada, therefore I am.” I am now in spiritual life because my spiritual master delivered me from darkness. I do not forget that. I remember him and follow him. Basic remembrance of Prabhupada refers to the promises we made him at our initiation – the four rules and sixteen rounds and other obligations. We aspire to be Krishna conscious and to read Bhagavad-gita and his other books. We aspire to serve among his devotees.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=4

12,500 Gitas Distributed at 50th Anniversary Gala Event in Ahmedabad
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Supporters and well-wishers of ISKCON who attended a 50th Anniversary gala event in Ahmedabad sponsored over 12,500 Bhagavad-gitas as part of the December marathon in India. Devotees at the Ahmedabad temple had organized an event to celebrate Gita Jayanti at Regenta Hotel, which was attended by over 200 business leaders. The event was hosted by Rajesh Karia, owner of Regenta Hotel.

New E-Book by Caitanya Charan: The Eye to See the I
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The new book by Chaitanya Charan Das features 121 reflections on the Bhagavad-gita that make its insights appreciable in brief, relishable nuggets of wisdom. The book published in hard copy on Janmashtami 2015 is already nearing the end of its first print run and will go for the second print soon. Recently released on kindle, it is now available free on January 10th. 

Gita 08.16 – The world is like a jail or hospital – returning to it is undesirable
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Gita verse-by-verse study Podcast


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Bhakti Charu Swami visits Surat
Bhakti Charu Swami

His Holiness Bhakti Charu Maharaj visited Surat on 3rd and 4th of January 2016. HH Bhakti Prema Swami Maharaja and a group of devotees from Ujjain accompanied Maharaj. ISKCON Surat yatra welcomed Maharaj at Sri Sri Radha Damodar temple, where Maharaja delivered the Sunday feast lecture. Maharaj first sang the song “Krishna Jinaka Naam” and explained […]

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Hacha Puri and the Peace Formula! Govinda Swami: Saci,…
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Hacha Puri and the Peace Formula!
Govinda Swami: Saci, Vrindavan Kirtan, and I arrived in Moscow yesterday afternoon.
On a chilly Moscow afternoon we were warmly received by Radha Raman Giridhari, Sri Rupa Manjari, Sarasvati, and Master Baladev.
We then travelled from west Moscow to south to the home of Nandi Mukhi and Radha Preyan to spend the night. They are Georgian devotees that date back to the early, early days of ISKCON during the Soviet Union.
They are both from well-to-do families during Soviet days and their choice of Krishna consciousness was not the most pleasant thing for their folks to digest.
Consequently they spent years on the run. Preaching, running, preaching, running, and dodging the KGB at every step.
Radha Preyan was once captured and put in a KGB prison. One day an opportune moment came and he jumped out of a second story window and never stopped running.
One evening last summer Vrindavan Kirtan and I sat with Nandi Mukhi and Radha Preyan completely enrapt in hearing their ecstatic preaching stories.
So, though I had requested our standard diet of steamed veggies, soup, and salad … when we arrived we were treated with Georgian hospitality to a wonderful feast of Georgian cuisine.
We ate delicious things, the names of which I cannot even pronounce, and, they were all accompanied with the king of Georgian mineral waters Borjomi.
Being the hooligan that I am I kept requesting them to bring Georgian wine, and Radha Raman Giridhari would say the funny exotic names of the Georgian wines he had drank in his youth.
But, the undisputed king of all of the preparations was the “Hacha-Puri.”
This is a delicious bread, baked with huge amounts of white cheese till the cheese browns on top, served straight from the oven.
It is so delicious I won’t even attempt to use more words to describe.
For dessert there were a few cakes and an intriguing Georgian pudding type preparation made from boiled sweet red grape juice.
Saci Suta Das passed out, Vrindavan Kirtan Das kept slightly moaning and rubbing his belly, and I was carried upstairs and put to sleep by Gopijanavallabha Das.
Everywhere we travel the devotees are always so gracious, hospitable, and filled with love.
Just in the past 18 days we have been overwhelmed with the kindness of the Texas Krishna’s, Haridasa .. the Texi-Chino wonder devotee, the Singh clan in Tennessee, our beautiful gracious and cultured devotees in Dubai … and now back to Mother Russia.
This country is a wonderland.
I remember when I was a kid I was programmed to think that all Russians had horns on their heads and a long spiked tail.
Well, when I came here I was humoured to learn that they were programmed the same way about us
But really, the folks who live here are some of the most open and big hearted people that I have ever met. And, the culture of hospitality is beyond belief.
Well, maybe we should make an arrangement for the big powerful people at the top of the world to get together and have a few Hacha Puri at Radha Preyan’s home .. in the association of vaisnavas.
I bet if they did that it would work wonders to help them see one another without the “horns on the heads and spiked tails.”
Well, we are out the door at 7 AM to Kazan, Tatarstan for another ocean of Russian vaisnava graciousness and hospitality !!
Hare Krishna !!

Madhava Gosh Das (1949-2016)
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F8692AF5-074B-44F8-9B26-215219F07C20

Madhava Gosh Dasa, born October 25th, 1949, left his body peacefully at his home in New Vrindaban, WV, on January 2nd, 2016, at the age of 66.

Madhava Gosh was a pioneer New Vrindaban inhabitant, having lived in the dhama since 1973. Inspired by the instructions of his spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, he was a lifelong activist of local agriculture and cow protection and implemented an endowment fund to care for the cows at New Vrindaban.

Serving as one of the farm hands at New Vrindaban since the early days, Madhava Gosh spent decades of his life gardening and working on simple living projects.

When asked a month before he passed away what he felt was his best accomplishment he said, “Planting the trees, because the fruits are not enjoyed by the planter, but by those to come in the future. And these trees will outlive most of us.”

Madhava Gosh had a 10 year plan to plant 1,000 fruit and nut trees in the New Vrindaban dhama area, as part of the program for sustaining the Deities and devotees in the future, to provide perineal “crops” to produce food, year after year after year. Madhava Gosh planted with an assistant well over 350 trees since 2010. 150 trees were planted by householders living in New Vrindaban who take care of the trees. There are plans to resume this project in 2017.

Back in May 2006, Madhava Gosh had a liver transplant, due to his organ failing. His son Marken donated half of his own liver to sustain his father. Madhava Gosh did lots of service with his son’s gift and the “extra’ time.

The past two years Madhava Gosh has been struggling with post-transplant liver degeneration and other side effects. Both his kidneys failed and he had been on dialysis 3 times a week for over a year. With all the physical complications he was dealing with, he became weaker and weaker. He also came to understand that his lungs were already beginning to slowly deteriorate and filling with liquid.

Understanding that he was slowly dying and not wanting to be a burden on those caring for him, Madhava Gosh chose to go off dialysis on December 24th, 2015.

The week before his departure, Madhava Gosh’s daughter, Vraja, looked after his physical care. Many community members as well as some local neighbors visited Madhava Gosh. Devotees came and shared old pastimes and laughed with Madhava Gosh and expressed their hearts. They played instruments and sang and read Krishna book to Madhava Gosh. Srila Prabhupada’s singing was played non-stop for the last week.

Then on January 2nd, it seemed as if Krsna took direct control of all the events that followed, as everything seemed to be perfectly coordinated. The sun shined through the window. Three devotees, including Vraja, sat peacefully chanting by Gosh’s bedside while a recording of Srila Prabhupada and the Hare Krsna Temple album played in the background. That morning the samsara prayers were sung and then the Govindam prayers and some of the Brahma Samhita. Srila Prabhupada’s garland had been placed at Madhava Gosh’s head.

His daughter swabbed fresh Tulasi leaves from Sri Sri Radha Vrindavan Chandra’s lotus feet, sprinkled in the Ganges water into Madhava Gosh’s mouth. Madhava Gosh, who had not moved for 24 hours, suddenly lurched his right arm forward, and his right hand, which was inside his japa bag, grabbed his japa beads tightly. Gosh had a tear in his eye, took a labored breath. His daughter Vraja said, “It is OK, you can leave” and his next breath was his last. He left his body at 11:23 am, January 2, 2016. Srila Prabhupada’s garland was moved to encircle his face and neck. Shortly after his glorious passing, Srila Prabhupada was singing the Nrisimhadeva prayers of protection in the background. 

Madhava Gosh is survived by his wife of 41 years, Vidya Dasi; five children, Manjari, Madhu, Vraja, Marken & Tulasi; three grandchildren, Mary, Gracie & Sydney; and many friends.

Those wishing to do something in honor of Madhava Gosh could plant a fruit, nut or flowering tree or contact ECO-Vrindaban at www.facebook/ECOVrindaban, which specifically funds the projects for the cows and garden care at New Vrindaban.

The community members are grateful that Madhava Gosh generously gave his time and energy to develop, maintain and preserve this New Vrindaban project. “Thank you Madhava Gosh Prabhu, your spirit will live on through the fruits of your lifelong service contributions.”