MEET THE PUJARI – Bhusaya dasa Bhusaya dasa was 19 years of age…
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MEET THE PUJARI - Bhusaya dasa
Bhusaya dasa was 19 years of age when he joined ISKCON in 1982 at Colo River. He has served as a pujari for more than three decades. Beginning in Sydney’s Darlinghurst temple, he was occupied seven days a week performing arati, dressing small Gaura Nitai and cooking offerings. Bhusaya remembers being so busy that he would sometimes be chanting his rounds at 11.00 pm.
Read the entire article here: https://goo.gl/OAZWHV

Harinama in Moscow, Russia (Album with photos) Srila Prabhupada:…
→ Dandavats.com



Harinama in Moscow, Russia (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: This Krishna consciousness movement insists that everyone take to this path by adopting the chanting of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. The preachers of Krishna consciousness go from door to door to inform people how they can be relieved from the miserable conditions of material life. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 5.14.39 Purport)
See them here: https://goo.gl/5q6Abf

Hare Krishna! How do we balance the spiritual and material…
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Hare Krishna! How do we balance the spiritual and material aspects of education in the gurukula?
In a lecture by His Grace Nityananda Prabhu, the following question was posed: “How do we balance the spiritual and material aspects of education in the gurukula?” His response was insightful and thought-provoking. It is not a question of balance, he replied, but a question of integration. Krsna consciousness can be integrated into any subject being learned, because Krsna is everywhere. In other words, the two aspects of education are not mutually exclusive.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18310

Memory Lane: The Gauranga Bhajan Band
→ KKSBlog

GaurangaBhajanBandThe whole world is full of festivals dedicated to Krsna and miracles happened; we have seen it with our own eyes.

In the former Yugoslavia, in the 80s, there was the Gauranga Bhajan Band. It was Hare Krsna rock with Harikesa, Sacinandana Swami, Bhakti Vaibhava Swami, Krsna Ksetra and Krsna Prema, the guitar player. It went all over the Eastern Bloc and the biggest concert in Moscow had 46 000 people. Last night, after 25 years, in Serbia we had a revival of the band going down memory lane – balloons, stage diving, swinging on a rope over the crowd. The trains were filled with young people who had been in the concert, all chanting Hare Krsna. They made many devotees.

Last night we had a three of the original band members: Bhakti Vaibhava Swami, Sacinandana Swami and Krsna Ksetra Maharaj. I did a guest performance with a few hundred devotees. Many had been there for the original performances.

The Krishna Mystery
→ The Loft Yoga Lounge Auckland

On Friday 7 August 2015 at 6pm Join us for an exciting evening with Devamrita Swami as he talks about The Krishna Mystery – Why Infinitely Attractive? Devamrita Swami is a world famous monk, Yale University graduate, founder of the Institute of Sustainability and a world traveling monk of over 40 years. He graduated from […]

The post The Krishna Mystery appeared first on The Loft Yoga Lounge Auckland.

True Independence Comes from Dependence on Krishna Part 2–False and Real Independence Taught by Ajamila
→ Karnamrita.das's blog

Author: 
Karnamrita Das

(this blog is recorded on the full page: quick time player needed)
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[Originally published on July 14th, 2012]After setting the mood with six verses and excerpts from Shrila Prabhupada’s purports in part one, in the next two blogs, I will do my best to unpack some of those ideas through appropriate stories from the Shrimad Bhagavatam. The foundational understanding to gain the most from this, or any Krishna centered talk or writing, is that our lasting identity is spiritual—we are eternal awareness, or a particle of consciousness imbued with the serving tendency. Presently, by identifying ourselves with the material body and mind and their attachments, we are forced to serve the needs of physical survival, and are also led to fulfill our desires for enjoyment and accomplishment. By conditioning, we think fulfilling our personal desires is freedom, yet our proclivity to be attracted to specific material tastes is relative to the type of body and mind we have—not to our spiritual selves, or who we truly are. We are the perceiver or animator of the body, but have a different nature than we are currently identifying with.

read more

Krishna Food open 5 days! Two locations!
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We’re now open every day 11:30 – 2:30 on
Kelburn Campus
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Pipitea Campus
Law School Common Room at the corner of Whitmore and Stout St.

It’s the best food on campus. Taste sensation and bang for your buck – for just $5 you get a fully satisfying hot lunch to fuel your brain and your body. Like ourKrishna Food facebook page for deals, recipes, and interesting information!

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His Chanting Was Quite Distinct
→ Japa Group

As he chanted - Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare - his tongue rolled in his mouth and his lips moved in a circle. He seemed to be tasting something delicious,chewing it with care to savor every bit. His chanting was quite distinct; the words were clear and articulate, and he pressed down on each syllable.

Memories of Srila Prabhupada
Tejiyas dasa (ACBSP)

We must care for one another
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 25 April 2015, Radhadesh, Belgium, Lecture at Cultural Festival)
KKS_CZ_July2015The material world is the world where you have a facade. The material world is the place where you have a hidden agenda. The material world is the place where you want something from someone without really telling them. In the material world, you can never have a totally selfless relationship.

But we have a philosophy that offers a path for developing selfless relationships. So if we have that, then it should be possible amongst us to have real, genuine relationships based on mutually giving to each other. Serving the vaisnavas means that one must give to the vaisnavas. One must give the vaisnavas facility, one must give the vaisnavas space to do what they need to, one must appreciate the vaisnavas and so on.

Sometimes, in friendship one must also walk up to someone and say, “What are you doing?” That helps sometimes even when a stranger does that!

I had a period in my life when I did not do well. Just then, a stranger came out of nowhere, and said, “What are you doing with your life?” I was so shocked because he was a stranger! And I said, “But you do not even know me!” He ignored that and he said, “What are you doing with your life!?”

That really woke me up. It shocked me that a stranger said such a thing to me. Then I made a big change. It had an impact. So yes, we must care for one another.

An Eternal Relationship: Prabhupada’s Fourth Visit to New Vrindaban
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

 

Prabhupada New Vrindaban June 1976

Written by Madhava Smullen. Archival Research by Chaitanya Mangala.

June 21st, 1976 was a normal day at the Pittsburgh International airport until a group of Krishna devotees from New Vrindaban, dressed in an odd combination of dhotis or saris with large rubber farm boots, appeared. Commuters stared open-mouthed as the fifty-strong crew exploded into a cacophonous burst of chanting, mridanga drums, and gongs in front of the arrival gate.

They were there, of course, to greet their beloved guru Srila Prabhupada, who appeared presently, effulgent and regal with his silver-topped cane and bright orange sweater. Diving to the floor to offer their respects, the devotees piled flower garlands about his neck and fanned him vigorously with peacock feathers.

Some ninety minutes later, Prabhupada’s car entered the New Vrindaban community limits. He was deeply attached to his first farm project — in late 1975, he had written to disciples: “I am always praying to Krishna that the New Vrindaban attempt will be more and more successful and ideal for your country. That is my only prayer.”

Now, he could see progress being made. The devotees riding with him pointed out new buildings, including one under construction next to the existing temple that would house workshops and a large capacity hall for festivals. There was also a new barn, and a silo for grain storage. Prabhupada smiled. “Oh, much improvement,” he said.

As he entered Sri Sri Radha-Vrindabanchandra’s temple at Bahulaban, Prabhupada was welcomed by over a hundred devotees, many of them families with children. After folding his hands before the Deities, he led a lively kirtan from his vyasasana. As it ended, he looked fondly over his disciples.

“So after two years I think, I have got the opportunity of seeing you and your Radha-Vrindabanchandra Who is so kind upon you,” he said. “So real happiness is here. Radha-Vrindabanchandra is staying here, and He’s pleased with your service. This is the perfection of life.”

Then, as kirtan rang out once more, he departed for the house of Vahna Das and Hladini Dasi in Madhuban, where he would reside throughout his eleven-day stay until July 2nd.

Prabhupada’s health proved troublesome during his visit — he suffered from heart palpitations and often had to miss morning walks. But his leadership was as strong as ever, as he emphasized the five primary things he wanted New Vrindaban to be known for: cow protection, simple-living, holy pilgrimage, spiritual education, and above all, loving Krishna.

Prabhupada Reunited With ISKCON's Original Cow Kaliya - New Vrindaban 1976

To highlight the importance of cow protection during his stay, Prabhupada visited the cows and calves at the Bahulaban barn, which had been completed a year earlier. Four new calves had just been born, and he let one lick his hand as devotees told him how they were turning the cows’ milk into ghee, cheese and buttermilk. Prabhupada enjoyed the visit, and gave his solution for a better life: “Simply expand this idea: krsi-go-raksya-vanijyam [protect the cows].”

Prabhupada’s care for cows wasn’t just theoretical. Once during his stay, he was walking with disciples when he passed a herd grazing on a hill. Among them was New Vrindaban’s first cow, a black Jersey named Kaliya whom he had met back in May 1969. To the devotees’ amazement, she broke away from the other cows as soon as she saw him and made her way down the steep bank to him. “Ah,” Prabhupada said. “My dear old friend Kaliya.”

Close to cow protection, of course, is simple living. Prabhupada often extolled the virtues of New Vrindaban’s simple living and high thinking in contrast to all the endeavor modern man puts into gaining sense gratification, thus forgetting the real purpose of life. He visited the community’s different gardens, appreciated how Sri Sri Radha-Vrindabanchandra were bedecked with fresh wild flowers, and was delighted to receive wildflower garlands himself.

While taking his morning walk with disciples in the “forest” of Talaban, Prabhupada encouraged devotees to buy as many of the neighboring parcels of land as possible to cultivate. And he appreciated when they showed him that they were growing their own hay for the cows, cutting their own lumber, and growing some of their own vegetables.

Prabhupada further encouraged devotees by enjoying “The Spiritual Frontier,” a film about New Vrindaban, so much that he watched it twice. Produced by Yadubara and Visakha, it was vividly colorful and beautifully shot. It showed the “Brijabasis” living a Krishna conscious life while harvesting crops, picking fruit from the trees, and preparing natural milk products.

Energized by the film, Prabhupada used it as an opportunity to talk more about simple living. “Make this ideal life here,’ he said. “America has got good potency. We have got so much land here. We can have hundreds of New Vrindabans or farms like that. And people will be happy. And invite all the world, ‘Please come and live with us. Why you are suffering congestion, overpopulation? Welcome here. Chant Hare Krsna.’ Make that.”

Prabhupada Sharing Cookies With Gurukula Boys - New Vrindaban 1976

It was clear that Srila Prabhupada wanted others to visit New Vrindaban as a holy pilgrimage site, and he treated it as such himself. During his stay he visited not only the main Deities of Radha Vrindabanchandra in their temple, but also the other Deities worshipped in different parts of the community, just as one would during a pilgrimage of the original Vrindavana in India.

He was most eager to see Sri Sri Radha Vrindaban Nath, the Deities at the original farmhouse where he had stayed during his first visit in 1969. The farmhouse was now a brahmachari ashram, and when they heard Prabhupada was coming, the men there burst into a frenzy of activity, trying their best to clean it up for him. As he walked up to the house, the atmosphere was electric, with many devotees including gurukula children lining the pathway to greet him.

Prabhupada was happy to be back. With folded hands, he took darshan of the small but beautiful Radha Vrindaban Nath while the Govindam prayers played, then gave the morning Bhagavatam class from a rustic-looking vyasasana.

He also visited the site of a future place of pilgrimage – the Palace his disciples were building for him. It was his second visit (his first had been in 1974), and now most of the concrete work was done, and the finishing work started.

The devotees showed him the central hall, Deity room, beautiful marble inlay work, decorative arches and ornate furniture. He particularly liked his hand-carved desk topped with a solid slab of onyx, commenting, “Nowhere else in the world do I have such a desk.”

He was very appreciative and impressed that the devotees had done all the work themselves, especially since most were not professionals but had learned on the job. Prabhupada remarked that they were working with the special inspiration of God.

Prabhupada Visiting Radha Vrindaban Nath at the Original Farmhouse - New Vrindaban 1976

“If one is sincere to serve the Lord, [who is] situated in everyone’s heart, He’ll give him, ‘Do like this,’” he said. To the devotees’ delight, he compared their efforts to his own. “I came to your country for preaching this, I had no idea how to do it.” He laughed. “But people are surprised how within so many short years this world movement has sprung.”

Prabhupada added that the Palace, a combination of Eastern and Western architectural ideas, was unique in North America and that people would therefore come from all over to see it.

Another thing Prabhupada focused on while in New Vrindaban, as he did everywhere, was imparting spiritual education to his young students. He did it all the time, whether he was giving the morning Bhagavatam class or receiving a massage outside in the noonday sun. His disciples’ most cherished times with him, however, were his intimate evening darshans in the garden at the back of his house, during which his congenial mood deepend their love and affection for him.

On those idyllic summer evenings, the devotees gathered in a semicircle on the grass before Prabhupada, the sun’s golden rays filtering through the trees and casting a dappled pattern on his yellow satin vyasasana with its lion armrests.

Prabhupada would be reluctant to take his own seat until he saw that all the devotees also had mats to sit on. Once he did, he would instigate debate on challenging issues, with them taking on the role of materialists and Prabhupada arguing from the Krishna conscious point of view.

At other times, he had Sanskrit scholar Pradyumna read from the Bhagavad-gita, stopping occasionally to ask if there were any questions and then supplying his insights. One topic that often came up was how modern developments had spoiled the world. “What is this nonsense, all skyscraper building, no air, no light,” Prabhupada said. “The mind becomes crippled, the health becomes deteriorated, children cannot see even the sky, everything is spoiled.”

Prabhupada's Evening Darshan With Devotees On Yellow Satin Vyasasan at Madhuban Farm - New Vrindaban 1976

Then, looking around at the beautiful garden he was sitting in, he cited New Vrindaban as an alternative. “Now we see the sky, the sun, how nice it is. Green, down and up, clear sky, sun. This is life.”

Prabhupada also supported New Vrindaban’s own efforts at spiritual education by visiting its gurukula. There he received guru-puja in a packed temple room, with the young saffron-clad boys crowding in front of him. It was another incredibly sweet experience, with Prabhupada playing his gong and throwing flowers over the devotees as they jumped and shouted excitedly.
Throughout his entire visit, Prabhupada showed his disciples how to love Krishna – the connecting thread of his five-part vision for New Vrindaban — by everything he did and said.

It was in the way he looked at and spoke about Radha Vrindabanchandra, completely convinced that full happiness would come through serving Them. It was in the way he cared for Krishna’s devotees, making sure they were comfortable and warm during his evening meetings. And it was in the way he saw Krishna everywhere – once he compared young “Brijabasi” boys running alongside his car to Krishna and Balarama racing with the birds in the fields.

Love of Krishna was even the last message he gave New Vrindaban devotees face to face, imploring them during his final class on July 2nd to become servants of Krishna instead of servants of their senses. By doing that, he said, their lives would be successful.

After his class, the devotees held one last rousing kirtan. The little gurukula boys danced enthusiastically, then clamored about his vyasasana, shyly holding out their hands as Prabhupada passed out cookies to them.

That afternoon, everyone gathered outside the temple to bid farewell, presenting him with a cake and a donation. Then, as his car pulled out onto the road, they showered it with flowers, calling out “Jaya Srila Prabhupada!” at the top of their lungs as it faded away into the distance.
It would be the last time New Vrindaban devotees saw Prabhupada physically present in their community. But they had implicit faith he would be with them forever through his instructions, firmly imprinted in their hearts, as they continued working together cooperatively to realize his grand vision for ISKCON’s first farm community and holy place of pilgrimage.

Courage to Change
→ Seed of Devotion

[The Serentiy Series is based upon this prayer: God grant me the courage to change the things I can, the serenity to accept the things I can't, and the wisdom to know the difference.] 

Ghanashyam and I bought tickets back in March to visit Alachua, Florida for three whole weeks. Alachua is the community I call home, and I wanted for us to spend quality time there. I reached out to one friend for a place to stay, but as the weeks went by and there was no response, I began to worry. I reached out to one other friend, but that was a no go.

Time began to spin by and my anxiety picked up speed. I began to fret. How could I have lived in Alachua for seven years and feel so hesitant to reach out to anyone there? Was I a stranger? How could no one be willing to help? This was horrible, heartbreaking. 

By the time June came around, I was considering canceling the trip and I had cried numerous times. 

What woe!! 

One night, I was reading the book Learned Optimism by Martin Seligman. I decided to consciously change my thought from: I've always been alone in this world, no one loves me, why would Radhe Shyam do this to me -

to

This is a temporary setback because DUDE I've barely reached out to anyone. Radhe Shyam love me. God loves me. 

Bam. Peace settled in my heart. The next morning I wrote five emails to various friends and mentors who live Alachua, asking for a place for both Ghanashyam and I to stay. I asked with affection, vulnerability, and detachment. 

Within three days almost everyone had responded, most saying that they were busy, but one mentor did say with much kindness that we could stay in his home. 

Now Ghanashyam and I are visiting Alachua and our situation is perfect for our service and for experiencing the overwhelming love of this community. 

Martin Seligman? Thank you, man. God spoke through you to me to help me experience the truth and make a change not only in the situation but within my heart. 
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All that I know…
→ Servant of the Servant

Before accepting the Bhagavad Gita, I wasn't very inclined to understand God or anything like that. So today after few years, honestly, nothing has changed except all that I know is...

  1. I am not this body, 
  2. Krishna is God
  3. Chant Hare Krishna and
  4. Prabhupada rocks! 
So somehow, with these four things, I share, speak and write. Some like it, many don't and call me out on my shallow understanding of the truth. It hurts for sometime but I convince myself to continue and do the show all over again. No one listens, no one cares but still I repeat the four things I know.

With only these four things not sure when the show will end though!

Hare Krishna

Travel Journal#11.11: Harinama All Over the UK
→ Travel Adventures of a Krishna Monk


Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 11, No. 11
By Krishna-kripa das
(June 2015, part one)
The North of England, Edinburgh, Brighton, London and Birmingham
(Sent from Newcastle-upon Tyne on July 6, 2015)

Where I Went and What I Did

After so much traveling around The North of England in May, and even visiting London, I finally settled down in Newcastle for a week, except for two one-day trips, one on Tuesday to Edinburgh to do harinama and speak at their weekly Tuesday evening program,and one on Saturday to York, to do harinama and speak at their monthly evening program. While in Newcastle I did harinama there and in the nearby cities of Chester-le-Street, Durham, and Sunderland. The following week I did harinama and an evening program in Chester.Then to Sheffield for their Wednesday evening program and Thursday afternoon kirtana, and to Brighton to do harinama and spend time with Janananda Goswami on Friday and Saturday. Back to London for the Ratha-yatra on Sunday. Monday I chanted in Birmingham with Sutapa Prabhu and devotees from the Manor and the world harinama party, Harinam Ruci, on our way to chant in the cities around Manchester for the next several days.

I share a quote by Srila Prabhupada from Srimad-Bhagavatam, a quote by Sanatana Goswami from Brihad-bhagavatamrita, quotes from the books and journal of Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami, a story by Jayadvaita Swami, and notes on lectures by Janananda Goswami, Jagadatma Prabhu, Parividha Prabhu, and Sadbhuja Prabhu.

Thanks to Agi for the pictures of Chester harinama and evening program, Dharmatma Prabhu for the picture of Parividha Prabhu and me at the London Ratha-yatra, the Hare Krishna Festivals devotees for two pictures of the London Ratha-yatra stage show, Martine for two pictures of Brighton, and Harinama Ruci for two pictures of Birmingham.

I would like to thank Janananda Goswami, Clive of Chester, Lochan Das Thakura Prabhu of Brighton, Rima of Edinburgh, and Gaura Karuna and Vishnujana Prabhus of the Harinama Ruci world traveling harinama party for their kind donations.

Itinerary

July 5–6: Newcastle
July 7: Edinburgh
July 8–9: Newcastle
July 10: Leeds
July 11: Chester
July 12: Manchester
July 13–15: London
July 16–17: Prague
July 18: Munich Ratha-yatra
July 19: Prague Ratha-yatra
July 20–26: Baltic Summer Festival
July 28–August 2: Polish Woodstock
August 3–15: Czech Padayatra?
August 16–18: Bratislava?
August 19: Prague?
August 20–23: Trutnov (Czech Woodstock)
August 24: London
August 25: Edinburgh?
August 26: Newcastle
August 27: Preston
August 28: Liverpool
August 29: Manchester
August 30: Leeds
August 31–September 1
September 2–3: Sheffield
September 4–7: Ireland
September 8: New York City


Harinama in Chester-le-Street


I was simply amazed by the positive response we received in Chester-le-Street, a city of 37,000 near Newcastle. One devotee named Atula Krishna Caitanya Prabhu lives there. His health is not good, and it is hard for him to come to the temple regularly. It means a lot to him for us to chant in his town, and he always joins us.


Prema Sankirtana Prabhu, Radhe Shyam Prabhu, Madhuri Devi Dasi, who are all young and enthusiastic, came from Newcastle. We chanted for ten minutes to and from our car to the front of a shopping center where there was a steady flow of people.

One lady, who gave us a donation, passed by our party a second time telling Madhuri, “It is nice to hear some music that makes you happy for a change.” A few school children, dressed in their uniforms, moved with the music and joked with us.
Considering the smallness of the place, the sorts of people you find there, and that we stayed barely an hour, I was surprised that people donated £10.96 and took four or five books!

Harinama in Durham 


After Chester-le-Street, Prema Sankirtana Prabhu, Radhe Shyam Prabhu, Madhuri Devi Dasi, and I went to Durham. They are so enthusiastic, it was great to be chanting with them.
 
I thought it was humorous we stood near a Marks and Spencer display entitled “Tastes of the British Isles.”
 
One favorable young man from Singapore, who had come to one of the Durham programs, was happy to see the devotees again.

Still it was striking to me that although people are more sophisticated in Durham, a university town, much fewer people gave donations and took books than in Chester-le-Street.

Harinama in Edinburgh


In Edinburgh we have a new storefront called Gauranga Mantra Centre, which is run by a Lithuanian couple, Lucas and Rima, who have three programs a week there, Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday.

I chanted in Edinburgh for three hours the day of our Tuesday program and an hour the next day. Yamuna Devi Dasi, a devotee who lived in Scotland for many years, and who was up from London visiting her daughters that go to the university there, joined me most of the time. We had a busy location and amazing weather for Scotland. We met a couple of Indian families and a couple of local musicians who were interested in hearing of our programs in Edinburgh, but otherwise not so many people interacted with us.
 

There were a few Scottish people at the program and many Bengali speaking people who had emigrated there. The final kirtana was very lively.

Harinama in Newcastle
 

I decided to encourage the devotees in Newcastle to do harinama before our two-hourevening kirtana on Wednesday, and I was very happy that six of them came out. 
One kid played the karatalaswith us.
 
Some Muslim kids enjoyed dancing with us.
 
Their mom enjoyed taking a video of the kids.

The Muslim familygave a £5 donation, and I gave them a Higher Taste cookbook.


On the way back to the temple, we met some partying young people who got into dancing to our music.

One young lady delighted in playing the karatalas.

I took a video of the end of it (https://youtu.be/BlL9phSedNw):



As I was doing harinamaone day, an Indian student stopped to purchase Bhagavad-gita.He was from Iowa but getting his masters in organic farming at Newcastle University. He attended Hare Krishna programs in New York’s Lower East Side but had not met devotees in Newcastle yet. 
 
He chanted with me for half an hour.

Later that daya young lady majoring in psychology at the same school and interested in Hinduism’s oneness and altered states of consciousness also bought a Gita.

Harinama in York

Harinama in York was amazing. We had nine devotees coming from Newcastle and a couple from Leeds. Many groups of people danced with us, mostly ladies. Govardhan Dasi of Scarborough,is the inspiration behind the York harinama, and she sings in this video and many people dance (https://youtu.be/6BecU_ZP9KU):


One man holding a tray of pizza samples really enjoyed dancing with us, but because I was playing karatalas I could not take a photo of it.
 

A married couple danced in front of our kirtana, and if you have Facebook, you can see Govardhan Dasi's video of it: https://www.facebook.com/jackie.parcellgovardhana/videos/vb.100007077215749/1638889076356984/?type=2&theater

We also chanted in a fast food place, where all the employees were delighted to take part (https://youtu.be/96nd-H82aPE):


 A lady delighted in dancing in front of a cafe with us for several minutes, while her dining partners watched and took photos.


Another lady tried playing our instruments, both drum and gong.


Priya Sundari Devi Dasi swung one lady around.


Later when Radhe Shyam Prabhu was singing, another group of ladies danced with us (https://youtu.be/hIRIo-0vJ-g):


Two young men who were friends stayed with us for over two hours, one coming to the entire program and taking japa beads. 
 
During the kirtana at our evening program, he accompanied the singer on the harmonium. Later he admitted to being a musician himself and said his favorite instrument is a 14-string lute.
 
He also danced with the men.
 
The ladies also danced at the program.

Harinama in Sunderland
 
We met a 55-year old man named Colin who asked me if I knew a devotee named Janananda. He remembered him from 35 years ago. He had been to Soho and the Manor, Juhu, Vrindavan, and Kurukshetra. He was more into yoga and said bhakti was not for him. Too bad.

Harinama in Chester


I chanted with Clive for two and a half hours in Chester. Agi, Clive’s wife, was there for almost all the time, except when she picked up their boy, Mark, who stayed for the end of the harinama. Then Chand and his two kids joined.

About the harinama, Agi wrote, “We chanted for 3 hours in Chester yesterday. Many people stopped, listened and talked to us. The kids were fascinated by the chanting. Some of them even tried to play the little drum we had. One man stopped and was taking pictures of us. We were sitting in front of a shop, which was closed, but it seemed like had a new owner and was getting ready to open, so this man came and we asked ‘Is this your shop?’ and he said yes. Clive told him that we were blessing his shop. . . . He was from London, but took a leaflet and a book and gave a small donation.”

Some social activists from a group called Concern were enlisting support for their cause. I noticed two of them seemed attracted to the kirtana, the guy moving to the music and the red-haired young lady glancing at us and smiling. I found they were from Manchester, and I gave them invitations to our temple there. The lady said she liked the chanting.

We learned from one busker that we were supposed to relocate every hour, and he relocated us after we had sung two hours in one place.


We had an evening program after the harinama, and three people who had come to a program the Hare Krishna Festivals devotees did in Chester earlier in the year came, all having a good time.

Harinama in Liverpool

While traveling between Chester and Sheffield, I had to change trains at Liverpool Lime, and I had about 25 minutes to do harinama there. I set up on the ramp leading up to the station, across from the steps where people were smoking cigarettes and eating, while waiting for trains or rides to their next destination. After my brief kirtana, I made a short announcement thanking the people for listening, telling them that Hare Krishna was a spiritual sound vibration and offering them invitations to our programs in Liverpool. A lady and her daughter, who had taken some pictures of me, applauded, and I inquired if they were from Liverpool. They said they were from Brighton, and I told them I would be there this Friday, and one swami was doing a program there at the Phoenix Center from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. I also gave them a “On Chanting Hare Krishna,” and an invitation to our Soho center in London, which is just an hour from Brighton on the train. As I began to pack up my books, a guy asked if they were sale. I said yes, and he asked the price. I told him the Gita was £5, but the others were just £1. He took two small books for £2. I felt victorious that I had connected with some people in Liverpool. I had chanted half an hour in Chester before starting my journey that morning, but no one had interacted with me there.

Chanting in Sheffield

Hari Suta Devi Dasi came up and chanted for two hours with me in Sheffield, and a couple of her friends had positive interactions with us. A few people gave donations, a couple books went out, and a few people learned of our weekly program.

The second day I chanted by myself for three hours in the morning. I thought people would be more interested in the morning, as goodness is more prominent then, but it was slow. One lady who wished I had some Hindi books gave a pound and took Krishna Consciousness: The Topmost Yoga System.
 
The chanting at the Burngreave Ashram was very inspired.

Calib, a Christian preacher in his early seventies with a very universal vision, was dancing both indoors and outside.

He even danced on a chair,
 
and then the table!

Many people looked in the window and smiled, with several giving the old thumbs up in appreciation. The devotees and attendees decided to do a harinama in the town the next week to spread the mercy beyond the Burngreave Ashram and its passersby, and since I was to be based in Manchester then, I decided to join them.
 
Harinama in Brighton

Taking advantage of a cheap £5 advanced purchase ticket, I took a midday train to Brighton on Friday to do harinama that afternoon, instead of arriving just in time for Janananda Goswami's evening program there.

I chanted by myself for three hours, getting a mixed reception, although expecting a more positive one from this community, largely of descendants of the hippies.

I set up first in between two shops, hoping to avoid antagonizing anyone. Because one shop was displaying clothes in front of it, I was actually to side of the shop adjacant to it. After I played no more than 7 minutes, the lady from the clothes shop went into the shop next door, and told the owner to kick me out, which he did in not a very polite way. I was not enthusiastic to pack up so soon after setting up, but I did so anyway. As I left, I told the clothes shop lady that usually people let me play half an hour or an hour before they tell me to leave, and I expressed surprise. She said something about business. I could not see how her business would suffer if she let me sing for half an hour before complaining. I was not blocking traffic to her shop nor singing so loud she could not talk to her customers.

Next I set up in front of a vacant shop. A couple people gave donations in the course of an hour, but I think neither wanted books. One guy, who claimed to be a Buddhist, told me that my chanting was agitating everyone's mind and that I should stop. He thought it was cruel that I was forcing the chanting on people. I pointed to my donation bowl and said, “Well, some people liked it, otherwise they would not have given anything.” He scoffed at what he called £1.20 which was in reality more like £1.80. Completely disgusted with his mentality, I decided to move to another location where he would not be bothered. I was planning to stay only an hour at each location anyway, as some towns have rules like that for buskers. Before I could pack up even one of my books, a lady from a nearby shop came up to me, saying she could hear me singing in her shop, and that she just wanted to give a donation. She gave £1, and I gave her a book. I was very pleased to see the arrogant rascal's statement that everyone disliked my chanting proved false immediately!

I chanted over an hour at my next spot, which was near a bank machine, and as luck would have it, the Buddhist guy came by to take money out. He used the opportunity to say more negative things to me, calling me a Nazi for forcing my beliefs on people. This time I did not move. Several other people had appreciated my chanting by then, and I knew the guy had no authority in Brighton despite his threats and that he would go away. Thus I just chanted, being happy I was doing my duty, and giving pleasure to more open-minded people. People gave £8.22 and took two books that afternoon in Brighton.

After chanting by myself for three hours, I did harinama with Janananda Goswami and local devotees from the library to the Phoenix Community Centre. I was happy to be in the association of the devotees again, after a more stressful afternoon than usual.

On Saturday, there was a music festival in The Level, a park near the devotees regular meeting place, the Phoenix Community Center, and we did harinama there for three hours.

The presence of Janananda Goswami was a great inspiration. He has a lot of faith in the holy name and interacts nicely with both the devotees and the onlookers.

Many, many people were there, and the venue was big enough we could chant and be heard in several places in the park and still not disturb people who wanted to hear the music on the stage.

One girl, wearing black, who loved dancing with us, said one of her best friends was Sita Dasi, a devotee from London. 
 
She did a video phone call with Sita Dasi so she could show her that she encountered the Hare Krishnas in Brighton. 

The girl was happy when I told her and her friends about tomorrow’s Ratha-yatra in London, and she said she would try to go.
 
It was beautiful to see the happy smiles of those dancing with us.

 Sometimes people would raise their arms like dancing devotees.
 
One couple swung each other around.
 
Another danced with us for fifteen minutes.
 
One couple followed us for at least an half an hour.
 
One young mom wanted blessings for her baby.

One girl who sometimes attended our Brighton programs danced the best she could on her rollerblades.
 

One devotee lady delighted in swinging onlookers around.


She was so bold, she even swung one police lady.
 

At one point we chanted in a nearby indoor market.


Here is a video clip of some of The Level Summer Festival harinama(https://youtu.be/Y_3WIWLihd0):


Janananda Goswami had to leave after 2¼ hours, but I like to chant three hours a day, so I was overjoyed that several devotees were willing to stay out another forty-five minutes. 
 
 We chanted at the entrance to the park.

A devotee lady named Priya took this video of it (https://youtu.be/yMBzpHEBOF0):



Some people who danced with us in the park earlier, danced with us again at the exit, like this lady in the purple.


One devotee got separated from the harinama party. He expressed to his friend some worry that he would not be able find the Hare Krishnas in the festival crowd. His friend reassured him, “They will be easy to spot. They will be the ones who are smiling.”

London Ratha-yatra

I was very happy that when I got to the Soho temple, Radhe Shyam Prabhu, Veera, and Priyanka, who I did harinama with in Newcastle, were there at reception to greet me.

  
Erzsebet was organizing a harinama to the Ratha-yatra site, and I arrived with my harmonium and amplifier, and there at reception were four friends I had done harinama with before. Thus we chanted together to Hyde Park Corner, the start of the procession. I led for ten minutes.


Madhuri led the rest of the time.

 
Madhuri’s mother came with us, carried the Hare Krishna sign, andliked her experience on harinama. Radhe Shyam Prabhu played the drum.


Although devotees traditionally have three carts in the London Ratha-yatra, this year Titiksu Prabhu broke his foot, so they did not have enough cart drivers. Rather than having two carts, they had just one, as we do in the smaller cities.

I like to dance for Lord Jagannatha, so I like to be in the chanting party closest to His cart. In the procession, there were some kirtana parties with powerful sound systems, but immediately in front of Lord Jagannatha there was Parividha Prabhu, a great performer, with only a bull horn. 


I joined him, and played the kalatalas.

Ratnavali dd played the djembe, and Rupa Manjari dd played the mrdanga. Later I let Parividha Prabhu use my amplifier to supplement his bull horn.
 

At one point, there was no kirtana near the deities between the lines of rope pullers, and I lent Govardhan dd, who does harinama in York and other cities in The North of England, my karatalas and amplifier to start a kirtana for the pleasure of Lord Jagannatha and His chariot pulling devotees.

At London Ratha-yatra I saw devotees from Newcastle, York, Leeds, Sheffield, Preston, Manchester, Chester, Leicester, Birmingdam, Brighton, Amsterdam, Paris, and Berlin. I talked to onlookers from Ireland, Sweden, and Australia.

One group of four young ladies asked about this one man was sitting on a platform by himself the whole time, pointing to the Prabhupada murti. I explained that Prabhupada left this world in 1977, and that was like a statue of him, which we consider worshipable. They were surprised because he looked so real. One of them who was from Ireland had been to Govinda’s there. The ones who lived in London I gave an invitation to a couple of introductory programs we are having at our Soho temple in the summer. I also gave that invitation to others who showed some interest in our stage program and festival.

Jayadvaita Swami had a questions and answer booth, and was answering questions and promoting his book, Vanity Karma, about Bhagavad-gita, Ecclesiastes, and the purpose of life.
 
Sometimes I would dance with those chanting on the stage.


Generally I felt satisfied being engaged the Lord’s service in many ways.

After the festival, the Harinama Ruci world harinama party led a harinama back to the temple that lasted for one and a half hours. Especially at Piccadilly Circus, many people interacted with us. I took some video of it but lost my best video because my memory card was full. Here is what I have (https://youtu.be/6Z-Z1nwIx2Q):


My friends in Newcastle passed by that harinama on their way to the train station, and joined us for fifteen minutes.I took a little video of that (https://youtu.be/_vwvyU-KazY):


Chanting in Birmingham

The day after the London Ratha-yatra, I chanted in Birmingham with Sutapa Prabhu, devotees from the Manor and the world harinama party, Harinam Ruci, on our way to Manchester to chant in the cities around there for the next several days.
 
We chanted through a shopping center of several buildings called the Bullring, and after the security kicked us out, we posed for a picture at the bull that was their mascot.

While in Birmingham, a young lady advertising for an oriental restaurant danced with us.
 

We also chanted in a Clark's shoe shop, and a couple workers especially loved it (https://youtu.be/EbKHed7PCDY):


We chanted at the Lush Natural Cosmetics shop as well (https://youtu.be/QSRa-EGOtuQ):


The workers in these shops are often open to having the devotees chant there, and we have chanted in the ones in Leeds and York before.

It was wonderful to be chanting with such a large and enthusiastic harinama party there in Birmingham.

Unusual Picture of the Month

I have seen people using two computers before, but when Kanwar of Sheffield works at home, he uses three!

To see pictures I took but did not include in this issue, click on the link below:
https://picasaweb.google.com/103872792410945983719/TravelJournal1111?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCOGF4JTo-azbTQ&feat=directlink

Insights

Srila Prabhupada:

from Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.14.10, purport:

“Simply ruling the land cannot solve man’s problems unless the leader has spiritual capabilities. He must be like Maharaja Yudhisthira, Pariksit Maharaja or Ramacandra. Then all the inhabitants of the land will be extremely happy.”

Sanatana Goswami:

From Brihad-bhagavatamrita:

“Indeed, without prema[love of God] the nine kinds of devotional service are like vegetables without salt, an elaborate meal without hunger, scriptural study without understanding or gardens without fruit.”

Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami:

From “Poem for May 29” in Viraha Bhavan:

“Chanting Hare Krishna brings happiness
to the self like no other thing.
If you take a fish out of the
water and offer to wine and
dine it, it will remain
miserable. It can only
be happy if it is returned
to the water. Our natural,
constitutional situation is
to serve Krishna and we
cannot be happy if
we are not doing that.
Even if we have profit,
fame and adoration.
The scriptures say that
in the present age intelligent persons
will perform congregational
chanting, ‘in order to worship
the Lord who always sings
the names of Krishna.’ The chanting
of Hare Krishna pleases Lord Caitanya,
the yuga-avatara,and therefore
fills our heart with bliss
because He is our Lord and savior.”

From “Poem for May 31”inViraha Bhavan:

“The harinamachanters
are empowered. To a superficial
observer they may look
like ordinary street singers
or religious sectarians.
But they are delivering
the completely transcendental,
potent sound vibration,
the Hare Krishna mantra.
This chant, composed
of the names of Radha and Krishna
is confidential even to
the Vedas, but it has
been made easily
accessible by Lord Caitanya.
He requested His followers to always
chant the holy names.
And He predicted the
day would come when the Name would be heard
in every town and village. Those
who are actually assisting in His
mission are very dear to Him,
and they are making the world auspicious.”

From “Poem for June 2” in Viraha Bhavan:

“Kirtanais the life and soul
of the harinama devotees.
They go out every day
and sing in public
for many hours until
their voices become
hoarse. Krishna re-energizes
them so they can
sing another day.
They taste thekirtana
as the greatest nectar
and have no higher
desire than to do it
perpetually. They
are direct descendants
of Lord Caitanya,
who appeared
to inaugurate congregational chanting
and who personally took
part manifesting many
physical transformations
of ecstasy. Lord Caitanya stayed
in India, but He wanted the mission
to be sung in every town and village.
Those who are carrying out
His mission are empowered by Lord Caitanya
with direct sakti.”

From “Poem for June 4” in Viraha Bhavan:

JAPA REPORT

“I prayed to Lord Caitanya
that the chanting not feel monotonous.
The audaryaLord revealed to me
that the mantra is ever-fresh. You
have to concentrate, be alert, creative,
and mindful. Hare Krishna is like a vaidurya
stone and as you turn it on your
tongue it lets you perceive
new jewel-like features.”

From Japa Transformations:

“The Hare Krishna mantra is Him. It’s nothing else. It’s not about Him, it’s Him. The song is made up of His Names—His Name and the Name of Radha. The song is Him. The song is Her. Listen closely and you won’t miss it. The song is Krishna embodied, Krishna personified. The song is not another thing but Krishna Himself, and that’s what’s so wonderful about it. The song is Radha, the song is Krishna.”

From “Poem for June 7” in Viraha Bhavan:

“Harinamabrings together
many varieties of people,
and they all get along
amicably and chastely.
They may have different
opinion and moods,
but when they get together
and sing Hare Krishna they are
a unified group. Harinamais a
great melting pot
where all people
of different backgrounds
mix harmoniously.
This is because beneath
all the external differences
we are all spirit souls,
servants of Krishna.
In harinamathe
superficial differences
are forgotten, and
the spiritual oneness
becomes prominent.”

From “Poem for June 10” in Viraha Bhavan:

“Lord Caitanya then asks how the
trees and insects can be saved.
Haridasa replies that when there
is loud kirtanaan echo occurs.
He says this is not actually an echo
but the chanting of the non-moving living entities.
Then Haridasa says, ‘When loud chanting
of the Hare Krishna mantra is performed
all over the world by those who follow in Your
footsteps, all the living entities moving and
nonmoving dance in ecstatic love.’ (Cc. Antya 3.72)
This verse is appropriate to present-
day harinamachanters, and they should
frame it and put it in a prominent place.” 

Jayadvaita Swami:

from a question and answer session after the London Ratha-yatra 2015:

A nurse told me how she became a devotee. One lady said to her in great anxiety, “Nurse! I am dying. What do I do?” The nurse said she did not know. The lady died. As she was packaging the body, the nurse considered, “I am also going to die. It is a problem that I do not know what to do at the time of death. I should find out.”

Janananda Goswami:

Sometimes we feel there has got to be something more to life. I remember when I was young I felt like that when I was watching a football game.

The real happiness and peace is within, but it is covered over by our attempts to find it in a material way.

We cannot enjoy in this material world as it is a reflection of the spiritual world. We cannot really enjoy a reflection of a person.

When you are attached to someone, then their picture is more than a piece of paper. Thus it is not hard to understand that the picture of the Pancatattva, Lord Caitanya and His principal associates, is special.

I was talking with a Sioux Indian, and I learned from him that they believe in reincarnation. He explained, “If we have to kill some animal, we offer prayers because that soul could be our grandfather. We do not know for sure.” According to their history, they came from India 20,000 years ago, and their totem poles were originally Garuda stambas.

In one Chinese city, some government officials asked the devotees to chant in public in their devotional clothes.

When I became vegetarian in 1969 that was such an uncommon thing that my parents thought I should see a psychiatrist.

The consciousness, not the work itself, is the key.

When I was treasurer we had so many unpaid bills. We had not paid the rent on Bury Place since we moved in six years before. The bailiff came to the Manor to see if he could get anything to pay off the debts, but because the property was in George Harrison’s name he could not seize it. Had George Harrison given it to us, the court would have taken away.

The Queen’s counselor told Sivarama Swami at the time of the court case against the Manor, “You do not know what a great thing your teacher has done.” When he saw that Sivarama Swami could not understand what he meant, he explained, “You do not know what a great thing he did, nor can you know, because you are in your forties, but I am in my seventies, and that your teacher started his worldwide movement in his seventies is not humanly possible.” The Queen’s counselor had read Srila Prabhupada-lilamrita to understand the case, and that was his realization.

Let us all try to realize that we are of the same quality spiritually though not materially. That is what the Ratha-yatra is all about.

Q: I was trying collect money for Food for Life in Nepal, and when I mentioned Hare Krishna, the person I was talking to said, “I do not give anything to religions.” What do I do?
A: It is just some covering from their past experience. You can ask them, if you want, what is their issue with religion. Just be humble. Everyone is entitled to his opinion.

Q: Have you found the truth?
A: Yes. In my encounters with my teacher, Srila Prabhupada, in the five or six years before he left this world, I realized he was someone who was living, loving, and giving the truth. I may not have fully realized the truth myself. It is not a monopoly. Jesus Christ also was giving the truth, maybe in different dosages and in different details.

All truly spiritual persons have feelings of goodwill for everyone.

Host: “This His Holiness Janananda Goswami.”
Janananda Goswami: “Not his holiness, his lowliness.”

Lord Vishnu is not so impressed with the demigods who come to Him to pray that He descend to kill the demons so the demigods can continue to enjoy a life of sense gratification.

Some of the pastimes in the Bhagavatam take place on the heavenly planets, so when it says something happened on the bank of the Narmada River, it may well be in the celestial Narmada and not the Narmada on this earth.

We are like postmen since we are just delivering the message of Krishna. We are not manufacturing it.

We think because we are born in a country, it belongs to us, and we can keep other people out. This discrimination takes place all over the world and is based on this false premise.

In Papua New Guinea, people did not recognize anyone beyond their rift valley, and thus on this small island, there were 750 languages.

In Kali-yuga, in a society of rascals, the biggest rascal becomes a leader. There are not pious leaders. If someone is pious, he gets the ax.

If Srila Prabhupada did not come to the Western world, there would be no sankirtana movement, even in India.

About fifteen years ago on Prabhupada’s disappearance day in Vrindavan, one of Puri Maharaja’s disciples said, “No one else actually understood the message of Bhaktisiddhanta Saravati, but Swami Maharaja [our Srila Prabhupada] alone. While others sat around discussing philosophy, he took the message and preached and boldly attacked science and sense gratification.”

There are 1 billion phones in India, which has a population of 1.2 billion.

In Chinese they have ant farms where they cultivate ants for human consumption. Still, eating ants and frogs is much less sinful than eating cows.

It makes no difference if we are in the mode of ignorance, passion, or goodness. If we take shelter of the holy name, we will be delivered.

When Bhaktivinoda Thakura encountered the pure teachings of Lord Caitanya, his love for Krishna immediately awakened, and he realized how much deviation had occurred in the practice of Gaudiya Vaishnavism since Lord Caitanya’s time.

Bhaktivinoda Thakura predicted, “A personality will soon appear to preach the teachings of Lord Caitanya and move unrestrictedly over the whole world with His teachings.”

Srila Prabhupada in his Back to Godhead was very topical. He wrote about topics that were on the peoples’ minds.

Jaladuta, the name of the boat on which Srila Prabhupada traveled to America, means “messenger of the water.”

For about twelve days there was a break in his Jaladuta diary because Srila Prabhupada was too sick to write.

One year we distributed 500 Bhagavad-gitasfrom our book table on the Boston common to students attending the hemp festival there.

Srila Prabhupada’s song, “Markine Bhagavata Dharma” is his mission statement. It a revelation from his heart.

Jagatatma Prabhu:

Bhaktivinoda Thakura was born into a situation where his family ate meat and worshiped the goddess Kali.

Lord Caitanya appeared in a dream to Bhaktivinoda Thakura and told him to take initiation from a jati-gosai guru,Bipin Bihari Goswami,because that was all that was available and so he did. This guru was one of those who thought Navadvipa, not Mayapur, was the birth site of Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

Bhaktivinoda Thakura had the place in Mayapur excavated and found broken mrdangas and evidence for Vaishnavas.

Jagannatha Dasa Babajai chanted Gauranga ecstatically and leaped six feet in the air when brought to Mayapur, although he was 120 years and carried in a basket by his disciple.

Bhaktivinoda Thakura was the first person who was not British to be a high order judge during the British Raj.

The British were happy to let Bhaktivinoda Thakura worry about the Jagannath temple. They considered it was a Hindu place, and they did not want to deal with. It was actually the British Christians who originally discouraged Westerners from going into the Jagannath temple, not the Indians.

The British were afraid of Bhaktivinoda Thakura. One of them considered, “This Hindu is so powerful and so pure he could take over the world, minimizing Christianity, Islam and the other religions. He is a real saint.”

Bhaktivinoda Thakura is very strong and strict and has the full mercy of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He was especially empowered to write so many books, to establish a world Vaishnava organization, and to reestablish the teachings of Lord Caitanya.

Bhaktivinoda Thakura has written confidential things beyond what the Six Goswamis had given, and thus he was considered the seventh Goswami.

Parividha Prabhu:

All my material desires were satisfied in my early twenties, but I was not satisfied at heart. Thus I was looking for what life was all about.

We are always in maya, either maha-maya [the material energy of the Lord] or yoga-maya [the spiritual energy of the Lord] .

If you become rich or famous, it is difficult because you do not know who you can trust. You do not know who likes you or who is attracted by your opulence. Thus rich and famous people have friends from their youth, before they became rich or famous.

London is one of the temples where they have plenty of flowers. Srila Prabhupada said that many flowers make for opulent deity worship. If you worship the Lord with opulence, you will find you will be blessed with opulence.
“Pajama” you can say is related to yamini in Sanskrit which means “night.”

What is not in relationship with the Lord becomes boring, but that which is in relationship to the Lord is ever fresh.

I went to a reunion of my secondary schoolmates about ten years ago, when I was 55 years old, and most of them appeared to be at the end of life. There bodies were aching. But we devotees still have lots of energy.

If we find a hobby we can do in devotional service, we can find our niche and be very satisfied.

Sadbhuja Prabhu:

People seek harmony and peace, but love is higher than these.

For one to give one’s complete love, requires the perfect object. That is Krishna, who is the complete whole.

There is a verse in the Srimad-Bhagavatamthat says if you worship Krishna you may come to Him but if you worship His devotee, you will definitely come to him.

Lord Caitanya said, “When Vrakresvara Pandit is dancing I am present. Indeed, when he is dancing both the demigods and demons are in ecstasy.”

-----

mad-asrayah katha mrstah
srnvanti kathayanti ca
tapanti vividhas tapa
naitan mad-gata-cetasah

[Lord Kapila said:] “Engaged constantly in chanting and hearing about Me, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the sadhus [saints] do not suffer from material miseries because they are always filled with thoughts of My pastimes and activities.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam3.25.23)

Finding a Balance
→ TKG Academy

balance17113207616_0ecc58c5fe_zIn a lecture by His Grace Nityananda Prabhu, the following question was posed: “How do we balance the spiritual and material aspects of education in the gurukula?” His response was insightful and thought-provoking. It is not a question of balance, he replied, but a question of integration. Krsna consciousness can be integrated into any subject being learned, because Krsna is everywhere. In other words, the two aspects of education are not mutually exclusive. That being said, my goal for this past year was to find some connection to Krsna, while covering all grade-level educational objectives.

 

16952978249_9e528fe5a7_zIt is with this goal in mind that the Upper Elementary Class applied five over-arching themes to our studies throughout the school year. As there are five subjects to the Bhagavad-gita – Isvara (God), jiva (the living entity), prakrti (nature), kala (time), and karma (action) – so each term had its own theme. Everything we learned in class was tied back to the theme of the term.

In addition to constant assimilation of Krsna consciousness into the curriculum, students also had opportunities to partake in activities exclusively dedicated to Krsna. To this end, students attended a daily sadhana morning program with Mother Gopi Gita and a Spiritual Friday program at the end of each week. In this class students chanted japa, learned the bhajans of our Vaisnava acaryas, bathed and dressed the deities, and prepared presentations for selected festivals.

isvaraWe also read a wide variety of Vedic literature. This year in our class, we continued our study of Bhagavad-gita As It Is by His Divine Grace, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada. In addition to systematically studying the Bhagavad-gita with Mani Mandala study guides and memorizing verses, students read and discussed the following selected works: Nectar of Instruction, Bhakti Bhava (by His Holiness Devamrta Swami), and selected stories from Sivarama Swami’s Nava Vraja Mahima.

Finally, students had the great fortune of attending weekly leadership classes with His Grace Nityananda Prabhu, wherein they learned how to become leaders and train others in becoming leaders by virtue of their knowledge of transcendental subject matters.   

20150417-_N8U5468-1We are very fortunate to be able to learn and teach in a school that offers such a comprehensive approach to the acquisition of knowledge. It was an amazing year, and we pray to continue growing spiritually and trying to see the world through the eyes of sastra.

The ranking of Puranas
→ Servant of the Servant

Suta Goswami spoke all eighteen major Puranas at Naimisharanya, and the sages present accepted them as authentic. Nonetheless, three groups of six Puranas each are meant for three different audiences, depending on which of the three modes of nature predominates each audience. But for each individual Purana the situation is more complex because most Puranas display some mixture of the modes. For example, the pastimes of Lord Krishna and those of Lord Ramachandra, which are in the mode of pure goodness (suddha satva), are described to some extent in most of the Puranas.

Despite vedic references, sometimes people criticize ISKCON saying that ISKCON ignores other Gods and other Puranic literature beyond Srimad Bhagavatam. I think ISKCON maintains vedic integrity (thus authentic in my opinion) than any so-called new-age advaita vadis.

The way to reconcile all the contradictory nature of the scriptures is by following in the footsteps of Mahajans (Mahajano yena gata sapamta). This is the criterion to understand Godhead or anything spiritual. On our own, reading scriptures is not permitted in the Vedas. It should be studied under a bonafide spiritual master following the parampara system.

Lord Shiva is one of the Mahajans and we follow His instructions. Below are His words to His wife Mother Parvati. It is taken from Padma Purana Uttara Khanda 236.18 - 20.

vaishnavam naradiyam cha
tatha bhagavatam shubham
garudam cha tatha padmam
varaham shubha-darshane
sattvikani puranani
vijneyani shubhani vai

"O beautiful one, the Vishnu Purana, the Narada Purana, the auspicious Bhagavata Purana, and the Garuda, Padma, and Varaha Puranas all belong to the mode of goodness. They are all considered auspicious.

brahmandam brahma-vaivartam
markandeyam tathaiva cha
bhavishyam vamanam brahmam
rajasani nibodhata

"Know that the Brahmanda, Brahma-vaivarta, Markandeya, Bhavishya, Vamana, and Brahma Puranas belong to the mode of passion.

matsyam kaurmam tatha laingam
shaivam skandam tathaiva cha
agneyam cha shad etani
tamasani nibodhata

"And know that these six Puranas belong to the mode of ignorance: the Matsya, Kurma, Linga, Shiva, Skanda, and Agni Puranas.

Reading these puranas come with its consequences. The whole point is to elevate one to higher consciousness and not degrade. However, one who is against God will degrade. Below Lord Shiva mentions the result of reading such scriptures.

satvika moksadah prokta 
rajasah sarvadashubhah 
tathaiva tamasa devi niraya prapti hetavah
tathaiva smrtayah prokta trsibhis trigunanvitah

Sattvika Puranas are said to give liberation, rajasika Puranas is everything inauspicious and tamasika Puranas cause one to go to hell, oh Devi!. Thus they should be remembered as endowed by three gunas. - Padma Purana Uttara Khanda 236.21-22

In these puranas stories are narrated in such a way to incite devotion to a particular god. Satvik puranas invoke devotion to Vishnu, rajasic to Brahma and tamasic to Shiva. As a result, one will find contradictions in Supremacy. Below is a criterion given by Lord Shiva to reconcile such contradiction.

ata uktam skande shanmukham prati sri-sivena
siva-sastresu tad grahyam
bhagavac-chastra-yogi yat
paramo visnur evaikas
taj jnanam moksa-sadhanam
sastranam nirnayas tv
esas tad anyan mohanaya hi. iti.

The statements of the Siva scriptures should be accepted only when they agree with the Visnu scriptures. Lord Visnu is the only Supreme Lord, and knowledge of Him is the path to liberation. That is the conclusion of all the scriptures. Any other conclusions are meant only to bewilder the people."  - Lord Siva to Karttikeya - Skanda Purana

In conclusion, if one is serious to ascertain the identity of the Supreme Personality of Godhead without doubt, then one must approach a bonadide tattva darshi (not self proclaimed so-called sadhus).

Vaisampayana rishi who is a great sage has this to say;

ankhyam yogas ca sanatane dve
vedas ca sarve nikhile 'pi rajan
sarvaih samastair risibhir nirukto
narayanam visvam idam puranam. iti.

Sankhya and yoga are both eternal. All the Vedas are also eternal. All the sages declare that Lord Narayana is the ancient Supreme Personality of Godhead, the master of all the worlds - Moksa-dharma, Narayaniyopakhyana

Hare Krishna

Hare Krishna! An Eternal Relationship: Prabhupada’s Fourth Visit…
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Hare Krishna! An Eternal Relationship: Prabhupada’s Fourth Visit to New Vrindaban
June 21st, 1976 was a normal day at the Pittsburgh International airport until a group of Krishna devotees from New Vrindaban, dressed in an odd combination of dhotis or saris with large rubber farm boots, appeared. Commuters stared open-mouthed as the fifty-strong crew exploded into a cacophonous burst of chanting, mridanga drums, and gongs in front of the arrival gate. They were there, of course, to greet their beloved guru Srila Prabhupada, who appeared presently, effulgent and regal with his silver-topped cane and bright orange sweater. Diving to the floor to offer their respects, the devotees piled flower garlands about his neck and fanned him vigorously with peacock feathers.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18307

Hare Krishna! VaniTalks – an Interview Visnu Murti: Vanipedia is…
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Hare Krishna! VaniTalks – an Interview
Visnu Murti: Vanipedia is a humble but bold attempt to offer an unparalleled platform for Srila Prabhupada to continuously inspire and train devotees, strengthening their faith to take up the process of devotional service through his teachings. It is meant to be a long-term project. We have done this work in the last 35 years since Prabhupada’s demise, but still there is a lot of work to be done. Why? When Srila Prabhupada left the planet, he left us possibility to serve him by bringing his teachings to pristine condition. So what do we mean by this “bringing in pristine condition”? We understand this as a work in progress, because still there are books, his lectures, conversations and letters, which have to be translated in different languages, Prabhupada’s audio tapes have to be made available and studied, the same applies to all his teachings, that is, we have to have educational courses into those messages. Why should we make such an effort? Prabhupada said, “If you want to love somebody you have to know who they are.”
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18300

Hare Krishna! All you ever wanted to know about the…
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Hare Krishna! All you ever wanted to know about the Bhaktivedanta Research Centre
In 2008, an Indian devotee named Sharma Suka donated a run-down six unit apartment block in Calcutta and this was the beginning of the Bhaktivedanta Research Centre (BRC). Shortly afterwards Hari Sauri met Pranava Prabhu, who had a PhD, spoke seven languages and could read ten. He told Hari Sauri that he had 4000 books and handwritten documents, written in Bengali, which he was going to export to Oxford University Museum and Library, because he didn’t know of anywhere in Calcutta where he could safely store them. Hari Sauri persuaded him to use the books and documents to start the library in the BRC. Hari Sauri immediately began to refurbish one of the apartment units to act as a library. He completed this in six months and installed the 4000 books and other publications.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18297

Ratha Yatra Budapest 2015 (Album with photos) Srila Prabhupada:…
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Ratha Yatra Budapest 2015 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: “In Dvapara-yuga one could satisfy Krishna or Visnu only by worshiping Him gorgeously according to the pancaratriki system, but in the Age of Kali one can satisfy and worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead Hari simply by chanting the holy name.” (Narayana-samhita)
See them here: https://goo.gl/ArSxbH

Focus on the universality of suffering, not its variety
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Among the many games that the mind plays, comparison is one of its favorites – and one that is rarely favorable in terms of how it affects us.

By comparing our situation with that of others, the mind makes us feel superior if our situation happens to be better. Or, as is more often the case, the mind imagines the grass to be greener on the other side and makes us feel dissatisfied. What if we actually have problems that are bigger than those of others? Even then, the mind’s comparisons submerge us in feelings of self-pity, thereby undermining whatever ability we have to deal with those problems.

The mind’s comparisons submerge us in feelings of self-pity, thereby undermining whatever ability we have to deal with those problems.

More importantly, the mind’s obsession with comparison by highlighting the difference between different people’s material situations blinds us to a far more fundamental and valuable truth: the universality of suffering. When our mind fills us with thoughts of how others are wealthier, healthier or better-looking than us, then we get caught in fantasizing about how we can improve our material situation and lamenting over not being able to do so. But such comparing, craving and griping are a colossal waste, or at least a gross underutilization, of our mental energy because improving our material situation can never provide lasting happiness. Why? Because this world is a miserable place for everyone, whatever their material situation. Everyone has to grow old, get diseased and die. Before that, everyone has to undergo the three types of miseries: environmental, relational and physical. The ways in which the wealthy suffer may be different from the ways in which the not-so-wealthy suffer, but that variety doesn’t change the reality that everyone suffers.

Pertinently, the Bhagavad-gita (09.33) reminds us that this world is a perishable and miserable place for everyone and urges us to strive for spiritual improvement by practicing devotional service. This injunction doesn’t mean that we give up all attempts for material improvement; certainly, we can and should strive to do justice to our God-given talents by using them constructively, but we shouldn’t make the material improvement that may come thereof our life’s primary ambition and we shouldn’t buy into the illusion that such material improvement will make us happy. It won’t. To the contrary, as long as we play the mind’s game of comparison, we will stay miserable. No amount of material improvement will remove that misery because the mind will always find something with which to unfavorably compare our situation and thereby make us miserable. We need to cure the mind’s diseased mentality with Gita wisdom. The Gita’s unambiguous, unsentimental, uncompromising declaration that this world is a place of misery puts a brake on the mind’s comparison game. And its exhortation to practice devotional service redirects our focus from material improvement to spiritual improvement.

The mind will always find something with which to unfavorably compare our situation and thereby make us miserable. 

This world is like a hospital. Just as patients gain little by comparing their ailments with those of others, so do we gain little by comparing our material situations with those of others. Just as patients can gain actual relief only by taking the treatment diligently, we too can get lasting relief from misery by taking the treatment of devotional service. The more we practice bhakti-yoga, the more we realize our spiritual identity as eternal cognizant joyful souls, beloved parts of Krishna, who are meant to find lasting happiness in loving and serving him. As we find happiness in our relationship with Krishna, we become joyful even while living in the material world and we also progress towards Krishna’s eternal abode, the place of everlasting happiness.

 

Hare Krishna! Prelude to Gau-Gram Yatra What appeared to be a…
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Hare Krishna! Prelude to Gau-Gram Yatra
What appeared to be a small village preaching program in a sleepy village near Bodhan, small place in the state of Telengana and the border of Maharashtra turned to be a day full of activities, immersed in kirtan, Krsna katha and devotee association. Bodhan is said to be the treasury of Pandavas, no wonder it still retains some of its old splendor. As one keeps moving through its streets one can see number of beautiful and healthy desi cows strolling happily along with their calves.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18289

Belarus ISKCON Devotees Detained for Offering Religious Literature
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Three Hare Krishna devotees, Aleksandr Grankin, Aleksei Vlasyuk and Pavel Ivanov, were detained in the streets of Vitebsk on 17 June for sharing their religious views and offering religious literature to passers-by, they complained to Forum 18. The three were detained by Sergei Fadeenkov, the Chief Specialist of Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee Department of Religious Affairs and Nationalities.

An Eternal Relationship: Prabhupada’s Fourth Visit to New Vrindaban
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June 21st, 1976 was a normal day at the Pittsburgh International airport until a group of Krishna devotees from New Vrindaban, dressed in an odd combination of dhotis or saris with large rubber farm boots, appeared. Commuters stared open-mouthed as the fifty-strong crew exploded into a cacophonous burst of chanting, mridanga drums, and gongs in front of the arrival gate.