Srimad Bhagavatam class on 3.10.16-17 at ISKCON, Melbourne
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[Originally published on November 26th, 2012 and reposted here]

Superior soul energy lives within
animating matter’s lower vibration
being naturally unfulfilled in a body
driven to search for fulfillment.

Oblivious to its real nature
looking without instead of within
trying to be somebody special
in a fool’s make-believe paradise.

Covered by illusion’s dictates
trying to be pleasured
repeating the hackneyed routine
avoiding pain by numbing.

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“The wisdom of the devotee is that he bows down to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If one can do that it is special mercy. That is achieved through reception of the dust of the lotus feet of the Lord’s pure devotee. Generally that means to follow the instructions of the devotee. One cannot fully understand the science of transcendence unless one is a follower of a pure devotee. That is why the sacred texts themselves say that one cannot achieve success by simply studying books. Therefore it is said that one should study with the help of a devotee.”

Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.3.23, The Bhakti House
Kirtan, The Bhakti House

"You have to chant with quality. So there is a difference, that I have to admit. And I know I’m not at the apex. But I chant as the ultimate habit of my life with complete obedience to the sixteen-round quota and with adherence to Prabhupada’s blessing on me and my vow to him. Just go on chanting through the rest of your days and try the best you can."

From Bhajan Kutir #347
by Satsvarupa dasa Goswami

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 27 May 2015, Sydney, Australia, Srimad Bhagavatam 7.10.23)

Whenever we take birth in this world, immediately we are indebted. We are indebted to our parents who have brought us into this world and made arrangements for caring for us. We are indebted to the demigods because they are providing for us. Light, air and food are all provided by the demigods. We are indebted to the forefathers because they have built up so many things and worked so hard to create all facilities for us.

Srila Prabhupada explains that we are indebted in so many ways. We are indebted if we take milk from the cow. We are indebted to other living beings, demigods, family, parents and to everyone who has made a sacrifice for us. We are indebted to our teachers for whatever knowledge we have taken from them. Like this, we are indebted, indebted, indebted!

Therefore, we have a duty to repay. It is a karmic duty and not just a moral duty! If we do not repay that duty then there are reactions. It is said that if one owes money to another and one dies, then in the next life, one has to come back and pay back four times the amount – so with interest! So these things are arranged like that. Also, it is said that if someone owes you money, you will have to come back to receive it unless you write it off. So at the time of death, it is better to just write everything off.

But for a devotee, (Srimad Bhagavatam 11.5.41)

devarṣi-bhūtāpta-nṛṇāṁ pitṟṇāṁ, na kiṅkaro nāyam ṛṇī ca rājan

sarvātmanā yaḥ śaraṇaṁ śaraṇyaṁ, gato mukundaṁ parihṛtya kartam,

A devotee is no longer a debtor. He has paid back all this debts! But one may ask, “What about my parents? Shouldn’t I care for my parents?” Yes, you should care for your parents by serving Krsna because the way to care for parents is by serving Krsna. You may care for their bodies by sending money and so on, but if you give them Krsna and even if they are not getting Krsna directly from you, if you serve Krsna then your parents will share in the benefit; they get eternal benefit. So why should we work so hard to give them temporary benefit if they can get eternal benefit. Therefore, one should not interrupt his devotional service to take care of their parents; it is not beneficial!

In Navadvip, there was Shyamlal who had joined Srila Prabhupada. Prabhupada had sent him to Calcutta to assist Brahmananda and Gargamuni in collecting funds for Mayapur. Then a message came that his father was very ill and his father was dying, and he was asked to go home immediately. And Prabhupada said, “No, don’t go. There is no need!”

So in Prabhupada’s time, it was like that because in Prabhupada’s presence, everything was very transcendental. Since then, it has come down and now material considerations are also taken into account but in Prabhupada’s presence, it was, “You are engaged in devotional service and that is the greatest welfare work and there is no need for anything else.” That was the spirit and in Prabhupada’s presence, everyone was pulled up to a very high standard of transcendental life.

We are not saying that we cannot give mercy to our family; that we can do. We are not saying that we cannot associate with our family but still, our life is now with Krsna. Krsna’s associates are our real family. We are now in a new family lineage. We have now taken a second birth in the acutya–gotra, the family lineage of Acutya, the infallible family lineage which is Krsna’s family lineage.

In Vrindavan, when I was the temple president, I used to buy land. In India, there is a tradition that on any official document, they want you to state not only the name of the person who was involved but also his father’s name so you can see the family lineage. And instead of the father’s name, one could give their guru’s name and this is legally accepted! Whenever you are asked for your father’s name, you can give your spiritual master’s name because it is accepted as a bonafide relationship!

So that is culture actually. That is correct. The law of man is in line with the law of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Krsna has laws within the universe and according to these laws, we have our duties, we have rights and if we are not adhering to these duties, there is karma. But one who takes to Krsna’s service is released from all kinds of duties…

Aerial View of Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple Prai, Penang (3 min video)
Sri Sri Radha Krsna Temple of Devotion & Understanding Prai, Penang.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/qO6NLV

In its recent annual report, ISKCON South Africa – which has fifteen centers and five Govinda’s restaurants – let readers know about a string of inspiring achievements throughout the nation. Many of these came from new centers. In Stellenbosch, a town in the Western Cape, devotees acquired a three-bedroom house in the suburbs to serve as an ashram for three brahmacharis and three students.

On 16th May, ISKCON held its annual Ratha Yatra Festival it Parramatta, Sydney. The program was a great success, it was also attended by Julie Owens Member of the Australian Parliament. On May 27^th, Julie Owens in a speech given in the Parliament House expressed her heartfelt appreciation of the Ratha Yatra festival

The principal challenge to the religious commitment of a new generation of Hindu Americans is the indifference to religion.

Hare Krishna! Where Technology Falls Short
“Do we have to give up technology and return to village life?” We don’t have to give up technology, but we do have to give up the illusion that technology can make us happy. If we are diseased, we don’t have to give up the painkiller, only the illusion that the painkiller can cure our disease. We have to adopt the cure of spirituality for attaining real happiness. And since technology pervades our modern world, we can use the Vedic principle of yukta-vairagya, devotional renunciation: Without being attached to material things for personal enjoyment, use them for the service of God.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17640

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.     

When my children were small they pooled their resources one year to purchase for my birthday a fine looking tie pin in the shape of a golf bag and clubs. Actually I’ve never played golf in my life, and as far as ties go, since my schooldays when they were obligatory, I have made a point of avoiding them. Anyway, although the tiepin was of little use to me I was thrilled to receive it, as it was given with love. I still have it safely stored in my very small jewelry box, where it takes pride of place.

Even an insignificant gift given with love is surely greater than anything given without love. In the Krishna faith, which I follow, Krishna is of course God. He tells us that the only gift he wants is our love. There is a story about how, when he appeared 5000 years ago, he went on a diplomatic visit to see a great king. This particular monarch had no affection for Krishna or his followers, but nevertheless in an attempt to win Krishna’s favour he offered him the hospitality of a vast and beautiful palace filled with all kinds of luxuries. Knowing of the king’s antipathy toward him, Krishna refused the offer and went instead to the small cottage of one his devotees.

When he arrived he was received by the lady of the house who offered him a little fruit as refreshment. Overwhelmed with affection to see her beloved Lord, she carefully peeled him a banana; but, unable to take her eyes away from Krishna’s face, she absent-mindedly threw the banana in the bin and gave him the peel. Krishna in turn was looking affectionately at her and he simply accepted the peel and began to eat it without any sign of distaste.

As with me and my never used tiepin, Krishna accepted the love rather than the thing that was being offered. Love then is surely the greatest gift we can give or receive. And as the song goes, it’s the only thing that there’s just too little of.

Hare Krishna! Sri Adi Kesava Temple, Thiruvattar, Where Sri Caitanya Discovered Brahma-samhita
Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu visited this temple in 1510 AD during His South India tour. This is the temple where Lord discovered the 5th chapter of Sri Brahma-samhita. Brahma-samhita is said to contain 100 chapters. This scripture is so old and so sacred it was practically lost to the general population. But Lord Caitanya understood the supreme importance of this scripture and He found it in the Sri Adi Keshava temple at Thiruvattar.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17635

“Welcoming A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada to San Francisco”
Sunday, January 29, 1967 marked the major spiritual event of the San Francisco hippy era, and Srila Prabhupada, who was ready to go anywhere to spread Krishna Consciousness, was there. The Grateful Dead, Moby Grape, Janis Joplin and Big Brother and the Holding Company, Jefferson Airplane, Quicksilver Messenger Service – all the new-wave San Francisco bands – had agreed to appear with Srila Prabhupada at the Avalon Ballroom’s Mantra-Rock Dance, proceeds from which would go to the local Hare Krishna temple.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/7x3LfT

https://youtu.be/Z5uGEwPXSFE

The post SRS: Please watch this: appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

About how to chant better japa, meeting Krsna in the vani of the guru, whether bliss is produced from pineal gland and whether we should eat the cooking of non-devotee parents.

The post Goloka-dhama, Daksina, Shiva Alella, Bagi Emese – ask questions appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Harinama in Auckland, New Zealand (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu recommended five items of devotional service, namely to serve the devotees of the Lord, to chant Hare Krishna, to hear Srimad-Bhagavatam, to worship the Deity of the Lord and to live in a place of pilgramage. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 3.19.38 Purport)
See them here: https://goo.gl/vxzgnL

Hare Krishna! Intelligence and Example
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada: That is the difference between a devata, or godly person, and an asura, or atheist. Because the asura thinks he will live forever, he prepares big, big plans for material comforts. That is asuric civilization. On one will be allowed to stay here. In the Bhagavad-gita (8.15) Lord Krishna says: the material world is miserable and temporary. It is the place for suffering so that we can understand our position as souls subordinate to God. But fools do not consider the suffering. They make plans for more suffering. This is a foolish civilization.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17632

On Thursday, May 24th we left Phoenix on a flight to Chicago. We planned to drive to our first stop in Bloomington before going to the Chicago temple that evening, but changed our mind and stayed overnight in Chicago due to a late arrival time. The next morning, Friday, May 25th we paid a visit to the Chicago temple before driving to Bloomington and were greeted by kirtan from an ecstatic group of devotees. After some prasadam we made our way to Bloomington, Illinois.

We arrived in Bloomington at the home of Shankararanya prabhu and his family for prasadam. Later we went to the newly constructed temple he and the small congregation of devotees there have built to set up our displays to prepare for the TOVP presentation that evening. The temple filled with almost 75 devotees for kirtan during which the Padukas were offered flowers. Radha Jivan and Jananivas prabhus then spoke about the TOVP project in great earnest followed by a plea for pledges. In a short time over $50,000 in pledges were made. Kirtan started and devotees received the Sitari on their heads, after which prasadam was served.

The post TOVP Tour Diary Days 64 & 65: Departure from Phoenix, Arizona and Arrival in Chicago, Illinois appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

Vedic Wedding in Vrindavan (18 min video)
If you ever wonder what a true Vedic wedding ceremony look like, check this one out. Conducted in the holy town of Vrindavan by acknowledged priests in accordance to an ancient Vedic tradition this marriage ceremony establishes the ties for two Western people.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/uPL9RC

Hare Krishna! 7 acres and 2.5 houses for sale on Krishna Road, North Carolina
Mitra Das: My wife Maharha and I are downsizing. Our boys are grown, we don’t need such a large acreage and buildings.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17629

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.

This important foundational work, as well as all the work on the temple structure, is being done with longevity in mind so the TOVP lasts for thousands of years with as little major maintenance as possible.

The piping work started last year June for the temple, last month it begun on the 3 domes. The Gammon is doing all the installation. Polyethylene (PE) is the material used for the pipes, with a high strength-to-density ratio HDPE = High Density Polyethylene also on the temple floor, the workers are closing/sealing the pipes with brick work. The work is done so that all the excess water can be removed without damaging the temple structure, now that the concreting work started on the domes and rainy season is approaching , this work is very important to prevent water damage at any level.

The post TOVP Plumbing System Underway appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

The post Daily Darshan – May 29th, 2015 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Let’s review the essential principles about Ekādaśī, from the Twelfth and Thirteenth Chapter of Hari Bhakti Vilāsa.

What does “Fasting” mean?

“Fasting” means not eating. At the very least, do not eat as much as you usually do. (HBV 12.6,91).

The best fast means not eating or drinking [or sleeping] at all from one sunrise till the next. Any and all ekādaśīs can and should ideally be followed in this manner. But, there are certain things one can eat or drink that do not really reduce the efficacy of the fast:

• Water
• Fruit
• Roots (root vegetables like Potatoes? I think so)
• Milk
• Ghee
• Medicine / herbs (leafy vegetables like spinach? I don’t think so)

There are also situations in which one can eat other things without reducing the efficacy of the fast. This condition occurs when one receives a direct order to eat from a brahmana or guru. (HBV 12.100)

Eating anything else reduces the potency of one’s ekādaśī vow. Again, at the least one should reduce ones eating.

Full “fasting” also means fasting from sleep. (HBV 13.86, 87,171, 182, 190, 198, 219-220). While remaining awake at night, one should study Śrīmad Bhāgavatam and the Purāṇas (HBV 13.131, 530)

Who Should Do It?

Everyone – many Vrata’s are forbidden to different types of people, but Ekādaśī is open for everyone to follow, even non-vaiṣṇavas. (HBV 12.15,16, 74, 78). Furthermore, no one needs anyone’s permission to follow ekādaśī, everyone can do it freely. (HBV 12.74 commentary)

The old, young, and infirm do not have to observe it strictly. “Young” means under eight years old. “Old” means over eighty years old. (HBV 12.75) “Infirm” means diseased, or with extremely high metabolism. These people who are exempt should observe ekādaśī less strictly, by fasting until sundown. (HBV 12.93)

When to Do It?

Fast the from the 11th (ekādaśī) sunrise to the 12th (dvādaśī) sunrise, then eat. Don’t eat a feast, eat a simple, small breakfast with gravity and calm. Hari is pleased by those who take this trouble. (HBV 12.5, 13.18).

No inauspicious astrological consideration makes ekādaśī unfit (bad weekday, edge of a timespan, waning moon, etc). The only exception here is that the ekādaśī must not be even slightly mixed with the previous lunar day (10th, daśamī). The 10th must not stretch at all past the sunrise of the 11th (ekādaśī) – in fact it shouldn’t come close to sunrise at all, some say it should not even endure past midnight. When this happens, ekādaśī must be postponed till the 12th and broken on the 13th. (HBV 12.198-409)

Since its very difficult to do all these astrological calculations, one should trust the decision of the most senior and learned Vaiṣṇava in one’s sanga. (HBS 12.410-411)

What’s The Result?

Firstly, the simple result of regular fasting is that your health improves. Ekadaśī is said to be the “best medicine” (HBV 12.110) – and many statements about “removing sin” can just as accurately be translated as “removing pain and suffering from the body.”

Each ekādaśī has its own special result, but the result in general is that if you observe ekādaśī, you express affection to Hari, and this pleases him. If you don’t observe it, you show disinterest to Hari, which is not good for the soul. This will usually be expressed with dramatic and illustrative language such as “If you fast on Ekādaśī you go to Vaikuṇṭha. If you don’t you go to Hell.” The meaning is that ekādaśī fasting increases ones devotion and dedication to Hari, which leads to liberation (mokṣa/vaikuṇṭha). Not fasting on Ekādaśī does just the opposite, it increases ones neglect of Hari, which does nothing to stop the selfish deeds that absorb on in karmas that bring hellish suffering. (HBV 111-197)

Special Ekādaśīs

Every ekādaśī has its own special twist, usually its own special benediction. But there are a few ekādaśī that are particularly important to observe strictly.

• śayana
• parṣva
• uttana

These ekādaśīs mark the days in the year when Hari lies down to rest (śayana), turns over in his sleep (parṣva) and wakes up (uttana). If we want to be serious about bhakti-yoga we should observe these three ekādaśī with much more strictness than usual. The best, by far, is if we can do absolute, complete fasts on these three days (“nirjāla ekādaśī” without sleeping).  If we consider ourselves serious devotees, we thrill Hari by following these three ekādaśīs strictly, and severely disappoint him by not doing so. (HBV 12.101-103)

There is also an ekādaśī named “nirjāla ekādaśī” which is particularly good for absolute, complete fast. Sometimes it is called “Pāṇḍava Nirjāla Ekādaśī” because Bhīṣma highly recommended this ekādaśī to Pāṇḍava Bhīma. This ekādaśī comes in the hottest part of India’s summer (making it particularly difficult to follow without drinking). HBV 15.20-22 says that anyone who strictly avoids water from this sunrise to the next sunrise achieves the all the results of doing absolute fasts on every ekādaśī of the year. Things like bathing and acaman do not break the fast. HBV 15.23-25 state that the means of breaking this particular fast is also essential: one has to give charity to brahmanas early the next morning, at sunrise. The charity should be water and gold (which means money), and then one should feed the brahmanas and break the fast by eating from what remains.

If one is serious to follow this ekādaśī, he or she should consult Hari Bhakti Vilasa, Chapter Fifteen, texts 35 – 44 for exact mantras, rituals, and rules. If you are going to go through the trouble to observe this, you might as well go all the way and do it exactly right.

Tagged: ekadashi, ekadasi, nirjal, nirjala

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Talk at Mantra Lounge, Melbourne University
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Talk Outline:

Acronym SOUND: Satisfying, Omnipotent, Universal, Non-material, Direct

Satisfying:

Love expressed differently in different cultures eg handshake, hug, nose rub

Baby feels warmth of blanket on cold night though it may not know that the warmth comes from mother’s love

Warmth – security & strength – coming from mantra meditation is pointer to God’s love

Omnipotent:

Empowers us to break free from our mental shackles

Love brings out the best within us, lust brings out the worst within us

Mantra’s potency to bring out higher side is evidence that it manifest God’s love for us and our reciprocal love for him that brings out the best within us

Devotional chanting brings about resonance of our consciousness with infinite consciousness

Universal:

Eg. Festival of folk songs on the banks of the Volga – Bliss through chanting better than that of honeymoon, without even knowing what the mantra means

Mantra speaks in the universal language of love – links the human heart with the divine heart

Non-material:

Eg. Ordinary paper vs currency note

The infinite consciousness manifests to us through the sound of the mantras, so it’s much more than ordinary sound, even if spoken with the same tongue and throat

Direct:

Mantra is not just a path to the infinite – it is also the manifestation of the infinite.

Eg. Pauper who had never seen gold – gold was not in the treasury, but was also the component of the staircase to the treasury

 

 

 

 

 

All of them fled into the city and left the vast battlefield without warriors. The supreme human, Dhruva, wanted to chase his enemies into their city.

“Should we follow them?” Asked the chariot driver.

“No,” Dhruva explained, “who knows what plans those magicians might have laid. They must have set some trap.”

Soon there was a deep rumbling, like the sound of the ocean, and a dust storm closed in from all directions. The whole sky was instantly consumed in masses of black clouds, bristling with constant blinding lightning and terrifying thunder. A downpour of blood poured from those clouds, mixed with mucus, pus, stool, urine, and bone marrow. Severed trunks of human bodies then began to fall in front of Dhruva.

A mountainous craft materialized in the sky, shooting missiles everywhere: clubs, hammers, swords, maces, and a rain of shrapnel.

Snakes with lightning in their breath and fire in their vomit rushed towards him with ferocious eyes. Herds of enraged elephants, lions, and tigers stampeded towards him.

Tidal waves the came forth, flooding all the earth, with horrible noise, like the terrifying end of time.

Dhruva knew that all these countless horrifying visions where just demonic illusions cast by magicians to terrify the weak-hearted. He was undaunted.

Understanding that the demons had cast their very powerful magic on Dhruva, sages hurried to him to give him advice. “O Son of Uttānapāda,” they said, “The All-Attractive Divine who carries the Śārṇga-bow destroys the distress of his devotee and annihilates the devotee’s opponents. Dear, anyone who utters or even hears his medicinal name instantly and effortlessly crosses beyond the reach of death.”

Translation of Śrī Bhāgavatam 4.10.21 ~ 30 [end of chapter]

by Vraja Kishor dās

VrajaKishor.com

Tagged: ancient warfare, battle magic, dhruva, Krishna-nama, mystical warfare

BBT Africa holds an annual conference, each year in a different part of Africa, as part of the BBT’s partnership with the African temples, members, and supporters of the Hare Krishna movement. The first conference was held in Durban, South Africa, in 2010. In the following years it was held in Johannesburg, Nairobi, Phoenix (Mauritius), and Accra. This year the conference returns to Durban.

The post Upcoming: BBT Africa conference for 2015 appeared first on Jayadvaita Swami.

 

 

Nirjala (no water) Ekadasi is also known as Pandava Bhima Ekadasi, or Pandava Nirjala Ekadasi. This name is derived from Bhima, the second and strongest of the five Pandava brothers.

Please share your realisations with other devotees from around the world...simply send me an introduction email and I will be happy to make you a member:

rasa108 ::_::{.at.}::_:: gmail dot com

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Rasa Rasika dasa

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 03 April 2015, Durban, South Africa, Ratha Yatra Lecture: Sexuality and Spirituality)

Some people think, “What is it in that food? What do they put inside!? Is there some drug inside maybe?” No. The only thing that is inside, is blessings, the blessings of the Lord. But they are powerful. A life without the blessings of the Lord, where does that go? Where is it going? Try it, you go nowhere. Nowhere, no good! That is what happens.

So blessings are needed, blessings of the Lord. Many people in the past have understood that it is needed, blessings of the Lord and of the devotees of the Lord. So that is spiritual. Such blessings, you get when you render service. When you do something for the Supreme Lord without asking anything in return, that is how we get. So that is the nature of spirituality!