Talk to students at Bhaktivedanta Academy, Alachua
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Appreciating scripture’s perennial relevance
What does beating the mind with broom and shoe mean?
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How do we reconcile the mind’s coming from goodness with goodness giving rise to knowledge?
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How can we prevent the mind from obsessing over negative things that shouldn’t happen?
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How can we spiritualize the willing function of the mind?
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Tuesday, September 15th, 2015
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Tuesday, September 15th, 2015
Toronto , Ontario
Following the Salmon
Karuna, one of our resident monks, and I had planned this half-crazed but necessary warm-up trek for the upcoming marathon fromBoston Don River , Karuna and I embarked on a river adventure in the city.
We began as the sun moved up from hiding at 6:45am and followed theDon River which at first runs like a straight canal. Before long, somewhere close to the Danforth Bridge
The adventure took us through poison ivy patches, thorny brush (indeed one branch tore into my sleeve), and ducked under a fallen old tree which scraped skin off the tip of my bald head. More pleasantly, we napped at a sandy beach along the river. Apple trees were in abundance - wild, organic, and a wide gamut of tastes. That became our only meal over the 7 1/2 hour trek but for a few intensely powerful wild grapes.
I was quite amazed by the awesome number of bicycle commuters on the southern end of the Don. Of course, you would not be surprised to find some element of the homeless. One fellow had his set-up under a solid bridge, at the end of one of those disappearing trails where it turns into mean forest. Yes, we had to surrender to walking some residential areas. The most intriguing aspect of our foot travel along the Don was seeing the salmon splash their way over rocks for their spawning. They go upstream, splatter, make their leap, and then squiggle their way through more water until they reach their next hurdle. It was totally fascinating.
One more item of the day that sticks out as endearing was the Portuguese road construction fellow who, upon seeing two salmon-coloured monks come along, allowed us preferential entrance onto a barricaded bridge when all other pedestrians were detoured. "Thanks fella! Hare Krishna!"
May the Source be with you!
Following the Salmon
Karuna, one of our resident monks, and I had planned this half-crazed but necessary warm-up trek for the upcoming marathon from
We began as the sun moved up from hiding at 6:45am and followed the
The adventure took us through poison ivy patches, thorny brush (indeed one branch tore into my sleeve), and ducked under a fallen old tree which scraped skin off the tip of my bald head. More pleasantly, we napped at a sandy beach along the river. Apple trees were in abundance - wild, organic, and a wide gamut of tastes. That became our only meal over the 7 1/2 hour trek but for a few intensely powerful wild grapes.
I was quite amazed by the awesome number of bicycle commuters on the southern end of the Don. Of course, you would not be surprised to find some element of the homeless. One fellow had his set-up under a solid bridge, at the end of one of those disappearing trails where it turns into mean forest. Yes, we had to surrender to walking some residential areas. The most intriguing aspect of our foot travel along the Don was seeing the salmon splash their way over rocks for their spawning. They go upstream, splatter, make their leap, and then squiggle their way through more water until they reach their next hurdle. It was totally fascinating.
One more item of the day that sticks out as endearing was the Portuguese road construction fellow who, upon seeing two salmon-coloured monks come along, allowed us preferential entrance onto a barricaded bridge when all other pedestrians were detoured. "Thanks fella! Hare Krishna!"
May the Source be with you!
30 km
MIND acronym 2 – Mind imagines pleasure
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Program at New Ramana Reti temple, Alachua
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Monday, September 14th, 2015
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Monday, September 14th, 2015
Toronto , Ontario
May the Source be with you!
5 km
Make Time to Walk
Now is not the time for me to make up excuses for lack of walking. I flew from Houston
How do I use precious time in one of my days? To answer that, I'll say that as an irregular pattern, when I stay grounded for a few days in one location, it can look something like this:
3:30 am Rise & shower
3:45 am Chant on japa beads
4:30 am Chant to guru and Krishna
7:00 am Greeting of the deity
7:30 am Teach from Bhagavatam (or be a student)
8:30 am Plan travel, catch up on e-mails
9:30 am Catch up on lost rest
10:30 am Shower & more office work, counselling in person or on the phone
12:00 noon Gayatri mantraand lunch
12:30 pm More of the above plus cleaning, planning, working on drama scripts & productions, dealing with people, may include public kirtan
6:00 pm Dinner
6:30 pm Class or walk for as long as I can, write, read, and sometimes drama practice
11:00 pm Rest
Now today, I caught Ravi who frequents our temple and I asked him to be my walking partner for next to an hour or so. What I admire about him is that although his residence is 1 1/2 kilometres from our temple ashram he walks there all the time. He does not drive and will not buy a car. Transportation is by city transit or by walking. He and I took to walking around the Annex area. It made my day complete.
5 km
Sunday, September 13th, 2015
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Sunday, September 13th, 2015
Houston , Texas
May the Source be with you!
Contributions
Three speakers presented their views on the contribution made by the founder and teacher of the Hare Krishna Movement, 50 years since its seedling stage. From the perspective of one of our senior monks, Romapada Swami, the achievements our teacher, Srila Prabhupada, contributed to the world are:
1) Promoting the loving relation with a personal God
2) Establishing a leadership of brahmins to guide a spiritual community.
Then a woman from the medical profession, Rambhoru, coming from the angle of good health expressed:
3) A preventative formula for the physical and mental welfare of
the world.
To clarify this point she said that people benefit merely from following the formula of the four regulative principles: a) no meat eating, b) no drugs or liquor, c) no gambling, and d) no whimsical or casual sex. She also credited him for;
4) Creating an alternative family, a community, ‘something bigger
than yourself’.
She also briefly added that here is the person who spearheaded:
5) Indian food, particularly prasadam.
and introduced:
6) Indian clothes to the west.
And finally, a Syrian born Krishna monk, Bhakti Sundar Swami, expressed his appreciation for our teacher’s contributions for:
7) Introducing the culture of chanting.
Furthermore, the swami mentioned:
8) The promotion of non-violence or the protection of animals.
And as I recorded it:
9) Prabhupada’s insertion into the world at large - transcendental
literature. He compiled Vedic wisdom in such volumes as
never seen before. He became the most prolific proponent of
Vedic knowledge in his time.
You could feel that the presentation was well received by all and it enhanced the love and respect for our teacher, Srila Prabhupada. From there on, we all danced and chanted up a storm.
In my notes for the day I wrote from Rambhoru’s talk, “The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world”. The source is poet William Ross Wallace and it means what it says, “The one raising the child, influences the child.” In fact, I put a plug in over the microphone saying that we need to look at the next 50 years and put more attention to strong relations and family values.
3 km
Saturday, September 12th, 2015
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Saturday, September 12th, 2015
Houston , Texas
Days Short and Long
Days are shortening in our northern hemisphere. It can be seen when out in the streets or in the countryside. I’m in the suburbs and the sun peeks out before 7 AM. In the dark, during my walk, I catch the sound of squeaky voices - their source I do not know. Little frogs perhaps? The Rottweiler, who bears a collar, is making his rounds sniffing and searching. I couldn’t understand why he’s roaming about so freely, almost like a stray dog.
A possum was doing much the same, although no collar. This guy is really free. I couldn’t scare him, neither with my footsteps nor even with my towering size. No intimidation from his side whatsoever.
I’m the only one on the street, or sidewalk shall we say, but I can never feel alone. I have this mantra with me. I then enter the temple room. Dozens of pilgrims are chanting with the use of their meditational beads. It is a beautiful devotional mood.
Then, after a great presentation by Romapada Swami, Bhakti Sundara Swami, and Vaisesika, I dove into our drama practice with two more run-throughs before actors donned costumes and makeup. Then came the performance. I announced, “Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome, ‘Gita: Concise’". The Gauranga Hall was full. The applause and its volume demonstrated eagerness. The show had begun. The lights went on. The character, Ganesh, sticks his elephantine head out of the curtain every which way. The curtain drew open. The magical message of the Gita was conveyed artfully over the next 25 minutes. The applause exploded.
It was all possible to assemble 'Gita: Concise' in 24 hours with the use of recorded voiceover. By the mercy of our guru, Srila Prabhupada, the show became a reality. The day was long.
May the Source be with you!
4 km
Friday, September 11th, 2015
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Friday, September 11th, 2015
Houston , Texas
U R Greeted
You are greeted by locals and by guests with the use of typical Vaishnava jargon. “Hare Krishna!” is a commonly used salutation. “Haribol!” which literally means “Say the name, Hari (God)!” is also popular. “Krishne Matir Astu” is used by those more familiar with the contents of the Krishna conscious literature we read (“May Krishna be with you” is a good enough translation for that).
How about in English? Do Hare Krishnas ever use English words to say hello? Well, the word “Hello” or “Hi” is super rare in addressing each other.
Why not try, “How are you?” and you might get something in the form of an answer like, “Fine, now that I’m seeing you.” This is how I was greeted by Vaisesika, one of the honored guests at the event that will be held in Houston
The site of the 50th anniversary of our guru, Srila Prabhupada, coming to the west is on 34th Street Houston US ’s Midwest from as far north as Chicago Houston
My crew is flying in from Florida , Montreal , and Toronto St. Louis and Chicago
We only had today to theatrically pull it all together. I asked the actors/dancers to review "Gita: Concise" from Facebook beforehand. This review offered some preparedness for tomorrow’s performance. Yes, we had only 24 hours to put together this epic piece of learning. It will take a miracle, at least some faith.
"Faith", our guru said, "is trust in something sublime".
May the Source be with you!
0 km
Donor Spotlight: Jaysri Radhe (Dr. Jayshri Chasmawala)
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Even after my dear friend and neighbor, Jaysri Radhe, mentioned her plans to give a donation to TKG Academy on Janmastami, I wasn’t prepared for what was coming. When she handed me the envelope, a big surprise was in store: $2900. And that is not all! She also informed me of her joining our school’s monthly donor program. Her generosity deeply touched my heart and I wanted to share her story.
Jaysri Chasmawala’s family is from India. She was born in Boston, and growing up she remembers her father as a devout practitioner of the Ramanuja Sampradaya who provided her first spiritual inspiration. (Later in life, two weeks before leaving his body, he accepted initiation from H.H. Giriraj Swami). As children they often frequented ISKCON temples. Later on, as school demands increased, the visits to the temple became less regular, although Jaysri’s spiritual quest continued. She eventually found her heart’s yearning satisfied back at the Krsna temples she knew from her earlier childhood, and by her senior year in high-school, she and her family renewed their visits.
While in College in Austin, TX, the struggle was hard, but devotees continuously reached out to her, inviting her to their programs. After repeated turn-downs and while visiting the family in Fort Worth for a holiday, she finally made it to a program at the Dallas temple. There she – literally – ran into who was to become her spiritual master, Srila Tamal Krishna Goswami Maharaja. His lecture touched the core of her heart; his talk was relevant and helped solidify her attachment to Krsna. She then read – almost “devoured” – his book Yoga for the 21st Century and felt inspired with a new sense of dedication to her spiritual path. She picked up her chanting and a year later, in the summer of 1996, on Bhima (Nirjala) Ekadasi, she received her first initiation.
When she then went onto MED school in Fort Worth, her spiritual master, Srila Tamal Krishna Goswami, offered much encouragement. He especially appreciated her preventative approach to health, which was and still is the focus of her practice. She fondly remembers the many opportunities she got to serve him his meals. On one particular occasion, when she assisted another doctor with preparing and serving a meal, Srila Tamal Krishna Goswamai complained about the quality of the food and jokingly made a statement that “Doctors can’t cook”. When he asked her if she could cook well and she said she couldn’t, he teased: “Become a doctor then!”
She fondly recalls many loving exchanges and funny incidents. He would take the time to personally check on her and show his fatherly affection. His genuine care for her touched her deeply.
In 2007, with the goal of being close to the devotee community, Jaysri established her private clinic in the Lakewood neighborhood, just a few minutes’ drive from Sri Sri Radha Kalachandji’s Temple. Eventually, she took the Integrative Holistic Board Exam and decided to further focus her practice on natural methods and started seeing patients at a devotee’s local Yoga Studio. She openly promotes a healthy lifestyle to all she encounter, which includes plant-based diet and meditation. She often encourages her patients to pick up the Hare Krsna mantra chanting as a recommended form of personal meditation.
She received second initiation from His Holiness Giriraj Swami Maharaja in 2011 and immediately began her deity services. She then moved to the immediate temple neighborhood. On several days a week, Jaysri dresses the deities. When asked which she loves the most, she answers with a smile: “I love Them all! I can’t fathom ever giving up my service to any of Them! No matter what else is going on, when I’m on the altar, nothing else matters. It’s so wonderful.”
Why did she decide to donate to TKG Academy? “One thing that really stands out to me is that TKG Academy students seem more intelligent and self-confident than other children that I meet. I attribute that to the emphasis on creativity and arts as much as the academic curriculum. Since Kirtan is a big part of our philosophy, the children are taught to participate in and lead Kirtans early and often. Whether it is singing or playing musical instruments, they have a wonderful outlet to engage their creative side. Studies show that creativity and music increase focus, clarity and positively shape developing minds. Children are more ready to delve into their studies and have better retention. While most schools cut back on music and art programs or de-emphasize their importance, TKG Academy highlights those as important as the academics. This kind of creative outlet also increases self-confidence.
I decided to donate to the school because I think that what TKG Academy is doing is great. The more individualized curriculums for the students and the small teacher to student ratio are important in shaping the minds of future generations. I do not plan on having children of my own and donating to this institution is my way of contributing to future Krishna devotees. And if for some reason I do have a child, well, then I know where I want to send him/her.”
Jayshri Chasmawala, D.O., is a Board Certified Family Practice and Integrative Holistic Medicine physician with Pure Health Family Practice in the East Dallas community. She provides excellent quality healthcare in a warm, loving, and compassionate environment. She uses a holistic approach focusing on wellness and prevention while educating patients on health as well as smart lifestyle choices. She emphasizes the crucial role nutrition plays in health. Dr. Chasmawala is also the Medical Director at MedPost Urgent Care. She oversees patient care in an urgent care environment and works there a few days a week.
Dr. Chasmawala’s educational background includes a 2002 Doctor of Osteopathy from the University of North Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine. In 2004 she received her Masters in Public Health from UNT’s School of Public Health where her research focused on eating disorders. She completed her residency at Houston’s Christus St. Joseph Family Practice Residency Program in 2005. She recently achieved board certification in Integrative Holistic Medicine. Her dual educational background, continuing medical education endeavors and interest in weight management complement her goal to properly address her patients’ needs of all ages. She is fluent in Spanish, Hindi, and Gujarati.
Dr. Chasmawala is from a loving family, which includes her parents, a sister and two brothers. The family has resided in Fort Worth, Texas since 1986. She lives in Dallas, enjoys the wealth of activities available, and is still close to her family. She lives what she “preaches” regarding nutrition and exercise. She is an exercise enthusiast and in the past has participated in several half-marathons and a sprint triathlon among other events. She follows a vegetarian/ vegan lifestyle with a focus on whole food plant based nutrition.
HH Jayapataka Swami completed his 45 years of accepting…
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HH Jayapataka Swami completed his 45 years of accepting sannyasa. In fact, he’s the longest standing sannyasi in Iskcon. On the auspicious day of Radhastami in the age of 21 ISKCON Founder-acharya His Divine Grace Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada blessed him with the life of renunciation.
Fight on the strength of love
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 04 April 2010, Durban, South Africa, Lecture)
As devotees, we are people with mixed feelings. We have feelings of attraction towards Krsna and we have feelings of attraction towards the material energy. So, every devotee has within himself a dilemma. Therefore, sometimes, spiritual life is described to be a war on maya, in other words, a fight with ourselves. It is not so easy to fight this fight but when you fight this fight on the strength on knowledge, on the strength of deeper understanding of the long-term benefits of following spiritual principles, then this gives some relief but still, it is difficult because on the basis of knowledge, how long can you fight!? Ultimately, we have to fight on the strength of love. We must love our spiritual activities. If we love Krsna consciousness, then we will never be defeated!
Hare Krishna! Offer it Up!
Ananda Vrindavana Devi Dasi: I…
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Hare Krishna! Offer it Up!
Ananda Vrindavana Devi Dasi: I learned how to offer at a young age. When I didn’t want to carry the freshly ironed clothes upstairs my mother would cheerfully say, “Offer it up!”. There was no choice about having to do it but she was suggesting where I put my mind in the process. She was teaching me to offer this small activity to God. Those three words stayed with me, and when I was later introduced to Krishna consciousness, the same concept from my childhood appeared to me in Krishna’s teachings. What does it mean to offer? With the clothing, it meant that I did something I didn’t want to do for someone else. I turned this unwelcome activity into a gesture of goodwill. I took the time that I’d rather be doing something else, and gave it away or offered it up.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20017
On our way to Budapest
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Danavir dasa asks whether other ages have a presiding deity as this age has Kali.
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Kirtan party in the temple of Copenhagen (Album with…
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Kirtan party in the temple of Copenhagen (Album with photos)
Saturday 19 September.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/zGNrJq
Hare Krishna devotees back to Croome Court for a day (Album with…
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Hare Krishna devotees back to Croome Court for a day (Album with photos)
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness bought Croome Court in 1979 when famous devotee, George Harrison, reputedly released funds for the purchase to use the Grade I listed mansion as their headquarters. After stamping their own unique mark on the house, which can be seen in the Dining Room decoration scheme over the weekend, they chose to relocate in Watford at Bhaktivedanta Manor which was also bought for them by the world-famous Beatles lead guitarist.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/rNRgQJ
Hare Krishna! Srila Jiva Gosvami’s Disappearance
Gour Govinda…
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Hare Krishna! Srila Jiva Gosvami’s Disappearance
Gour Govinda Swami: “A Vaisnava does not take birth under the jurisdiction of karmic law. His birth and disappearance are transcendental. The wise have declared that the servants of Visnu are eternally engaged in the liberated service of the Lord and hence are free from the laws of material nature.” (Padma Purana, quoted in the Hari-bhakti-vilasa, 10.113) Srila Jiva Gosvami was the youngest but most prolific writer among the Gosvamis. He wrote an astounding half million Sanskrit verses (about 25 books). When Srila Jiva Gosvami left this world many said that no one like him would ever appear on the planet again.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20013
Hare Krishna! Toronto’s Hare Krishna Temple: Radhastami…
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Hare Krishna! Toronto’s Hare Krishna Temple: Radhastami Celebrations Captivate Devotees’ Hearts!
On Monday, September, 21st the Toronto Hare Krishna Temple celebrated Radhastami which is the appearance day of Srimati Radharani. Radharani is the female counterpart of Lord Krishna, and She is the embodiment of feminity in nature. In a countless number of temples around the globe, devotees gathered to celebrate this auspicious day and wish Radharani a very happy birthday. The Toronto Hare Krishna temple also took part in the celebrations with guests from all over the world, including the US.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20007
Srila Prabhupada: “Yes, she cooks for me, and all I do is…
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Srila Prabhupada: “Yes, she cooks for me, and all I do is criticize her. But she would slit her throat for me, and I would do the same for her.”
Malati: When we first arrived in Mayapur, it was the days of the huts with the thatched roofs, the water pump, and the mud everywhere. Srila Prabhupada was staying in the brick hut. My husband, Shyamasundar, was his secretary, and I was his cook. I had always wanted to be his cook, and Krishna had rewarded me. But in Mayapur I was faced with not only service of guru, but service of husband, service of daughter, and trying to maintain my sanity in the situation. Materially it was impossible. There was no facility. I was living in a tent. I had two buckets of water to cook with and the servant would come every day and grab one of the buckets before the meal ended to heat water for Prabhupada’s bath. Each day I had to confront the treasurer, whose duty it was to not give money, and I would usually have a royal argument with him concerning funds for Srila Prabhupada’s bhoga. Then, while going to buy the bhoga, I would have an argument concerning money with the riksha-wala, with the boatman, with the vegetable walas, because they all expected ten times the proper amount from a white person. I had to fight with everybody I dealt with. To double my anxiety, which was already at peak level, Prabhupada’s servant would come and take away the stove just before lunch. On top of that, every day I was thinking, “How can I please Srila Prabhupada?” I really wanted to cook perfectly for him. I would think about it all day. Even when I wasn’t cooking, I would be planning for the next day, “How can I do it perfectly?” And it seemed as if every single day he told me something that I was doing imperfectly. One day there was too much salt. The next day there was too little. I started thinking, “What am I doing? I can’t do it right. Everything I do is wrong. Maybe I shouldn’t be cooking. Yeah, someone else should be cooking. I will tell Prabhupada to get someone else, or I will get someone else who can do it better.” I started feeling relieved. All I had to do was tell Prabhupada, and that was it. The next day I went into his room full of this idea. His God-brothers were coming for lunch that day. Another source of my anxiety was that Prabhupada’s God-brothers were criticizing Prabhupada for many things, and one of them was that Prabhupada had a female cook. I was the cook, and therefore I felt badly about that too. Since his God-brothers were coming for lunch I thought, “He certainly won’t have me cook today. I will tell him tomorrow.” But he called me into the room and started telling me what he wanted for lunch. So, I went to make the lunch, and I brought it in. He was sitting at the end of the room like a royal king, and on each side of him were old, stately Vaishnavas with dandas. It was an impressive sight. I felt completely intimidated, but I had to go in. I entirely covered my head and hands with my sari, and I got down on the floor on my hands and knees. I curled in with the plate, put it down, offered obeisances, and started slithering back out. Then I heard Srila Prabhupada say, “Yes, she cooks for me, and all I do is criticize her. But she would slit her throat for me, and I would do the same for her.” When he said that, I completely disintegrated. By the time I got to the other door, my sari was wet with tears. I realized how mundane my consciousness had been and how my anxiety had been based upon a misunderstanding of the relationship between the guru and the disciple. Every day I had been thinking, “How can I do it perfectly? What would he want?” and he was telling me. He wasn’t criticizing me. I was just taking it in a mundane way. But because I wanted to know how it could be more pleasing to him, he told me. I was in illusion as to the position of a disciple and what the relationship of servitude meant. It is not, “You pat me on my back.” That was my misconception. When I heard Srila Prabhupada say that, I realized that it was absolutely true. There was no doubt about it. My mood was that I would have done anything for him. But it had never occurred to me how Prabhupada would also do anything for us. Then I realized that he was already doing everything for us. My insignificance at that point was immense, along with my gratitude and love for him. The potential for love was certainly revealed to me.
26 Sep 2015 – Appearance Day of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura
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Radhastami Abhishek in Sri Dham Mayapur, West Bengal (Album with…
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Radhastami Abhishek in Sri Dham Mayapur, West Bengal (Album with photos)
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Beautiful Radhastami celebration in New Raman Reti, Alachua…
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Beautiful Radhastami celebration in New Raman Reti, Alachua (Album with photos)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/FRXk3j
Janmastami 2015 Ufa Russia 04.09.2015
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Janmastami 2015 Ufa Russia 04.09.2015
25 Sep 2015 – Srila Jiva Goswami – Appearance
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Sri Sanatana, Sri Rupa and Sri Vallabha were three brothers, all employed in the service of the Badsa Hussain Shah. Amongst the three, there was only one descendent, Sri Jiva. Having been rewarded richly by the Badsa for their sevices, their household life was very opulent. There was nothing lacking in whatever was necessary for the upbringing of the only son. The house was illuminated by the effulgence of the child's golden complexion; his eyes were like the expanded petals of the lotus; every part of his body was graced with a lusterous, radiant splendor.
When Sri Gaurasundara came to Ramakeli, Sri Jiva was blessed by having darshana of His worshipable lord, though he was just a baby at the time. Placing the dust of His lotus feet on the child's head, Mahaprabhu indicated him to be the future sovereign preceptor of the Gaudiya sampradaya. Though he was only a child, Sri Jiva kept the form of the Lord, which fascinates all the world, within his heart. As he grew up, while eating, lying down, in his dreams, while he was awake, at all times, he would meditate on that form.
Later on, when his father and uncles renounced their family life in order to be with Mahaprabhu, the only child, Sri Jiva, was left with his mother in the family palace at Fateyabad. Lying in her lap, which was wet with tears of separation, he gradually began to grow as the waxing moon. Seeing that the mother and the child's face were always wet with tears, their friends also fell under the shadow of sadness and only with great difficulty managed to assuage their grief. Whenever Sri Jiva would remember his father and uncles, or the lotus feet of Sri Gaura Hari, he would lose consiousness and fall to the ground.
As he got a little older, Sri Jiva took up the worship of the Deities of Sri-Sri Rama-Krsna. He would carefully decorate Them and offer bhoga and arati, serving Them with his full attention. Even in his play, whatever games he played were connected with Sri krsna's pastimes.
While studying under the local panditas he became proficent in grammar, poetry and rhetoric. Noting his great intellect, his teachers commented, "Such brilliance is not often found in a child so young as this. No doubt he will be a very high-souled, saintly person."
Even while engaged in his studies Jiva always thought of Sri Sri Nitai-Gauranga. Once he saw in a dream that Sri Rama-Krsna had taken the forms of Nitai-Gauranga and were dancing. [B.R.1.732] Giving him the dust of Their lotus feet, the Two Lords then disappeared. Having seen such a wonderful dream, Sri Jiva was consoled somewhat. Then he began to think, "When will I be able to crawl out of this well of family life and devote my full time and energy, my very self, to serving these two most magnanimous Lords?" But he was the only son of the family. Only in his company could his mother forget somewhat the pangs of separation in her heart. When Sri Jiva learned that his father had given up his life on the banks of the Ganga, he was compeletely unsettled. After that his eyes were never dry. The family members and friends tried to console him but to little avail. Family life had become the source of his utter sadness.
Someone suggested to Jiva to go to Navadwipa and bathe himself in the coolness emanating from the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda Prabhu so that his mind and body, burning with with grief, could be refreshed. Thus Sri Jiva set our for Navadwipa with a group of pilgrims. [B.R.1/741]
Nityananda Prabhu, the omniscient Lord, could understand that Sri Jiva was on his way to Navadwipa. Therefore He also left for there from Khardaha. After a few days, Jiva arrived at Navadwipa. Seeing the beauty of that place he was charmed. Falling down on the ground, he offered his dandavats to Mother Ganges. Inquiring from the villagers the directions to Mayapura, he learned that Nityananda Prabhu was residing at Srivasa Pandita's house. At last arriving there, he fell down at the door to offer his dandavats. Nityananda Prabhu came out with Srivasa Pandita and picked him up and embraced him, asking, "Are you the nephew of Sri Rupa and Sri Sanatana?"
As an answer, Jiva again fell down on the ground at the lotus feet of Nityananda Prabhu. This time Nityananda Prabhu brought him in the house and began to inquire after the welfare of his family at Fateyabad. Then Sri Jiva was introduced to the devotees present in Navadwipa; he offered his salutations at their lotusfeet. Everyone was very happy to meet the nephew of Sri Rupa and Sanatana. That day Sri Jiva received the remnants of Nityananda prabhu's prasadam.
The next day, the two of them came to Saci Mata'a house. Seeing the birthplace of Sri Gaurasundara, which was filled with such splendor, Sri Jiva was greatly pacified and fell down on the ground to roll in the dust. In the large courtyard the devotees were singing songs praising the glories of Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Seeing Nityananda Prabhu, everyone stood up and then fell down, offering their dandavats at His lotus feet. Then Jiva saw Saci Mata sitting on the veranda.
Dressed in white with silk chadder around her shoulders she looked radiant, the white of her hair blending with her white sari. Though her body trembled with old age and was very thin, still the courtyard was illuminated by her divine effulgence. Forgetting herself in rememberance of Sri Gaursundara, she was sitting with her eyes closed. Becoming aware that Nityananda Prabhu had arrived, she covered her head with her sari and called her servant. "Isana! Srpada has arrived. Please wash His feet."
After this was done, Nityananda offered namaskar to the mother of the Supreme Lord and took His seat. He then introduced Sri Jiva to her. Saci Mata placed her hand on his head to bless him, and Sri Jiva floated in the ocean of happiness. Saci Mata then requested the two of them to honor the Lord's prasada. "Take prasada here at your mother's house today, my child. I offered there preparations in secret to Sri Gaurcandra."
Sri Jiva spent some days with Nityananda Prabhu, touring the nine islands of Navadwipa, in order to have darsana of the holy places of the Lord's pastimes there. Then, as ordered by Nityananda Prabhu, he set out for Kasi (Varanasi) . At Kasi he studied Vedanta under Sri Madhusudana Vacaspati, a disciple of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya. The conclusions of Vedanta contained in Srimad-Bhagavatam that were expounded by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya in Puri had been in turn taught by the Bhattacarya to Madhusudana Vacaspati, who established a toll at Kasi. From him, Sri Jiva mastered the same conclusions.
From here Sri Jiva set out for Sri Vrindavana where he received shelter at the lotus feet of his two uncles. Sri Rupa and Sanatana. They were very pleased to see him and received from him all the news. Jiva stayed with Sri Rupa, who began to teach him Srimad Bhagavatam. After initiating him with the divine mantra, Rupa engaged him in the service of Sri Sri Radha-Damodara. According to Sadhana dipika, this Deity of Damodara was fashioned by Rupa Gosvami's own hand for his dear disciple Sri Jiva. Sri Sri Radha-Damodara are presently being worshipped in Jaipur, Rajasthan.
Seeing that Jiva had quickly become conversant with the conclusion of the Srimad Bhagavatam, Sri Rupa engaged him in proof-reading his Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu. At this time Sri Jiva compiled a commentary on Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu called Durgama sangamani. In the year 1476 (Sakabda) Sri Sanatana Gosvami compiled Sri Vaisnava tosani, a commentary on the tenth canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam, which he gave to Sri Jiva for proof reading. Under the order of Sri Sanatana, Sri Jiva compiled a commentary on that named Laghu Vaisnava tosani in the year 1500 (Sakabda). His writings, along with those of Sri Rupa and Sri Sanatana, Sri Gopal Bhatta, Sri Raghunatha Bhatta, Sri Raghunath das, Sri Krsna das, Sri Kasisvar Pandit, and Sri Madhu Pandit, completely captivated the learned men of that time. It was the beginning of a golden age at Sri Vraja dhama.
Sri Jiva regurlarly brought water for Sri Rupa and Sanatana's bath. He massaged their heads with oil, cleaned their ashram, worship the Deity, cooked and corrected manuscripts.
After the disappearance of Sri Rupa and Sanatana, Sri Jiva continued the tradition that they had inaugerated. Once Sri Jiva travelled to Agra to debate with the Rajputs concerning the glories of Jamuna and Ganga rivers. He established that the Jamuna is more glorious than the Ganga as the Ganga emanates from Krsna's lotus feet whereas the Jamuna is His own consort. At this the Moghul emperor was very much satisfied and wanted to present him something. Sri Jiva replied that he would accept some blank papers. So the emperor presented Jiva some stained paper. (At that time paper was very rare and most manuscripts were usually composed on leaves.)
There is also a legend that once, when a moghul emperor (possibly Akbar) wanted to confer something on the Goswamis of Vrindavana, they requested a farman (emperor's order) that no living beings would be killed within Vraja. As a result of this no king would come to hunt there anymore.
The disciple of Lokanatha Gosvami, Narottama dasa Thakura Mahasaya, Sri Gopala Bhatta Gosvami's disciple Srinivasa Acarya Prabhu, and the disciple of Hrdaya Caitanya Prabhu, Sri Syamananda Prabhu, were greatly favored by Srila Jiva Goswami. Under his tutelage they studied all the literatures of the Gosvamis. Later he sent them to preach this knowledge in Bengal.
Srila Jiva Gosvami composed many literatures, amongst them:
Harinamamrta-vyakarana
Sutra-malika
Rasamrta-sesa
Gopala-virudavali
Sri-Madhava-mahotsava
Sri-Sankalpa-kalpavrksa
Brahma-Samhita-tika
Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu-tika (Durgama-sangamani)
Ujjvala-nilamani-tika (Locana-rocani)
Gopala-campu
Sat-sandharbha (Tattva-sandarbha, Bhagavata-sandarbha, Paramatma sandarbha, Krsna-sandarbha, Bhakti-sandharbha, Priti-sandarbha)
Srimad-Bhagavata-tika (Krama-sandarbha)
Laghu-vaisnava-tosani (Tenth Canto Bhagavatam commentary)
Sarva-sambadina (commentary on Sat-sandarbha)
Gopala-tapani-tika (Sri-Suhkha-bodhini)
Padma-puranastha-yogasara-stotra-tika
Gayatri-vyakhya-vivrti (A commentary on the Gayatri mantra as described in the Agni Purana, chapters 216-217)
Radha-Krsnarcana-candrika
Dhatu-sangraha
Bhavartha-sucaka-campu
Birth: 1533 (Christian calendar), 1455 (Sakabdha), 12th day of the bright fortnight in the month of Bhadra.
Disappearance : 1540 (Sakabdha), 3rd day of bright fortnight, Pausa
Age: 85 years
Seminar @ ISKCON Brampton – Strong KC Families
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Temple!
- Friday October 16th, 6:30pm - 9:30pm
- Saturday October 17th, 9:30am - 4:30pm
- Sunday October 18th, 2:00pm - 5:00pm
This seminar will be facilitated by members of the Grihasta Vision Team - His Grace Partha Das and Her Grace Uttama Dasi (disciples of Srila Prabhupada). They have been successfully conducting such retreats and seminars for many years all around the world. The seminar will cover various wonderful topics, including:
- Strengthening the Bonds that Free us -It deals with many aspects of grhastha life.
- Communication and overcoming challenges
- Exercises for couples
- Parenting lessons
Couples are encouraged to attend, however, everyone is welcome, even if the spouse cannot attend or if not yet married. Devotees can indicate their availability for the course by filling up a preliminary registration form here.
HAPPY MARRIAGES. HAPPY FAMILIES. STRONG ISKCON.
HG Narottamananda Prabhu / SB 10.87.28
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Прикасаясь к стопам богов
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Глава 6
Время летит, когда ты занят любимым делом. Преданные любят распространять сознание Кришны, так что и лето летело быстро. Расписание наше было плотным, каждый день по фестивалю, но мы были вознаграждены: люди танцевали и пели с нами. Этого было достаточно, чтобы мы продолжали – и мы ежедневно получали эту награду.
Как-то вечером во время харинамы на побережье перед очередным фестивалем ко мне подошла пожилая женщина.
– Нравится мне, как вы поете, – сказала она. – Не могу дождаться сегодняшней программы.
Мы остановились, глядя на танцующих преданных. Женщина слегка улыбалась.
– У меня на сердце такое сильное желание, – сказала она, – чтобы все люди на этом пляже вскочили бы и стали с вами петь и танцевать. У вас такое бывает?
– Все время, – сказал я.
– Я за вами наблюдаю уже много лет, – продолжала она. – Однажды прочла книгу с объяснением, что вы поете имена Бога. Ваше пение, оно как духовная аптечка. Люди излечиваются от своих жутких манер.
Дальше по берегу какая-то женщина припустилась бежать в нашу сторону.
– Это вы! Харе Кришны*! – выговорила она, запыхавшись. – Я нашла вас!
Она наклонилась, чтобы отдышаться и с улыбкой подняла взгляд:
– Или, скорее, это вы нашли меня.
– Что вы имеете в виду? – спросил я.
– Я выбирала, куда бы этим летом поехать в отпуск, – сказала она, все еще переводя дыхание, – и коллеги отговорили меня ехать за границу. Сказали, что погода летом в Польше будет хорошая, и посоветовали просто поехать на балтийское побережье. Сказали, что если повезет, может быть, я даже пересекусь с Харе Кришна и попаду на ваш фестиваль. Многие из них уже на ваших фестивалях побывали и просто бредят ими. То есть, у вас здесь сейчас фестиваль?
– Определенно, – говорю я, вручая ей пригласительный.
– И самосы там будут? – спрашивает она.
– О! Вы и про самосы знаете?
– Ну, я пока ни одной не попробовала, но мне про них рассказывали. Сказали, если я вас найду, попробовать одну штучку и привезти немного в офис.
– Что ж, – говорю, – будет изобилие самос. На каждый фестиваль по шестьсот штук готовим. У нас есть тент с рестораном, там их и найдете.
На фестивальную площадку мы возвращались через город. Какой-то человек окликнул меня из ресторана:
– Э, гуру! Подойдете? Можно с вами поговорить?
Чтобы не упускать шанс, я подошел к ресторану. Он энергично пожал мне руку:
– Мне вот жена здесь говорит, что если пожать руку гуру, получишь кучу благословений. Спасибо вам большое!
– Хм… да нет проблем, – говорю. – У нас вечером фестиваль. Если сможете, пожалуйста, приходите. Там тоже много благословений получите.
Чтобы догнать группу харинамы, я перешел на легкий бег, но тут из магазина выскочила женщина и тоже побежала ко мне.
– Подождите, – кричала она. – Вы не могли бы задержаться на минутку. Я хотела спросить вас кое о чем, прямо сейчас. Почему вы поете только в этой части города? Почему только здесь, а?
– В каком смысле, в этой части? – переспросил я.
– Ой, только не делайте вид, что не понимаете, – сказала она, глядя мне прямо в глаза и уставив руки в боки. – В прошлые годы вы заезжали петь и в другой район города, у меня там магазин. Мы целое лето этого ждали. Так о нас, в нашем районе, вы больше не беспокоитесь?
Я не знал, что и сказать.
– Вот ответьте мне, – требовала она, – почему только в этом районе люди могут услышать ваше пение?
– Ну, – начал я, – сюда мы приезжаем воспевать, потому что…
– Послушайте, – перебила она меня, – если вы прямо сейчас не развернетесь и не пойдете в мой район, я скажу всем своим знакомым и соседям, чтобы не приходили на ваш фестиваль.
Я окликнул группу киртана и помахал им, чтобы вернулись.
– Показывайте дорогу, – сказал я ей.
Она повела нас в свою часть города и так, следуя за ней, мы пели там и воспевали около часа. Когда мы уходили, она, махая нам из входа в свой магазин, прокричала: «Увидимся вечером!»
Из-за такого крюка мы опоздали на прасад. Преданные наскоро перекусили и начали приготовления к фестивалю. Где-то за полчаса до начала я заметил, что в первом ряду скамеек усаживаются мужчина и женщина со своей дочкой. Я прошел к ним.
– Вы немного рано, пока еще ничего не начинается, – говорю.
– Вот и хорошо, – отвечает мужчина, – как раз немного отдохнем. Мы только что из Варшавы. Дочка настояла, чтобы мы приехали.
– Понимаю, – говорю я. – Так вы у нас впервые?
– Нет-нет, – говорит жена. – Мы уже были этим летом на одном из ваших фестивалей. Приехали домой, а наша семилетняя дочь всё не может остановиться, говорит только о нем. До того ей всё понравилось: песни, танцы, кукольный театр, макияж, еда. Всё. Сари, которое она выиграла в танцевальном конкурсе, хочет носить, не снимая.
– Она нас просто извела своими просьбами вернуться, – сказал мужчина. – Просто без остановки. До умопомрачения нас довела. В конце концов, я попросил у босса еще неделю отпуска. К счастью, он проникся ситуацией. Он и сам был на одном из ваших фестивалей, так что согласился. Мне пришлось взять деньги из своего пенсионного фонда, чтобы оплатить эту поездку.
– И вот мы здесь, – сказала, смеясь, жена. – Всю следующую неделю будем на всех ваших выступлениях.
Сорок пять минут спустя, когда Бада Харидас начал на сцене первый бхаджан, подошла женщина.
– Просто хотела поблагодарить вас за все, что вы делаете, – сказала она. – Я знаю, у вас очень строгие принципы.
– Спасибо, сказал я. – Вам тогда надо прочесть какую-нибудь из наших книг.
– Нет, не сейчас, – ответила она. – Прошлым летом говорила о вас со своей соседкой. Ее сын заинтересовался вашим движением и подумывал присоединиться. Соседка встревожилась и пошла к ксендзу за советом, но тот сказал ей не беспокоиться. Сказал, что, по всей вероятности, сын надолго не останется – принципы у вас очень высокие и очень уж строгая дисциплина. И добавил, что если сын все же решит остаться, для него же будет лучше.
Проголодавшись в дневных заботах, я направился в наш ресторан. Там ко мне подошла девочка-тинейджер с тарелкой прасада в руках.
– Я давно хотела поблагодарить вас за то, как вы изменили мою жизнь, – сказала она. – Пять лет тому назад я пришла с родителями на ваш фестиваль. Я надела сари в палатке моды, а когда выходила, вы там стояли. И вы сказали, что я выгляжу как ангел. Я тогда была совсем ребенком, но меня тронули ваши слова, и я решила, что я, точно, должна стать как ангел. Стала чаще бывать в церкви и каждый вечер молилась Господу.
В прошлом году нашла дома Бхагавад-гиту. Родители купили ее на фестивале. Я ее начала читать и нашла много объяснений, как же стать тем ангелом, которого вы во мне увидели. Я даже стала вегетарианкой и начала учить английский, чтобы, если бы я снова вас встретила, то могла бы поблагодарить и узнать побольше про то, как вы живете.
– Даже не знаю, что и сказать, – ответил я, – тронут твоей историей. Давай-ка присядем и немного поговорим.
Мы проговорили минут двадцать, пока не вмешался какой-то парень.
– Вы здесь главный? – спросил он. – Мне сказали, что это вы отвечаете за представление.
– Да, – ответил я, – помогаю с организацией.
– Я хотел спросить насчет той большой колесницы, которая припаркована посреди площадки. Обалдеть, такая махина! Кто-то из ваших мне объяснил, что в специальные дни ее тянут по улицам за длинные канаты.
– Да, тянут, – подтвердил я.
– Так вот, вопрос: а где вы держите рабсилу, кто ее тянет?
– Хм… как вы сказали, рабсилу? – переспросил я.
– Ну да, чтобы тащить по улицам такую громадину, думаю, нужно от пятидесяти до ста работяг. Они у вас где-то припрятаны?
Я еле удерживался от смеха.
– На самом деле мы рабсилу не используем, – говорю, – тянем колесницу сами. Говорится, что духовно продвигаешься, когда тянешь эту колесницу. Все сами хотят за эти канаты потянуть.
– Так никаких нанятых рабочих нет? – спрашивает он.
– Не-а, – отвечаю, – никакой рабсилы.
Он мотнул головой и отправился к навесу сцены ждать вместе со всеми начала представления.
Как только он ушел, подошел другой человек.
– Вы могли бы подписать Бхагавад-гиту? – спросил он. – Только что ее купил.
– Конечно, – говорю.
– Я ваши фестивали посещаю уже пятнадцать лет, – начал он, а я принялся подписывать, – Но в этот раз будто что-то щелкнуло, и я решил, что сейчас самое время купить книгу и углубиться в вашу философию. Извините, что это заняло у меня столько времени.
Я улыбнулся.
– Лучше поздно, чем никогда, – сказал я, отдавая ему книгу.
После этого я заметил мужчину в костюме, в очках в старомодной оправе и с портфельчиком в руках. Он походил на старого профессора, и было видно, что он хотел бы со мной поговорить. Я распрощался с девушкой, с которой разговаривал, и поднялся, чтобы поприветствовать его.
– Можно вас на пару слов? – спросил он.
– Конечно, сэр, – сказал я, – я в вашем распоряжении.
– Небольшой вопрос, – сказал он, – всего лишь: когда начнется ваша лекция?
Я посмотрел на часы.
– Примерно через тридцать пять минут, как только закончится спектакль.
– Очень хорошо, – сказал он и повернулся, собираясь уходить, но я окликнул его.
– Прошу прощения, сэр, – говорю, – вы у нас впервые?
– О, нет, – отвечает он. – Я прихожу на ваши фестивали уже долгие-долгие годы, если припомнить… это будет двадцать восьмой раз, не так ли?
Лицо мое озарилось улыбкой:
– У вас отличная память, сэр. Да, это действительно, уже двадцать восьмой год.
– Я, правда, каждый раз прихожу только на час, – продолжал он. – Только чтобы послушать вашу речь. Записываю ваши мудрые слова и в течение всего года стараюсь следовать им в жизни.
Он открыл портфель, показал мне блокнот, ручку.
– Я стал за эти годы гораздо лучше и вплотную подошел к предназначению жизни.
– Что вы имеете в виду под «предназначением жизни»? – спросил я его.
– Вы очень хорошо знаете, что, – ответил он с улыбкой.
Вечером, произнося речь со сцены, я видел его – в последнем ряду, быстро пишущего. После лекции я прошел к тому месту, где он сидел, но его уже не было.
Возвращаясь в свой микроавтобус, я заметил женщину с полной тарелкой самос. Ту самую, с которой повстречался на пляже и которую коллеги настроили посетить наш фестиваль.
– Эй, – окликнул я ее, – а вы, я вижу, нашли свои самосы!
Она оглянулась.
– Не знаю, как вас и отблагодарить, – прокричала она в ответ. – Люблю ваш фестиваль! И друзья были правы. Самосы – фантастика!
«Всё-то на этом фестивале благоприятно, – думал я. – Как же я счастлив быть инструментом в руках Господа и делиться Его посланием таким привлекательным образом».
Заключительный вечерний киртан длился около часа.
Все танцевали: и дети, и родители, – все.
Когда всё закончилось, ко мне подошел мужчина средних лет, в глазах его были слезы, на лице мягкая улыбка. Он постоял минуту, глубоко вздохнул. «Слушать пение ваших людей, – сказал он, – это все равно что прикасаться к стопам богов».
********************
«В этот век ссор стало уделом людей жить во грехе,
сокрушаясь в печалях и бедах, в страхе о деньгах семьи.
Видя всё это, чтобы людей защитить, принял рожденье Гаура.
Так Он, Сама милость, явив Свою чарующую форму,
стал раздавать Свои святые имена».
[ Шрила Сарвабхаума Бхаттачарйа, Сушлока-шатакам, текст 4 ]
____________________
* Hare Krishnas (прим. перев.)
Dissecting DNA
→ TKG Academy
Upper Elementary Students extract DNA from fruits in Science and build DNA models.
Techniques For Good Japa
→ Japa Group
Chant Without Interruption: Once in Los Angeles, disciples asked Srila Prabhupada what would please him most. “Chant sixteen rounds of japa at one sitting without interruption!” said Srila Prabhupada.
Be Careful: To clearly and distinctly pronounce the Holy names.
From Art Of Chanting Hare Krsna
by Mahanidhi Swami
Prabhupada Maha Abhiseka
→ Ramai Swami
The last day of Auckland temple’s 50th anniversary was celebrated with a maha-abhiseka of Srila Prabhupada.
Many dignitaries came, including the US Consul General, the Human Rights Commissioner, two members of parliament and three high ranking police officers of the area.
All of them gave speeches, garlanded and bathed Srila Prabhupada. They were later served a wonderful prasadam feast. The devotees then had their turn to bathe Prabhupada and take prasadam.
Radhastami, September 21, Plainfield, Central New Jersey
Giriraj Swami
“When Sri Krishna sees the beauty of Sri Radha sometimes His crown and peacock feather fall off and He doesn’t even know it. When Sri Radha is touched by the breeze that has touched Sri Krishna Her consciousness just flies with that breeze. When She sees the color of a Tamal tree She embraces it. There are so many beautiful poetic descriptions of the love between Sri Sri Radha and Krishna. But, in a place near Varsana, on a mountain, when Sri Radha is angry with Krishna, He puts His head on her feet and cries—begging for Her love. This is the Supreme Proprietor, the Supreme Conqueror, The Absolute Truth and the Cause of all Causes. By His own sweet will He wants to show the power of Love. It is the greatest mystery in all the scriptures.”
—Radhanatha Swami
———————–
Varshana. Sunrise Aerial Darshan
→ ISKCON News
A video by Paul Tuffery.
Invitation for New Temple Inaugration at ISKCON Mira Road, Mumbai
→ ISKCON News
‘Reconnection’ a Film about Vrindavan Wins at Indian Cine Film Festival
→ ISKCON News
More than 1300 films were submitted for the Indian Cine Film Festival. "Reconnection", the film about Vrindavan, has won the Jury Special Mention Award, that was presented to us by Indian filmmaking legend G.L. Bhardwaj. Listen to him speaking as he compares "Reconnection" to his own film “Land of Krishna” that won multiple International and National nominations including Presidential award. On the video: Maksim Varfolomeev (Shyam Gopal Das), the director of Reconnection, picking up the award, September 19th 2015. For more info check us on fb.com/ReconnectionFilm
Rawal, the Birth Place of Radharani
→ ISKCON News
A video by Vrindavan Experience.
Acharya Preview Clip (2016) – Jaladuta
→ ISKCON News
ACHARYA, The Life and Legacy of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Directed by Yadubara Das. Coming Soon. For more information, visit www.acharyathemovie.com
Monday, September 14th, 2015
→ The Walking Monk
Monday, September 14th, 2015
Toronto, Ontario
Make Time to Walk
Now is not the time for me to make up excuses for lack of walking. I flew from Houston in a 2 1/2 hour flight so I can't say that travelling chewed up all my time. I just have to prioritize and make sure the legs, feet, torso, arms, and head get what they deserve.
How do I use precious time in one of my days? To answer that, I'll say that as an irregular pattern, when I stay grounded for a few days in one location, it can look something like this:
3:30 am Rise & shower
3:45 am Chant on japa beads
4:30 am Chant to guru and Krishna
7:00 am Greeting of the deity
7:30 am Teach from Bhagavatam (or be a student)
8:30 am Plan travel, catch up on e-mails
9:30 am Catch up on lost rest
10:30 am Shower & more office work, counselling in person or on the phone
12:00 noon Gayatri mantraand lunch
12:30 pm More of the above plus cleaning, planning, working on drama scripts & productions, dealing with people, may include public kirtan
6:00 pm Dinner
6:30 pm Class or walk for as long as I can, write, read, and sometimes drama practice
11:00 pm Rest
Now today, I caught Ravi who frequents our temple and I asked him to be my walking partner for next to an hour or so. What I admire about him is that although his residence is 1 1/2 kilometres from our temple ashram he walks there all the time. He does not drive and will not buy a car. Transportation is by city transit or by walking. He and I took to walking around the Annex area. It made my day complete.
May the Source be with you!
5 km
Travel Journal#11.16: Trutnov (Czech Woodstock), Prague, and The North of England
→ Travel Adventures of a Krishna Monk
Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 11, No. 16
By Krishna-kripa das
(August 2015, part two)
By Krishna-kripa das
(August 2015, part two)
Trutnov (Czech Woodstock), Prague & The North of England
(Sent from Manhattan, New York, on September 22, 2015)
(Sent from Manhattan, New York, on September 22, 2015)
Where I Went and What I Did
After almost ten days with the Festival of India on Poland’s Baltic coast, I traveled to Wroclaw in the south of Poland, and the next dayacrossthe Czech border to Trutnov, for the Trutnoff Open Air Festival, also known as the Czech Woodstock. The Czech devotees are friends with Martin, the organizer, and we have a Krishna camp with Krishna music and Krishna food there. After the Trutnov festival, I chanted for a day with Harinama Ruci in Prague. Then I chanted in Newcastle a couple of days, and then Blackpool, Preston, Southport, Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, and back to Newcastle, doing evening programs in Preston, Liverpool, and Leeds and a kirtana program in Manchester, thus ending the very busy month of August.
I share quotes from Srila Prabhupada lectures and notes on the books and journal of Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami. I share notes on lectures by two Manchester devotees, Jagadatma Prabhu, a disciple of Srila Prabhupada, and Radha Mohan Prabhu, a disciple of Radhanath Swami, on Lord Balarama's appearance day.
Thanks to Harinama Ruci for their pictures of the Trutnov festival and Prague harinama. Thanks to Ananga Sevika Devi Dasi for her video of our final kirtana at Trutnov. Thanks to Aharada Devi Dasi for the picture of our bhajana team in Manchester.
Thanks to the Newcastle temple for their kind contribution. Thanks to Tony and the Preston nama-hatta for their kind donation toward my travels. Thanks to Alan and the Liverpool nama-hatta for their kind donation toward my travels. Thanks to Janardana Prabhu and the Leeds nama-hatta for their kind donation, as well as to one of their congregation who also contributed. Thanks to Punya Palaka Prabhu, who also contributed to my travel fund. Thanks to Gaura Karuna Prabhu for always being willing to convert currencies for me.
Itinerary
September 22–25: New York City Harinama
September 26–27: Albany
September 28–November 13: New York City Harinama
November 14–17: Washington, D.C., Harinama
November 18–19: Jacksonville
November 20–December 16: Krishna House (except 5 days in Tallahassee)
December 16–January 3: New York City Harinama
Adventures on the Way to Trutnov
On the train from Wroclaw to the southern border of Poland, two boys in my compartment asked to hear me play my harmonium. Since the conductor was in the next compartment we closed the door and window, so as not to get in trouble. One of the boys had studied the piano for four years. They were really impressed, although it was not really impressive. I was impressed with them, for when they made a video of me chanting, they recorded at least five mantras. Usually people get bored after two or three. I gave them my card, and invited them to send it to me, if they were inspired.
I tried a new border crossing from Poland to Czech Republic this year, one that supposedly had a bus across it, because I was tired of walking across the border between Lubawka, PL, and Kralovac, CZ, but as it turned out I missed the first bus and the second bus did not come. I decided to walk and hitchhike at the same time. I ripped the side off a cardboard box I found in a dumpster and wrote “CZ” on it in big letters, and set out on my journey. After no more than 15 minutes a couple of young men who were going to a weekend hip-hop festival in Hradlec Kralovec stopped and offered to take me there, rather than just across the border. It was a big enough city I knew I could easily catch a train to Trutnov from there, though much further from the border than I needed to be, so I accepted the ride anyway. The guy who was not driving decided he wanted to take a video of me playing harmonium and chanting Hare Krishna. I was in the middle of the front seat of the van, and as I sang, the driver sang along with me in a very animated way. We must have chanted four mantras together. I also invited the young guy who took the video to send it me. I noticed we would pass through Jaromer, a town I had traveled through by train on the way to Trutnov one year, so I suggested they drop me there. I saw a sign with a picture of the train and the word BUS, and I assumed it was both the train and bus station, but it was actually a place to get buses, including one to the train station. All the Trutnov buses were finished for the night, and so the bus driver going to the train station offered to take me there. When I got to the train station no one was at the ticket counter, but looking at the schedule of departures, I was delighted to see there was a train to Trutnov in five minutes. That was Krishna’s kindness on me.
Trutnoff Open Air Music Festival (Czech Woodstock)
For many years devotees have been sharing Krishna music and food with attendees at the Trutnoff Open Air Music Festival in Trutnov, Czech Republic, just 16 km south of the Polish border. About 20,000 or 30,000 people attend the event, paying the equivalent of about 40 euros for admission.
Our Krishna Camp and the schedule of events at it are include in the publication given to all the attendees of the festival when they register.
I have been coming for seven years, every year beginning with 2009. Some people remembered me from 2009, and I remembered some of them from 2009.
On Thursday night quite a number of people enthusiastically chanted with us (https://youtu.be/sX8T1xeKGuc):
Some of them, I am sure, judging from their happiness, were waiting all year for this chance to chant with the devotees again.
Vaiyasaki Prabhu and his wife Kishori Devi Dasi came for the first time. Vaiyasaki liked Trutnov better than the Polish Woodstock, a much larger event, which he felt was too overwhelming. He inspired many people to chant and dance, and I was happy to see and be part of it. Here you can see some video from the three evenings when he played (https://youtu.be/3cCSeFCMaDA):
I also took a video with my Andriod, which has a light which illuminated the joyous dancers (https://youtu.be/XfrAmda_lc8):
Sometimes they would raise their hands.
Occasionally, people would even dance on our stage.
On Friday we did our first harinama,beginning at the school where we stayed, through the town, and to the site of the festival, ending at our camp. The school lets festival goers use its showers for a small fee, and three people who had come to shower at the school joined our harinama and amazing came the entire way with us!
Here you can see them dancing with us at the end of the harinama at our camp.
One of them, the girl in shorts, chanted much of the time and often put her arms in the air like Lord Caitanya. Based on her enthusiasm, I figured she had some previous connection with the devotees, but she had never encountered them before. Her name was Elishka, and she was from a remote part of Czech near the German border. She was amazed that the harinama was two hours as the time had just flown by. She described it was nothing likeshe had every experienced before. During our harinama one devotee gave her an abridged version of the Prabhupada biography. She came by each day and chanted and danced in our tent. She also chanted and danced in the crowd when we performed kirtana on the second stage. Now that she has finished her education, she is thinking of getting a job in Prague. Then it will be easy for her to have the association of the devotees and more opportunities for Krishna kirtana.
During the harinamas, sometimes devotees would encourage people to dance.
Tulasi did this with the ladies.
And Harinamananda Prabhu did this with the guys.
Sometimes onlookers would dance with each other.
At the site, as we walked through paths with vendors on each side, both the vendors and their customers would participate.
Once Vishnujana and Harinamananda Prabhus encountered some vendors of outlandish wigs.
On Friday night at our Krishna Camp, for about an hour or so, I was the sole dancer on the stage while Vaiyasaki Prabhu was singing.
When he ended one tune, I left to use the toilet, but four people wanted to take my picture before I made to the bathroom. It was an odd experience for me to adored as an entertainment personality.
There are always special people, some old friends and some new friends.
One girl, Sharka (who formerly called herself Shari) [with the red hair], I recall from 2009, the first year I went to Trutnov. She and her high school friends loved singing and dancing to Jaya Gurudeva Prabhu’s guitar playing and his reggae Hare Krishna chant. They were all from Trutnov. Now they have grown up and live in different parts of the world, but she still lives in Trutnov and comes by to chant and dance with us a few times every year.
The afternoons were slower in terms of participation.
On Friday a devotee lady sang and four ladies danced in the audience (https://youtu.be/4SAtshv-G5E):
Vidya Vacaspati Prabhu, who leads the Prague harinamas every Wednesday and Friday, sang on Saturday afternoon (https://youtu.be/PWwaRoppf5o):
Other devotee musicians also sang at different times.
Once on a typically slow afternoon maybe twenty people were in our tent. The only person singing the response was a girl who was sitting with her friends toward the back. I spoke to her later and found she and three friends had driven all the way from Brittany, in western France, and that was their second year at Trutnov. They had come to our camp the previous year and liked it. She even remembered that I sang at one point. I explained that is usually at the end when everyone else’s voice is shot and I do not sound any worse than anyone else. I told her about our Paris Ratha-yatra and offered to give her details about next year’s event.
We got to sing on the second stage as we did last year. This year the timing was better, and we got the best response we ever had from the audience there. Nrsimha Caitanya Prabhu led the kirtana and many people delighted in dancing (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGerEnGdI0xKFTiNKaS7DWPl01rMCB681):
You can see the joy of the dancers.
At one point, a group of school kids joined the dancing, during our kirtana on the second stage, and everyone danced in a circle.
On Sunday afternoon for a while, a quartet of senior Czech underground musicians was also chanting the maha-mantra, with a few devotees accompanying them. They sang Hare Krishna to the tune that George Harrison made famous in his song “My Sweet Lord.” In the early days of the Hare Krishna movement, Prabhupada would encourage popular personalities of the time such as Alan Ginsberg to chant Hare Krishna whenever they got a chance. Because of the popularity of those Czech musicians, our tent was filled to the brim with people, and it was great seeing so many people hearing “Hare Krishna”. Here is a video clip (https://youtu.be/gj3-qKhIEL0):
My little moment of glory came at the end of the final evening. There was a very famous band called Prodigy playing, and the organizer, Martin, said it was the most expensive band he ever had come there. Many people went because of curiosity, and in our tent the crowd dwindled to two or three people and our kirtana leaders stopped playing. I was thinking it had never happened in the last seven years that some band was so popular that there was no one in our camp, and that we stopped playing.
But then gradually people began to return. Some asked about the kirtana. I told Punya Palaka Prabhu and said I would be glad to sing if people wanted to listen and he said, “They are here, and they are asking for kirtana.”So I went up on the stage and repositioned the harmonium in front of its microphones. Punya Palaka played the drum and another accomplished devotee musician played the kartatalas, and a couple more devotees joined us. I played a three-part tune four or five times at a fast enough tempo that people could dance to it (https://youtu.be/l29kSG9XKaQ):
We had about twelve people, with half of them dancing, and several singing, some with beautiful smiles on their faces.
Punya Palaka wrote about it, “It was nice, I was glad to accompany you with my simple mrdangaand no voice, at the time of the main performance of the Prodigy band. The little group of our guests came with the hopes that we didn’t stop our production due to Prodigy, as all the other stages did. I appreciate these moments of simple sincerity very much.”
Vishnujana Prabhu had gone to the main stage to see this Prodigy group, and he saw that it did not hold people’s interest. Although they were famous, they had nothing special to offer.
I was so happy to extend our kirtana another 45 minutes or so and give those who appreciate our Krishna kirtana one last chance to sing and dance with us. We get to do harinama sankirtana every day, but for many of them, it is just these four days in a whole year thatthey get a taste of transcendental bliss.
Afterwards several people wanted to take my photo or have their photo taken with me. I found several people already knew about Hare Krishna in Prague. I told one boy from Ostrava, far to the east, I would let him know of our programs there if he emailed me.
Beside sharing Krishna music, we also had a variety of prasadam(Krishna food).
All of the sabjis were excellent including this one.
Spitz,friend vegetables on a stick, and koftas that were large flat paddies instead of the tradition small balls, were popular items.
They also sold a variety of fruit nut bars
and tasty chips or as they say in Czech chipsy.
and tasty chips or as they say in Czech chipsy.
On top of that, there was excellent maha-prasadam.
Mother Ananga Sevika did face painting as she did on the Czech Padayatra.
Punya Palaka Prabhu is always looking for dependable devotee musicians to play on our stage. If you would like to come some year and help out let me know, and I will get you in touch with him.
I suggested that next year we take advantage of the existence of our presence there to teach the chanting of Hare Krishna on beads as a meditation. Our stage is officially described as the alternative and meditative stage, and I am sure we could find some people who would be willing to learn how to chant Hare Krishna on beads as a daily spiritual practice and thus come to a higher level of spiritual consciousness.
I look forward to assisting my Czech devotee friends in sharing Krishna music with the people at Trutnov again next year.
Prague Harinama with Harinama Ruci
Last year the Harinama Ruci party went to a festival in Slovakia after Trutnov, but this year they stayed in Prague, and I was very happy to be able to go on harinama with them there, the day after Trutnov, before my evening flight.
We encountered a parade of international performers, and many of them were willing to interact with us.
Most amazing was a group of young ladies from Israel, who both chanted and danced with us (https://youtu.be/T-qmUS3zhdE):
Here are other musicians who played with us.
Some people danced with us.
Others tried chanting the mantra.
Some posed with our instruments.
You can see different passersby and performersinteracting with our party in this video (https://youtu.be/V9Irlot3ivA):
Chanting with Harinama Ruci was a beautiful way to end my month-long trip to Eastern Europe.
Harinama in Newcastle
The last couple of times I have returned to Newcastle, Bhakti Rasa Prabhu has picked me up at the Megabus armed with a mrdanga to go on harinama. This time we chanted together for an hour and a half, and surprisingly our listeners took 6 books and gave almost £11 ($17).
A group of theater students who just graduated high school and who attend Newcastle College in the fall, moved to the music as they walked by. We encouraged them and they stuck around. We chanted the mantra one word at a time to a lively tune, and they sang along. We even spoke philosophy with some of them. We also told them about our Wednesday program of singing and vegetarian food.
Three ladies, perhaps in the thirties, also chanted the mantra one word at a time with us, and they definitely looked very blissful afterward, which they themselves noticed and mentioned.
Bhakti Rasa Prabhu likes this relationship of picking me up and doing harinama with me, and I find it a great welcome home. I hope we can continue it.
The following day we again we had seven people on aharinama before our Wednesday evening kirtana program. Prema Sankirtana’s family of four came and Radhe Shyama and Madhuri. Later Maha-mantra Prabhu of Derby joined us, making eight altogether.
One little girl was fascinated by the kirtana and danced with her hands raised, imitating me, for at least fifteen minutes. Then she came closer and danced with Vishnu-priya Devi Dasi and her daughters. You can see this in thesevideo clips (https://youtu.be/vU3NiWflBso):
Because we had two kids on the party, we were more accessible to parentsand their kids and more of them paid attention to us.
This father and daughter were another example.
Another guy also got into dancing with us.
It was great to be chanting with such enthusiastic devotees.
At the Wednesday evening kirtana, I was surprised and delighted to see how nicely little Giya, not more than five years old, led such a nice kirtana: (https://youtu.be/fXz_w-3L8Io):
Chanting Hare Krishna in Blackpool
Tony, who helps out with Preston programs, came to chant with Govardhan dd, her husband, John, and I in Blackpool.
One young lady, who was carrying a placard advertising a business and passing out information, followed us for half a block, and stayed nearby for a while. She said Govardhan had a beautiful voice and that she would like to join us, but she had to work.
One older lady named Pauler came up to us, and told an amazing story of being introduced to Hare Krishna by her daughter twenty years ago. Her daughter was seven years old at the time, and getting kicked out the church, she started investigating other religions. When the girl was invited to a Hare Krishna program, she went and decided she liked Hare Krishna. Thus her mother beingexposed to it, also came to like it. Recently, she was talking about going to the Preston programs and getting more involved with Hare Krishna again, but it had not happened. Then she met us Hare Krishnas on harinama. Her daughter drove her to Preston that night for ourprogram, and she was so happy to take part.
Chanting Hare Krishna in Preston
After having lunch in Blackpool, we came to Preston. I was happy that two devotees from Scotland joined us there, and we chanted over two more hours, with everyone taking turns leading the chanting.
Chanting in Southport
Govardhana Devi Dasi's husband John drove me to Southport, and the two of us chanted there. There are many older people in Southport, which was fine, as John and I are older. At least a couple people said “Hare Krishna” to us, although we only once chanted there before, and no one remembers anyone doing harinama there before that.
Chanting in Liverpool
After having lunch in Southport, I took the bus to Liverpool. I was happy that two of the most active people in the Liverpool nama-hatta, Alan and Barbara, joined me to chant for two hours before our program there. They passed out many invitations.
Chanting on Lord Balarama's Appearance Day in Manchester
A party of several devotees chanted together in downtown Manchester from 10:30 a.m. to noon on Lord Balarama's appearance day. I was so happy my friends decided to celebrate that event by doing harinama.
In the evening, we chanted a temple where local Bengali's had arranged an all-evening kirtana, on that auspicious full moon day ending the Jhulan Yatra, or swing cememony of Radha Krishna.
There I was happy to see the Hare Krishna maha-mantra written in Bengali script and reminding me of Mayapur as did pranami on the donation box.
Different Hare Krishna devotees took turns chanting, and the organizers were excited to invite them to come back next year for a more extensive festival.
Chanting in Leeds
I was pleased that several members of our congregation in Leeds came out for harinama before their monthly program on the last Sunday of the month.
I chose to speak on Lord Balarama and His role as a peacemaker in the quarrels between Krishna and Rukmi, Bhima and Duryodhana, and Samba and Kuru warriors. I also read some of the spiritual instructions He gave to Rukmini on the day of her marriage. There was one new person who was the friend of a regular, and I think those pastimes of Lord Balarama are easier to appreciate for new people than some of His others.
Although the Dublin Ratha-yatra and the Newcastle retreat happened the last weekend in August, I chose to go to the nama-hattas which I have been visiting around the Manchester area for several years. I felt I had spend too little time in The North of England, so I eliminated Dublin. I asked Janananda Goswami about the others, and he recommended I choose the nama-hattas over the retreat, and so I did.
Back to Newcastle
Most of the Newcastle devotees were exhausted from the retreat, but Maha-mantra Prabhu, who likes to attend festivals in Newcastle, came out on harinama wth me on the last day of August. Chanting with me for three hours, he conquered over his reluctance to go on harinama and developed a greater appreciation for it. It was kind of Krishna to grant me some success in encouraging people in devotional service, as I wound up my stay in The North of England.
The Newcastle devotees had a birthday dinner for Anjali, who just became twenty-one.
We were all excited about the veggie burgers that Kalki Prabhu had made, especially Prema Sankirtana Prabhu.
The mango drink, which I was too eager to drink to take a picture of, was made with cream and the best mango drink I have had in recent memory.
Of course, the cake made by Yamuna Jivana dd was also a winner.
To see photos I did not include in this journal, click on the link below:
Insights
Srila Prabhupada:
From a lecture on Bhagavad-gita4.22 on April 11, 1974, in Bombay:
“Don’t think that because you are Krishna conscious you will be always successful. It doesn’t matter. Even if you are unsuccessful, you must know firmly that without Krishna’s desire, nothing can happen. If you are unsuccessful, then you should know it is Krishna’s desire. There is no question of being depressed because you are unsuccessful. A devotee is never depressed in any horrible condition of life.”
From a lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam1.2.18 on September 26, 1974, in Calcutta:
The beginning is faith. That is why we are establishing all these centers, so people can acquire faith.
Our only business is to see that we are satisfying Krishna.
Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami:
From Japa Transformations:
“Sometimes when you begin your japa, you feel reluctant. It just doesn’t have a taste. The only solution for that is to keep going resolutely. The taste eventually comes, always. The lack of taste may be due to many things, often physical. You may be tired from lack of sleep or some physical malady. Mental lack of taste is due to your poor Krishna consciousness. It may be prominent on a particular day, just because of the whims of the cancalamind. It is a sad reflection to reveal to you that you’re just not a good chanter. There is no excuse for it, you just must keep chanting and overcome the bad state of the mind. It’s sad that we are not instantly excellent chanters in the morning, and that some mornings find us with the blues. During the chanting we can pray to Krishna to help us out of this slump and bring us to our rightful position. Chanting is a kind of mechanism. With a little effort we will find ourselves back on track. Those are the days to push with extra effort to find our rightful place. Determination is required, and the strength to not become overwhelmed with depression at our poor state. Don’t take it as such a terrible thing, just work through it and come to the right position.”
“But
this lack of
taste can always
be overcome if
one persists with
determination. Nama
Prabhu will not
refuse to grant His
mercy to the
surrendered soul.”
this lack of
taste can always
be overcome if
one persists with
determination. Nama
Prabhu will not
refuse to grant His
mercy to the
surrendered soul.”
“In summer at Stuyvesant Falls, New York,
a wonderful event takes place:
evening campfire kirtanas.
Sacisuta starts a fire
on the edge of his large lawn
and keeps adding logs, so
it’s always a substantial fire. As
dusk turns to night
the children stop
running around and gather
close to the adults for
no-nonsense chanting. If
the moon is out it’s nice,
but if not, there are plenty
of distant stars and the event takes on the aura of
a native American ritual.
But it’s transcendental, with
Lord Caitanya’s mridangaand karatalas
and the main thing, the
Hare Krishna mantra.
Snacks are prepared
to attract the children
(and the grown-ups too).
They are nick-named “S’more”
(some more – I want more).
They consist of a piece of banana
pierced by a stick and placed
into the fire.
When it melts
it’s taken out and a sandwich
is made with a graham cracker and
a piece of Hershey chocolate.
They are offered to Gaura-Nitai,
and they taste so good that
many are taken.
Neighbors who don’t
usually chant are allured
by the communal scene,
enjoying in purifying themselves
in the holy chant.
The singing goes on
for hours – the children
are allowed to stay up late
and no one gets bored.
It’s an excellent dovetailing
of communing with nature,
family solidarity and the
thing that makes it magic
– the Hare Krishna chant.”
a wonderful event takes place:
evening campfire kirtanas.
Sacisuta starts a fire
on the edge of his large lawn
and keeps adding logs, so
it’s always a substantial fire. As
dusk turns to night
the children stop
running around and gather
close to the adults for
no-nonsense chanting. If
the moon is out it’s nice,
but if not, there are plenty
of distant stars and the event takes on the aura of
a native American ritual.
But it’s transcendental, with
Lord Caitanya’s mridangaand karatalas
and the main thing, the
Hare Krishna mantra.
Snacks are prepared
to attract the children
(and the grown-ups too).
They are nick-named “S’more”
(some more – I want more).
They consist of a piece of banana
pierced by a stick and placed
into the fire.
When it melts
it’s taken out and a sandwich
is made with a graham cracker and
a piece of Hershey chocolate.
They are offered to Gaura-Nitai,
and they taste so good that
many are taken.
Neighbors who don’t
usually chant are allured
by the communal scene,
enjoying in purifying themselves
in the holy chant.
The singing goes on
for hours – the children
are allowed to stay up late
and no one gets bored.
It’s an excellent dovetailing
of communing with nature,
family solidarity and the
thing that makes it magic
– the Hare Krishna chant.”
From Japa Transformations:
“When I have pain, I face an alternative: to chant through the pain or to stop and wait until later in the day, after the pain has cleared up. I prefer to chant through the pain, because I never know how long the pain may last. I don’t want to go late into the day with my quota not reached. I can chant with pain by chanting silently and going to a small place in my heart where the pain doesn’t affect me. I call out to Krishna from there, and I’m not affected. I sit back in a comfortable position and try to relax and say the rounds at a moderate pace. I pray to Krishna to allow me to do it nicely and to forgive me for the inevitable lack of perfection. Krishna stays with me, and we chant together. I used to get migraines that would last twenty-four hours. So there’s no question but that I have to persist in chanting during those times. I can’t hold up the white flag of surrender to no chanting, but I chant as best I can and count on Krishna’s leniency and compassion. I can still pay attention to the syllables and chant silently in my mind.
“Chanting under duress
is a bit of a mess.
You can’t concentrate clearly
because the pain blocks you nearly.
Rather than stop, you push on,
and you’re happy to get them done.
Wounded japais better than none,
and you feel you have actually won.
is a bit of a mess.
You can’t concentrate clearly
because the pain blocks you nearly.
Rather than stop, you push on,
and you’re happy to get them done.
Wounded japais better than none,
and you feel you have actually won.
“A poor beginning will not
last for the gutsy chanter of
the Names. Soon the
soothing balm of Nama
Prabhu covers the rough
patch with its nectar.
last for the gutsy chanter of
the Names. Soon the
soothing balm of Nama
Prabhu covers the rough
patch with its nectar.
“Like a bad dream, the
faulty start evaporates, and a
cheerful sunrise appears
through the beads.
faulty start evaporates, and a
cheerful sunrise appears
through the beads.
“All that was required is that
I show Krishna I’m sincere and
not a fair-weather chanter—I
can endure a bad first inning.”
I show Krishna I’m sincere and
not a fair-weather chanter—I
can endure a bad first inning.”
“A fine kind of kirtana
is when a great, dynamic
singer like B. B. Govinda Maharaja
is in a crowded temple and does his leading
with a microphone
in his hand. You
follow his melodies in bliss.
But a variety is when he
takes the mike and goes up
to each devotee and ‘forces’
him or her to lead the mantra
one time. He is ‘merciless’
and approaches even the
shy devotees, the old people,
the children and the newcomers
who may not sing so well. It produces a
riotous, communal, happy
feeling with everyone taking part.
When all have taken their turn
Maharaja brings the microphone
back to himself and
leads in his strong, commanding voice.”
is when a great, dynamic
singer like B. B. Govinda Maharaja
is in a crowded temple and does his leading
with a microphone
in his hand. You
follow his melodies in bliss.
But a variety is when he
takes the mike and goes up
to each devotee and ‘forces’
him or her to lead the mantra
one time. He is ‘merciless’
and approaches even the
shy devotees, the old people,
the children and the newcomers
who may not sing so well. It produces a
riotous, communal, happy
feeling with everyone taking part.
When all have taken their turn
Maharaja brings the microphone
back to himself and
leads in his strong, commanding voice.”
From Japa Transformations:
“This morning I found this tastelessness when I began, but it did not last long. Within a couple of rounds, I was feeling better and cheerful, and I was chanting at a good speed. I didn’t give in to the poor start, which could have lasted longer. Mayais always waiting to catch us and tell us that the chanting is not working and that we are worthless and might as well give up. But actually we are just having a little bump in the road that we can overcome with persistence. It is just a temporary mood that can easily be overcome by chanting several rounds of japawithout quitting. Krishna does not want to withhold the sweetness of the holy names, and He is just testing us. He is just showing us our low state. He will allow us to overcome it in short order.”
“Try to please Radharani by chanting Her names clearly and with devotion. Krishna is never alone. He’s always with Radharani, and this is true also in the Hare Krishna mantra.”
Jagatama Prabhu (Manchester):
Lecture on Balarama’s appearance:
Nothing could be more pleasing to Krishna than to glorify His brother [Balarama]. Of course, Krishna has a brother, because brotherhood is one kind of relationship. In the spiritual world, there are brothers and sisters, and fathers and mothers.
Every devotee should feel friendship for Krishna.
Krishna is not formless but “formmore”. [He has a superior spiritual form.]
We desire eternal friendship in this world, but we are frustrated because it does not exist here.
Our relationships are a copy or imitation, where brotherhood is based on birth, but there in the spiritual world, it is eternal.
We have to understand this eternal brotherhood, although it is inconceivable to us.
People doubt how God can have arms and legs. You have arms and legs. Where did you get them from?
Krishna’s form is attractive to all species.
Understanding these transcendental relationships is our ticket for going back to Godhead.
Our mission in life is to leave this place and go back to Godhead and take as many people with us as we can.
Krishna refers to Balarama as the original Personality of Godhead, so what does original mean? Actually everything in the spiritual world is original, and everything here is a copy.
Krishna is not so eager to be served. He wants a big brother so He can render service.
Balarama is guru-tattva, and one can see Krishna’s massaging Balarama’s legs as indicating that the disciple should massage the legs of the guru.
In the pastime of Dhenukasura, the ass demon, Bhaktivinoda Thakura explains the fruits are the pastimes of Radha and Krishna and the sweet taste of the fruits is the pleasure derived from hearing the pastimes. The ass demon represents the dull logicians who advise their followers not to hear the pastimes of Radha and Krishna. When you become eager to hear about Krishna, you will find logicians who advise you not to. Their chanting will destroy them by giving them sayujya (impersonal) liberation instead of devotion.
The love of Vrindavana residents would overwhelm their knowledge of Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
When Balarama returned to Vrindavana, He did the rasa dance with gopis who were younger and did not participate in Krishna’s rasa dance previously, thus it is said Krishna has His gopis and Balarama has His gopis.
Radha Mohan Prabhu (Manchester):
The big difference between Krishna and Balarama is that Balarama only desires to serve Krishna.
Krishna only wants to exchange love with His devotees.
Balarama expands as the shoes of Krishna, His bed, etc.
Our real mood comes out in difficulty.
Laksmana did everything possible to make the stay of Rama in the forest completely peaceful. He did not sleep even a moment. How was that possible? Because of his love for Lord Rama.
Srila Prabhupada was successful in spreading Krishna consciousness all over the world because of his love for his guru and for Krishna.
The most difficult service for Laksmana was to build a fire to test the chastity of Sita.
Then even more difficult than that was to leave Sita, who was pregnant, in the forest.
Thus when Laksmana appeared as Balarama, He decided to become the elder brother, so He would not be obliged to do things He did not agree with.
It is said that Dvivida had the power of 10,000 elephants in each arm. Dvivida was proud of his own service to Rama, and thus he offended Laksmana, thinking him to be insignificant. As soon as you offend a devotee, you lose Krishna’s grace, and you become attracted to bad association, and that is what happened to Dvivida.
We can avoid bad association by staying in good association.
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This verse tells some of the names of Lord Balarama, whose appearance day was celebrated on August 29 this year:
garbha-sankarsanat tam vai
prahuh sankarsanam bhuvi
rameti loka-ramanad
balabhadram balocchrayat
“The ssent from the womb of Devaki to the womb of Rohini. He will be called Rama because of His ability to please all the inhabitants of Gokula,on of Rohini [Balarama] will also be celebrated as Sankarsana because of being and He will be known as Balabhadra because of His extensive physical strength.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.2.13)