Spring Presentations Show Steady Improvement Throughout New Vrindaban Departments
→ New Vrindaban

By Madhava Smullen

ISKCON New Vrindaban and Eco-Vrindaban’s latest Department Head reports, on March 14th, showed that devotees were continuing to cooperate together with encouraging progress towards crystallizing Srila Prabhupada’s vision.

Co-GBC and MC for the day Anuttama Das introduced the event, explaining that since 2011, INV and ECO-V’s Boards of Directors and their managers and staff have gathered to communicate accomplishments of the past year and plans for the upcoming one.

But two years ago, they decided to make the gatherings open for all New Vrindaban residents and well-wishers to participate in. Sure enough, a sizeable group of residents were present, including longtime resident Varshana Swami, who offered a beautiful invocation that set the mood and intent for the weekend.

New ECO-V chairman Bhima Walker then introduced ECO-V’s department heads, beginning with interim Flower Garden manager Vidya Dasi. Vidya’s plans for the year included maintaining all the flower gardens; giving guests the experience of picking flowers and making garlands for Krishna; and creating an inviting atmosphere by adding benches, garden art and well-designed flower beds to the front of the temple.

Next, Ananda Vidya Das and his wife Lalita Gopi Dasi from Cow Care and Milking described how they get 30 gallons a day from their seven milking cows – enough for all the temple’s needs -- and supply the Deity kitchen with butter, ghee, yoghurt and curd. They reported high standards of cow care, announced that two new calves were expected soon, and were glad that the milking barn’s ceiling had been insulated to make winters serving there easier.

 

Brand new ECO-V Project Manager Mukunda Das, who will be moving to New Vrindaban in May, said that initial teams had already been but together to discuss plans for an eco-village and food processing facility; and that he would be working on eco-friendly housing beginning with one demonstration home.

 

Bhakta Richard of the Ox Program reported that the three young teams of Isan and Balarama, Hari and Priya, and Manu and Nandi are all making great progress in training with the yoke and learning commands. In addition, oxen moved into the rebuilt Bahulaban ox barn at the end of last year; ox cart designs have been presented by carpenter Vyasasana Das; and a turnstyle that can run a saw or mill with ox power has been acquired.

 

Gopal’s Garden, the homeschool co-op run by Ruci Dasi, reported a new preschool for two to four-year-olds, a fundraising drive for improving its playground, and input from many members of the community. Proving that it does indeed take a village to raise a child, they teach such subjects as dramatic reading, literature, poetry, Deity worship, kirtan, art, and music. The school also has a charming new logo featuring youthful Krishna playing His flute.

 

ISKCON New Vrindaban community president Jaya Krishna Das then introduced INV by sharing its new mission statement: “To please Srila Prabhupada by promoting his vision for New Vrindaban through steady development of Simple Living, Holy Pilgrimage, Community Outreach, Spiritual Education, and, above all, Loving Krishna.”

 

Local brahmachari Bhakta Trevor with Community Outreach was first up for INV. He reported that he maintains regular Harinam Sankirtan and book distribution in Wheeling and Pittsburgh; is starting home programs in Morgantown; and plans to start a Krishna Club at West Virginia University, where students are already chanting. He also holds a weekly kirtan at Wheeling’s new age store The Noble Source, where the owner chants and keeps Prabhupada’s books. He has done all this, he said, through making friends and building loving relationships.

 

The super-busy Vrindavan Das reported on the three departments he oversees, beginning with Communications, in which he talked about making friendships with locals and students; inviting the Mayor of Wheeling and Moundsville City manager to Festival of Colors and Rathayatra; developing an attractive monthly newsletter; and having regular articles published on ISKCON News, Dandavats, Brijabasi Spirit, and also in the secular media.

 

In Marketing, Vrindavan outlined plans to launch New Vrindaban’s new website this year, and create an attention-grabbing brochure for the Palace of Gold and New Vrindaban which will be placed in visitors bureaus, local tourist attractions, and hotels. He also plans to place permanent billboards on two major highways to promote the Palace of Gold by mid May this year.

 

In Festivals, he said he planned to make national events of Nrsimha Chaturdasi and of Srila Prabhupada’s Appearance and Disappearance Days at his Palace. He also talked about plans to hold an early July retreat this year with Bhakti Charu Swami; open Rathayatra at New Vrindaban to the Ohio Valley public; and replicate Prabhupada’s Bhagavat Dharma Discourses. He also hoped to enhance national participation in Kartik, the 24 Hour Kirtans, Festival of Colors, and Festival of Inspiration, which expects a bigger crowd this year with Jayapataka Swami attending.

 

In an encouraging step towards succession, a father and son team presented next. Guest Lodge  manager Gaura Bhakta reduced prices for rooms and cabins, and plans to install lights to guide guests to the Welcome Center at night. He also hopes to increase guest visits during weekdays; and to have four new rooms with attached bathrooms on the ground floor by this year’s Festival of Inspiration.

 

His father Vasudeva Das plans to keep Govinda’s Restaurant open longer each year, from March 28th to January 2nd, to launch a new webpage for it, and to add new uniforms and name tags for staff.  He reported that Govinda’s used only in-house dairy for the past six months, and announced the arrival of new cook Sri Rupa Das from Mumbai; and new menu items such as Indian sweets, Italian lasagna and canelonis, and Mexican items like burritos.

 

Vasudeva also reported on the Devotee Kitchen, which is working on creating a balanced diet for devotees so that they get proper nutrition. The kitchen will be getting a new altar and a new oven this year. It is also mainly using New Vrindaban protected dairy and has dramatically increased use of locally grown produce.

In Palace Restoration, Gopisa Das has a plan to expand the parking lot of Srila Prabhupada’s Palace from 18 parking spaces to 80, with a bus turnaround. He also plans to complete the outer wall and upper steps this year, with the lower steps and entry railing to follow.

 

In Facilities, also overseen by Gopisa, the library, third floor residential rooms and hallway from the kitchen to the temple room were renovated, and frozen pipes and radiators fixed. This year, Gopisa plans to upgrade the temple and lodge’s electrical systems, and renovate the lodge bathrooms, restaurant kitchen, temple siding and entry doors, cabin roofs, and swan boat house.

In the Palace Rose Garden, Gopalasyapriya Dasi spoke about her plan to stop using chemical fertilizers and start using more natural methods with the help of Paul Zimmerman of the American Rose Society, who recently did the same for the famous Biltmore Gardens in North Carolina. This, she felt, would attract a lot of people.

 

Speaking for Varshana Swami, Jaya Krishna reported that the Land Management department is working on the Palace parking lot and improving roads, drainage, and the Govardhana Parikrama path; but that it needs qualified young personnel to replace Maharaja, who is suffering from health problems.

In 2015, Treasurer Laxmi Honest aims to make sure funds for helping devotees through capital improvements and housing are used for those purposes only. She will also provide all department heads with “monthly budget vs actual” reports so that they can understand where they can spend less and more.

A new addition to Congregational Development, Daya Gauranga Das, reported a team of five preachers and a plan to increase fundraising 14% this year. However, he also emphasized that the the focus of congregational development was not taking but giving, by sharing with people a spiritual solution to their problems. He announced that five “Lila Sthalis,” or places of the Lord’s pastimes, would be marked on the community’s Govardhana Parikrama path with dioramas and art, and that Dina Bandhu Das will launch an annual Braj Mandala Parikrama at New Vrindaban this May.

Last but certainly not least came the Deity Department, headed up by Abhinandana Das. This year it created a sustainable and reliable team of pujaris with a family mood of cooperation; maintained punctuality and high cooking standards; and renovated the Deity kitchen and pujari room. In 2015, the pujaris plan to re-launch the Deity sewing room to fix old and torn outfits; extend the dressing room to create more space for the Lord’s outfits; build a new house for Tulasi Devi; and facilitate a second ISKCON Deity Worship Ministry training course.

As the presentations ended, Jaya Krishna, in a generous guesture, offered everyone a bag of Govardhana dust and CDs from his recent Braj Mandala Parikrama in Vrindavana, India.

He also invited all to take a copy of the beautifully designed “Prabhupada’s Vision: Our Mission” poster, saying, “Please take one and put it up on your refrigerator or next to your altar so that we are reminded daily of what Srila Prabhupada wants from us.”

His request reflected how many board members, managers, and New Vrindaban residents left the presentations – newly energized and refocused on Srila Prabhupada’s vision for his first rural community.

Hare Krishna! Sri Chaitanya Charitamritam completes 400…
→ Dandavats.com



Hare Krishna! Sri Chaitanya Charitamritam completes 400 years!
Srila Krishna dasa kaviraja Goswami, the author of Sri Chaitanya Charitamritam (CC), allowed his readers to know the date of completion of scripture’s compilation in the book itself through the final verse of Antya Lila, which reads as, “In Vrindavana in the year 1537 Shakabda Era (A.D. 1615), in the month of Jyaistha (May-June), on Sunday, the fifth day of the waning moon, this Chaitanya Charitamritam has been completed” (CC. Antya Lila 20.157). Thus the great scripture completes its 400 years on 9thMay 2015 as per the details given in the verse.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17212

Hare Krishna! Sri Chaitanya Charitamritam completes 400…
→ Dandavats.com



Hare Krishna! Sri Chaitanya Charitamritam completes 400 years!
Srila Krishna dasa kaviraja Goswami, the author of Sri Chaitanya Charitamritam (CC), allowed his readers to know the date of completion of scripture’s compilation in the book itself through the final verse of Antya Lila, which reads as, “In Vrindavana in the year 1537 Shakabda Era (A.D. 1615), in the month of Jyaistha (May-June), on Sunday, the fifth day of the waning moon, this Chaitanya Charitamritam has been completed” (CC. Antya Lila 20.157). Thus the great scripture completes its 400 years on 9thMay 2015 as per the details given in the verse.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17212

Kirtan Mela Mauritius, 2015 – Part 2
→ KKSBlog

By Kadamba Kanana Swami 

Madhava at home showed Sacinandana Maharaja the best of that little paradise called Mauritius, but when Madhava sat down for his kirtan, he was not from Mauritius at all, he was a resident of Vrndavana. Lokanatha Maharaja has a special rapport with the Mauritians, they know Maharaja’s tunes and on the first note they all exclaim in excitement, then soon things get to the ecstatic level. Bhakti Caitanya Maharaja was dancing with all the devotees with great enthusiasm and Sacinandana Maharaja took the devotees away, with his sweet melodies, to the world of Vrndavana. I gave an introductory talk based on the Caitanya Bhagavata where it is stated that sometimes Lord Caitanya is dancing wildly as if He wants to break the floor. The next day, the devotees broke the wooden floor in the pandal. Mahatma did a reggae tune and said, “You know, they like to dance.” Finally, BB Govinda Maharaja sang his melodies with deep concentration, first slow and meditative and then finally picking up to a powerful crescendo.

Now the news that I am getting is that all of Mauritius is talking about kirtan, all of the time!

Read Part 1 of Kadamba Kanana Swami’s description of the festival by clicking here.

Visit flickr to see more photos.
kirtan mela mauritius (35) kirtan mela mauritius (7) kirtan mela mauritius (12) kirtan mela mauritius (17) kirtan mela mauritius (19) kirtan mela mauritius (46) mela (6) kirtan mela mauritius (8)

Ethics and Cow Protection (9 min video) Arnold A. Smith II,…
→ Dandavats.com



Ethics and Cow Protection (9 min video)
Arnold A. Smith II, M.A.;D.D. from the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at Youngstown State University brought two groups of students from his ethics class to visit the International Society of Cow Protection (ISCOWP) and learn about cow protection. View this video to hear some of the discussion on cow protection that took place and view some pictures of their visits.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/6nSm9o

Steady Improvement Shown Throughout New Vrindaban Departments
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

By Madhava Smullen

ISKCON New Vrindaban and Eco-Vrindaban’s latest Department Head reports, on March 14th, showed that devotees were continuing to cooperate together with encouraging progress towards crystallizing Srila Prabhupada’s vision.

Co-GBC and MC for the day Anuttama Das introduced the event, explaining that since 2011, INV and ECO-V’s Boards of Directors and their managers and staff have gathered to communicate accomplishments of the past year and plans for the upcoming one.

But two years ago, they decided to make the gatherings open for all New Vrindaban residents and well-wishers to participate in. Sure enough, a sizeable group of residents were present, including longtime resident Varshana Swami, who offered a beautiful invocation that set the mood and intent for the weekend.

Jaya Krsna Prabhu leads prayer at beginning of presentation.

Jaya Krsna Prabhu leads prayer at beginning of presentation.

New ECO-V chairman Bhima Walker then introduced ECO-V’s department heads, beginning with interim Flower Garden manager Vidya Dasi. Vidya’s plans for the year included maintaining all the flower gardens; giving guests the experience of picking flowers and making garlands for Krishna; and creating an inviting atmosphere by adding benches, garden art and well-designed flower beds to the front of the temple.

Bhima presents ECO-V

Bhima presents ECO-V

Next, Ananda Vidya Das and his wife Lalita Gopi Dasi from Cow Care and Milking described how they get 30 gallons a day from their seven milking cows – enough for all the temple’s needs — and supply the Deity kitchen with butter, ghee, yoghurt and curd. They reported high standards of cow care, announced that two new calves were expected soon, and were glad that the milking barn’s ceiling had been insulated to make winters serving there easier.

Brand new ECO-V Project Manager Mukunda Das, who will be moving to New Vrindaban in May, said that initial teams had already been but together to discuss plans for an eco-village and food processing facility; and that he would be working on eco-friendly housing beginning with one demonstration home.

Bhakta Richard of the Ox Program reported that the three young teams of Isan and Balarama, Hari and Priya, and Manu and Nandi are all making great progress in training with the yoke and learning commands. In addition, oxen moved into the rebuilt Bahulaban ox barn at the end of last year; ox cart designs have been presented by carpenter Vyasasana Das; and a turnstyle that can run a saw or mill with ox power has been acquired.

Crowd listens attentively at presentations.

Crowd listens attentively at presentations.

Gopal’s Garden, the homeschool co-op run by Ruci Dasi, reported a new preschool for two to four-year-olds, a fundraising drive for improving its playground, and input from many members of the community. Proving that it does indeed take a village to raise a child, they teach such subjects as dramatic reading, literature, poetry, Deity worship, kirtan, art, and music. The school also has a charming new logo featuring youthful Krishna playing His flute.

Gopals Garden Logo final

Gopals Garden Logo final

ISKCON New Vrindaban community president Jaya Krishna Das then introduced INV by sharing its new mission statement: “To please Srila Prabhupada by promoting his vision for New Vrindaban through steady development of Simple Living, Holy Pilgrimage, Community Outreach, Spiritual Education, and, above all, Loving Krishna.”

Local brahmachari Bhakta Trevor with Community Outreach was first up for INV. He reported that he maintains regular Harinam Sankirtan and book distribution in Wheeling and Pittsburgh; is starting home programs in Morgantown; and plans to start a Krishna Club at West Virginia University, where students are already chanting. He also holds a weekly kirtan at Wheeling’s new age store The Noble Source, where the owner chants and keeps Prabhupada’s books. He has done all this, he said, through making friends and building loving relationships.

The super-busy Vrindavan Das reported on the three departments he oversees, beginning with Communications, in which he talked about making friendships with locals and students; inviting the Mayor of Wheeling and Moundsville City manager to Festival of Colors and Rathayatra; developing an attractive monthly newsletter; and having regular articles published on ISKCON News, Dandavats, Brijabasi Spirit, and also in the secular media.

crowd at Community Dialog 3 03-14-15

In Marketing, Vrindavan outlined plans to launch New Vrindaban’s new website this year, and create an attention-grabbing brochure for the Palace of Gold and New Vrindaban which will be placed in visitors bureaus, local tourist attractions, and hotels. He also plans to place permanent billboards on two major highways to promote the Palace of Gold by mid May this year.

In Festivals, he said he planned to make national events of Nrsimha Chaturdasi and of Srila Prabhupada’s Appearance and Disappearance Days at his Palace. He also talked about plans to hold an early July retreat this year with Bhakti Charu Swami; open Rathayatra at New Vrindaban to the Ohio Valley public; and replicate Prabhupada’s Bhagavat Dharma Discourses. He also hoped to enhance national participation in Kartik, the 24 Hour Kirtans, Festival of Colors, and Festival of Inspiration, which expects a bigger crowd this year with Jayapataka Swami attending.

In an encouraging step towards succession, a father and son team presented next. Guest Lodge manager Gaura Bhakta reduced prices for rooms and cabins, and plans to install lights to guide guests to the Welcome Center at night. He also hopes to increase guest visits during weekdays; and to have four new rooms with attached bathrooms on the ground floor by this year’s Festival of Inspiration.

His father Vasudeva Das plans to keep Govinda’s Restaurant open longer each year, from March 28th to January 2nd, to launch a new webpage for it, and to add new uniforms and name tags for staff. He reported that Govinda’s used only in-house dairy for the past six months, and announced the arrival of new cook Sri Rupa Das from Mumbai; and new menu items such as Indian sweets, Italian lasagna and canelonis, and Mexican items like burritos.

Vasudeva also reported on the Devotee Kitchen, which is working on creating a balanced diet for devotees so that they get proper nutrition. The kitchen will be getting a new altar and a new oven this year. It is also mainly using New Vrindaban protected dairy and has dramatically increased use of locally grown produce.

In Palace Restoration, Gopisa Das has a plan to expand the parking lot of Srila Prabhupada’s Palace from 18 parking spaces to 80, with a bus turnaround. He also plans to complete the outer wall and upper steps this year, with the lower steps and entry railing to follow.

In Facilities, also overseen by Gopisa, the library, third floor residential rooms and hallway from the kitchen to the temple room were renovated, and frozen pipes and radiators fixed. This year, Gopisa plans to upgrade the temple and lodge’s electrical systems, and renovate the lodge bathrooms, restaurant kitchen, temple siding and entry doors, cabin roofs, and swan boat house.

In the Palace Rose Garden, Gopalasyapriya Dasi spoke about her plan to stop using chemical fertilizers and start using more natural methods with the help of Paul Zimmerman of the American Rose Society, who recently did the same for the famous Biltmore Gardens in North Carolina. This, she felt, would attract a lot of people.

 Speaking for Varshana Swami, Jaya Krishna reported that the Land Management department is working on the Palace parking lot and improving roads, drainage, and the Govardhana Parikrama path; but that it needs qualified young personnel to replace Maharaja, who is suffering from health problems.

In 2015, Treasurer Laxmi Honest aims to make sure funds for helping devotees through capital improvements and housing are used for those purposes only. She will also provide all department heads with “monthly budget vs actual” reports so that they can understand where they can spend less and more.

A new addition to Congregational Development, Daya Gauranga Das, reported a team of five preachers and a plan to increase fundraising 14% this year. However, he also emphasized that the the focus of congregational development was not taking but giving, by sharing with people a spiritual solution to their problems. He announced that five “Lila Sthalis,” or places of the Lord’s pastimes, would be marked on the community’s Govardhana Parikrama path with dioramas and art, and that Dina Bandhu Das will launch an annual Braj Mandala Parikrama at New Vrindaban this May.

Last but certainly not least came the Deity Department, headed up by Abhinandana Das. This year it created a sustainable and reliable team of pujaris with a family mood of cooperation; maintained punctuality and high cooking standards; and renovated the Deity kitchen and pujari room. In 2015, the pujaris plan to re-launch the Deity sewing room to fix old and torn outfits; extend the dressing room to create more space for the Lord’s outfits; build a new house for Tulasi Devi; and facilitate a second ISKCON Deity Worship Ministry training course.

As the presentations ended, Jaya Krishna, in a generous guesture, offered everyone a bag of Govardhana dust and CDs from his recent Braj Mandala Parikrama in Vrindavana, India.

He also invited all to take a copy of the beautifully designed “Prabhupada’s Vision: Our Mission” poster, saying, “Please take one and put it up on your refrigerator or next to your altar so that we are reminded daily of what Srila Prabhupada wants from us.”

His request reflected how many board members, managers, and New Vrindaban residents left the presentations – newly energized and refocused on Srila Prabhupada’s vision for his first rural community.

Vision poster high res for printing. 03-11-15

How to see God (Pause for Thought BBC Radio 2 April 30th)
→ Krishna Dharma

God's incomparable artistry

God’s incomparable artistry

In the spring a young man’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love, as Tennyson so delightfully said. Of course nowadays, bombarded as we are with suggestive images on all sides, it might turn the way of love rather more often than just in spring.

Certainly though, spring is the season of reproduction, when nature renews herself and gives forth of her best. In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna says, ‘Amongst seasons I am flower bearing spring.’ In other words this is the season when we can most easily perceive God, in his creativity, intelligence and beauty.

As a theist, a believer in God, I am sometimes challenged by non-believers with that old chestnut, can you show me God? I am always at a loss to answer this question as to me everything about this world shows me God. I find it to be an astonishing creation which I don’t think we can ever fully comprehend. Year after year, the seasons come and go like clockwork, the sun rises and sets without fail, the planets stay in their orbits, and life in all its magnificent abundance and variety flourishes everywhere, never more obviously than in spring.

I can’t see how this could have happened without intelligence. Everything is so perfectly adjusted and synchronized.  Could it really have come about by chance? Actually in the language of the ancient sages of India, Sanskrit, there is no word for chance, as it is a concept they do not acknowledge. The nearest equivalent to the word chance is a word which simply means unknown cause, as the sages believe everything in this world is cause and effect, and the ultimate cause is God.

Sir Isaac Newton once said, “Don’t doubt the Creator, because it is inconceivable that accidents alone could control the universe.’ — which is a view that makes perfect sense to me. If intelligence is indeed controlling nature in all her intricate complexity then it must be a pretty big intellect.

I have heard it said that we are always seeing God, but we just don’t recognise him. So now that Spring is here I at least will once again be doing my best to make his acquaintance.

We say – They say
→ Servant of the Servant

We say: God created this world for our enjoyment. Otherwise, God will not create this material world.

They say: If this world is created for our enjoyment, then why are there so many problems in this world?

We say: There are so many problems today because  we all want to be masters. If in an office, everyone is the CEO, will there be order? Similarly in the material world, everyone wants to be the master and enjoy here, hence there is disagreement between people leading to quarrel and fight from individual level to global level.

They say: Why then is there disease, old age and death if God created this world for our enjoyment?

We say: Because our original position is spirit souls (atma) and our real home is in Vaikunta or spiritual world, the only way we will realize this truth is when there is temporariness built within this material world. That temporariness will eventually lead to frustration thus provoking the individual atma to seek for a permanent position - that is - Vaikunta. That provoking factor is old age, disease and death.

Hare Krishna

Searching for Our Authentic Story—The Holy Grail of the Seekers Quest
→ Karnamrita.das's blog

Author: 
Karnamrita Das

(this blog is recorded on the full page: quick time player needed)
Photobucket

[Originally published on Sat, December 22, 2012 and republished here for new readers] Each person is a walking story—or many stories walking, or blending together. We could think of our combined story like a painting built of layers, upon layers of mixed colors, creating something totally new, and yet the result of what has gone before. Our current life’s narrative is informed and in response to past stories, both our foundational background of growing up, and how we have adapted that story to various stages of our development, leading up to our sense of “now.” Our current now becomes our forthcoming story and is the intersection between the past and future. This is important to consider from the spiritual perspective because our identification with our material story defines us, covering our soul, and keeps us building new stories, or looking for others more appealing.

Think of how you define yourself. Isn’t a big part “who you think you are” your personal story, or the past emotional drama that has created the lens you use to see, or sense, the world? Although our previous lives have scripted our current story (our parents and others are instruments of our karma), we have to deal with our current life’s manifestation of that past karma, and live in present. While it is true that we may have to look back to resolve certain life issues or relationships, our main focus should always be in the present, informed by our spiritual goal. This means that everyone is responsible for their present actions, regardless of karmic inherited tendencies. Otherwise we can always blame the past, cruel fate, or someone else, and be powerless to change, or move forward. Ultimately the problem and solution to all problems is within us. We can choose what story we allow to define us and what story we aspire to be part of spiritually, or everlastingly.

read more

Hare Krishna! Bhaktivedanta Eco Farm at Vrindavan Dham…
→ Dandavats.com



Hare Krishna! Bhaktivedanta Eco Farm at Vrindavan Dham flourishes
HG Rupa Goswami prabhu who earlier took care of Iskcons All India Padayatra successfully for around a decade decided to take the service of developing Iskcon Vrindavans Eco Farm near Radhakund. It is said that this was the place where the Demon Aghasura was killed. If you ever thought Vrindavans ground water is salty, you should try tasting it here. It might even beat the salty Ocean water. Locals say that it is the blood of Aghasura that made it like that. This caused many people to leave parts of land uncultivated.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17205

Hare Krishna! Bhaktivedanta Eco Farm at Vrindavan Dham…
→ Dandavats.com



Hare Krishna! Bhaktivedanta Eco Farm at Vrindavan Dham flourishes
HG Rupa Goswami prabhu who earlier took care of Iskcons All India Padayatra successfully for around a decade decided to take the service of developing Iskcon Vrindavans Eco Farm near Radhakund. It is said that this was the place where the Demon Aghasura was killed. If you ever thought Vrindavans ground water is salty, you should try tasting it here. It might even beat the salty Ocean water. Locals say that it is the blood of Aghasura that made it like that. This caused many people to leave parts of land uncultivated.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17205

Festival of Chariots Dallas 2015: Ratha Yatra (Album with…
→ Dandavats.com



Festival of Chariots Dallas 2015: Ratha Yatra (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: One who is interested in chanting the holy name of Krishna or who by practice likes to chant Krishna’s names should be accepted as a Vaisnava and offered respects as such, at least within one’s mind. (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila, 15, 111)
See them here: https://goo.gl/nkQdCA

If you ever had trouble distributing books in sankirtan, try…
→ Dandavats.com



If you ever had trouble distributing books in sankirtan, try this :-) (5 min video)
And if you ever wondered who are those souls behind the ‘Fortunate People’ page and what is the way they get trained to stand long hours on the street distributing books - this 5 min video might shed some light… Beautiful, rhythmic and fun!
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/o6Plbf

Hare Krishna! Huge 24th Annual Prabhupada Festival in Los…
→ Dandavats.com



Hare Krishna! Huge 24th Annual Prabhupada Festival in Los Angeles
This two-day festival includes special talks and remembrances from senior Srila Prabhupada disciples, enlivening kirtans, six sumptuous feasts, a beautiful boat festival, Maha-Harinam, original artistic performances, representatives from diverse preaching projects as well as a variety of Vaishnava vendors. Tons of devotees from all over the place show up to give honor to the Founder Acharya of the International society of Krishna Consciousness. If you have never come to the Prabhupada Festival, we enthusiastically invite you to attend; and if you have come before, we warmly invite you to attend again.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17201

Hare Krishna! Seminar on Reaching the Hearts and the Minds of…
→ Dandavats.com



Hare Krishna! Seminar on Reaching the Hearts and the Minds of the Western Public
I can’t express how relevant and inspiring this seminar was for anyone who wants to see ISKCON progress in leaps and bounds in the coming years. With ISKCON’s 50th anniversary celebrations coming up, it is imperative we all know where we are as an organization, what steps we need to take collectively and individually to progress to the next level, and educate ourselves on our shortcomings. This seminar did that for many and I hope the greater devotee community has the opportunity to access the videos and do the same.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17198

Kirtan Mela Mauritius, 2015
→ KKSBlog

The Kirtan Mela in Mauritius took place from 10 – 12 April. Although it is a small island, over 5000 devotees participated and there was a lot of coverage on national TV as well as other media. Kadamba Kanana Swami, Bhakti Caitanya Swami, Lokanatha Swami, Sacinandana Swami and BB Govinda Swami were some of the main kirtaniyas in this event. Kadamba Kanana Swami’s solar birthday fell while he was in Mauritius and devotees surprised him with a celebration; photos are included in the slide-show. Here is a short description of the festival!

By Kadamba Kanana Swami

The Kirtan Mela in Mauritius was especially nice because there was a great sense of togetherness. The Sannyasis stayed practically eight hours in the kirtan every day and the devotees were very enthusiastic. It was the biggest international Krsna conscious event ever and everyone was on fire as they chanted and danced for hours. The devotees were very warm and caring so our stay was very nice. When I was on the plane leaving the country, an older Indian couple asked me, “Did you come from the Kirtan Mela? We could hear it in our house.” The Kirtan Mela flooded Mauritius in an ocean of ecstasy!

 

Photos

Visit flickr to see more photos.

kirtan (2) kirtan mela mauritius (10) kirtan mela mauritius (6) kirtan mela mauritius (33) birthday (9)

 

Videos

Day 1 – Kadamba Kanana Swami – 10 April 2015

Day 2 – Kadamba Kanana Swami – 11 April 2015

 

Day 3 – Kadamba Kanana Swami – 12 April 2015

 

 

Why is Krishna Blue? Why is Krishna Black?
→ The Enquirer

First lets get the color straight. He’s not “blue.” He is śyāma / nīla.  

The color śyāma is “Dark (black), with slight blue-green coloration.” A really heavy monsoon cloud, for example, is śyāma. The color nīla is “Dark, black, bluish/greenish-black.” A sapphire (nīla-maṇi) is a common example of this color.

So, basically, Krishna is black with a sapphire-blue luster.

OK, now let’s get to the “why” part.

Why is Krishna black? Why is anything black? What is black? Black is what you see when an object reflects no light. Black things absorb all the light that falls on them, letting nothing go. When something attracts all the light, and nothing escapes, it’s black.

And that’s why Krishna is black, because that’s what Krishna is – All-Attractive.

Throughout the Veda, “light” is used to describe consciousness, because consciousness illuminates existence. Our consciousness can shine its light anywhere. When it shines on something beautiful, it get’s stuck there. We’ve all experienced a song we can’t get out of our head. A girl or boy we can’t stop thinking of. A sunset we can’t take our eyes off. A game we can’t stop playing. Attractive, beautiful, delightful things are “sticky”, sticky with light, sticky with consciousness. They are “black.”

Krishna is so black, because he is All-Attractive. When our consciousness falls upon him, it sticks there forever. When light falls upon him, it never bounces off again. He is black. He is so fascinating, so delectably sweet, so delightfully deep, so thrillingly pleasurable, so enthrallingly enchanting and adventurous… no “light” escapes.


Tagged: Black, Color of God, Krishna

Vishnu’s Oneness
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Hari Replies

Hṛṣīkeśa is the most essential object of worship. After he was honorably glorified, the learned and wise Dakṣa again began the ceremonial worship Rudra had ruined.

The All-Attractive is the soul of everyone, and thus the enjoyer of everyone’s portions, but he seemed to be pleased by receiving his own portion of worship in the ceremony, and pleasantly addressed Dakṣa.

“There is no difference between me and Brahmā, or Śiva,” Viṣṇu said. “We are the ultimate cause of the world, oversee its existence, and yet are independent from it because we are self-mastered and self-seeing.”

“But the supreme must be one entity,” Dakṣa would protest. “Not three!”

So the All-Attractive explained. “I put my own power into this world of external qualities, which becomes known in three different ways as it emanates, protects, and withdraws the cosmos. This power is the non-dual Brahman in the singular supreme soul, Paramātma. Only a fool sees Brahmā, Rudra, or any creature, to be different from it.

“Therefore, a person who truly considers me supreme never makes divisions among creatures; no more than anyone would think there is a different person in the head, hands, and limbs of his own body.

“The three of us – myself, Brahmā, and Rudra – are one beings. Please do not see us with divided vision. One who sees Brahman as the essence of all creatures achieves true peace.”

Conclusion of the Ceremony

After the leader of the Progenitors was educated by Hari, he properly worshipped each of the individual gods. He particularly offered Rudra his own ceremonial portion with great care. When the ceremony was complete he offered soma nectar to everyone else who had attended. Then, with the ceremony’s officiates, he took the concluding bath.

His own realizations from the worship certainly enlightened him. And the thirty gods blessed him, dharma eva matim [“May your mind be most ethical”], before returning to the heavens.

Satī

It is said that when Dakṣa’s daughter Satī abandoned her previous body she was born from Menā, the wife of Himavata, father of the Himalaya Mountains, and became known as Ambikā. She immediately resumed her singular and undivided love, and again married her former husband – just as dormant śakti always gravitates towards the Supreme Person.

Conclusion of the Tale

Concluding the tale of All-Attractive Śambhu’s ruination of Dakṣa’s ceremony, Maitreya told Vidura, “I heard all this from Uddhava, the blessed devotee and student of Bṛhaspati. Anyone who carefully hears this supremely purifying description of God’s adventures and retells it in a devotional spirit is washed of all impurity, freed from all bad habbits, and blessed with long life and good fame.”

— Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 4.7.48 ~ 61 [end]

Vraja Kishor dās

VrajaKishor.com


Tagged: Advaita, gods, monotheism, Oneness, polytheism

Sri Harinama Is Glorious
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"Sri harinama is glorious! Chanted in any condition of life, whether almost dead, deathly sick, slipping, falling, or in any semi-conscious state, the name of Sri Bhagavan releases the chanting person from the bondage of karmic reactions and promotes him to the highest goal of spiritual achievement..."

From Jaiva-dharma
by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur

Waking Up to My Will
→ Seed of Devotion

Serenity Series: March

"I've wanted to be a high school English teacher since I was 12."

I've been reciting this line for the past decade or so. This aspiration has driven my endeavors in university, travel, and then ultimately to graduate school. I've recited this line in application essays, interviews, blog posts, and Facebook statuses.

Last fall, I dove into a month-long interview process to work as a teacher assistant at a reputable charter school network. I did my best and surrendered the result to Krishna. Bam - I got my dream position. The principal and I agreed to try it out, see how things went. I was amazed and excited, thrilled to be so directly working and on the path of my lifelong aspiration.

My first days at the school were fascinating, and I was invigorated, inspired. Yes, yes!! This is what I want!

A couple weeks in, I began to feel conflicted. Many times I would come home and cry. Dread. My experienced was summed up in that word. I dreaded checking my work e-mail, I dreaded getting out of bed on days that I worked, I dreaded being at work.

True, I was very rarely engaged in work that related directly to teaching English and to working with students in meaningful ways. I often felt awkward, out of place.

During one particular meeting with the principal of my school, I was suddenly hit with the words: "I'm not meant to be a teacher. Not in this capacity."

That night I got down on my knees and sobbed and prayed to Krishna. Where do I go from here? What does this all mean?

Strangely enough, in the following days I felt lighter. I felt free. I felt as though I had finally broken free of a lifelong expectation that I had had of myself. Free of my history, free of that line that I had been reciting for over a decade in essays and interviews.

I shared with my supervisor my intention to leave the school, and she was understanding. I gave my notice of resignation to the principal, and she was kind and gave her blessings for me to continue on my way. So did all of the other teachers and staff in the building. My last day of work I experienced love and good will from everyone, including students.

I have felt deeply free the past couple weeks. I feel as though the world is open now, wide open. If I decide to work in a circus as a flame thrower, lovely! If I decide to pursue architecture, awesome!

If I decide to be a high school English teacher, wonderful!

Now I know that whatever I do pursue it is because I am using the God given free will of my heart and I would choose to say, "I've wanted to be a high school English teacher since this very moment." 
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