Planet ISKCON

Bhagavatam-daily Podcast:

Download by “right-click and save content”

Toronto, Ontario

 Advance!

In my humble travels throughout the neighbourhood of our ashram I see so many physical improvements being made; the exteriors to people's homes, the landscaping and, in some cases, whole new structures coming up.  This is a fairly established residential area.  All the face-lifting and sprucing-up gives a grand appearance.  In nearby Yorkville the streets are now being laid out with an interlocking cobblstone effect.  It looks smart, impressive.  Some of the cosmetics have to do with the upcoming Pan Am Games no doubt.

It's all about make-over, upgrade, betterment and enhancement.  I got to thinking about the great investment not only in time and money expended in this area of renovation but how, if we dovetailed as much energy into our spiritual investment, how it would go a long way to the true advancement of life.

The "good life" usually runs in parallel lines, as in the material and the spiritual.  And that usually comes about through the element of sacrifice.

I like the way it is worded in the latest rendition of the Bhagavd-gita, a comprehensive guide by our guru's disciple Hrdayananda Goswami, when speaking of sacrifice.  From Chapter Three verse 9 he says, "Of old, the lord of creatures sent forth creatures with sacrifice and said, 'By this shall you flourish!  Let this yield your chosen desires' and 'prosper the gods by this, and let the gods prosper you.  Prospering one another, you will achieve the highest good.  Prospered by sacrifice, the gods will certainly give you desired enjoyments.'"

Chapter Three primarily deals with karma yoga, material advancement.  Students of the Gita understand that the goal ultimately leads, however, to spiritual improvement in life.

May the Source be with you!

5 km

Very nice advise given by Jayapataka Swami from a Japa Seminar.
Email subscribers please click the big blue link above to see the video.

Bhāgavatam continues describing the qualities of a genuine leader (4.16.7)

He is patient with the disorderly
and tries to uplift even them.
He is always compassionate to everyone
and supports the needy like the earth supports all creatures.

---

4) He doesn’t silence those who don’t comply, he deals productively with those who protest. He is patient and tries to uplift them and uplift himself by understanding their criticism and the reasons for their disorder.

5) He is generous in economic and practical ways – giving support to those who need it.

---

When the gods withhold blessings
that god, Hari, in the form of the King, god of men
immediately protects the citizens from danger and death,
as if he were Indra himself.

---

The king takes taxes and develops a treasury to store wealth. Thus even if the gods / destiny create drought or famine or catastrophe, the king can draw upon his reserves to save his citizens from death and danger. Therefore he is as good as the lord of the gods, Indra.

Hari himself empowers the king to maintain such reserve of wealth.

---

Everyone sees his generous face
as the epitome of nectar.
He looks upon everyone with affection,
smiling broadly and beautifully.

---

5) He is kind, and it is obvious.

He doesn’t hate his subjects for being so needy and weak. The moon is said to have an unlimited supply of nectar, similarly the king has an unlimited supply of life-giving affection for his people. He never looks upon his dependents as if they were a burden. Only the weak look upon their dependents as burdens.

---

His paths are not visible.
His plans are kept confidential.
His intentions are profound.
His wealth is not fully demonstrated.
He conceals his stature
as the font of unlimitedly glorious qualities,
as Pracetā Varuṇa conceals himself within the seas.

---

6) He is not an extrovert

He keeps important things secret. He is not in a rush to have his glories known by everyone. He prefers to keep them safe and secret so that others will not attempt to plunder or ruin them. He needs his wealth and resources to serve the needy citizens or to serve the entire community in a time of need – therefore he does not vainly advertise his powers and accomplishments.

---

Calamity cannot approach him,
from afar he curbs and regulates them.
No one can conquer him,
the flame born from the wood of Vena.

---

7) He is not embroiled in perpetual crisis!

He is powerful enough to resolve crisis before it becomes critical.

---

He sees both the outer and inner nature
of everyone’s deeds and plans,
just like the all-witnessing
impartial soul of all bodies.

---

By spies he sees the inner and outer nature of aggressors, but by personal insight he sees the outer and inner nature of everyones plans and deeds because he is empowered by the Supersoul, which is everywhere and inside and outside of everything.

Continuing from Part 1.

by Vraja Kishor dāsa

VrajaKishor.com

Tagged: Leadership, leadership qualities, vedic leadership

ISKCON Brampton will move July 19th, 2015 Sunday feast program to the central island  to celebrate 43rd annual ISKCON Toronto Rathyatra.

For more information about ISKCON Toronto RATHYATRA : http://www.festivalofindia.ca/

Holy Name Meditation Podcast:

Download by “right-click and save content”

Birmingham Rathayatra
The 15th Anniversary of the Birmingham Rathayatra Festival 2015 promises to be a spectacular event with a City Centre procession and festival, incorporating all the exoticness, vitality and colour that is India.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18452

Written by Ananda Vrindavan Dasi

Gita Nagari (25-27 June)

On 25 June, Maharaj bid farewell to deities and devotees of New Vrindavan, whose hearts he surely won even with this short visit, and departed for Gita Nagari farm in Pennsylvania, home of the famous Sri Sri Radha-Damodara deities. He was attending the occasion of Bhakti Tirtha Swami tirobhava – the tenth year anniversary of BTS passing away. Many disciples, godbrothers, friends, well-wishers and admirers of Bhakti Tirtha Swami came from all around the world to honor and to celebrate him and his legacy, at this three days event. It was a very emotional and deeply spiritually surcharged time and everyone felt it was a privilege to be there for this really special occasion. It was heart moving to many to be so close to his puspa samadhi and the community that was Bhakti Tirtha Swami’s home-base where he also wrote many of his books, especially ‘The Beggar’ series.

Kadamba Kanana Maharaj gave a brilliant Srimad Bhagavatam class the next morning (26 June), where many devotees saw him for the first time in person. Maharaj mentioned that he visited Gita Nagari once in the eighties. The devotees were impressed by Maharaj’s relevance, wisdom, friendliness, approachability, humility and of course, his witty humor! He concentrated on the theme of the guru-disciple relationship and how the role of the guru is to increase eagerness in the disciple and not allow for the routine to set in i.e. not to live by automatic pilot. He spoke also about the necessity of deep absorption and setting our priorities clearly.

As the first day of the festival focused on the fifty year anniversary of Srila Prabhupada coming to the West, Maharaj also reflected on that – especially on how personal and caring Prabhupada was by coming down and living with the people whom he preached to, giving them so much of his personal attention. He added that when Srila Prabhupada said that he wanted all his disciples to become spiritual masters, actually that could be translated into wanting all of us to become selfless and start giving. Maharaj then glorified the exemplary son of Srila Prabhupada – Bhakti Tirtha Swami, whom he often met in South Africa, on the preaching field.

Later that afternoon, several of Srila Prabhupada’s revered disciples were asked to speak and among them was Kadamba Kanana Swami who shared about Srila Prabhupada’s lifting the veil of Vrindavan dham all over the world, making the spirit of the dham highly accessible. And then… words, of course, fail to describe the kirtan Maharaj led that evening – with so many Afro-American devotees having kirtan and rhythm in their blood, such singing and vigorous dancing was not seen before!

Candramauli Swami was also making sure that everyone danced as wildly as possible! And – as it was Bhakti Tirtha Swami’s festival, everyone could swear they felt his vivid presence, dancing and celebrating amongst us. Pure kirtan joy lasted for three incredible hours, leaving us deeply fulfilled but barely able to walk, which actually did not matter. Devotees at Gita Nagari farm were thrilled to have had Maharaj visit and were so deeply thankful he made it and shared the jewels of his devotion to Krsna. So many asked about recordings of his classes and kirtans and expressed amazement at his wonderful personality. Many wished he could be back again, soon.

Hare Krishna! Sense Gratification: An Essay in Pathology Part 2
Ravindra Svarupa Dasa: The wise know well that this world is itself a disaster area. We fools of time are loath to hear this. We are “in denial.” As the Bhagavatam says of us, pashyann api na pashyati,” although we have seen, we still don’t see. Our blindness is willful. We make ourselves stupid in order to be happy: Yet ah! why should they know their fate? Since sorrow never comes too late, And happiness too swiftly flies. Thought would destroy their paradise. No more;—where ignorance is bliss, ‘Tis folly to be wise.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18449

CC daily Podcast:

Download by “right-click and save content”

Talk Podcast:

Download by “right-click and save content”

By Madhava Smullen

After Festival of Colors (Holi) drew 5,000 people last September, tri-state area locals are invited to come and participate in another one of India’s most ancient and popular celebrations, Festival of Chariots (Ratha-Yatra), in Moundsville on Saturday July 18^th.

In the holy city of Puri in Orissa, India where it originated, the annual procession – full of music and dance — draws over one million pilgrims. Each hopes to get the honor of pulling the ropes of the 45-foot-high chariots carrying the deity of Jagannath (Lord of the Universe, a name for God) and His companions, Baladeva and Subhadra.

For the British ruling India in the 1800s, the festival was such a powerful experience and the sight of Lord Jagannath on His chariot so awe-inspiring that it originated the word “juggernaut.”

The historic festival was first transplanted to the Western World by the Hare Krishna Movement in San Francsisco in 1967. Today, it’s held every summer in over 200 cities worldwide.

The Hare Krishna temple in the unincorporated village of New Vrindaban, near Moundsville, has been celebrating its own Festival of Chariots since 1973. But this one, its 42^nd, is the first time locals have been invited to participate on a large scale.

Between 800 and 1,000 people are anticipated for the event, with locals from the tri-state area expected to join Hare Krishna devotees from along the East Coast.

The day will begin with the usual early morning worship at New Vrindaban’s Krishna temple, followed by a talk at 8:00am explaining the history and significance of the Festival of Chariots.

“For all faiths, although we understand God is everywhere, we go to the temple, church, synagogue or mosque to see Him,” says Malati Devi, who helped organize the first Festival of Chariots outside India in 1967. “But not everyone goes to those places. So Jagannath comes out of his temple on Ratha Yatra so that everyone can see him, smiling from His chariot.”

Everyone will be able to see Jagannath’s broad smile – His defining characteristic – when the parade starts at 11:30am on McCreary’s Ridge Road.

The over five-foot tall deity will look out from a hand-carved chariot with a vibrant red and yellow canopy topped with a gold spire that will rise 30 feet into the air.

The colorful parade, filled with balloons, flags, joyous Mantra music and dancing, will last around two hours and cover just over a mile.

It will pass the Palace of Gold – dubbed one of the eight religious wonders in the U.S. by CNN – as well as a recreation of India’s sacred Kusum Sarovara lake and giant figures of 15^th century Bengali saints on its way to the Hare Krishna temple.

At the temple, a sumptuous Indian vegetarian feast will be served from 2:00 to 3:30pm free of charge, featuring rice, vegetable curry, vegetable frittes, and mango yoghurt drink. For dessert, there’ll be rice pudding, and gulabjamun, a spongy milk powder sweet soaked in rosewater syrup that has to be tasted to be believed.

At 4:00pm, visitors will get the chance to push smaller deities of Jagannath, Baladeva and Subhadra on an ornate swing in a ceremony called “Jhulan Yatra.” This will be followed by a play portraying the Festival of Chariot’s history, and a traditional arati worship ceremony in the main temple space.

“Meanwhile, we’ll be offering continuous temple tours from 3:00 to 7:00pm,” says director of public relations Vrindavan Das. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to learn about this ancient culture and interact with practioners from different parts of North America.”

The day will end in grand style with the “Swan Boat Festival” from 9:30 to around 10:15pm. Tiki torches will cast an echanting glow in the darkness as small deities of Jagannath, Baladeva and Subhadra ride on a swan-shaped boat across the mirror-like waters of Kusum Lake. There’ll be more mantra music and dancing, culminating with a firework display in the night sky.

The saying, ‘And a good time was had by all’ fits the Festival of Chariots perfectly,” says Malati. “It’s just a great family day out with a wonderful, congenial atmosphere.”

Hare Krishna! Food for Life: in Theory and Practice
One objection to Food for Life frequently encountered from devotees and non-devotees alike, is that the programme is simply an attempt to win public favour. We are not really interested in helping people but are trying to manipulate public opinion by performing a high profile charitable service. For devotees, this objection is also rooted in the doubt that, as a spiritual organisation, ISKCON should not be concerned with mundane welfare work and, of course, we should certainly not be trying to manipulate people’s minds by doing something we don’t really believe in ourselves. The purpose of this paper therefore, is to answer this objection and to establish Food for Life as a programme deserving as much credibility as both hari-nama and book distribution. It is divided into two sections: the philosophical basis of the programme from Srila Prabhupada’s writings, and some practical aspects and benefits of Food for Life.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18446

Help BRC Fulfill Srila Prabhupada’s Divine Vision
For: Bhaktivedanata Research Centre (BRC)
Kolkata, WB, India
Organizer: HG Hari Sauri Prabhu, BRC Co-Director, Mahalakshmi dasi, Membership Coordinator
In 1972, His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Srila Prabhupada visited the son of Bhaktivinoda Thakura , Lalita Prasad Thakur in Birnagar, their ancestral home. It became known after that visit that many invaluable Gaudiya Vaisnava manuscripts were being kept there. Srila Prabhupada ordered his disciples Acyutananda and Yadubara Prabhus to take up this service very seriously. In a letter dated June 12, 1972, He wrote:
“These items are very, very priceless and are a great treasure house of Vaisnava lore, so be very careful in the matter and take all precautions to guard them.”
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/pNqFmb

Dasyam, sakhyam and atma-nivedanam. (English/Turkish)

The post Istanbul lecture on Bhakti-yoga (Part 1) appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

World’s new Sankirtan Leader revealed :-) (1 min video)
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/aquurX

On Sunday, July 5th, at the last TOVP presentation of the North American Tour, the CHAD (Chapter a Day) kids group of the Seattle, Washington temple dove into ecstasy of the fundraising frenzy and pledged $11,000 (Silver Gratitude Coin) for the TOVP.

This is a wonderful example of young Vaishnavas learning how to sacrifice and offer the fruits of their work to the service of the Lord, even before they have the fruits to offer. May they be blessed with Lord Nityananda’s mercy.

Krishna Gundimeda prabhu from Seattle explains what the CHAD kids group is all about:

CHAD is (Chapter A Day). We have a Tele Conference call for that 3 times a day. In the morning these kids recite one chapter from Srimad Bhagavatam, in the afternoon one chapter from Bhagavad Gita, and on the evening call kids have Krishna Katha bed time stories before they go to bed. The kids join the call on holidays and weekends, and adults join on week-days. We have 20+ kids who join the call.

The post CHAD (Chapter a Day) Kids in Seattle Pledge a Silver Coin ($11,000) for TOVP appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

The Temple of the Vedic Planetarium is named as such because within its main dome it will house a 3-dimensional, moving model of the universe according to the Vedic scriptures. This explanation describes the planetary systems and all the universal contents to be in the shape of an incredible chandelier.

The post TOVP Universal Chandelier Video Presentation appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

The TOVP will undoubtedly become one of the wonders of the world in beauty, architecture, design, and sheer size. This beautiful animated view of the TOVP provides a window into that reality.

The post Beautiful Animated View of the TOVP appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

Bhagavatam-daily Podcast:

Download by “right-click and save content”

Bhagavatam-daily Podcast:

Download by “right-click and save content”

Beautiful Houston Ratha-yatra with three small carts!

Bhagavatam-daily Podcast:

Download by “right-click and save content”

Translated Letter from Srila Prabhupada to Lalita Prasad Thakur (Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur’s son) National Hotel, Red park, Moscow, Russia 21st June, 1971. My dear uncle Prabhupada Lalita Prasad Thakur, Kindly accept my humble obeisance to your lotus feet. At present I am staying at the above mentioned hotel in Moscow, Room No. 356. With me there are two American disciples. Here the preaching subject will be 1. Vedic Conception of Communism, 2. Knowledge derived from authoritative tradition, 3. Scientific classless society. Now with your blessing in this severely atheistic country the teachings of Sriman Mahaprabhu will be preached. Here many local and foreigner girls and boys have visited. I advise them to do the Bhajana of the Lord. A few boys of this place have become very much impressed after listening to our Harinama. They want to join us. But the laws of this country are so tough that they cannot go against them. Here discussions are going on to meet many reputable professors and there will be the arrangement of lecture in the Indian Embassy. You bless me. From here I will go to Paris, San Francisco, Los Angeles, London etc. This is the first time I came to Moscow. If you want to write to me, send it to this address—3764 Watseka Avenue. Yours affectionately, Sri Bhaktivedanta Swami (from Bhaktivedanta Research Centre’s Birnagar Collection)

The post Daily Darshan – July 15th, 2015 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Bhagavatam-daily Podcast:

Download by “right-click and save content”

06.07.2015 H.G.Vaikuntha Murti Prabhu_SB-5.26.12

Hare Krishna! Agriculture minister of India visits ISKCON Nairobi
Shriman Mohanbhai Kalyanjibhai Kundaria, the Indian minister for Agriculture who is on a special mission to Kenya, visited ISKCON Nairobi on the 12th July 2015. The minister was received by the temple president H.G Umapati prabhu by garlanding him at the entrance of the temple and marking a vaishnava tilaka on the ministers fore head. Some special mantras were also recited by Bhakta Chandan for invoking auspiciousness and welcoming the minister into the temple. The Minister was escorted by the Hindu Council Chairman Shriman Nitin Malde, and industrialist Shriman Ashok shah.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18443

This is US (23 min video)
This is US a documentary on Tribal people living in the remote areas who are an indispensable part of Indian population. More than 426 tribal groups inhabit in India, The realistic description of their pathetic life, deprived of all facilities like education, health care is highly touching and make one wonder, do such people really exist in the 21st century?
Realizing the challenge of overall development, & to fulfill the desire of Srila Prabhupada to build a house where the whole world can live in peace, Iskcon Tribal Care Initiative has taken a step to break their vicious circle by different developmental initiatives and intervention.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/loYWvE

“O friend of the world! O Ocean of love! The populace has become full of deceit and bereft of knowledge. O my master! Kindly give them shelter at Your lotus feet, for the holy name, uplifter of the fallen, has become manifest from You.” [ Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, Susloka Satakam, verse 21 ]

Another guy I loved was Mādhavendra Pūri, one of the three people involved in San Diego’s branch of something called the Bhaktivedānta Institute – a group of scientifically trained devotees who were trying to explain Krishna consciousness in context of modern science. I was a huge fan of modern science – my dad had majored in physics, and I had been obsessed with astronomy for a few years as a young boy – so I’d sit with Mādhavendra for hours and ask him all sorts of detailed scientific questions.

“In a computer,” I once asked him, “all the complex reality we experience on the screen is really just an interpretation of fantastic combinations of ones and zeros. So, maybe the so-called real world is like that too? Maybe the complexity of consciousness is really just an interpretation of a whole bunch of electrical and chemical ones and zeros in the brain?”

He answered the same way he always did: Light and cautious as the gait of a cat, but drifting into a mad-scientist’s glimmer-eye’d grin during any pause. “Well,” he practically whispered in enthusiasm, “that is exactly the basic premise of mechanistic science. But can reality be broken down into ones and zeros? If so, what are those ‘ones and zeros’? Science cannot seem to get to the bottom of subatomic particles, for example. They keep finding smaller and smaller and smaller particles.” His eyes lit up for a while, then he concluded, “and even if reality is ultimately just ones and zeros… who or what is interpreting those ones and zeros as shapes, colors, emotions, and so on?”

Excerpt from an early draft of
Train Wrecks and Transcendence:
The Collision of Hardcore and Hare Krishna

By Vraja Kishor dās
VrajaKishor.com

Tagged: Consciousness, mechanistic science

Canto Four, Chapter 16 (beginning from the fourth text) describes how the royal singers praised the newly enthroned King Pṛthu. This section reveals the essential qualities of an ideal leader.

---

This king upholds the best dharma
and shows the world how to follow dharma.
He is the guardian of dharma’s rules,
and the regulator of those who transgress them.

---

1) The leader leads by example.

We cannot regulate and punish those who transgress morality when we ourselves transgress morality.

This implies that the leader is not just a mighty warrior, but is intellectual and educated (or at least submissive to the guidance of the educated), otherwise he would not be able to discern “the best dharma.” This phrase indicates that not all dharmic principles are of equal weight, and yield to one another in certain situations. For example the dharma-setu of non-violence yields to the dharma-setu of protecting one’s young children from attackers. If the leader is merely a tank without brains, and is unwilling to submit to those with brains (or unable / too unfortunate to discern advisors with true brains from advisors who are opportunistic word-merchants) he will not be able to even comprehend dharma, much less uphold it by his personal example.

---

This king’s single form, therefore
Upholds the forms of all those who protect the world.
By giving everyone their rightful share at the proper time
He is the benefactor of the leaders and the led.

---

2) The leader empowers.

A good leader does not consolidate power to himself. He distributes power to those who are capable of helping him protect those he leads. A real king empowers others to be kings and never demands that all decisions go through him first.

---

He receives the riches of some, by taxation
and distributes it appropriately, at the right time.
His mighty welfare is equal to everyone,
as the powerful sun shines everywhere.

---

3) The leader is fair, and prudent.

The leader will collect money and resources from his subjects, keep that wealth safe and secure, and use it in two cases: when there are deserving individuals who require assistance, or when an emergency or catastrophe befalls the people.

A leader cannot accomplish this unless he is fair. If he is partial to his family, his friends, his interests he will misuse and exploit the wealth and resources of his kingdom. The leader must desire the well-being of all citizens of his state (even those who are unhappy with and criticize him – as the next verse will make clear).

Thus, the Vedic conception of ideal state was to have a welfare state.

TO BE CONTINUED….

– Vraja Kishor dās

VrajaKishor.com

Tagged: Leadership, Society, vedic leadership, welfare state

Every year at Jagannatha Puri, the Rathayatra culminates at the Gundica temple, which is surrounded by lush gardens and tall coconut trees. Fragrant flowers and shady trees create a Vrindavan atmosphere.

Gundica Mandira is called the “birthplace” of Jagannatha Swami because on a special platform called the mahavedi, a celestial carpenter carved the daru that manifested the Deities of Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra during the reign of King lndradyumna.

It is said that the wife of lndradyumna, the king who originally established the temple of Jagannatha, was known as Gundica.

The cleansing of the Gundica Temple – Gundica-marjana – by Lord Caitanya and His devotees, takes place the day before the Rathayatra festival as mentioned in the Caitanya-Caritamrita. 

"You can make advancement in Japa when you always look forward to doing it, feel pleasure when you do it, and do it with steady consciousness. Another measure is that you will feel less material desires. That symptom is more important than exactly how much bliss you feel while fingering the beads."

From Japa Reform Notebook
by Satsvarupa dasa Goswami

Holy Name Meditation Podcast:

Download by “right-click and save content”

---

Written by Ananda Vrindavan Dasi

After more than three years, Kadamba Kanana Swami visited the USA again, this time focusing his visit on the communities of New Vrindavan, Gita Nagari, New York and New Jersey.

New Vrindavan (17-25 June)

Kadamba Kanana Swami landed at Pittsburgh airport on 17 June and then drove to New Vrindavan, West Virginia – the beautiful, picturesque home of Sri Sri Radha-Vrindavancandra, Gaura-Nitai, Jagannath-Baladeva-Subhadra, Sri Nataji and Prahlad-Nrsimhadev. It is a huge property owned by devotees, with one hundred and fifty residents. There is also the famous Palace of Gold, many cows, as well as lodges and cabins overlooking beautiful lakes filled with swans, fish, peacocks and other natural wildlife.

The next morning Maharaj gave the Srimad-Bhagavatam class. As this was his very first visit to New Vrindavan, a resident of the community, Malati Devi (ACBSP), introduced him to devotees in many chosen words. Amidst other nice things, she said that Kadamba Kanana Swami is well known for his acute intelligence and ability to comprehend things!

Vrindavan das, Maharaj’s disciple who is one of the prominent leaders of the community, was very keen to make Maharaj’s visit memorable to all. Vrindavan das is very devoted, caring and supportive to the devotees and their various needs. Hari-bhakti devi dasi, Maharaj disciple originally from Holland, also lives in the community and has a very special service. She very dedicatedly attends to Srila Prabhupada’s murti at Srila Prabhupada’s puspa samadhi in the famous Palace of Gold. This is one of the three existing samadhis of Srila Prabhupada in the whole world.

Krsna-nam, a disciple from Bulgaria who was initiated this year in Radhadesh and living in the USA now, drove from Chicago to render personal service to Maharaj. Savitri devi dasi came from Atlanta and Sukhayanti devi dasi from Canada to enjoy the blissful company of their beloved Gurudev. Vasudev das, also originally from Holland and now living in New York where he serves as a head pujari at the Bhakti Center, joined Maharaj at the Gita Nagari farm.

Upon arriving at New Vrindavan, Maharaj said that it was such a special, historical place as Srila Prabhupada had visited it three times and stayed there for a significant amount of time. “We are in the Lilamrita now!” Maharaj exclaimed happily to the small group of gathered disciples.

Furthermore, in the Caitanya Caritamrta class given on 19 June, Maharaj said that this place is filled with so many services done by so many devotees. “It all started by prayers and service of Srila Prabhupada who invoked Krsna’s mercy that was capable of transforming everything.”  He compared it to the story of a small sparrow who had lost her eggs in the ocean but was determined to get it back by threatening the ocean that she will dry it up by herself if her eggs were not returned. However, big Garuda with his big heart saw her determination and decided to take up her work. Maharaj remarked that devotional service is similar to that. He said that our current services provide services to so many vaisnavas to come forward and that Srila Prabhupada left the destiny of our movement in our hands. Maharaj ended by saying how simple it becomes when a vaisnava paves the way for us – otherwise it would be very complex and confusing. Please listen to this class and especially the Q&A session at the end, as there was an interesting question, “Who has prema?” posed to Maharaj, followed by his wonderful reply, as well as a question raised by Malati Devi about understanding blockages in our spiritual life from the right perspective. Recordings will be posted shortly.

Later the same day, Maharaj together with Agnidev prabhu and Vraja Krsna Prabhu were invited to chant kirtan in the supremely beautiful Palace of Gold (it represents one of eight religious wonders in the whole USA), in front of Srila Prabhupada’s murti. Despite the naturally grave atmosphere at the samadhi, devotees could not contain themselves, dancing to the tune of the famous KKS’s ‘Internal growth’ bhajan which was just the perfect melody for the occasion.

Maharaj was especially invited to New Vrindavan for the twenty-four hour kirtan festival which took place on 20-21 June. Agnidev Prabhu, Amala Harinam, Nadia-mani and Acyuta Gopi were some of the famous kirtaniyas who participated. Despite Maharaj being somewhat of a new name for many of the devotees attending, in seconds he managed to capture their minds and hearts with his roaring kirtans along with his sharp, thought provoking, always fresh and relevant lectures. Sruta-kirti Prabhu (ACBSP) was visiting New Vrindavan as well, sharing his sweet and intimate pastimes with Srila Prabhupada. He was Srila Prabhupada’s personal servant who started with that service in New Vrindavan actually. He also shared his memories of Brahmananda Prabhu, for whom he could not hide his tears of deeply felt friendship and appreciation.

On the morning of the twenty-four hour kirtan festival (20 June), Maharaj was asked to speak about the importance of chanting the holy names. He started by saying how an exciting weekend is ahead of us with lots of vaisnavas coming to chant, so we should use this great opportunity to borrow their bhava – their eagerness for glorifying Krsna. Maharaj quoted Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu who said to his devotee, Satyaraj Khan, that the business of a vaisnava is to serve other vaisnavas and incessantly chant the holy name. So although we may sound like a squeaky door when trying to chant Hare Krsna, meaning that we are dry and have no taste for it – still we should persist on the path. “The holy name is such a river!” he exclaimed, “No doubt it will grab us and drag us in its irresistible current!” Maharaj said that he is full of expectations and anticipating with curiosity as to what the kirtan festival will bring. For more than twenty-four hours, chanting filled the huge temple room – full of different moods, flavors and rasas; and devotees surely enjoyed tasting all these variegated moods.

On 23 June, Maharaj gave Srimad Bhagavatam class focusing on the importance of humility, otherwise again and again, we will be facing punar mustika bhava – being forcefully reduced to our naturally humble position in this world. That same evening, a home program took place at the house of some senior residents of New Vrindavan, Vani Devi and Rupanuga Prabhu. Their Radha-Krsna deities took away everyone’s breathe, as Maharaj was reading from Caitanya Caritamrta. He shared his personal experiences while living in Vrindavan dham and marveled at the supreme mercy of Caitanya Mahaprabhu which leaves no room for doubt of will it work in our lives or not. He welcomed devotees to participate with their comments and then ended with singing a melody ‘As heard by the sages’ from his newest CD, simply thrilling everyone.

On 24 June, another evening home program was held on the open terrace of the lavish house of generous Nityodita prabhu (ACBSP) and Radha Devi. The view from the terrace was amazing, overlooking the beautiful Appalachian lushy hills and valleys, and showing the outlines of the old Bahulavan farm in the distance, where devotees previously used to live.

Maharaj spoke on his favorite subject: the mercy of Caitanya Mahaprabhu and how we should practice not only being on the receiving side of it, but also as an instrument of it. He spoke about the importance of honesty and how it naturally leads to humility, and that is exactly how we will manage to stay alive in our spiritual lives despite our shortcomings. Maharaj also talked about his relationship with his spiritual master, Jayadvaita Swami, in response to a question he got from the audience who wanted to know a bit more about him, and few other fascinating accounts from his personal life which instantly endeared him to all the devotees present.

That evening, the other speaker besides Kadamba Kanana Swami was Bhakti Dhira Damodar Swami, a sannyasi disciple of HH Bhakti Tirtha Swami, originally from Nigeria, who spoke of a need to overcome our deep rooted fears by taking shelter in our firm conviction that Krsna is there for us – always! He said that the Krsna consciousness society is a society for enjoyment (in our natural state of relationship with Krsna) and not for insecurities and fears.

Answer Podcast:

Download by “right-click and save content”