The latest issue of Sri Krishna-kathamrita Bindu e-magazine was…
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The latest issue of Sri Krishna-kathamrita Bindu e-magazine was just released.
Topics include: * SRI RADHIKA’S MOOD AND PASTIMES – Excerpts from the teachings of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. * PRAYING FOR SURRENDER TO RADHA – A fresh translation done for this issue of Bindu from Srila Prabhodhananda Saraswati Thakur’s, Sri Radha-rasa-sudha-nidhi. * MISSING OUT ON VRINDAVAN – A continuation from last issue of another fresh translation done Bindu of commentaries on Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu. If one worships Radha Krishna in the wrong mood that devotee may attain the position of a queen in Dwarka. * A FLAG FOR RADHIKA – A first time translation for this issue of Bindu from Srila Kavi Karnapur’s Alankara-kaustubha. The verse presented in this issue is in the style known as citra-kavya, meaning literally “picture-poem”. This particular verse dedicated to Srimati Radharani is presented in the shape of a flag.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19648

Relevance of Krishnas descent – TEMPLE acronym – Janmashtami special
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Lecture Podcast:


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The post Relevance of Krishnas descent – TEMPLE acronym – Janmashtami special appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Comparing appearances of Krishna and Rama – Janmashtami special
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Lecture Podcast:


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The post Comparing appearances of Krishna and Rama – Janmashtami special appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

How Should We Love in the Material World? And other Krishna Q & A
→ The Enquirer

Question: How do we love in the material world in such a way that it does not overshadow our pursuit of real love? I have seen both extremes: people whose “love” for material relationships interferes with their spiritual practice, and people who, supposedly in pursuit of divine love (prema) neglect love in their material relationships.

I think you have the idea that there are two kinds of love – material and spiritual. I think this is a misconception. Love is love. It is inherently spiritual.

Certainly there is a distinction between love and lust – a.k.a. prema and kāma. But it becomes confusing if we consider lust as “material love.” Love is love, lust is lust. Any similarity in expression is very superficial. The deep difference between love and lust is the focal point of the emotion. The focal point of love is the beloved, and the focal point of lust is oneself.

This seems to take a lot of the mystery out of your question. We must love people for their benefit, not for our own. This love is inherently spiritual, and should hardly or rarely, if ever, be expected to  interfere with the development of divine love.

The difference between “divine love” and “love” is only the identity of the beloved. In divine love, the beloved is divine. Specifically, in Krishna prema the beloved is Krishna.

We can’t get Krishna prema by loving our neighbor or our parents, but the idea that loving people might hamper our attainment of Krishna prema seems to be very ignorant of the fact that all things and all beings are manifestations of Krishna’s energy. In fact, Śrī Jīva’s commentary on Śrī Rūpa’s definition of love (Bhakti-rasāmṛta Sindhu 1.1.11) makes an effort to specify that the word “Krishna” in that definition does not exclude other entities who manifest portions of Krishna’s energy.

To sum it up, if we want Krishna-prema, we definitely have to exercise love specifically for Vṛndāvana Krishna, following the cues set by the Vṛndāvana residents who love him, such as his friends, his elders, and especially his girlfriends the gopīs. But the necessity of specifically loving Krishna does not mean we don’t love other people, or that loving other people interferes with loving Krishna. This just seems extremely novice to me. It reminds me of the definition of kaniṣṭha-adhikārī (lowest-class, most novice “devotee”) who only thinks that the obvious form of God in a temple is worshippable, and ignores everything and everyone else through whom God manifests.

Question: What do you make of the Bhagvatams often mentioned advice to meditate on the lotus feet of the Lord. I just read today in the 3rd canto: The miracles of meditating on the lotus feet of the Lord with eagerness and devotion are so great that no other process can compare to it. (3.5.42) This comes in the section where the demigods are praying to the Lord to utilize the material elements to be able to carry out their service. Does this mean to literally meditate on each of the symbols of Krishna’s feet?

Bhāgavatam is a kavya (poetic) composition, because the beautiful rasa of Krishna-tattva can not be expressed in anything less than sublime poetry. You should read it with this in mind. It is not simply a technical manual.

Poetically, when I refer to you by a reference to your feet, it shows that I greatly value you. I consider myself fit to only mention the lowest part of you, your feet. It does not mean that I am interesting only or main in just your feet! It means that I greatly admire and revere you. This may seem like a bit of a Vedic cultural specificity, but I think it’s a fairly universal principle of human culture that direct address is uncouth unless the conversation is between intimate partners. Even then, among intimates, direct address is not preferred because it is often boring. Indirect address is much more respectful, and in intimate relationships it is also much more affectionate and emotionally rich.

Krishna says, parokṣavāda ṛṣayaḥ, parokṣam mama ca priyam – “The sages speak with indirect words, and I also love to speak indirectly.”

In the section you’ve quoted, the personified śaktis of paramātmā are petitioning him for his help (because they cannot cause the atomic material elements to combine into complex molecular structures. They cannot generate the forces of cohesion). So they are speaking in a very respectful mood. Therefore they would never directly address Viṣṇu. They indirectly address him, by for example addressing themselves to his feet. This is an example of “ṛṣayaḥ parokṣavāda” the respectfully indirect speech of great sages.

In other places, very intimate associates of Krishna like the Queens of Dvārakā or the Gopīs of Vraja may also use indirect address like this. There it has nothing to do with awe-insiring distant reverence. Krishna and his intimate associates speak this way because it is simply more affectionate, nuanced, and emotionally rich. It is an example of “parokṣam mama ca priyam.”

Question: In the first chapter of, Perfect Questions, Perfect Answers, Prabhupada says that God has no name, but we give Him different names according to His qualities. This statement confused my mind. If has names are just things we’ve ascribed to him, how is he “non-different” from his name?

That book is a compilation of conversations Prabhupāda had with different intellectual or philosophical people. So you have to account for the conception of the person Prabhupāda is speaking to. A good communicator tailors what he or she says so that the specific individual they are talking to will be more likely to understand and relate to what they are trying to communicate.

This person was probably coming from the idea that God is beyond definition, so Prabhupāda explains the importance of God’s names without trespassing on the person’s conviction that God is ultimately beyond names.

This is a subjective truth – it is a way of explaining something to a specific individual with specific preconceptions. The objective truth is that anything directly related to a self-causing eternal entity is also self-causing and eternal. Krishna exists eternally as the ultimate root of self-manifest consciousness. His qualities are co-eternal with him, as are his actions expressing his qualities, and the “bodily” form he uses to carry out those actions, and the names which describe his qualities and their expressions.

In other words, Krishna’s nāma, rūpa, guṇa, parikara, and līlā are eternal expressions of his eternal nature, but Prabhupāda didn’t explain that point to this particular man, because there is only so much you can say to one person at one time, and you have to focus on the most important thing you want to get across – which in this cases seems to have been Prabhupāda’s intention of conveying to the man the reasonable importance of God’s names.

Question: Since Krishna is non-different from his form, we can worship a deity and it is the same as if we are worshipping Krishna directly. But there are deities of demigods too, and they’re not absolute and non-different from their form. If it still works,  it means that deity worship has nothing to do with absoluteness. So, how can deity and god be the same?

The principle of absolute non-duality between Krishna and his form is important, but deity worship in general is a valid and effective system even without this principle (as in the case of demi-gods).

The basic purpose of a deity is to give a focal point for personal “worship” or personal devotional practice. The deity is a focal point for our consciousness to access a remote entity. Therefore the deity is basically as good as the entity it provides a access to.

The same principle works for any statue or image. If you look at a picture of a long lost friend, for example, your consciousness focuses on that person. The image/form always grants access to the entity, even if the entity is remote. Form is always related to the entity possessing/generating the form – even when that relationship between entity and form is not eternal or absolute.

Question: I chanted two rounds a day for a year, and found it very boring. Now, since a month ago I chant sixteen rounds a day, and find it to be very fun. Can I see this as a sign of success? Or could it be just a kind of meditative state which my mind enjoys?

What’s the difference? If you are enjoying meditation on Krishna’s name, that is success.

Many people, including myself, have had a similar experience: chanting more seems to solve the problem of not getting into the chanting. Maybe it is because the effort to chant more renews our focus, and the focus is what provides the spiritual experience?

– Vraja Kishor dās

For books, kīrtan, etc. please visit: VrajaKishor.com


Tagged: Chanting Hare Krishna, Deity Worship, foot meditation, gods names, lotus feet, Love, love and lust, material love

Evening Cultural Program on Nandotsava in Vrindavan (Album with…
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Evening Cultural Program on Nandotsava in Vrindavan (Album with photos)
On the occasion of Nandotsava, two very talented Vaisnavis - Vrindarani & Chandramukhi dasi perfomed traditional odisi Dance for Krishna at Balaram hall. And Vrindavan Kala Kendra devoteed kids perfomed drama on Krishna stealing butter from devotees.
See them here: https://goo.gl/gWbpwE

Janmashtami In The Land Of Mohammed (Album with…
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Janmashtami In The Land Of Mohammed (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Ufa is the capital of the Republic of Bashkortostan. The beautiful city, with many old rustic houses, has a population of just over one million people, 90% of whom are Sunni Muslims. Somehow, by the special grace of Lord Caitanya, ISKCON has a temple not far from the center of the city. Because it is an Islamic republic there are some restrictions on our preaching. For example, on Janmashtami day we were given permission to chant in a square where there were very few people. But in general the citizens are friendly and appreciative of our activities.
See them here: https://goo.gl/Gm7gnp

A Fixed Number Of Rounds
→ Japa Group

"The Gosvamis, especially Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, strictly followed all the regulative principles. The first regulative principle is that one must chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra loudly enough so that he can hear himself, and one must vow to chant a fixed number of rounds."

Caitanya-caritamrta Antya 11.24

Sunday, August 30th, 2015
→ The Walking Monk

Sunday, August 30th, 2015
Plainfield, New Jersey

Rushed

I was rushed to the temple prior to the crack of dawn for the mangal arati, the first chanting session of the day. I was given the invite to lead the chant on this very first arati since the new Krishna deity was installed. It was an honour. Before arriving, I figured that it might be a meagre attendance, being that it was 4:30 AM and everyone was tired from the festivities of the day and night before.

Much to my surprise, we had a full capacity attendance. This goes to show the serious nature to which the community takes to soul activity. It’s a solid investment into life’s journey.

It was three hours later that my dear godbrother, Jayadwaita Swami, shared a message on the significance of our guru, Srila Prabhupada, and his coming 50 years ago to western soil to bring a new way of looking at the world, through a spiritual lens of course, for people’s consideration. It was not that the western populace was spiritually bankrupt but maybe it was time to look at a different angle of spirituality.

There are different approaches, correct?

To my chagrin I once more found no time to go on a promenade of sorts. We have all been on a marathon. So instead of walking I found at one point it was necessary for me to catch up on a much missed rest by a quiet corner of one of the festival tents. I assembled a makeshift bed with 7 chairs. It worked wonders.

Finally it was time to fly back to Canada.

The passenger sitting next to me was a 30 year old Russell, a typical Canadian who’s into sports, has the occasional beer, and experiences his own form of adventure. Recently he and buddies rafted some of the wildest white waters the country offers near James Bay. He also told me he was thrilled about a book he read, “Dharma Bums”, and so we connected on various levels.

“Come by to our Govinda’s, it’s a great eating place.” I personally think he’ll take up the offer when we can share with each other more about travel dynamics in the wild.


May the Source be with you!

0 km

 

Saturday, August 29th, 2015
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Saturday, August 29th, 2015
Plainfield, New Jersey

Showers on the Day

Danudhar Swami and I haven’t met in years but he heard about my anticipated walk retracing the steps of our guru, Srila Prabhupada, 50 years ago. He wished me well. He asked me what shoes I preferred to wear on my pilgrimages. I told him I like to wear air, meaning that I use footwear that allows you to breathe. In the midst of the crowd that came for the celebrations of the Krishna deity installation, I also met an elderly female devotee who walks with a cane. She does so very meticulously and slowly. She deliberately takes those regular strolls being inspired by the walking I’ve done. “I read about you doing those long walks and it always encourages me.”

Now that was great to hear.

It was early while I was bound for the temple complex where much chanting went on and multiple rituals were in progress, executed both by old friends and members of our second generation Hare Krishna community. I had trekked along North Randolphville to Williams Street, then New Market Road, and finally Vail Streetwhich becomes West 7th Street.

And then back.

After a full day of spiritual output, I traced back the steps from the early morning. It was only on my return trip that I spotted the toy train shop which looks like many of the other buildings but is obscured from the night darkness.

I also have to say something about the performance of our drama, Blue Mystic. Our actors pulled off a good show. Co-operative activity makes all things happen. It was hard labour piecing it together, therefore, it was a good reason for the wind down walk in the night time.

Blessings were showered on the day by the mercy of guru.
 

May the Source be with you!

12 km

 

Friday, August 28th, 2015
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Friday, August 28th, 2015
Plainfield, New Jersey

In Plainfield

It just so happened that not an inch did I walk but flying took place. That doesn’t count, however, even though miles were put in going from Toronto to Newark.

Viratrupa was there at Newark Airportto greet Balaram and myself. Our purpose in coming here was to attend the installation of the deities of Radha and Krishna in what I was told was a former Baptist church, now converted into a Krishnatemple. To please the crowds, (devotees have come from all around) I was asked to present a drama of the organizer’s choice, Blue Mystic.

I was happy to see the actors I selected turn up. There were two from Montreal, one from Michigan, one from North Carolina, two from Toronto, and some local extras, all volunteers. So as far as travel is concerned, the practice we put in allowed for a beautiful fatigue to compensate for the lack of trekking.

“Blue Mystic” takes one to ancient times and to Northern India where Krishna’s life is described up to the point of conquering evil in the form of Emperor Kamsa. For many of the onlookers who came upon our rehearsal, it became a transporting of place and time.

By 9 PM our practice concluded with three yummy meals wedged in through the day (we are spoiled). Viratrupa drove me to his lovely home and showed me directions how I could walk the return journey on foot the next morning. We passed by Walgreen’s and then turned a corner by the old model train shop. That pokes at something nostalgic. Where do you find such a shop where they sell electric trains? Just like where do you find an old drive-in movie anymore? Or where do you find an old sundae shop with swivelling chairs and old time ice cream? They are few and far between but they do exist.

More relevant is where do you find bhakti, devotion? Answer, somewhere within the inner recesses of the heart.
 

May the Source be with you!

0 km

 

The holy names are the only solace
→ Servant of the Servant

This world is a miserable place, the Holy Name and pure devotees are our only shelter.


 


vancha-kalpatarubhyash cha
kripa-sindhubhya eva cha
patitanam pavanebhyo
vaishnavebhyo namo namaha

I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Vaishnava devotees of the Lord. They are just like desire trees and can fulfill the desires of everyone, and they are full of compassion for the fallen conditioned souls.

Hare Krishna

Thursday, August 27th, 2015
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Thursday, August 27th, 2015
Owen Sound, Ontario
 
Outing at Owen
 
Two families and I made the two hour trip to Owen Sound for yet another outing. There we met the three generational Hanna clan and two generational Kaliyavadiya clan. Just outside Owen Sound is a small hamlet called Springmount. On the way you pass by one of the last of Canada’s drive-in movies which were popular in the fifties and sixties and then arrive at a park at JonesFalls, one of numerous waterfalls found on the Niagara escarpment. The temperature just wasn’t strong enough to justify a swim today. We settled for a walk on the Bruce Trail which has offshoot trails indicated by the paint strip found on the bark of trees. One colour was red, the other was white. We were captivated by some twisty and windy cedar trees as well as some ancient maple growth.
 
I failed to mention our Nepalese companion, Suman, who heard that mushrooms were in abundance. He came prepared with his sizeable canvass bag meant for foraging for four different kinds of mushrooms.
 
“What are you going to do with this?” I asked as he made good with the harvest.
 
Cook it and eat it,” he said plainly. The man was in ecstasy and upon discovering a mushroom would make this unique form of a howl, something that kind of comes along with the territory when you’re trekking through the woods. Alex also had a knack for howling, which was okay because he was taking the lead and he would help us stay on track.
 
We capped off our day, much after the walk was finished, with a chant converging in one home. We handed our honourary flower garland to Samantha, a local yoga teacher from the area. She’s in love with kirtanand plays a role in networking with others in kirtan admitting that it is the ultimate yoga practice.
 
The meal that followed was prepared by Alka and it was to die for. Of course, it was animal free but also gluten free. We found the dishes scrumptious. Our program was dedicated to young Priyam who, in four days, will set off to university for his first year. Congratulations!
 
 
May the Source be with you!
 
9 km

Wednesday, August 26th, 2015
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Wednesday, August 26th, 2015
Markham, Ontario

Accommodate the Mantra

I had been carrying with me a wedding invitation card for some days. I was in anticipation of being present at a fine Sri Lankan style event uniting one of the boys I’ve known and guided during his youth to a young woman from Madison, Wisconsin. Finally, fruition hit. The day had come and that was today. The temple on Finch Avenue played host to the marriage of Cowsigan and Apilasha. It took me a while to get his name down, Cowsigan. I would verbalize it and struggle with it for years. We had a shortened version for his name, Kausik. Now, seeing the actual name in black and white and on the invite card, it comes easier.

At the event, I was offered to speak to the crowd to give a message of blessings to the couple. I was introduced as the one who does marathon walks – pilgrimage. It was a golden opportunity to insert kirtan. The musicians present there were poised to play as I introduced the maha mantra to the crowd. When I say “introduced”, I’m rather serious about it. This crowd is accustomed to uttering mantras to Ganesh, Kartikeya, Sai Baba but the maha mantra, I’m sure it’s rarely touched in this mandir(temple).

Here is the immortal spiritual sound of the maha mantra:

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna

Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama

Rama Rama Hare Hare

I saw truly happy faces emerge from the execution of chanting this great mantra (our guru, Srila Prabhupada, considered that any ritual was complete when this mantra was included). I could see Cowsigan was joyous upon having that kirtan tossed into the colourful rites of his marriage. Oh, and I gave him a big hug after the chant. We have this word, purnam, in Sanskrit, it means ‘complete’. Whatever is your endeavour, simply accommodate the mantra and make everything complete.
 

May the Source be with you!

7 km

 

ISKCON Kurukshetra Temple Corner Stone Ceremony
→ ISKCON News

SKCON’s founder-acharya Srila Prabhupada had a keen desire that a temple of Lord Krishna and his devotee Arjuna come up in the holy land of Kurukshetra where the message of Bhagavad Gita was spoken 5,000 years ago. The future temple would be shaped as a chariot and would cover an area of 6 acres. Among other functions, the temple would house facilities for Bhagavad Gita studies, food distribution, and a goshala for cow protection.

TOVP – Cinematic Aerial Footage, Mayapur Sep 2015
- TOVP.org

The most cinematic aerial footage of TOVP shot by Prananatha Das (Paul Tuffery) in September of 2015 in Mayapur, India.

The main dome of the TOVP is now complete in regard to the installation of the panels. This short clip gives a birds eye view of TOVP on Janmastami day, 2015.

The post TOVP – Cinematic Aerial Footage, Mayapur Sep 2015 appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

Hare Krishna! Curing Depression with Spirituality Sri…
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Hare Krishna! Curing Depression with Spirituality
Sri Nandanandana dasa: In spite of what a person who is suffering depression may think, it is actually very easy to overcome depression from a spiritual point of view. It is not at all as difficult as one imagines. And this is a major issue, since it is all a matter of perspective or point of view, which is based on the mental disposition. This attitude and perspective is what must be changed. Mind has the mysterious power of magnifying a problem and making it appear formidable and bigger than it is. Do not listen to the promptings of the mind. Reject them ruthlessly and throw them out. Although spirituality may not be able to cure all forms of depression completely, it will certainly help. In many cases, developing oneself spiritually can lay the groundwork so that if you are depressed, you may change your view which may allow you to rise above a depressed state of mind. In other cases, it can lift you right out of any depression or despair that you may feel.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=2633

Hare Krishna! Putting An End to Courtesy Japa Mahatma Das:…
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Hare Krishna! Putting An End to Courtesy Japa
Mahatma Das: “Nish, nish, ram, ram, nish, nish, ram, ram.” Prabhupada once imitated how we sometimes chant without focus, without concentration, without proper pronunciation – how we chant when we don’t feel like chanting. You know the mood behind this chanting; “I have to chant but I’d rather be doing something else.” And in our minds we are thinking, “I can’t wait to get these rounds out of the way.” We all do this. And it can get pretty bad. I know devotees who chant rounds while watching football games on TV. Prabhupada explained that this type of chanting is more or less useless because it will not produce the desired result, love of Krsna. To even call this chanting is a stretch. It is closer to a ritual. But Prabhupada acknowledged the value in the ritual by saying that although this kind of chanting is not very productive, at least those who are chanting this way are keeping their vow to chant.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=2639

Prabhupada Samadhi Online Seva Launch
→ Mayapur.com

On the occasion of Vyasa Puja of Srila Prabhupada, Mayapur Online Services is happy to announce the launch of Prabhupada Samadhi Online Seva. Now, devotees worldwide can offer their personal sevas to Srila Prabhuapada in his samadhi at Mayapur. Nrsimhadev puja will be performed for all donors. All donors with Indian address will also receive […]

The post Prabhupada Samadhi Online Seva Launch appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Hare Krishna! Sh. Arvind Kejrival ( Delhi CM) Visited Iskcon…
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Hare Krishna! Sh. Arvind Kejrival ( Delhi CM) Visited Iskcon Rohini On Janmashtami
The leaders of rulling party (CM ARVIND KEJRIWAL) and opposition party (VIJENDER GUPTA) took shelter of Lord KRISHNA under at iskcon temple rohini in Delhi The grand festival took place on janmashtami 5th Sept both the leaders took darshan performed aarti and did Abhishek of the Lord. CM came along with his wife and his father and several MLA’s of aap party was also present. In photo the temple president (iskcon rohini) HG KESHAV MURARI DAS is describing Krishna katha and performed acstatic kirtan.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19629