Position yourself to succeed!
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 26 April 2015, Radhadesh, Belgium, Vyasa Puja Morning Lecture, Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya Lila 24.124)

aus_2015There is story of one sannyasi who was very dear to Srila Prabhupada and very dedicated. He preached so nicely but unfortunately, he found his ashram quite difficult. Of course, he was a young man at the time and when one is a young man then the sannyasa ashram is definitely much more difficult. For him it was too much so one day, he sent his danda back to Srila Prabhupada in the mail, thereby declaring his giving up of sannyasa ashram. Srila Prabhupada became very emotional about it because he liked this sannyasi very much.

At that time, Prabhupada was writing the purports in relation to the story of the elephant, Gajendra, who was very powerful and was enjoying with his wives in a celestial lake. However, he suddenly got attacked by a crocodile and under circumstances it was kind of difficult – an elephant in the water is a bit heavy and he had difficulties to move about but the crocodile was very agile and fast, in his element. It is also said that during their fight, the crocodile had a snack here and there – he would swallow some fish or something, whereas the elephant was fasting which made him weak. So although Gajendra, by his strength on land, could have probably dealt with the crocodile, when he was not in his element, he was weak.

SP_seatedThen Srila Prabhupada explains in his purports how everyone must be situated properly – situated somewhere in varnasrama, somewhere in a condition of life where one is feeling strength and from that position, one can diligently take on the fight with maya.

I want to highlight that also that we need to situate ourselves naturally and nicely in a situation where we are actually feeling some happiness, some strength, where we are getting enough rest, enough emotional support and getting all those things that we need as human beings.

See, it is so easy to say that we are not this body but so difficult to live it. ‘We are not this body,’ is such a fundamental point in our philosophy and everybody knows it but to live it is very hard because again and again, the body will come with so many demands. That is our biggest challenge, to actually live according to the understanding that we are not this body and to fully realize that. However, that takes a lot of practice.

We should try to build up our strength from a position where we can take as much comfort, nourishment and support as possible that is available because our devotional service translates into strength – whatever blessings we receive from the vaisnavas who are pleased with our service and from Krsna who is pleased with our service; those blessings will translate into spiritual strength. This is where one gets spiritual strength. We should know that spiritual strength has nothing to do with the strength of mind.

When Things Just Don’t Go Right… Leaders Blame You
→ The Enquirer

ŚB 4.13.25 ~ 34

Aṅga was indeed a great philosopher-king, but when he undertook an elaborate horse sacrifice, the gods would not attend no matter how the learned priests tried to summon them. Perplexed, the priests explained to the proponent of the sacrifice, “King Aṅga, the gods do not accept our offerings. They are not impure, we have prepared them with attentive care. Our invocations are properly incanted, they are not chanted by those who are unchaste and unabiding. We don’t know why the divine overseers of all endeavors will not accept their sacrificial shares. We do not seem to have made even the smallest offense to them.”

The proponent of the sacrifice, Aṅga, became very dejected when he heard this. With the permission of his priests, he began to ask them questions.

He asked their permission because the proponent of the sacrifice (the person who seeks a result from the sacrifice) is not normally permitted to speak during the entire ceremony.

“We invite the gods, but they do not come,” he said. “We offer to them, but they do not accept. Oh experts, please tell me frankly, What mistake have I made?

This is pretty glorious. Usually a leader would blame other people when things go wrong. “What’s wrong with you? What are you hiding from me? You must be so stupid that you don’t even realize how stupid you are.” Aṅga was a king, but a philosopher-king. Therefore he behaved with humility. When things went wrong, he assumed it was his fault. This is ideal. Leaders should follow this model.

“God of men,” they replied, “In this life you have not the slightest fault. But a fault from your past life prevents you from gaining the son you hope to gain by performing this ceremony.”

There is no mercy in worldly deeds. Either you have enough money to buy something, or you don’t. Either you deserve something or you don’t. In material consciousness, no one awards anyone anything they do not pay for. Vedic sacrifices are a sophisticated, subtle way of doing something very simple: trying to fulfill basic material needs and desires. In such sacrifices, there is no mercy – there is only payment. If a sacrifice is done properly and the person deserves a reward, it is given by the cosmos and the cosmic controllers, otherwise not. King Aṅga had a very slight disqualification from a previous birth, which prevented the sacrifice from being effective, disqualified him from being “accepted for the loan from the bank of the gods.” These days, definitely none of us would have any hope whatsoever of performing a Vedic sacrifice effectively. Such endeavors are useless.

“Then, is it hopeless for me?” The king would ask.

So they blessed him, “Be blessed to attain the good child you seek!”

“How?” he would ask.

So they explained, “Instead of worshipping the gods, directly take your desire for a son to the ultimate enjoyer of all sacrifice, Hari. He will grant you a son. When you directly worship him, the personification of sacrifice, all the celestial denizens will accept their portions of the sacrificial offerings. Hari grants whatever we desire. The surest way for people to achieve their objectives is to worship him.”

Vedic sacrifices are merciless, but Viṣṇu / Hari is merciful. The experts advised Aṅga to give up trying to achieve his goal on by the karmic-merchantile system of sacrifice, and to instead rely upon the mercy of Viṣṇu.

However, it will be interesting to learn why such a bad son wound up as the result. Stay tuned for that.

– Vraja Kishor dās

www.VrajaKishor.com


Tagged: ceremony, Hari, Mercy, sacrifice, Veda, Vishnu

Japa Hints – 1: The Right TIME
→ The Enquirer

The best time to chant is whenever we find it easiest to let go of the deep-seated habit of driving our thoughts from one personal desire or interest to the next. I’ve found that this tends to be either (a) immediately after waking up, or (b) after taking care of everything I’m supposed to take care of.

After Waking

It doesn’t work out if I wake up late, because I have a busy life with practical demands and need to get started on my daily business. So I need to wake up early enough to create an open space in my schedule where my japa won’t have to compete with any other duties or pursuits.

I find it best to get immediately to chanting. The quicker I can get from “bed to beads” the better. I don’t notice any significant improvement from showering and dressing before chanting – in fact I think its a botheration and gets in the way. A little bit of cleanliness is needed, for example throwing some water on my face, swishing a brush across my teeth a few times, and getting a glass of water. That’s about the max amount of time I really want to spend in between waking and chanting.

If I wind up looking at my iPhone or computer after waking up and before chanting – forget it. Nāma-japa is most likely completely ruined for that day. And that’s also why I don’t like to waste time with a shower and all that supposedly good stuff – too much time for me to start getting attached to thinking about this or that thing that I experienced yesterday, or want to accomplish today.

I’ve also noticed that what I do before going to bed helps or hinders my chanting the next morning. I try to involve myself in at least a short kīrtan each evening immediately before going to bed. For some time I sang the śikṣāṣṭaka as part of this kīrtan and that was very, very helpful. I’ve also done other verses from great poets like Bilvamaṅgal Ṭhākur, Jayadeva Goswāmī, and Krishnadās Kavirāja and found these to be pretty helpful too.

Watching a movie or TV show in the evening is usually detrimental, especially if it’s a good, engrossing movie. But it’s not too bad, if the evening kīrtan is a bit deep.

Tired?

I’ve found that being tired doesn’t really matter much. If I’m actually involved the act of offering my consciousness as a dancing-meadow for Rādhā and Krishna’s names (which is what I should be involved in while doing japa), then that’s enjoyable enough, and erases any ordinary tiredness.

If the tiredness is extreme, though, it can get in the way. Especially if it creates muscle pain or weakness – which makes it practically impossible to sit nicely, which in turn makes it quite impossible to hold the mind to its promise of being quiet. So, getting enough sleep is pretty important. That’s part of the reason I don’t push myself too much on the weekends. On the weekends, I let myself sleep until whenever I wake up naturally. This sort of replenishes me for getting a bit less sleep than I probably need during the week. General physical fitness is also helpful, to the extent of stretching a bit every day or doing basic yoga.

After Working

Another good time for chanting, in my experience, is after everything else is finished. I don’t do it too often, because generally, everything else is never finished for me – especially since I am married to a great woman and have with three fine children, all of whom definitely deserve a good solid chunk of my attention and time.


Tagged: Bhakti-Yoga, hare krishna mantra, Japa, Mantra, nama-japa, Sadhana

When We Actually Hear
→ Japa Group

When we actually hear the Maha mantra properly, concentrating on what we are chanting, then the mind is kept focused and we are able to overcome the wandering mind.
Sometimes we don't even realise that the mind is wandering - such is the power of the material energy.
If we consciously hear the Hare Krsna mantra, then there is no danger of the mind wandering off.

Public Eye
→ Tattva - See inside out

For most, personal space is an indispensable commodity. While traveling on London Underground recently, I noticed how everyone in the carriage had strategically sat so that there was an empty seat in-between them. Rather than filling the gap, a boarding passenger walked all the way to the other side of the train where he found a reasonable amount of vacant real estate. Interesting indeed. It’s a stark contrast to Indian trains where people can practically sit on top of you without a second thought! Although modern culture prides itself in personal space and privacy, the traditional cultures of communal setup and public life may be more supportive to our spirituality. Close company of others is not only inspirational and instructive, but also highly protective.

Where do your thoughts and actions gravitate towards when you are alone? What is your natural level of spiritual absorption behind closed doors? Good questions to assess our spiritual whereabouts, since our weaknesses are often exposed when nobody else is watching. Monastic life, traditionally a student phase, is therefore highly public. Being surrounded by so many spiritual eyes is actually a great protection, forcing one to function on a higher level. It may seem artificial and forced, but spending a good portion of your life under such supervision gives you a good chance of developing the maturity and stability to do it alone.

Yet privacy has its part to play - how can we hear the soul when everyone else is talking? Quiet time alone fuels our introspection and reflection. When we are away from the gaze of others, with nobody to impress and nothing to achieve, it can help us dig a little deeper and develop more sincerity and genuineness. We can't always be in the full view of others, because while managing their impressions of us, we become addicted to praise and affirmation, unknowingly chained to public opinion. In exhausting ourselves to be somebody in their eyes, we never quite find ourselves... we never find God.

The saints conclude that privacy is a dangerous necessity. Embrace it with caution - it can make you or break you.

Govinda Swami about Buddhimanta prabhu: I wanted to be the…
→ Dandavats.com



Govinda Swami about Buddhimanta prabhu: I wanted to be the biggest Godasa .. but that kind gentleman Srila Prabhupada placed me in this bed. Now I can’t eat, and I can’t sleep, and my mind doesn’t work to even think about sense pleasures. All I can do is lay here and listen to Srila Prabhupada sing mahamantra on the cassette 24 hours a day. I wanted to be the biggest Godasa .. and Prabhupada brought me here and made me a Goswami. And he’d repeatedly mutter in a southern drawl .. All glories to Srila Prabhupada .. He saved me from myself.“ Buddhi Manta passed away on the night of Sivaratri.
Read the entire article here: https://goo.gl/Lyi2Wi

Can You be Spiritual Without Being Religious? Question: Is it…
→ Dandavats.com



Can You be Spiritual Without Being Religious?
Question: Is it necessary to equate spirituality with religion? Do you think people can be spiritual, having values, but not be religious at all?
Radhanath Swami: It depends on our definition of spirituality and religion. Values are required to be genuine in any spiritual or religious path. In the yoga system there are yamas and niyamas which are based on our values, on our ethics, on our morality, because we can’t truly build our spiritual experience unless we have those values. When we see a religion or spiritual path without those values in it, we often turn away from that religion or spirituality – whatever we may call it. So those values are necessary.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/UXgQbK

Krishna Sambandha was present at the program of the…
→ Dandavats.com



Krishna Sambandha was present at the program of the International Day of Yoga in Chile singing the Holy Name and representing the school of Bhakti Yoga, showed to us by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. So we ask to everybody in the audience to sing and clap their hands with us, practicing this kind of yoga and felling joy in their hearts.
International day of Yoga, was celebrated at the Cultural Center of Palacio de La (Presidential Palace of Chile). Indian Embassador and many authorities of chilean goverment were present.

ISKCON-Delhi: UMANG (The Festival of Joy) : 21-06-2015 (Album…
→ Dandavats.com



ISKCON-Delhi: UMANG (The Festival of Joy) : 21-06-2015 (Album with photos)
On the occassion of ‘International Yoga Day’ Iskcon Youth Forum(IYF) organised its youth fest- 'Umang-the festival of Joy’ at Iskcon Delhi,
It featured, A talk entitled 'Yoga for Modern age’, Drama-“Munnabhai ko mangta guru ”, Hare Krsna Rock kirtan. It was attended by about 400 youngsters.
See them here: https://goo.gl/o23MEf

TKG (Tamal Krishna Goswami) Academy: Another wonderful school…
→ Dandavats.com



TKG (Tamal Krishna Goswami) Academy: Another wonderful school year has come to an end!
Another wonderful school year has come to an end. An adventurous year it was, with many new students and exciting events. And so it was befitting that the conclusion was extraordinary as well. On Tuesday, May 19th, we went to the Armstrong Park in Duncanville. Despite our concerns, the weather was pleasant and perfect. As soon as we arrived, the children ran forward and practically disappeared into the large castle-like structure. We played many games and engaged in various activities, though the students were perfectly happy to simply climb and hide and follow their imagination…
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/dJN8il

Hare Krishna! Brahmananda prabhu eulogies. By Madhusudan das,…
→ Dandavats.com



Hare Krishna! Brahmananda prabhu eulogies.
By Madhusudan das, and Kanchanbala dasi.
His grace Brahmananda Prabhu was my 1st temple president on 26 2nd Ave. I am eternally grateful to him as he gave me such spiritual, Krishna conscious protection. I was always moved by his unwavering devotion to Srila Prabhupada. AT the time, a new, young devotee that I was, was not familiar with the term “siksa guru” but in retrospect, can see that he was this to me. At the same time, I felt him to be my older brother, godbrother as I was 16-17 years old and he was in his mid 20’s, which I considered “old.” I couldn’t make it to the temple every day as I lived far away, going to high school and there was opposition in my family regarding me participating at the temple. So Brahmananda Prabhu didn’t know about my devotional activities at home.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18043

Hare Krishna! HH Sivarama Swami’s debate on the existence of God…
→ Dandavats.com



Hare Krishna! HH Sivarama Swami’s debate on the existence of God – 19th June 2015 (video)
On the 19th June 2015, HH Sivarama Swami had a mock debate on the existence of God at the Pandava Sena Alumni program. HG Bhuta Bhavana prabhu played the role of an aggressive atheistic interviewer but HH Sivarama Swami soundly defeated him. The many devotees present in the audience were really inspired and found it very educational in how to defend the existence of God.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18040

Date with Destiny–Saved from Death–Enlightened by a Deer
→ Karnamrita.das's blog

photo 11055331_10205628611428053_2405937437644898940_o_zpso1lbxysi.jpg[Reposting from yesterday a fictional retelling of an event I just experienced] Thursday is shopping and errand day when I travel a radius of about 20 miles to purchase some organic vegetables, dump garbage, occasionally give away stuff at the Goodwill, and take care whatever else needs to done in nearby, exciting Sandy Ridge—like go to the bank or post office. As I was driving away from the bank, I thought that this had been a normal day for me. Rising at 4:30 AM, I began by reading some of Yamuna Devi’s biography and then Shrimad Bhagavatam. As often happens, time seems to shoot by and I have to rush to take my shower and prepare to wake the Deities, and begin my japa, or personal chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra on beads.

By 6AM I was chanting. My wife joins me between 6 and 7. This morning I was happy to have almost finished my quota of “rounds” on my beads by 8 AM. At that time I begin the breakfast offering as part of my worship, and then bath my Shilas, or sacred stone manifestations of Krishna. At slightly after 9, my wife and I honor the Lord’s prasadam or the food which has been prepared to our Deity’s pleasure, though according to our necessity and diet, while we get some morning sun on our deck. Then a more reading, finishing my chanting, emails, making a few posts, and it is time to leave for my outing. Today I had to leave earlier than usual since the store I buy the organic produce was closing early.

On the open road the sun was brightly shining with beautiful white puffy clouds gently moving across the sky. Another typical hot summer day. I was thinking about the fact that while I pray to be free from my anarthas or unwanted mentalities or attachments, sometimes I would like to have them. We have so many parts of our conditioned identity. While ideally we remain in our best or core self in the mood of goodness, sometimes our parts take a primary voice and role in our life and we may do, or at least think about doing, what isn’t helpful for our spiritual progress.

As I was lamenting this fact in myself, I heard a loud thud, and saw a deer to my right that was obviously the cause of the sound, being hit by my car.

read more

Lilashakti Devi Dasi ACBSP, Linda Forkash, left this…
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Lilashakti Devi Dasi ACBSP, Linda Forkash, left this world.
Deena Bandhu Das: I am very sad to inform you that just two hours ago a very dear Godsister, Lilashakti Linda Forkash, left this world. She was one of the biggest book distributors the world has known. So devoted and compassionate in wanting to connect the fallen souls with Srila Prabhupada’s teachings. I know that Srila Prabhupada will take her in his embrace and lead her to Lotus Feet of her Lordships Radha Shyamsundar. Please join us in prayer for her!

In Conclusion…
→ TKG Academy

20150417-20150417-_N8U5542-1Another wonderful school year has come to an end. An adventurous year it was, with many new students and exciting events. And so it was befitting that the conclusion was extraordinary as well.

On Tuesday, May 19th, we went to the Armstrong Park in Duncanville. Despite our concerns, the weather was pleasant and perfect. As soon as we arrived, the children ran forward and practically disappeared into the large castle-like structure. We played many games and engaged in various activities, though the students were perfectly happy to simply climb and hide and follow their imagination…

The next day, our last day, was filled with loving exchanges. Students were writing appreciations for each other, and signing their friends’ pictures. Then, off to our graduation ceremony. Each student, beginning with the youngest, received a certificate, highlighting one of the outstanding qualities they demonstrated during the course of this school year. It was enlivening to hear about their determination, self-motivation, resourcefulness, sanguinity, courage, inquisitiveness, compassion, benevolence, ambitions, and other such remarkable aptitudes.

We also expressed our appreciation and gratitude to all the teachers and volunteers. And, above all, to Mother Jayanti, who has been serving at TKG Academy for 30 years, and is now going to be in an advisory capacity.

We look forward to the next school year with all the new students, adventures, excitements and learning experiences it may bring.

Have a wonderful summer!

ISKCON Scarborough – We invite you to chant 64 rounds of Hare Krsna Maha Mantra with us on Saturday – 4th July 2015
→ ISKCON Scarborough


Hare Krishna!
Please accept our humble obeisances!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga!

We are pleased to announce that our 5th annual 64 round chanting day will take place on Saturday- 4th July 2015 from 8 am to 6 pm. Sumptuous free breakfast and lunch prasadam will be served on this day.

The program for Saturday- 4th July 2015:
8 am to 8.30 am- Arti
8.30 am to 9 am - Breakfast prasadam
9 am to 6 pm- chant 64 rounds of Hare Krsna Maha Mantra


Every year over 50 devotees take part in chanting 64 rounds at ISKCON Scarborough- the weekend after Canada day.
We invite you, your family and friends to ISKCON Scarborough on 4th July to take part in this auspicious event.


When we chant 64 rounds, we chant over 100,000 names of the Lord! 

1 Hare Krsna Maha Mantra(HKMM) = 16 names of the Lord - consisting of 3 transcendental words of Hare, Rama and Krsna (“Hare” is internal energy of the Lord which is non-different from the Lord, “Krsna” means all attractive and “Rama” means reservoir of all pleasure)

1 round in a japa mala =108 Hare Krsna Maha Mantra= 1728 names of the Lord (16 names of the Lord in 1 HKMM X 108 times in a japa mala)

16 rounds = 27,648 names of the Lord(16 names of the Lord in 1 HKMM X 108 times in a japa mala X 16 rounds)

64 rounds = 110,592 names of the Lord(16 names of the Lord in 1 HKMM X 108 times in a japa mala X 64 rounds)


Why chant 64 rounds of Hare Krsna Maha Mantra? 

Caitanya Bhagavat (by Sri Vrindavan das Thakur)- Antya Khanda- chapter 9 verses 116 to 125:

“As the devotees invited the Lord (Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu)to take His meal in their houses, the Lord took the opportunity to teach them all this topic.

When invited to take a meal, the Lord smiled and said, “First you should become a laksesvara [The word laksesvara is a combination of laksha (“hundred thousand”) and isvara (“master”). In common usage it would refer to someone who possessed a hundred thousand rupees.].

“I take meals only in the house of a laksesvara.” Hearing this, the brahmanas became worried.

The brahmanas offered prayers to the Lord, “O Gosaani, what to speak of a hundred thousand, none of us possess even a thousand.

“If You don’t accept meals from us, then let our entire household be burnt to ashes.”

The Lord replied, “Do you know who is a laksesvara? He is someone who daily chants a hundred thousand holy names.

“I call that a person a laksesvara. I take meals in only such a person’s house, not in the houses of others.”

Hearing this merciful statement of the Lord, the brahmanas gave up their anxiety and became joyful.

“O Lord, we will chant a hundred thousand names. Please therefore take Your meals in our houses. It is our good fortune that You are teaching us in this way.”
All the brahmanas then began to chant a hundred thousand names everyday so that they could offer food to Lord Caitanyacandra.

Importance of Chanting the Holy names of the Lord:

Srimad Bhagavatam: 6.3.31:

Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: My dear King, the chanting of the holy name of the Lord is able to uproot even the reactions of the greatest sins. Therefore the chanting of the saṅkīrtana movement is the most auspicious activity in the entire universe. Please try to understand this so that others will take it seriously.


Caitanya Bhagavat Adi Khanda 16.94 – Namacarya Srila Haridas Thakur

“Even if my body is cut into pieces and I give up my life, I will never give up chanting the Lord’s holy name.”

Srimad Bhagavatam 11.5.32/Caitanya Caritamrta Adi Lila 3.52/ Caitanya Caritamrta Madya Lila 6.103/ Caitanya Caritamrta Madya Lila 11.100/ Caitanya Caritamrta Madya Lila 20.342/ Caitanya Caritamrta Antya Lila 20.10

In the age of Kali, intelligent persons perform congregational chanting to worship the incarnation of Godhead who constantly sings the names of Krishna. Although His complexion is not blackish, He is Krishna Himself. He is accompanied by His associates, servants, weapons and confidential companions.

Padyavali- Srila Rupa Goswami:

O Supreme Personality of Godhead, when someone desires to chant Your holy name, sins tremble in fear, the glory of material illusion faints unconscious, Yamaraja’s scribe Citragupta becomes happy and gazes at the chanter’s toenails with awe and reverence, and Lord Brahma prepares madhu-parka to worship him. O Lord, what more can we say than this?

Srimad Bhagavatam 12.3.51:

My dear King, although Kali-yuga is an ocean of faults, there is still one good quality about this age: Simply by chanting the Hare Krsna Hama-mantra, one can become free from material bondage and be promoted to the transcendental kingdom

Padyavali- Srila Rupa Goswami:

May Krsna's holy name, which is a reservoir of all transcendental happiness, the destruction of Kali-yuga’s sins, the most purifying of all purifying things, the saintly person’s food as he quickly traverses the path to the spiritual world, the pleasure-garden where the voices of the greatest saints, philosophers, and poets play, the life of the righteous, and the seed of the tree of religion, bring transcendental auspiciousness to you all.

Organization of Bhāgavatam
→ The Enquirer

Here is a presentation of paragraphs 61.3-5 of Śrī Tattva Sandarbha by Jīva Goswāmī

We might think that the ten topics are covered sequentially and systematically in Śrīmad Bhāgavatam’s cantos, but how can this be when there are ten topics and twelve cantos? We might propose to drop two of the cantos as introductory or appedicary. Perhaps,  since the list of topics is given at the end of canto two, we might assume that discussion of these topics begins systematically from the third. However, on actual study we find that the eighth, ninth and tenth topics are all covered in the tenth canto, and all the other topics also appear here and there throughout the other cantos.

Śrīdhara Swāmī confirms:

The topic of “destruction” is covered in the tenth canto – spreading Krishna’s excellent glory by describing how he rid the earth of her burdens by destroying wicked, immoral rulers… Bhāgavata has already described the four types of material destruction. 

[Bhāvārtha-dīpikā 10.1.1]

The idea here is that the main topic of the tenth canto is Krishna as the Ultimate Origin. Other topics, like destruction, are also covered in whatever ways they relate to the main topic. We can come to similar conclusions about the main topics of other cantos.

The tenth topic is the primary subject of the tenth canto – revealing the characteristics of the Ultimate Origin.

[Bhāvārtha-dīpikā]

Every canto has primary and secondary topics, and thus each one touches on virtually all ten topics. This is what the Bhāgavatam means by saying:

[These topics] are discussed directly and indirectly.

[2.10.2]

In fact, we do find each of the ten topics in each and every canto, even in the first and second – which therefore cannot be excluded from the mahā-purāṇa itself. This is why we don’t hold the idea that the topics are discussed in a systematically sequential way.

Vraja Kishor dās

VrajaKishor.com


Tagged: Bhagavata Purana, Jiva Goswami, Srimad Bhagavatam

The Power Of Association
→ Japa Group

The analogy is that if a single stick is bent then it will break but with a bunch of sticks together there is no question of them breaking. The same goes with association, when we associate with each other in a Krsna conscious way, then we are strong together and help each other to make advancement.

Date with Destiny
→ Karnamrita.das's blog

Author: 
Karnamrita Das

photo 11055331_10205628611428053_2405937437644898940_o_zpso1lbxysi.jpg
[A fictional telling of a real event that just happened to me]Thursday is shopping and errand day when I travel a radius of about 20 miles to purchase some organic vegetables, dump garbage, occasionally give away stuff at the Goodwill, and take care whatever else needs to done in nearby, exciting Sandy Ridge—like go to the bank or post office. As I was driving away from the bank, I thought that this had been a normal day for me. Rising at 4:30 AM, I began by reading some of Yamuna Devi’s biography and then Shrimad Bhagavatam. As often happens, time seems to shoot by and I have to rush to take my shower and prepare to wake the Deities, and begin my japa, or personal chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra on beads.

By 6AM I was chanting. My wife joins me between 6 and 7. This morning I was happy to have almost finished my quota of “rounds” on my beads by 8 AM. At that time I begin the breakfast offering as part of my worship, and then bath my Shilas, or sacred stone manifestations of Krishna. At slightly after 9, my wife and I honor the Lord’s prasadam or the food which has been prepared to our Deity’s pleasure, though according to our necessity and diet, while we get some morning sun on our deck. Then more reading, finishing my chanting, emails, making a few posts, and it is time to leave for my outing. Today I had to leave earlier than usual since the store I buy the organic produce was closing early.

On the open road the sun was brightly shining with beautiful white puffy clouds gently moving across the sky. Another typical hot summer day at noon. I was thinking about the fact that while I pray to be free from my anarthas or unwanted mentalities or attachments, sometimes I would like to have them. We have so many parts of our conditioned identity. While ideally we remain in our best or core self in the quality of goodness, sometimes our parts take a primary voice and role in our life and we may do, or at least think about doing, what isn’t helpful for our spiritual progress.

As I was lamenting this fact in myself, I heard a loud thud, and saw a deer to my right that was obviously the cause of the sound, being hit by my car.

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Reminder
→ Seed of Devotion

I rarely listen to live recorded kirtans. It's just not my thing for a variety of reasons. Nevertheless, there are some live recordings that I listen to at times, and one particular kirtan I listen to is when I myself have lead the kirtan. This particular kirtan that I lead was about four years ago, and I had hosted Wednesday gurukuli bhajans at my home for my birthday.

Now, you may think this conceited of me. I listen to myself sing?

I'm having a difficult time in my life right now - where to go next in life? I'm facing pain and bewilderment and fear. Once again, I have found myself listening to this kirtan from four years ago.

I've been a little mystified why I'm listening to it, a little shy that someone would walk by my room and hear me listening to myself! But this morning I realized that I go back to listen to this kirtan when I am having a particularly difficult time in life - I'm struggling with my life situation, I'm facing issues of self-doubt and hurt and pain, or I'm simply unhappy. I realized that when I am singing the holy name is when I am the most happy and peaceful. I can hear it, I can feel it.

Four years ago I wasn't necessarily happier in life, in fact I was also going through a tough time. But at the time when I sang this kirtan, everything melted away. All that existed was pure joy and connection with others.

When I listen to this recording, there's a part of me that is longing to experience the peace and joy that I can hear so clearly. It's a reminder that I have been and can be happy and connected.

And of course, the holy name is always accessible, always ready to dance upon my tongue if only I let Him. Sometimes I find it hard to muster up any sincerity at all to even chant so I resort to simply hearing, and hope blossoms in my heart once again.


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The prayers of Prahlad
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 02 May 2015, Simhachalam, Germany, Nrshima Caturdasi Morning Lecture)

Transcribed by Tattvavati dd

NrshimaCaturdasi2015 (38)

om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah

When Srila Prabhupada was lecturing on the appearance day of Lord Nrsimhadev in Bombay, he was lecturing immediately after a play and he was glorifying Hiranyakasipu because the part was played so well. Then he explained more about the pastimes of Lord Nrsimhadev and at the end he said, “If I had more time, I would have spoken about the prayers of Prahlad.” These prayers of Prahlad were particular favourites of Srila Prabhupada and in a sense, the most important, because Prahlad is a devotee and we are following in his footsteps and are trying to be devotees of the Lord. Therefore, in these prayers, when Prahlad is praying from his position as a devotee, these are especially relevant for us. Of course, when we hear about Hiranyakasipu, we realize that there is a little Hiranyakasipu in us too! So every aspect of the pastime has its relevance but still, because Prahlad is a devotee, we want to give some special attention to his words.

NrshimaCaturdasi2015 (98)So, I shall start with a very short introduction. The situation was that Lord Nrsimhadev´s anger had been aroused by Hiranyakasipu. Lord Nrsimhadev’s anger was so extreme and so strong that it was still raging even after Hiranyakasipu had been killed. This whole pastime took place in the celestial regions and the demigods who were present felt the incredible, overwhelming anger! Due to the heat of that anger, they felt thrown back and they were just overwhelmed by fear and by no means could they go near the Lord. Even Laxmi Devi did not dare go near the Lord but for another reason. Laxmi Devi had never seen this form of the Lord and because Her chastity is to the Lord Visnu, She had some doubt whether She was really dealing with Lord Visnu. So, even Laxmi did not appear before the Lord. No one could. Lord Brahma could not, Lord Siva could not. None of the demigods could possibly go near the Lord!

So Lord Brahma pushed Prahlad forward and said, “Well, He appeared because of you, so you go and pacify Him!” Well, it does not look very heroic when you shove a five year-old boy forward like, “You go and deal with Him!” (Laughter)

No, we should not take it in that way, we should see that Lord Brahma is most intelligent and therefore very deeply analysed the situation and also realized Prahlad is not just a five-year-old boy, he is extremely powerful – nothing could kill him, nothing could possibly kill Prahlad! So many attempts were made to kill him but nothing worked.

Then the Lord benedicted Prahlad and placed His lotus hand – I guess it is a hand or transcendental paws or whatever it was. He placed His hand on the head of Prahlad and then, it is said that Prahlad was purified, further purified from any possible influence of his demoniac birth and subsequently Prahlad started to offer prayers.

So after having offered various prayers, Prahlad comes to this prayer that I chose, (Srimad Bhagavatam 7.9.11)

naivātmanaḥ prabhur ayaṁ nija-lābha-pūrṇo
mānaṁ janād aviduṣaḥ karuṇo vṛṇīte
yad yaj jano bhagavate vidadhīta mānaṁ
tac cātmane prati-mukhasya yathā mukha-śrīḥ

Translation: The Supreme Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is always fully satisfied in Himself. Therefore when something is offered to Him, the offering, by the Lord’s mercy, is for the benefit of the devotee, for the Lord does not need service from anyone. To give an example, if one’s face is decorated, the reflection of one’s face in a mirror is also seen to be decorated.

And I will read Srila Prabhupada’s purport which is not so long:

In bhakti-yoga it is recommended that a devotee follow nine principles; śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ smaraṇaṁ pāda-sevanam/ arcanaṁ vandanaṁ dāsyaṁ sakhyam ātma-nivedanam (SB 7.5.23). This service of glorifying the Lord by hearing, chanting and so on is not, of course, meant for the benefit of the Lord; this devotional service is recommended for the benefit of the devotee. The Lord is always glorious, whether the devotee glorifies Him or not, but if the devotee engages in glorifying the Lord, the devotee himself automatically becomes glorious. Ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanaṁ bhava-mahā-dāvāgni-nirvāpaṇam (Siksastakam 1). By glorifying the Lord constantly, the living entity becomes purified in the core of his heart, and thus he can understand that he does not belong to the material world but is a spirit soul whose actual activity is to advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness so that he may become free from the material clutches. Thus the blazing fire of material existence is immediately extinguished (bhava-mahā-dāvāgni-nirvāpaṇam)…

NrshimaCaturdasi2015 (112)So to comment a little bit… I found this quite important that the Lord does not need our glorification, especially because we are members of the sankirtan movement which is a movement dedicated to constant glorification of the Supreme Lord. Sometimes the question is raised, “But why does the Lord need to be glorified all the time? Is He enjoying this to hear His own glory? Is it almost like vanity? What is this quality in the Lord that He likes to be glorified and that we have to chant all His glories all the time? Why? What is this in the Supreme Lord?”

But from this verse, we see what the key is to the entire glorification of the Supreme Lord because Prahlad makes it very clear. Now Prahlad, as Srila Prabhupada states, is one of the mahajans (Srimad Bhagavatam 6.3.20).

svayambhūr nāradaḥ śambhuḥ, kumāraḥ kapilo manuḥ

Prahlad Maharaj is one of the twelve mahajans, one of the authorities, therefore whatever Prahlad speaks is to be taken as authorized instruction. And Prahlad is stating that the Supreme Lord is atmarama, He is satisfied within the self, He does not need our glorification but the amazing thing is that by glorifying the Lord, the person who glorifies Him is purified. Just as when we decorate our face and when we look at our reflection, it is also decorated. So when we decorate the Lord in glorification, we ourselves become glorified and purified. As it is said in the Caitanya Caritamrta, Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami says (CC Madhya 22.75) sarva mahā-guṇa-gaṇa vaiṣṇava-śarīre, and then it says kṛṣṇa-bhakte kṛṣṇera guṇa sakali.

He says that all the good qualities of Krsna will manifest within a vaisnava. So it is very interesting that by serving Krsna, the vaisnava gets the qualities of Krsna. The entire glorification of the Lord is actually decorating ourselves. Although we offer Him this praise and endless glorification, our own glories are increasing. And that is a  very important point made by Prahlad which really struck me very much.

Then I would like to go to one more prayer of Prahlad and then I will end, (Srimad Bhagavatam 7.9.15)

nāhaṁ bibhemy ajita te ’tibhayānakāsya-
jihvārka-netra-bhrukuṭī-rabhasogra-daṁṣṭrāt
āntra-srajaḥ-kṣataja-keśara-śaṅku-karṇān
nirhrāda-bhīta-digibhād ari-bhin-nakhāgrāt

Translation: My Lord, who are never conquered by anyone, I am certainly not afraid of Your ferocious mouth and tongue, Your eyes bright like the sun or Your frowning eyebrows. I do not fear Your sharp, pinching teeth, Your garland of intestines, Your mane soaked with blood, or Your high, wedgelike ears. Nor do I fear Your tumultuous roaring, which makes elephants flee to distant places, or Your nails, which are meant to kill Your enemies…

So throughout scripture, Lord Nrsimhadev is described as frightening, like in Nrsimha Tapani Upanisad, He is called bhisana or very frightening appearance. But the frightening appearance of the Lord is not at all frightening for the devotee, not frightening for Prahlad nor for the devotee because as Srila Prabhupad explains, a lion is very fearsome to all animals but not to his own cubs, right!

nrshima caturdasi (6)His own cubs are not at all afraid of the lion because the lion is their protector, so rather than being afraid, they feel very well-protected. Just as children like to say, “My father is a policeman,” or something like that, just to scare off other kids, “You can’t do anything to me. My father…” So when your father and protector is Nrsimhadev, then one is very comfortable. So in this way, the devotees are rather very comfortable, very happily discussing the intestines of Hiranyakasipu hanging as a garland around the neck of the Lord…

Srila Prabhupada says, “Prahlad stands next to the killer of his father and he has a garland ready. He wants to garland the killer of his father.” It is very transcendental and quite difficult to understand for the materialists. Sometimes people come into our temples and they see the painting of Hiranyakasipu and they see it for what it is and they say, “What is this?” And the devotees say, “Oh, it’s our Lord Nrsimhadev.” Because we see this all as the great mercy of the Lord, who is so affectionate, so much full of love towards His devotees that He will not tolerate, not tolerate any violence towards His devotees and thus the devotees, by worshiping Lord Nrsimhadev, become fearless.

Bahir nrisimho hridaye nrisimho, He is everywhere and outside of us is Lord Nrsimhadev, the Lord is in the heart. Yato yato yami tato nrisimho, everywhere we are Lord Nrsimhadev is there. In this way, we are feeling very safe and very happy to commemorate this pastime with all its bloody descriptions. I´ll end here. Thank you very much!

Srila Prabhupada ki jaya!

 

Mayapur children’s Summer Camp (Album with photos) Bhakti…
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Mayapur children’s Summer Camp (Album with photos)
Bhakti Vedanta Youth Trust, Mayapur organized a Summer Camp for Mayapur community’s children on 20th and 21st, June. The camp gave the children an opportunity to come together and engage in spiritual practices like chanting, hearing, Harinaam, aratis and of course, honoring wonderful prasadam feasts. The children were enlightened with spiritual knowledge through lectures by HH Bhakti Vidya Purna Maharaj, HH Bhakti Purusottama Maharaj and HG Sankarsan Nitai Prabhu. On 20th evening, the children did a parikrama of the campus doing Harinaam sankirtan. HG Venudhari Prabhu and some other brahmacari devotees also joined the sankirtan. After that they attended Sandhya Arati in the temple. Next day morning, there was Mangal arati and japa in Gita Bhavan. Later in the afternoon, there was ‘Sloka competition’. Children were organized in groups and read out English translation of a verse or song. They had to quickly identify the original verse and recite it. The event ended on 21st evening with a group picture of all participating children. Both the children and their parents seemed very happy with the camp.
See them here: http://goo.gl/dZsMAb

Real Service Gives Permanent Satisfaction, June 6, Towaco, New Jersey
Giriraj Swami

Srila-Prabhupada-Chants-on-Devotees-Beads-at-Initiation-620x350We were out on the street when I suddenly had a clear and real realization that I was not the body— that I was something completely different.  It was a very joyful and blissful experience:

brahma-bhutah prasannatma
na socati na kankshati
samah sarveshu bhuteshu
mad-bhaktim labhate param

Translation: One who is thus transcendentally situated at once realizes the Supreme Brahman and becomes fully joyful. He never laments or desires to have anything. He is equally disposed toward every living entity. In that state he attains pure devotional service unto Me. Bg 18.54

I started to weep, it was such a wonderful experience. So, I mentioned it to some devotees and they suggested that maybe Srila Prabhupada was chanting on my initiation beads at that moment. And it is possible. A couple of days later Srila Prabhupada’s letter came with my beads and it was dated that day. It stated: ‘I am pleased to accept you as my disciple. I marked it in your presence when you saw me and I prayed to Krishna that this good soul will become aware of the value of Krishna consciousness. Your name is Giriraj.'”

Towaco Talk
Towaco Kirtan

Invitation to Launch of the 50th Anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s Arrival in USA
→ ISKCON Malaysia

BY SHANTI RUPA DEVI DASI 

KUALA LUMPUR - ISKCON Malaysia invites one and all with great pleasure to please join us in the two day celebrations on the 4th and 5th of July of not only his arrival in USA, but his life and teachings as well. This is a great chance for devotees to show their heartfelt gratitude for the love and compassion Srila Prabhupada had for all of us.

Venue:
Mahamariamman temple complex,
163, Jalan Tun HS Lee, 50000, Kuala Lumpur

Date: 4th July 2015

Program:
08.00 a.m. Registration of participants for the Mahabharata Quiz
10.00 a.m. Welcome adress by Simheswara Dasa - Regional Secretary of ISKCON Malaysia
10.15 a.m. Prayer Song - Gokula Lakshmi Devi Dasi
10.25 a.m. Side Show - The World's foremost Preacher of The Bhagavad Gita
10.55 a.m. Official Launch of the 50th Anniversary of Srila Prabhupada's Arrival in USA
11.05 a.m. Gitopadesam - Tamil Drama
11.15 a.m. Mahabharata Quiz
01.00 p.m. LUNCH
01.45 p.m. Quiz continues
04.00 p.m. End of Program

A food fair is organised for the pleasure of the participants on 4th July only. Coupons for this Food Fair are available at SJMKL now and will be available on the day of the festival at the venue too

Date: 5th July 2015

Program:

08.00 a.m. - Harinam Procession starts from Scott Road , Brickfields
10.00 a.m. - Arrival of the harinam procession at the Maha Mariamman Temple Complex
10.10 a.m. - SRILA PRABHUPADA MAHA ABHISHEKAM begins
11.00 a.m. - Spiritual Discourse on Srila Prabhupada
12.00 noon - Maha Arati for Srila Prabhupada with ecstatic Kirtan
12.30 p.m. - ISKCON Branch Leaders Voices
02.00 p.m. - Prasadam

Travel Journal#11.10: Manchester Ratha-yatra and Harinamas in The North of England
→ Travel Adventures of a Krishna Monk


Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 11, No. 10
By Krishna-kripa das
(May 2015, part two)
The North of England and London
(Sent from Newcastle-upon-Tyne on June 22, 2015)

Where I Went and What I Did

The second half of May I began by staying in Manchester for a week to do harinama to promote their Ratha-yatra on Saturday, May 23. Midweek I just took a brief trip to Sheffield to go to their Wednesday evening program and Thursday afternoon kirtana at the Burngreave Ashram as it was worth the trip to attend the two programs. After Ratha-yatra I went to London because Sthita-dhi Muni Prabhu, my friend, godbrother, and fellow assistant of Sadaputa Prabhu, was visiting after doing two presentations in Radhadesh at a devotee academic conference. I learned that the South London ISKCON devotees had organized a 24-hour kirtana the same weekend as the Manchester Ratha-yatra, and I sang in about 10 hours of it. After spending Monday and Tuesday in London, I returned to The North to attend the nama-hattas and do harinamas in Sheffield, Preston, Liverpool, and Leeds, and to attend the Newcastle monthly 8-hour kirtana on the last Saturday in May.

I share an excerpt from a lecture by Srila Prabhupada, quotes from Brhad-bhagavamrita by Sanatana Goswami, quotes from Navadvipa-dhama Mahatmya by Bhaktivinoda Thakura, excerpts from the daily journal and books of Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami, and notes on lectures by Bhakti Charu Swami, Dhirashanta Swami, Dayananda Swami, and Sthita-dhi Muni Prabhu. Dayananda Swami collected some interesting quotes on forgiveness, some of which are included.

Thanks to Hassan Mahmood for the pictures of his friend playing karatalas with me, thanks to Manchester ISKCON for pictures of the Ratha-yatra, and thanks to Govardhan Devi Dasi for the pictures of us chanting in Leeds. We credit Caitanya-candrodaya Prabhu for the picture of me and the hot dog shop.

I would like to thank Sthita-dhi Muni Prabhu, Anthony Bate and the Preston nama-hatta, Alan Miles and the Liverpool nama-hatta, ISKCON South London, and Janardana Prabhu and the Leeds nama-hatta for their kind donations.

Itinerary

June 22: Newcastle
June 23: Edinburgh Tuesday night program
June 24: Newcastle
June 25: Blackpool and Preston nama-hatta
June 26: Southport and Liverpool nama-hatta
June 27: Newcastle 8-hour kirtana
June 28: Paris Ratha-yatra
June 29–July 3: Paris harinamas with Janananda Goswami and Harinama Ruci
July 4: York harinama and Manchester kirtana with Madhava Prabhu
July 5–9: Newcastle
July 10: Leeds
July 11: Chester
July 12: Manchester
July 13–15: London
July 16–19: Prague
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 27–30: Newcastle retreat?
September 2–3: Sheffield
September 4–7: Ireland
September 8: New York City

Harinama in Manchester

One day I chanted 4½ hours in Manchester's city center to promote our Ratha-yatra. An English lady chanted a few mantras with me, an Indian man gave me a vegetarian pastry. 
 

A young Asian guy played the karatalas a little while and his friend sent a picture of us.

I met an Indian lady who knew the Scottish devotees and had just moved to Manchester. She was very happy to learn of our Ratha-yatra and local temple. People got a couple books and donated enough to cover my weekly bus ticket.

On the way to Sheffield, I chanted through the Manchester Piccadilly train station till where they check your tickets. After I showed my ticket, a policeman came up to me and said a couple people said I was speaking negatively to them. I said I was a Hare Krishna and was just chanting “Hare Krishna.” He was aware that is what Hare Krishnas do and advised me just to be more sensitive toward other people. I asked if it was OK I chanted in the train station. He said it was. I invited him to Saturday's Ratha-yatra. He said he had the day off and would be downtown with his daughter and he might come.

A curious Muslim girl asked if she could play my harmonium when I was chanting downtown. I reluctantly agreed, as you never know what will happen in those cases. Usually the people just play the keys, but she just pumped the bellows, so I played the keys and chanted Hare Krishna for three or four mantras as her friends watched amused. It must have been a funny sight.

One young Indian couple stopped by as I was chanting Hare Krishna. The girl, Priyanka, had been attending the ISKCON temple in Tirupati since she was very young. She and her partner, named Krishna, were happy to learn of the next day's Ratha-yatra and the details about the Manchester ISKCON temple.

One English guy in his thirties or forties stopped by and bought a Gita because he just wanted to know what it was all about. That was the last of the four days I had been chanting in Manchester, and the first Gita sold.

Harinama in Sheffield

One Indian lady gave donations and took a small book from me two days in a row.

Manchester Ratha-yatra


Krishna blessed us with sunny and warm weather for the Manchester Ratha-yatra, which was held in Cathedral Gardens, where some people enjoy themselves and others pass by when going between city center to Victoria Station and the nearby parking lots.

Devotees attended from Newcastle, York, Leeds, Sheffield, Preston, Liverpool, Chester, and London, as well as from Manchester itself. 


Because Janananda Goswami has many disciples in Newcastle, more of my friends from there came than usual.


Before the Ratha-yatra, about ten or fifteen devotees did a harinama for about 45 minutes down Market Street and gave out invitations and told people about our festival in Cathedral Gardens.
 
 

One mother and daughter from Portugal were very attracted by the Ratha-yatra procession, the mother videoing it while the teenage daughter beamed with happiness. I told them we had Hare Krishna centers in Lisbon and Porto, and they could find them on the internet.

 A group of ladies delighted in dancing at the front of the procession briefly.

At the end, some onlookers also joined the dancing.

Janananda Goswami's lively singing and dancing really boosted the enthusiasm during the cart procession. Purusurama Prabhu later commented on how all the kirtanas that day were very good.

At one point Janananda Goswami danced with a brahmacari from the Manor, swinging him around.

The devotee ladies also swung each other in dance.

Except for one young British man who complained the prasadam was so cold he could not eat it, everyone said the prasadam was very good, with one young man describing it as fantastic. I especially liked the cabbage pakoras and the cake, but I found the vegetable dish a bit spicy for my taste.
 
 
One young Oriental lady was attracted by my garland. I gave it to her boyfriend to place it on her, and she was happy to receive it.

One young British lady moved with the music during the final kirtana, raising her hands in the air from time to time. As the chanting ended I gave her an invitation to the Manchester temple with the mantra on the reverse side, telling her these were the words to the song and our invitation to our Manchester center where we had weekly programs with the chanting and the Indian vegetarian food that she had experienced that day. Later I saw she went to the book tent with the mantra card, and an Indian devotee lady taught her how to chant japa and gave her beads.

Several onlookers joined in the dancing at the final kirtana.

South London 24-Hour Kirtana
 
Normally I would not go to London for the South London 24-hour kirtana because I consider that my field is The North of England, but since I was going to London to see my friend, I decided to go early for the South London 24-hour kirtana.I rode back to Bhaktivedanta Manor with Parasurama Prabhu after the Manchester Ratha-yatra. By the time I took the underground and the overground and walked to the South London temple in Croydon it was 12:30 a.m. A young man who helped me navigate the overground said “Gauranga” to me as we parted. I asked if he would like a Gauranga wrist band, and he said he followed another path but that he would wear the wristband, so I gave one to him. I was thinking of chanting till 2:30 a.m. and then taking a 2-hour nap like I did at Birmingham, but the organizer asked me to sing during his own slot at 3:00 a.m., which was generous of him. By then it was the brahma-muhurta time and then mangala-arati, so I decided to chant till 5:30 a.m. Then I chanted from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., so I got a good ten hours in altogether. The organizer, who had invited me to come to their South London kirtana at the Birmingham 24-hour kirtana earlier in the month, thanked me for coming and even gave me a donation.

Radha Londonisvara Das Prabhu was one of the big kirtana leaders, and he did a good job.

Dhirashanta Maharaja shared some nice realizations about the holy name with us. I shared a room with him and got to know him better which was nice. I usually just see him briefly at festivals in Eastern Europe.

London Visit

I took my friend, Sthita-dhi Muni Prabhu, to see different sites important in the history of ISKCON London. In addition to our present temple of Sri Sri Radha-Londonisvara at 10 Soho Street, we visited 7 Bury Place, the site of the first temple, Russell Square, where Srila Prabhupada would take morning walks, and Conway Hall, where Srila Prabhupada did a series of lectures.
 
We also visited Trafalgar Square, the site of the festival after the London Ratha-yatra.

I went on harinama each day. One day the dancing was so lively I videoed it. Gopinath Prabhu led a great kirtana, playing my funky harmonium, and several onlookers joined us and played instruments and danced for a while (https://youtu.be/ykRU2aivtVo):


While waiting in line for prasadam at Govinda's Restaurant, I got talking to a young American lady who first learned about Hare Krishna from buying a book in Union Square. Later she became attached to a British guy and moved to London, and she now participates in different devotional activities in the Sri Sri Radha-Londonisvara community.

Chanting in Preston

I chanted for a while along the streets in Preston with Tony, the organizer of our Preston programs, and then I chanted on my own. One young gentle couple with pleasant smiles was walking by, and I gave them an invitation to the program that night. They asked how to get there, and I tried to describe it the best I could. They actually came to the program and had a good time. I encouraged them to invite their friends. They said because just moved to Preston they had no friends. I smiled and said, “'We can be your friends.” The lady was vegetarian her whole life, being raised that way by her parents. They gave their email for the mailing list. I hope we see them again.

Chanting in Liverpool

I had the best day I ever had chanting by myself in Liverpool. We previously would begin our harinamas at Marks and Spencer, but the last time I chanted there, a Gaudiya Math person was annoyed that I chanted so close to his Gaudiya Math book table, so I asked the devotees to suggest another venue, which they did, St. John's Shopping Center. An Indian man who had his own guru wanted to donate something to Bhagavan, so he bought some nuts that the devotees later used in the dessert for the program that night. A young Englishman donated bananas. Many people tossed some coins in my bowl, and they amounted to over £20 (over $30). One lady described the singing as beautiful. Another said she had not seen the Hare Krishnas for years and said it was lovely I had come out to sing.

One family from Southport ate their lunch no more than three yards (three meters) from where I was singing and gave me £2 as they were leaving. The husband said that they never see Hare Krishnas in Southport and that if I chanted there I would be a hit. That was striking to me because the bus I had taken from Preston to Liverpool that day had passed through Southport, and since I had a day ticket, I seriously considered getting off and chanting in Southport for some time. I think the next time I make the journey I will get off in Southport and chant for a while there.

Newcastle Eight-Hour Kirtan

I am always inspired by the enthusiasm of the Newcastle devotees for their monthly 8-hour kirtana. There is always lively singing and dancing and an amazing feast.

 Dhananjaya Prabhu often plays the bass.

The guys dance.
 
They even lifted Prema Sankirtana Prabhu off the ground!

The ladies dance too, but my pictures of them were blurry.
 
The prasadam seems more opulent each time.

Here are just the sweets and savories.

Chanting in Leeds


I was so happy ten devotees chanted together in Leeds before their monthly program on the last Sunday in May. I get the best turnouts there. Govardhan dd and her husband, John, now come all way from Scarborough regularly to participate in it.

Later one of the Johns from Leeds chanted with me after the program for an hour on Briggate Street. We met an Indian man who had been in our Krishna-Balaram temple in Vrindavan the previous week. He was happy to learn of ISKCON programs in Leeds.

Uncommon Photos

Some devotees are creative with their sikhas.
 
Would you eat at a restaurant named Samsara?


Sometimes people take misleading shots of you.
Just for the record,
I have nothing to do with traditional British sausage hotdogs.

For more photos taken but not included, click on the link below:
https://picasaweb.google.com/103872792410945983719/TravelJournal1110?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCMqnp_GV4dCnxAE&feat=directlink

Insights

Srila Prabhupada:

From a lecture on August 17, 1973:

Prabhupada: This morning when I was walking, some of our students inquired that “If somebody says that 'I do not believe in God,' what is the immediate answer?” The immediate answer is that you come to the street; instead of going to the right you go to the left, and here is a constable, he is your God. Immediately he will arrest you and harass you. So how you can say that you are independent of God? There is God for everyone, but the status of God may be different. One may be worshiping a police constable as God; [laughter] one may be worshiping his boss as God; one may be worshiping his leader as God. So in this way, everyone is worshiping some sort of God. But we are worshiping the Supreme God. That is the difference.
Devotees: [applause] Jaya Prabhupada!
Prabhupada: That is the difference. You cannot live without God, but your God may be of different quality and my God may be of different quality. Now what is that different . . . quality? We are selecting God: the richest, the most reputed, the most beautiful, the most wise. That is our God. You are selecting a God who is less intelligent, no knowledge, not beautiful, not so strong—a false God. That is the difference. Everyone has to accept some God, because it is the nature of every living entity to serve under somebody superior. That is the definition given by Lord Caitanya: jivera 'svarupa' haya—'nitya krishna-dasa' [Cc. Madhya 20.108]. Every living entity is by nature, by his constitutional position, is a servant; but he is originally servant of Krishna. But because he has forgotten Krishna he has to become servant of so many people. Generally, so long we are not servant of God, we are servant of our senses. That is our position. We have to become servant. But our present position is that we are servant of our senses. I accept to serve somebody, not to that person, but that somebody gives me some money, and with that money I satisfy my senses. So because I am servant of my sense, I agree to serve somebody, even though I do not like it. [applause]

Sanatana Goswami:

From Brhad-bhagavatamrita:

[Narada Muni said:] “It is quite fitting that your devotees care only for prema-bhakti,pure devotional service to the Lord’s lotus feet. Such prema-bhaktifor the Lord, who is very affectionate to His devotees, fulfills all their ambitions and is alone their final goal.”

Bhaktivinoda Thakura:

From Navadvipa-dhama Mahatmya:

“In the Vayu Puranaas well, the Lord Himself speaks of His appearance, 'In Kali-yuga I will appear in populated Navadvipa on the bank of the Ganges as the son of Sacidevi to begin the sankirtanamovement. I will appear in a brahmana'shouse in the best of brahmana'sfamily.'”

“In the Agni Purana, the following is said: 'He will appear as Gauranga and will be very peaceful with a long neck, and surrounded by devatas,or devotees.' In the Garuda Puranait is said: 'In Kali-yuga, the devotees will give up all other holy places and reside in either Vrndavana or Navadvipa.'”

The Skanda Puranasays: "In Kali-yuga, anyone who takes shelter of Mayapur
and worships Me will be freed of all sins and attain the highest goal. The glories of whatever tirthas are present throughout Navadvipa increase a million times in Kali-yuga. The glories of all tirthasincrease by association with Gauranga just as the value of metal increases by association with a touchstone. Mayapur is none other than the spiritual energy of the Lord, Yogamaya, which increases everyone's bliss."

Bhakti Charu Swami:

It is still a custom to go to Kurukshetra during a solar eclipse to take bath in Simanta-panca.

Nothing other than pure devotional service to the Lord is the goal. The great sages aspire for this only. Other practices are means, but devotional service is the goal.

Is samadhi perfection? What do you do when you see the Lord in the heart? In santa-rasa, they are just happy with that, but others will not be satisfied with that. Thus the sages who are perfect in meditation are aspiring for devotion like the devotees, because they have only santa-rasa or meditation on the Lord. Love is manifest in the form of service which is the actual engagement of the living entity.

Dhirashanta Maharaja:

The challenge is to be a proper receptacle for the spiritual sound.

We may think that chanting Hare Krishna is difficult, but try standing on your toes with your arms in the air or standing on one leg with your arms in the air. In comparison to these austerities, chanting Hare Krishna is very easy.

If we try to accomplish our other responsibilities before chanting 16 rounds, then we will find we have no time to chant Hare Krishna at the end of the day, but if we chant Hare Krishna first, we will find we have more energy to do our other duties properly.

Srila Prabhupada said, “If you chant your 16 rounds of Hare Krishna by ten in the morning, you will not have any anxiety during the day.”

It is said that each hour of your sleep between 8:00 and midnight counts as two hours, from midnight to 3:00, each hour counts as an hour and a half, from 3:00 to 6:00, each hour counts as one hour, and sleep after 6:00 has no value.
 
Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami:

From Japa Transformations:

“Japashould be chanted from the heart, the seat of affections. It is an act of love toward Radha and Krishna. Short of love, it is a pleading. Anything less than that is just reciting the outer covering of the mantras, the syllables without the heart. I should not be satisfied with my little speed rituals in the morning. It is a desperate act, with time running out. When will you love Radha-Krishna while reciting Their names? When will you dare to ask for service? There is a legion of lackadaisical chanters, and they are not appreciating suddha-nama.I have far to go, but seem stuck in namabhasa.Chanting more is one remedy. Praying at other times for improvement in nama-bhajana.Even writing, asking for it.”

From “Poem for May 20” in Viraha Bhavan:

“All harinamadevotees should
know the 'Siksastakam' and take
its lessons to heart.”

From “Poem for May 21” in Viraha Bhavan:

“Prabhupada said, 'Just hear,'
and there is a lot of wisdom
and practical advice packed in
those words. Because the name
of Krishna is more merciful than
His form, all you have to do
is chant it with submission
and love and you are
vaulted to the front
ranks of advancement
in nama-bhajana.No
need for complicated
meditation or discursive
thought. Just call out
to Radha-Krishna, 'Please let
me chant Your names,
please let me serve You!'”

From “Poem for May 25” in Viraha Bhavan:

“Today’s drawing shows four devotees
dancing and chanting
with upraised arms.
They look like they
are having fun but seriously
engaged. Harinama
is like that. It is
simultaneously a happy
and a heavyvrata(vow).
To sing Hare Krishna
brings waves of bliss.
The devotees are attached
to go out into the streets
and express their
joy and share it with the nondevotees.
But the obligation to
do it every day,
and in the pressure of
the materialistic atmosphere
of the city, can be daunting.
The harinamadevotees
are spiritual warriors
and connoisseurs of spiritual happiness.”

From Wild Garden:

“O Prabhupada,
I play my part,
an actor on the stage,
in the start of old age,
please touch me again
tell me when.
Let me be your son
as I am, happy serving you
in a way that makes you
smile,
and claim me as a worker
for your cause.”

From “Poem for May 26” in Viraha Bhavan:

“Harinama devotees are expansive,
and they embrace the world
with a performance of congregational
chanting. With open hearts,
they guide everyone to
hear Radha and Krishna’s
names, and better yet,
ask them to join in the singing.
They are making the greatest
act of charity by
distributing the holy names.
How? Because singing
God’s names
cleanses the mirror of the mind
and lets one see he
or she is a spirit-
soul, an eternal servant of Krishna.
Chanting Hare Krishna relieves a person
of birth and death and promotes
one to the eternal spiritual world.
So there is no higher welfare
work than promoting harinama.”

From “Poem for May 27” in Viraha Bhavan:

“Harinamadevotees are motivated
by love. They don’t
go out mechanically or
merely by a sense of duty.
They love to sing the
holy names, and they love to attract people
to the bliss of congregational chanting.
They love Lord Caitanya and
Srila Prabhupada and desire
to please them by carrying out their requests
and mission. The
whole endeavor is
motivated by love,
and by acting in this way. Krishna,
who isbhakta-vatsala,
is inclined to the devotee
because He is conquered by the bhakta.”

From “Poem for May 28” in Viraha Bhavan:

“I remember chanting japain the
street and feeling dissatisfied
that I was 'chanting to the
air' with no counting of the
numbers. I expressed this to
Prabhupada, and he informed me how to
use the small counter beads tied
to the bead bag. Quotas give
us a proof, a tangible recording
of the substantial accumulation of
beads we have accomplished.”

“At the Krishna-Balarama Mandira
the twenty-four hour kirtanainspired
by Aindra Prabhu has
been going on for many
years. But Prabhupada said,
'Vrndavana is inspiration only.
Our real mission is worldwide.'
Devotees have to come out
of Vrndavana and present
congregational chanting in the
big cities of the West.
This is the compassion Prahlada Maharaja
spoke of when he said he
didn’t want to go back to go back to Godhead
unless he could take the fools
and rascals with him. Devotees
who have left Vrndavana to chant
in the city are making a great
sacrifice. Krishna is pleased
with them and is making
Vrndavana in their hearts.”
 
Dayananda Swami:

“If we cannot forgive, it means we are in maya [illusion], because we do not understand that by the law of karma we are getting distress because a bad misdeed of our own.”

We have to forgive ourselves first, not beat ourselves over the head for some mistake we made. If we cannot forgive ourselves, it will be more difficult to forgive others.

Our Krishna consciousness is demonstrated by how quickly we can pacify mental agitation and go on with life.

Haridas Thakura shows an amazing example by forgiving the people who beat him twenty-two marketplaces, and Jesus Christ also did so by forgiving those who nailed him to the cross. With such good examples, why do we refuse to forgive people? Maybe we think we are not on that level as those great saints or think that our chanting alone will bring us to a higher level.

Forgiving is not about the other person so much as it is about our relationship with Krishna. Krishna is looking to see if we are willing to forgive and move on.

Quotes about Forgiveness from Different Sources:

“Forgiveness is the release of all hope for a better past.”(Alexa Young)

“If we apply an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, most of the world will be blind and toothless.” (Mahatma Gandhi)

“Deal with the faults of others as gently as with your own.” (Chinese proverb)

“Forget the past that sleeps and ne'er
The future dream at all,
But act in times that are with thee
And progress thee shall call.” (Bhaktivinoda Thakura)

“Forgiveness is the only medicine that can cure the hurting soul.” (David Bruce Linn)

On the platform of tolerance and humility, we will not become offended and feel the need to forgive an offender.

We should be able to act to protect innocent people without hating the offender.

There was a case of a boy stabbing a girl to death in the presence of her mother, in which the mother had the sentiment of wanting to help the boy. The boy had anger on his face throughout the whole trial. The mom said to the boy at the end of the trial, “I do not feel angry with you, but I am very hurt. I pray that God may act so you may lead a better life.” And the anger disappeared from the boy's face.

There is a case of a six-year-old black girl who was being escorted to a white school the day after segregation ended in the United States. The white people were saying nasty things to her the whole time. The people escorting saw she was saying something to herself the whole time, and they asked her about it afterward. She said she was praying to God for the people who were speaking harshly to her. And she was only six years old.

Those things we think we cannot forgive, we have to examine philosophically and ask why. The main philosophy is to consider thus, “My dear Lord, one who earnestly waits for You to bestow Your causeless mercy upon him, all the while patiently suffering the reactions of his past misdeeds and offering You respectful obeisances with his heart, words and body, is surely eligible for liberation, for it has become his rightful claim.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.14.8)

Whatever happens, if I take shelter of Krishna, I will come out smelling like roses.

If we start complicating things, such as our observance of Ekadasi, we may find our outreach activities get minimized.

In 1970 my father to me yelled from another room to see a program on the TV. It was a newscast of the Ratha-yatra in London. I recall seeing the devotees happily dancing with upraised arms. My father said, “This is real religion!”

By rendering devotional service, we get piety, and become qualified to hear Srimad-Bhagavatam. One who has a taste for hearing is qualified and fortunate, and by such hearing one becomes motivated to engage in devotional service.

Srila Prabhupada was noted by his guru as one who likes to hear.

Whether we can understand it or not, it auspicious to hear.

To see Krishna in the sphere of our activities is a very auspicious thing.

A child sees, but without knowledge, what does he actually see? Those without factual knowledge will just speculate on what they see and not see the reality.

When one new devotee heard the Bhagavatam class, he was amazed that the speaker always spoke on things that were on his own mind.

Comment by Sakhya Rasa Prema Prabhu: Bilvamangala Thakura felt that his eyes were going to all the wrong places, and so he took them out, but then he saw Krishna. So that is evidence that Krishna is not seen with our ordinary eyes.

Sthita-dhi Muni Prabhu:

The reason we feel a sense of separateness from God is that we have the freedom to love to God. If there was only one choice, there would be no love. Krishna likes relationships of love, and so there has to be the choice.

If we have some natural piety, we will admit that we should offer the fruits of our work to the Lord, but we may not be so enthusiastic, because we are still in an unnatural condition.

The rules are meant to draw out the joy in our hearts. If we are too upset about them, we have to recalibrate.

The point of physical therapy is not to do the physical therapy well but to be able to move naturally. Similarly the goal of bhakti is not to do the activities of the practice perfectly but to purify the heart so we are in a healthy condition.

Krishna has our best interest in mind. He wants to party with us.

It unfolds now, not like a pie in the sky at the end.

As time goes by, we work through our tests, and go on to the next level.

By doing the bhaktinow, the renunciation comes naturally.

The experience of bhakti as no limits.

Q (by me): Have you see from your practice evidence of Krishna's protection and His providing for you?
A: I have a sense that Krishna puts me into different situations that I would not have voluntary put myself in which have made me grow in ways I needed to grow.

I see there is something beneficial to be gained from any situation.

In the history of ISKCON there was a devotee that did a lot of good things and a lot of crazy things, but Srila Prabhupada would always encouraging him, sometimes being very heavy, but all to keep him moving forward.

If you crack the whip or lavish them with praise, that is all for the same purpose, to encourage them to move forward spiritually.

Through the difficult times I realized that the knowledge alone was not enough to completely deal with the situation, but it gave me a construct that could keep me going through the difficulties.

Radha Londonisvara Das Prabhu:

When you act for Krishna's pleasure, you can get so absorbed you do not notice the passage of time.

Ralph Waldo Emerson:

Quoted on a “MHK: Meditation the Hare Krishna Way” brochure:

“What lies before us, and what lies behind us are small matters compared to what lies within us.”

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I like verses describing the superexcellence of Krishna's beauty such as:

krishna-madhuryera eka svabhavika bala
krishna-adi nara-nari karaye cancala

“The beauty of Krishna has one natural strength: it thrills the hearts of all men and women, beginning with Lord Krishna Himself.” (Sri Caitanya-caritamrita,Adi 4.147)