Planet ISKCON

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 14 May 2015, Melbourne, Australia, Srimad Bhagavatam 3.9.42)

Question: Why does maya make it so difficult for the jiva to attain Krsna when Mahaprabhu is wanting to give Krsna prema so easily?

Srila Prabhupada was explaining in one lecture which I happened to be listening to three days ago that maya is like the police. So maya is there for the criminals! Prabhupada said, “If you are a criminal then maya will give you so much trouble but if you are not a criminal, then there is no problem.” It is like when you are not a criminal, the police will not give you any difficulty. But when we are actually criminals, who are actually ignoring the laws of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and causing disturbances then we are not innocent, we are guilty. We are criminals, we are causing suffering to others, we are causing a lot of suffering in the world therefore maya is arresting us. Time is up and is sort of punishing us.

We may say, “Maya, why are you doing this to me? You know, I am the nicest guy in the world. Why do you not leave me alone? It is not fair. I am completely sincere.” Whereas we are not so sincere. Actually, we are thoroughly corrupted so it takes purification. Not even just purification of bad qualities but it even takes purification of our motivation. Even our motivation is not so pure.

Sometimes people accuse us and they say like, “Escapist! Escapist! Take responsibility! Get a job! Get married! Go get a job! Escapist!”
Of course, you reply, “Demon! How dare you say such a thing about a vaisnava? You know what you are doing? You are blaspheming the vaisnavas! Demon!” (laughter)

But the truth of the matter… maybe there is a little bit of an escapist in us. Work in a job from Monday to Friday, from nine to five? It is easier to live in the temple and say, “Oh sorry, Prabhu, I came two hours late for my service. I had to chant my rounds, Prabhu.”

It is pretty easy, you know, to walk into any temple in the world and ask for prasadam? Just rock up in time. So in some ways, we live very sheltered lives. It is quite comfy compared to the struggle for existence in the material world. So is our motivation that pure? Did we really only come because we want to serve Krsna and surrender our lives to Krsna? Or did we come because we did not like to work? We did not like so many other things and now we are here in the temple and life is good.

I was in one temple in East Africa in 1979.

Yeah, it was like, “Did the life members bring the fruit already?”
“Yes, they did.”
“Oh, are there any mangoes?”
“No, only papayas.”
“Only papayas! Oh gosh. Any programs today?”
“Yes, there is a program at the Gupta’s.”
“Oh, the Gupta’s! I am going to that one. Mrs Gupta, I mean she is a whiz in the kitchen.”

Is this the sankirtan yajna? Is this the preacher who is going to every town and village? svargāpavarga-narakeshv api tulyārtha-darśinah (Srimad Bhagavatam 6.17.28): He is ready to go to hell or to heaven, he is equal-minded, preach Krsna consciousness. Is that us? Or are we more like in a comfort zone?

We can reflect on these things sometimes and we can question our own motivation, “Am I here just to serve Krsna or am I here because in some ways, it is easy?” So, even motivation needs to be purified. So how sincere are we? So, we are criminals. Still, some criminal tendencies are there. Even when we are dressed up like this (in devotional attire), it does not mean that all the criminal tendencies are gone. So when maya sees some criminal tendencies, there she is again, pouncing with her potencies, and we fall down…

Haridas Thakur had no material desires. Maya tested him and then after duly testing him, she found he was free and she surrendered to him. So the pure devotee is beyond. Srila Prabhupada used to say, “You can fall down but I cannot.” The pure devotee is fully transcendental. So we are converted criminals. So that is why maya is still policing us.

Hare Krishna! Cultivating an Empathetic Heart
When I was a young devotee, I was strict about attending all the temple programs. But I found myself critical of devotees who didn’t always attend. One devotee suffered from an illness and did her best to come when she could. But I felt she could do better. Not long after those thoughts contaminated my consciousness, however, I became ill and often missed mangala-arati, the early-morning worship. Krishna accomplishes many things by one action, and one result of my illness was a diminishing of my critical mentality. Krishna has often placed me in situations similar to those of people for whom I lacked empathy, helping me develop more understanding of others’ difficulties.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17712

Florida Is “The Rathayatra State” With Over A Dozen Festivals
For many, the season of Rathayatra, or the Festival of Chariots, won’t start until the summer. But Florida, which has become “The Rathayatra State” with a record-holding one dozen festivals in-state and more organized by Florida devotees out-of-state, is already kicking off its celebrations. Most of the festivals are organized by devotees from Alachua county’s New Raman Reti, the largest ISKCON community in North America. They include former president Bhadra Das, second-generation devotee Govinda Syer, and Dharmaraj Das, who organized Rathayatras in his native Guyana for fourteen years before beginning the same service in Florida in 2002.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/d6hQRU

Happy Couples, Healthy Families, Strong ISKCON
In April and May 2015, Grihastha Vision Team (GVT) members, Uttama dasi and Partha das spent 5 weeks in Brazil, offering seminars, workshops, retreats, individual couple education and mentor training in various cities across Brazil. The Brazilian centers are developing a devotee care initiative, and one of the many aspects is to try to assist members to have better marital relationships.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/wGLLyr

Hare Krishna! Back in San Francisco
The Swami sat between us. He was unassuming, comfortable in all situations, and smiled a lot. His jolly manner was infectious, so I smiled a lot from being around him. If someone gave the Swami any money he would immediately use it for printing, either books or magazines, never for his own self. He lived simply, but he would accept gifts as tools if it helped him to serve Lord Krishna. He awoke at 2:00 a.m., bathed, chanted 250,000 Holy Names, or sixteen rounds on a rosary of 108 beads. He encouraged us to also take up this practice, which we did.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17709

The post Bhakti Charu Swami and Sivarama Swami speak at a Pandava Sena meeting at Anil Agarwal’s home on the Gift of Lord Caitanya appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Hare Krishna! Sri Mayapur International School: English teaching position available
We have a service opportunity for a Secondary School English teacher starting August 2015. If you have successful teaching experience with students aged 12 to 16, and would like to serve in Sri dham Mayapur we can offer you small mixed ability classes of well behaved devotee students, an attractive remuneration package and the opportunity to serve with a team of devotee teachers in a beautiful campus, next to Mayapur goshalla.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17706

The Amazing London Rathayatra!
Date: Sunday 14th June 2015
Details:
Route Map
47th London Rathayatra is Sunday 14 June.
Assemble at Hyde Park, South Carriage Drive 11.30am
Procession departs 12 noon
Arrives at Trafalgar Square 2.30pm
Festival in Square until 5.00pm
Festival Features:
Talks
Bhajans
Dramas
Stalls
Books & Paraphenalia
Free Vegetarian Prasadam Feast for all
Getting There
Dearest Reader,
Before start of procession the horse guards parade past the chariots
Everyone is welcome to Rathayatra.
The procession assembles just inside Hyde Park – 500 yards west of Hyde Park Corner.
You will clearly spot the three colourful carts as you approach. There are three or four kirtan (singing and instrument) sections, each with dancers.
You can pull the ropes on the cart (which bestows liberation) but please follow the instructions of stewards and staff.
The cart leaves Hyde Park promptly at mid-day and arrives at Trafalgar Square around 2.30pm.
This can feel like a long journey on a hot day and a OAP van is provided at the rear of the procession for the infirm.
Bring a bottle of water to refresh yourself along the way.
If you can, please come and enjoy the start of the procession before the Deities arrive.
London Festival in Trafalgar Square after the procession
The Deities come out of the temple to freely distribute Their loving glances to anyone and everyone.
Wherever the Lord appears He is accompanied by His beloved devotees and friends.
If you are also there then you will surely benefit eternally.
Thank you very much for reading. Look forward to seeing you at the festival!
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/67Wyhe

Hare Krishna! The Sublime Essence of the Lotus Feet
Placing the attention on the lotus feet with a reverential attitude can dispel mundane preoccupations of the ego, such as desires born out of vanity, pride and greed. Suffering, affliction, pain, fear and discontent fade away as body and mind become purified through attaching the mind to the lotus feet. The illusion of separation from the divine fades away. It is believed that upon first glance at the lotus feet, it is possible to perceive — via the senses — fresh lotus blossoms. Even to gaze upon the lotus feet can illumine the soul. In the act of falling at the lotus feet, touching the lotus feet, gazing upon the lotus feet or surrendering to the lotus feet, the ego can be subdued in favor of a higher state of awareness. The phrase “contacting the lotus feet of a guru” means to connect with a spiritual master to follow his teachings. It is considered an act of divine grace to be attracted to the lotus feet. By taking refuge at the master’s lotus feet, the devotee can receive innumerable spiritual benefits, just as he might attain through making pilgrimages, fasting, doing charitable acts, performing austerities and engaging in yogic disciplines. Sometimes the lotus feet are referred to as “a pool of sacred nectar that grants salvation to the world-weary pilgrims on the path.”
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17700

Hare Krishna! The mercy factor
Kadamba Kanana Swami: We can think of our heart as a palace with many rooms. Slowly, we open more rooms and we have to turn all these rooms into temples. But as long as we have any ideas of wanting material things, that means that we still lock out some rooms from Krsna – that is where our obstacles are. Everyone has some barriers otherwise we will all be ecstatic prema bhaktas, rolling on the ground in ecstasy. So, we may have some personal agenda but we minimize it more and more.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17697

Indian Actress Rituparna doing Lord Jagannath Abhishek

The post Daily Darshan – June 3rd, 2015 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Rajapur Jagannath Snan Yatra 2015 Photo Slideshow (4 min video)
The Snana Yatra is a bathing festival celebrated on the Purnima (full moon day) of the month of Jyeshtha. It is an important festival of the Jagannath devotees. This is the first occasion in the year as per the Vaishnava calendar, when the deities Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subhadra, Sudarshan, and Madanmohan are brought out from the Jagannath Temple (Puri) and taken in a procession to the Snana Bedi. There they are ceremonially bathed and decorated for a public audience with the devotees.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/cyb6JX

Journey to the mountains for a rejuvenating weekend of kirtan and yoga at our beautiful retreat in Otaki. Experience the magic and mystery of kirtan, guided meditations, morning yoga, and delicious vegetarian meals. Don’t forget to bring your instruments (and voices) for a kirtan jam session and a special party on Saturday night!

Friday 19th June – Sunday 21st June

We will leave 6pm Friday night and return Sunday afternoon

To register, email Kalyani at: kalyaniradha.dd@gmail.com

Journey to the mountains for a rejuvenating weekend of kirtan and yoga at our beautiful retreat in Otaki. Experience the magic and mystery of kirtan, guided meditations, morning yoga, and delicious vegetarian meals. Don’t forget to bring your instruments (and voices) for a kirtan jam session and a special party on Saturday night!

Friday 19th June – Sunday 21st June

We will leave 6pm Friday night and return Sunday afternoon

To register, email Kalyani at: kalyaniradha.dd@gmail.com

1.06.2015 H.G.Banabhatta Prabhu_SB-5.23.2

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Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Bhagavad-gita 10.9 for the morning program.

“We are completely dependent on the association of devotees, because in their association we can chant the holy name, discuss Srimad-Bhagavatam, and make plans to spread Krishna consciousness. Our acaryas have prayed that if we have to take birth again, let us take birth in the home of devotees who have no other desire but to serve Krishna. Spiritually, we have all taken our birth in Srila Prabhupada’s home ISKCON—he built a house in which everyone can live. We should value every moment that we have to live in this home and value all the pure devotees in this household and hold onto their lotus feet and pray for their mercy that they will always keep us with them and engage us in Krishna’s service.”

Sadhu Sanga Retreat Kirtan
Sadhu Sanga Retreat Talk

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Youth Meeting at ISKCON, Melbourne
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Svāyambhuva Manu told Dhruva:

[15] “The five physical elements evolve into female and male life forms. Through intercourse, those life forms then fill this world with more female and male bodies. This is how people are created, and it is also how they are maintained and destroyed. All of it is just an interaction of Paramātmā’s external qualities.”

Why do the physical elements evolve into male and female life forms?

[17] Svāyambhuva explained, “The Supreme Person is the essential, original cause of all these evolutions in his external qualities, even though he himself is without any such external qualities. This whole world manifests and disappears because of him, like iron being moved by a magnet.”

What “magnet” does he use to cause this evolution?

[19] Svāyambhuva explained, “Time is the ‘magnet.’ The All-Attractive uses the energy of time to set his external qualities in motion.”

How does time come into contact with the external elements?

Svāyambhuva Manu explained, “His potency of individualized consciousness (the jīva) carries this energy into those qualities. It is only through them that his divine nature acts within this external world; he himself does not act here. It is only through them that things are killed and destroyed; he himself does not kill or destroy. All these deeds transpire merely by his distant separated energies. The true deeds of the Great Origin are certainly far beyond all this.

[20] “He is eternal and unchanging, but through the agency of time the Endless creates endings, and the Beginningless creates beginnings. It is only through the agency of people that other people are born, and it is they who kill one another. He certainly never takes sides. No one is his enemy. No one is his ally. Mortality affects everyone equally.”

Then why do some die young, while others live long?

[21] Svāyambhuva explained, “The individual conscious beings who become involved with the external world simply submit to the impartial rules he establishes, just as dust submits to the wind. Sometimes these rules diminish their lifespan; sometimes they increase it. He is not directly involved in either case. He is absorbed in internal affairs within himself, and his laws impartially reward and punish those absorbed in the external world.”

Why do the living entities behave in unique, different ways, earning different rewards and punishments from Paramātmā’s impartial system?

[22] Svāyambhuva explained, “Some say it is due to cause and effect, karma. Others say it is due to each individual having a unique nature, svabhāva. Some say that is all fate and predestination, daiva. But certainly others say it is because each individual person has their own individual desires, kāma.”

None of these opinions are entirely correct or incorrect, because they all play a role in causing living entities to be individuals. But the root of all of them is kāma, individual desire and will.

[23] Why do they all have different desires? Svāyambhuva Manu explained, “The Supreme, who is beyond scrutiny and beyond examination, likes to generate many different types of energy. My dear boy, among these philosophers and logians, no one really understands his intention. He has his own reasons, and he manifests things according to his own liking. There is no causality superior to his will.”

Comments:

In 19, we see that time activates the external energy, and that time is carried into the external energy by the vibhakta-vīrya which VCT explains as the “individualized potency” known as jīva – individual souls like you and I. Time exists within consciousness (as does everything), so existing within the jīva’s consciousness, who herself is a distinct energy of the Supreme, time is carried into the external world and allows conscious will to set elemental evolution in motion. This concurs with the previous descriptions of initial creation given in the Second and Third Cantos.

19 also establishes that the separated conscious entities are denoted as such because they have independent free will. Their will is given autonomy by the Supreme, and allowed to operate on its own, separately from the Supreme Will. Of course it can, and should act in harmony with the Supreme Will. But this is not mandatory, nor does “harmony” indicate absolute uniformity and non-distinction.

19 also establishes that the things that happen in this world are not caused by “God.” They are caused by the inhabitants of the world, you and me. God is the remote cause, because he is the cause of you and I existing, but the direct cause is our own independent will.

20 confirms this and specifies that the Supreme is equally disposed impartially towards each and every one of his separated individual expansions of consciousness.

21 clarifies that different living beings experience different joys and sorrows, not because of God, but because of their own deeds. God is impartial, it is our own harmony or disharmony with his system (which also implies harmony with one another) which causes the impartial rewards and punishments.

22 seeks for the root of why the living entities should be individuals. The answer is that many factors are involved, but the root cause is kāma – individual taste, individual desire, individual will.

23 adds that the absolute root cause is the individual taste, desire and will of the Original, Self-Causing Being.

This is a translation, with comments

On Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 4.11.15 ~ 23

by Vraja Kishor dās

VrajaKishor.com

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, July 2009, Serbian Summer Camp, Lecture)

Question: I was thinking if I should ask this question. A confession goes along with it. I started Krsna consciousness twenty-one years ago and in spite of all my deficiencies, devotees have been very nice to me. After many years, finally I think that I am getting some taste and for hearing and chanting also. But, I feel that I have hit a wall or a ceiling. Upon analysing, I have discovered that I still have doubts which are preventing me form getting the real nectar in Krsna consciousness. Upon further analysis, to my horror, I have discovered that apparently I am not so happy with the idea that Krsna is controlling everything in my life. Even though I have begun to enjoy very much the association of devotees and the whole process of Krsna consciousness, I am constantly, no matter how hard I try, I am hitting this wall which prevents me from going further. I would very much like to know why this is so. So Maharaj, please tell me, what is wrong?

It is a fact that we have to give up all sense of proprietorship. At one point, we just have to accept that nothing is ours. In the Caitanya Caritamrta, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu tells to Sanatana Goswami that even his own body was not his. Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, “You have surrendered unto me. Therefore, your body is my property!”

We have to gradually come to this point when we say, “All right, all Your property!” We have to let go of the tendency to control our own destiny, to really say, “Okay Krsna, whatever You want!” Because, whether we have that mood or not, it is anyway going to be like that. Krsna will do what he wants. So, we are all struggling like that.

Yesterday, I used the analogy of Krsna being in the inner-chamber in our heart. We can think of our heart as a palace with many rooms. Slowly, we open more rooms and we have to turn all these rooms into temples. But as long as we have any ideas of wanting material things, that means that we still lock out some rooms from Krsna – that is where our obstacles are. Everyone has some barriers otherwise we will all be ecstatic prema bhaktas, rolling on the ground in ecstasy. So, we may be struggling with these limits, we may bump into the walls that you described but, if step-by-step, we try to surrender more, if we try to accept whatever Krsna wants, still in subtle ways we may have some personal agenda but we minimize it more and more.

Like in my case, I was a grhasta but I did not have kids, it did not happen. Then at one stage, I began to wonder what are we going to do – grow old together… hand-in- hand, bone-in-bone. I thought what would the point be? So, I began to develop the desire to take sannyasa. I remember the ceremony at the Bhaktivedanta Manor and as I was sitting at the fire sacrifice, I had a moment of doubt. (Audience: Ohhhh!) No, doubt is a sign of intelligence, Kapiladeva says. I had a moment of doubt! I was thinking, “Why am I doing this to myself? I am forty-four years old. This is relatively young. I could have waited ten more years. Why do I want to do this now? Is it personal ambition or is it really the desire to serve Krsna?”

Anyway, since I was sitting in the sacrifice, I just carried on with it. What do you do? Then after I took sannyasa, some television crew came and they immediately put the microphone under my nose and said, “Do you feel any different?”

And I said, “If you would ask that question to a man who just got married, what would he say? He would say yes. I feel different now because I feel the weight of the responsibility.” So, I felt the weight of the responsibility there and then. So, this is the way that we gradually try to increase our commitment. First, we make an external commitment and then in order to survive that commitment, you have to fill it in. A sannyasi has to walk around with these heavy vows, such heavy vows – not to enjoy in this world, no sense gratification at all. It is quite strict! So, then I could see, “I will never survive this unless I really fill it in with some genuine attraction to Krsna.”

If we want to break out of a stagnated situation then we must make a commitment that is greater than where we are now. It does not have to be sannyasa but the commitment in service to Krsna must increase. That commitment in service to Krsna will force us to also make a greater internal commitment. And if again we find a wall then again, we must make a fresh commitment which is even greater which will force us to grow internally. It is in this way that we increase our surrender to Krsna and not so much by mental or intellectual adjustment. We cannot do it that way, we are just not strong enough but if we make a commitment, that will force us. If we take responsibility, responsibility will force us.

So, when there is stagnation, make more commitment in the service of Krsna. It can be in different directions – it can be in sadhana, in practical service; it can be in ashram; it depends on our individual situation. Then in the end, if at the end of our life, if there are still such walls and we still have not fully become perfect then there is this hope, it is called asa bandha, it is translated as “hope against hope”!

It basically means that even if there is no reason to have hope, you still have hope. We may have no reason to think that we will be successful, that we will go back to Godhead, and that we will get Krsna prema because we have not surrendered enough. You know it and I know it; we know it about ourselves. But we “hope against hope” that we may still get the mercy of Lord Caitanya because if he sees that we are really trying then he is very generous. So, this is the crux, we have to really try and if Lord Caitanya sees that we are really trying, then he will give us mercy, if he wants to…

So that is my meditation, that is why I took sannyasa. It is a risky business. Still, I hope that Lord Caitanya, at the end of my life, will say, “Well, he tried!” Everyone else will say, “He did not do very well. It was not very impressive. Maybe it will be better for him to do it one more time.” But someone will also say, “This is one of Prabhupada’s men.” So I also want to be a Prabhupada man. Prabhupada has prayed to Krsna that we can go back to Godhead. So I try to serve Prabhupada, I hope that he will also help.

Do you know that story about the horse race? The horse race is getting ready to start. Ladies and gentlemen, all the horses are lined up! Start sign and they are all are running. And it is material desire that takes the lead! Envy and greed are close behind. And they are storming down the tracks, storming down the tracks… and it really looks like material desire is going to win the race. Number one, material desire, is in the lead… in the lead! But then… look, look, look! From behind, from the left field, there it is – Prabhupada’s mercy, Prabhupada’s mercy coming down the side! And yes, yes, yes! Prabhupada’s mercy is moving on. Prabhupada’s mercy is, I tell you ladies and gentlemen, Prabhupada’s mercy is going to finish the race!!!

Somehow or other, hang in there!

General update on the Domes
The TOVP domes are coming up very fast! On the main dome, the 9th and last ring is now 50% completed. The 3rd ring on the planetarium dome is almost finished and for Nrshimha Dev dome, the 3rd ring just commenced!
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/f0X0Kr

TOVP Plumbing System Underway
While in and of itself plumbing is not a glorious activity, when used in the Lord’s service it becomes a glorious detail to the TOVP project and an essential and important element in its all-around long-term preservation.
Piping work on the temple started last June, 2014 under the guidance of Gammon Construction. Recently, plumbing work started on the domes. This is to insure that, due to the impending approach of the rainy season, all excess water can be removed to prevent any damage to the temple structure. Using HPDE (High Density Polyethylene), a material with a high density-to-strength ration, this will be accomplished in a short time. On the temple floor workers are also closing/sealing piping within layers of brick.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/Lj7IbN