Everything was supremely auspicious when they were born. In space, in the wind, in the waters, and on the land – everything became happy, carefree, and pleasant. Music vibrated through the heavens, and flowers fell like rain. Satisfied sages chanted auspicious mantras. Gandharvas and Kinnaras sang. Celestial women danced.
Brahmā and all the gods offered congratulations and prayers. They said, “Today the Supreme Person has appeared as a sage in the family of Dharma. He is the one who creates this world from the mystical power within his own self. The world is like a cloud, and he is like the sky.
“He is the ultimate object of all the hypotheses of we hosts of gods and spiritualists. He has come here to cure the ills which disturb this creation, by his abundantly merciful glance, which is more auspicious than even the spotless lotus in which the Goddess of Auspiciousness dwells.”
While worshipping and praising the All-Attractive, the gods obtained that merciful glance. Nara-Nārāyaṇa then departed for the intoxicatingly fragrant Mount Gandhamādana.
Those two sages, Nara and Nārāyaṇa, are certainly fragments of All-Attractive Hari. They have now appeared as the two Krishnas: Yadu-Krishna, and Kuru-Krishna (Arjuna), and continue to relieve the burdens of the world’s ills.
This is an English rendition of Bhāgavata 4.1.53-59. I am finally back on track, translating forward. This chapter was a challenge. It took a lot of time to discover the import in the genealogical tables, many of which involve very ancient and rare Sanskrit names, and then to figure out the best English edit to express the import without losing the genealogy and without sounding goofy.
Here is a very nice painting of Nara-Nārāyaṇa discussing tattva with Nārada.
Guest: She is also doing that japa. And while this mālā, doing mālā, and doing the japa, the mind doesn't remain fixed in God. You know, it wanders about. So what is the way of fixing the mind? Prabhupāda: To hear. "Hare Kṛṣṇa." Chant and hear.
The process of Krsna consciousness works by the association of vaisnavas. We are simply the recipients of their mercy. So many vaisnavas have played a significant part in my life as well. In Vrindavan, the devotees were very kind and merciful to me and they wanted me to stay. They immediately put me in devotional dress, shaved my head and they said, ‘Dance!’ But I said, ‘I cannot just dance! I can only dance when I feel like dancing!’
‘No, you have to dance because it says in the “Nectar of Devotion” that you have to dance.’
So this is interesting, as I could not dance if it did not come from the heart because at that time, I did not understand the power of dancing itself. I thought dancing is an expression of happiness but I did not know that dancing is the way to get to the happiness! So, it made me think – it broadened my horizons.
There was one sannyasi, Yasodanandana Swami, who was worshiping his Silas. In those days, I did not know anything about Silas – I just saw that he had those unusual forms of the Lord and others did not. But I could see that it was something mystical, something powerful! That sannyasi was very expert in chanting verses, he knew many verses from scriptures and he was nicely quoting and explaining them. I could see that he had made a sacrifice, that learning was not just coming automatically, but that he had made a sacrifice and I realized that I would also have to make the sacrifice to learn.
Later, I had to leave Vrindavan and I returned to the temple in Amsterdam. There were different personalities living there. One devotee was an accomplished writer and he had written many books. He said that he had three levels of books – under books, middle books and upper books. Upper books were shastra, under books were about material life and all its entanglements, and the middle books were about getting out of material life onto the spiritual path. In his upper books, he had put tenth canto of Srimad Bhagavatam. He did the Dutch translation of the Uddhava-gita; he was a translator of Srila Prabhupada’s books and also much more, but I did not immediately realize it at the time, although he always seemed like a deep thinker. Many people in the world had faith in him as the books he published have reached so many souls. He was an influential person whose thoughtfulness was outstanding!
One of his middle books was Drunken Elephants and in that book, he describes the ISKCON of the eighties. There, he also describes a guru named Aisvarya Maharaj who was living in great opulence and how in the midst of all that, Krsna was simply forgotten. He described that in a very deep and sharp way, because what is the use of a writer if he does not write about the truth? Such a person is just a magician, as a real writer must write about the truth. I could see in him that he was a true writer and that, although he had joined the Hare Krsna movement, he kept his own integrity. His personal conscience – that inner voice, that inner compass in all of us that tells us what is right and what is wrong – remained intact. I appreciated that in him and that enforced my own conviction that I still had to carry on being a thinker, and not just switch off my brain upon joining the Hare Krsna movement.
A musical adventure in Berlin….. With Kadamba Kanana Swami.
My purpose of visiting Berlin, besides meeting friends and having a good time, was to finalise the latest music CD for my very good friend and spiritual teacher Kadamba Kanana Swami. Luckily some friendships are beyond time and space so good fortune allowed that two of my old band members also happen to live and work in Berlin. My friends Pete & Simon are professional musicians and expert in recording and producing music. So this was a excellent opportunity to finish the CD with their musical experience.
Pete and Simon have their own band project called “Potwhale“. They compose music within their self defined genre that they call “Transcendental Space Metal” and they were kind enough to invite us to their studio.
Kadamba Kanana Swami and me set foot in their studio to refine his upcoming CD. The CD needed a good intro, interludes and a good exit track. Kadamba Kanana Swami provides vocals and Pete played the Zen Tambour. Additionally i was dubbing in some piano tracks that Simon arranged into a master session during recording.
Both Pete and Simon expressed that they were honoured by Kadamba Kanana Swami’s visit, and it certainly was an honour for me as well. I was astounded by Pete and Simon’s service mood and how they are able to remain aloof from material circumstances, even when they have to work with dissident musician’s all the time. Please like their facebook page if you are interested in their music.
We all had a great time, it all came out pretty good, and we very much thank Potwhale for their support, making all this happen….
Elevated and dear to all, surrendered devotee of Lord Krishna, Ananda Vrindavana devi dasi, mother of Matsyavatara prabhu from Italy left her body to enter the eternal realm of Goloka Vrindavana.
Hare Krishna! NASN February 2015 – North American Sankirtan Newsletter
For the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada this report contains the following North American results of book distribution for the month of February. North American Totals, Monthly Temples, Monthly Weekend Warriors. Monthly Top 100 Individuals, Monthly Top 5, Cumulative Countries, Cumulative Temples, Cumulative Top 100 Individuals, Cumulative Top 5
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=16115
NBS # 8 - *Rama Navami* special edition - Part one
Dear Devotees, Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga! For the upcoming appearance day of Lord Ramachandra, we are pleased to present the Part one of this special edition.
NBS # 8 Features: - The Form Of The Lord With Six Arms His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada - Appearance Of Sri Ramayana - Sri Ramachandra and Lord Parashurama - Meeting of Bharata and Lord Ramachandra Sri Valmiki Ramayana - Caitanya Mahaprabhu in the mood of Lord Ramachandra Sri Lochan Das Thakur
You can view and download it here: http://goo.gl/vc4M12
KK Bindu #346: Glories of Lord Ramachandra, Continuation of Gopal Campu and More
Issue 346 of Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu was just released. This issue focuses on Lord Ramachandra in honor of the upcoming festival of Rama-navami. Topics include: * ANYONE WHO CHANTS — Comments from His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada * THE MAINTAINER OF VEDIC ETIQUETTE — Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja speaks about the special ontological positions of Lord Ramachandra, Krishna, and Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. * Nama-tattva: OTHER NAMES BECOME EMBARRASSED — An amazing verse from Sri Hari-bhakti-vilasa. * THE FIRST ATTRACTION - PART 12 — Continuation of a fresh translation done especially for Bindu from Srila Jiva Goswami’s Gopala Campuh, speaking about how Radha and Krishna first met. * PRAYERS TO SRI RAMACHANDRA — A rare stotra composed by Srila Murari Gupta.
It can be downloaded here: https://archive.org/details/bindu346
Kardama’s daughter Kalā (The Refiner) and her husband Marīci (The Lightray) had a boy named Kaśyapa (The Sunray) and a girl named Pūrṇimā (The Moonlight). Kaśyapa had many children; we will discuss this later. Pūrṇimā had two sons, named after two important qualities of light: Viraja (The Illuminator – primarily a quality of sunlight) and Viśvaga (Ever-present – primarily a quality of moonlight, for moonlight brings illumination everywhere, even into the night). Pūrṇimā also had a daughter named Devakūlya (The Divine River) who would become a divine river and wash Hari’s feet.
Hare Krishna! Iskcon Mumbai Celebrates Rath Yatra in more than 25 places each year!
This is only possible due to causless mercy of Srila Prabhupada and all Guru Maharaj. Thank to devotees from Mumbai ISKCON temples and Mumbai preaching centers. This Rath Yatra festival is celebrated in more than 25 places in Mumbai City. These Places include Juhu, Mira Road, Kharghar, Dadar, Colaba, Nagpada, Ghatkopar, Mulund, Thane, Charkop, Kandivali, Borivali, Malad, Goregaon, Bandra, Bhayander, Vasai, Nalasopara, Kalyan, Mahalaxmi, Worli, Andheri, Dahisar, Dombivali, Palghar, Wada, Vashi etc
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=16112
Hare Krishna! Letter from an Indian Clerk
The great sage Narada Muni while advising his disciple, the great Vyasa Maharaja says, “Learned circles have positively concluded that the infallible purpose of the advancement of knowledge, namely austerities, study of the Vedas, sacrifice, chanting of hymns and charity, culminates in the transcendental descriptions of the Lord, who is defined in choice poetry.” This means even a field like pure mathematics should be used to make others aware about the greatness of God.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=16109
Hare Krishna! Spiritual Unworthiness
Yes, Krishna does miss us. Let’s stop putzing around. Krishna is waiting for us! Depression and feelings of unworthiness are usually associated with failures and setbacks in life. An unsuccessful person, struggling to survive in a competitive world, feels doubtful about his or her competence and may feel depressed and unworthy. In fast-paced cities like Mumbai, work pressure and the race to the top are making people a clinically depressed lot, say psychiatrists. The increase of mental disorders and suicide is testimony to this phenomena.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=16104
Hare Krishna! Winning Life’s Battles
Perhaps we should begin by defining religion. Dictionaries usually describe it as a system of belief in some supernatural power. That is where the conflicts tend to arise. My beliefs may well be different to yours, and human nature is such that we identify with these to the point where we create divisions based upon them. Hence we have many religious communities going under different names Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, etc. In most people’s minds this is what is meant by religion, all these various designations. The Gita however gives a broader definition.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=16101
Harinama during the St Patrick’s Day Parade, UK (Album 37 photos)
Srila Prabhupada: One is understood to be an eternal servant of the Supreme Personality of Godhead if he considers himself a servant of the holy name and in this spirit distributes the holy name to the world.
(Sri-Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 8.16 Purport)
See them here: http://goo.gl/8d3JMT
Vrindavana to become more clean and secure.
Vrindavan, March 14, 2015: The District administration of Mathura has become sensitive towards the tourists after the Chief Minister’s visit. It is working on a plan to make Vrindavan clean, beautiful and a secure destination. The town will be transformed into international standard as the international tourists and the devotees from different parts of the country come here for spiritual tourism. The roads leading to the famous temples will be improved and will be given an international look. The CC TV will also be installed near the temples and on the junctions of the main roads.
According to the wishes expressed by the Chief Minister during his visit to Vrindavan, the District Administration has begun the exercise on the cleanliness of the town, security and availing other necessary facilities to the visitors. In the follow up action of the Chief Minister’s visit, the Divisional Commissioner Shri Pradeep Bhatnagar visited Vrindavan on Friday. He presided a meeting with the district authorities organized in the Iskcon Guest House. The Iskcon Temple Authorities were also present in the meeting.
Talking to the media after the meeting, the Divisional Commissioner said, “Keeping in view of the large number of domestic and international pilgrims, the CCTV cameras will be put in the temples and the junctions of the main roads for their safety. The tourism police will be deputed to help the tourists.” “Both the approach roads to Vrindavan will be broadened and beautified. The drain near the Prem Mandir will be repaired to deal with the water logging in the area, said Shri Pradeep Bhatnagar.
He said that a proposal was being prepared by the District Authorities. The Chief Minister desired that the roads of Vrindavan should be maintained like the temples. The District Magistrate Rajesh Kumar, SSP Manzil Saini, MVDA Vice chairman Nagendra Pratap, MVDA secretary S.B. Singh, U.P. Jal Nigam’s engineer Nizamuddin Siddiqui was present in the meeting.
TOVP: Alachua Iskcon devotees pledge more than 1 million dollars (Album 30 photos)
But the devotees in Dallas pledge even more!
See them here: http://goo.gl/AhWDEH
In early morning hours on Tuesday (March 10th) in Mayapur, Jananivas prabhu and myself (Vraja Vilas), to the nectarine sound of Krishna Kirtan, departed for the U.S. in a grand procession carrying with us the divine Padukas of Lord Nityananda and Sitari of Lord Nrsinghadeva. Celebrating the 50th anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s arrival in […]
Statement by Anuttam Prabhu, ISKCON Communication Director:
Recent media coverage has brought the world’s attention to the horrors of abuse and rape of women. The film “India’s Daughter” tells the story of the terrible rape and murder of a woman in New Delhi in 2012, and demonstrates the urgent need for increased activism against criminals—and perhaps cultures—that perpetrate, promote, or foment such crimes. ISKCON strongly condemns any violence against women and advocates that care and protection for women is one of the essential qualities of a civilized society.
In the effort to address social sources of the abuse of women and the misogyny that sometimes accompanies it, a few have selectively quoted from the writings and conversations of Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (1896-1977), the founder-acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), to suggest that his teachings lead to the exploitation of women. A quote regarding rape has been widely circulated the last few days and will be addressed below. First some facts:
1. Srila Prabhupada, who spread the Vaishnava tradition, or monotheistic devotional Vedic (Hindu) teachings, to the west in 1965, was noted for providing full facilities and opportunities for women within his organization. In India—against the social norm of the day—Srila Prabhupada regularly arranged for women to be the primary speakers and leaders of kirtan/chanting sessions at large ISKCON sponsored public events.
2. Unlike the standards of many orthodox Hindu traditions, Srila Prabhupada formally initiated women into the Krishna movement and accorded them with the same rights and privileges as men. He often remarked that in his movement, women “are as good as their brothers”.
3. In ISKCON in Prabhupada’s time and today—unlike many Hindu, and even Christian, Muslim and other religious communities—women perform the full functions of priests, pujaris, temple presidents, and also sit on ISKCON’s highest ecclesiastical body, its Governing Body Commission. For example, women serve as Community Presidents at ISKCON’s Washington, D.C. community, and at Alachua, Florida, the largest ISKCON community in North America.
4. Direct testimonies of women disciples of Srila Prabhupada who personally interacted with him consistently document his concern, respect, and grandfatherly care of his female followers.
Regarding Srila Prabhupada’s recently circulated quotes on rape, it should be understood that Srila Prabhupada was born in Calcutta, India in 1896 and raised in Victorian India. His use of the English language was founded in that era, and the words he uses and the meaning of those words should be seen in that context.
His statement that women “like to be raped,” is questionable, if not horrific, using today’s connotation of rape, that is, forced sexual intercourse against one’s will and often at
knifepoint or gunpoint. However, the word rape in the context of Prabhupada’s 19th Century English has a much different meaning. According to the Chambers English Dictionary, rape had several different connotations in the past.
“Rape rap, (noun) rapine, plunder, seizure (obsolete); unlawful sexual intercourse (by force) with another person without that person’s consent; violation, despoliation,— verb transitive to seize and carry off (obsolete); to commit rape upon; to ravish or transport, as with delight (obsolete); to violate, despoil. (adjective) ra’ping tearing prey (heraldry); ravishing, delighting (obsolete).”
Of relevance within this definition is the historical, or “obsolete” meaning to “ravish or transport, as with delight,” or “ravishing, delighting.” With this understanding, Prabhupada’s comments make more sense.
Any casual viewer of modern movies or novels sees such a psychology played out in story after love story, where women are portrayed as delighting in men’s attention, and seeking to be swept off their feet, in their paramours’ ravishing embrace.
This is far from the misperception of thinking that Srila Prabhupada meant that women wish to be raped in the current violent connotation of rape. In fact, Prabhupada taught that civilized communities protect and provide for women as an essential test of decency and morality.
Just one of many examples of the need for men to not abuse women is given in his book “Dharma—The Way of Transcendence” where he writes: “Indeed, human life is meant for self-control. The more you control yourself, the more perfect a human being you become, and the more you allow your senses to run loose, the more of an animal you are.”
Dr. Thomas J. Hopkins, Professor of Religious Studies (Emeritus) at Franklin and Marshall College wrote about Srila Prabhupada: "He was a genuine holy person with enormous integrity and compassion, and he had a powerful impact on those who met him. He never claimed authority and respect for himself; what he said and did was always in the name of Krishna [God]."
Understanding the historical facts of how Srila Prabhupada respected and cared for women, his use of language in the proper context, and the appreciation he drew from scholars who studied his life and work, helps us to understand the reality of this saintly person’s nature and intentions.
**
Statement by Vishaka Devi, author of many books on Vedic wisdom:
While my husband remained in Los Angeles editing a documentary film, as a photographer I was part of Prabhupada’s personal entourage when he traveled in America during the summers of 1974 and 1975. Prabhupada’s Bhaktivedanta Book Trust paid for my airline tickets, my camera, my film, and arranged for all my accommodations and meals.
From the moment I’d met Srila Prabhupada, all I’d experienced—and continued to experience while traveling with him—was his encouragement. He evoked in me a spirit of voluntary, enthusiastic service. He generated an atmosphere of fresh challenge, and I enthusiastically agreed to rise and meet it. He drew out my spontaneous loving spirit of sacrificing my energy for God, Krishna. He appreciated my efforts. He wanted me to be all I could be for Krishna. I never sensed a smidgen of male chauvinism or misogyny, superiority or self-righteousness, hubris or haughtiness in him. Neither a whiff of desire to exploit, oppress or repress women or anyone else.
Regarding the recent concerns over Srila Prabhupada’s statements on rape, I recall my god sister telling me, “During a brief stay over in Delhi, my husband was Prabhupada’s secretary and I was his cook. We were on a rooftop where Prabhupada, while getting a massage, was reading mail that had accumulated during our travels. I was preparing lunch in a corner of the roof. Prabhupada, holding a letter in his hand, called me over and with tears in his eyes told me that Saradiya had been raped by five men (this was in Trinidad where she had gone with her husband to open a center). Srila Prabhupada was visibly distressed over this unfortunate incident.” Hardly the reaction of someone who views women as inferior or thinks that they like to be raped.
Let no one be under the misimpression that Srila Prabhupada in any way condoned rape in any form. This idea is thoroughly and completely mistaken.
*
Statement by HH Jayadvaita Maharaj:
Now, the question on the table is not whether SP *condones* rape. Nowhere does he say he does. By modern community standards, his sexual standards are conservative or ultra-conservative: "No sex outside of marriage." "See every woman but your wife as being like your mother." No "boyfriend and girlfriend." No dating. "Women should always be protected."
So what *is* the question? It seems to be the rather narrow issue of whether women "sometimes" (SP's word) enjoy rape.
Okay, no one is willing to argue that women enjoy being mugged and beaten and raped. But do women sometimes enjoy protesting "No, no!" and having a man insist, "Yes! Yes!"?
A generally understood answer is "yes." The open question is: When is "no" a genuine refusal, and when is it a come-on, a part of the game?
That is not a settled question. Even psychologists, sociologists, and courts of law sometimes have a hard time drawing a clear line.
That aside, when SP refers to the clever lawyer who got his client acquitted by arguing that the woman enjoyed pleasure, is SP saying that women should be fair game -- open targets for rape -- because they "want it"? Hardly.
And, clinically speaking, that women sometimes feel sexual pleasure during rape is well established. Even when they feel utterly disgusted by the experience, they sometimes feel sexual arousal and even orgasm:
According to the clinical literature, instances of this are likely to be underreported. And the victim may feel conflicted, confused, and even guilty because she simultaneously hated the experience yet felt sexually
stimulated and aroused.
So Srila Prabhupada's lay psychological observation that women during rape "sometimes enjoy pleasure" seems reasonably consistent with modern psychological understanding -- or at least not terribly far off.
So then again: What's the point that so upsets us?
From Srila Prabhupada's perspective, even the ordinary, socially approved instances of sexual intercourse that go on regularly on all but the most conservative college campuses constitute a form of
reprehensible exploitation of young women.
So when reading the "notorious" purport, the casting of SP in a stereotypical "anti-woman" role seems hasty and unwarranted. Our understanding would benefit from a more thoughtful,
better-contextualized reading.
In an interview in the Times of India, a prominent Hindu spiritual leader that ISKCON propagates cultural Hinduism and by restricting Hinduism a particular culture, we harm its universality.
Giriraj Swami presented a seminar titled ‘Secrets of Success — and Failure — in Devotional Service’ based on the Nectar of Instruction.
“Mercy means the Lord can give mercy or not give as He pleases. But, our business as devotees is to make ourselves fit candidates to receive the Lords mercy. One of the main qualifications is to be eager for the Lords mercy. Being eager requires us to be humble and realize we cannot be successful without the Lords mercy. Whatever sadhana we perform can only be successful with the Lords mercy. So, feeling completely helpless and dependent on the Lord, we can beg for His mercy, pray for His mercy and chant in the mood to receive His mercy.”
"....Practically we see that as we sincerely try to improve our chanting for the pleasure of Krishna, Krishna reciprocates and we feel our greatest pleasure which is devotional service to the Lord."
Verse 4.36: Even if you are considered to be the most sinful of all sinners, when you are situated in the boat of transcendental knowledge you will be able to cross over the ocean of miseries.
Spiritual life begins with hearing; hearing from someone who walks their talk. The Gita refers to such persons as self-realized souls. Their words have impact on our hearts because of the power that comes along with practicing what you speak. It's through this hearing that we cultivate knowledge, and as this verse states, this knowledge is the vehicle by which one can begin their journey of self-discovery.
For those who have started that cultivation of spiritual knowledge, and especially those who continue to cultivate it year upon year, you'll know that the journey that doesn't end there. In fact, arguably, that could be the easy part -
Practical execution of said knowledge is often the most challenging part.
As I child, I would often say "I know!" In reply to almost any piece of advice or guidance that came from my parents. Want to know something funny? I haven't changed much! Although I may not say those words out loud as often anymore, I sure do think them! Whether it be when I'm listening to a class, reading a book, discussing an initiative with colleagues, or having a conversation with a loved one, my mind often screams "I know, I know!" in relation to any good advice, ideas or guidance that may be shared.
One thing I'm realizing more and more is this: Ultimately, it doesn't matter whether "I know" if I don't DO anything about it. As the saying goes,
If you don't use it, you lose it.
That knowledge which sits within us waiting to be used, will be lost if we don't act upon it. All the information we have stored regarding our spiritual life, relationships, work/career and being a good human being is at risk of being lost. That's serious! All that time and effort spent will amount to nothing!
The act of waking up early to engage in spiritual practices or minimizing our tendency to procrastinate when we get a project assigned to us at work is the hallmark of doing the real work. Knowledge is just one piece of the journey. You can't escape the work part!
I invite you to join me in challenging yourself this week to transform one of your "I knows" to an "I'm doing". Feel free to share your observations and realizations by leaving a comment. Wishing you good "doing"!
From Mayapur, Kadamba Kanana Swami traveled to Europe. First up, he spent a few days in Heidelberg, Germany and thereafter traveled to Sweden. Maharaj arrived in Stockholm on 4 March for a long celebration of the appearance day of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He stayed at New Radhakunda, the North European BBT center, which is the home of Sri Sri Gandharvika Giridhari. Morning lectures were given there. Every evening, he gave a program at the Hare Krsna Center in downtown Stockholm. From Sweden, he traveled to Berlin for a few days and currently, he is in the Czech Republic
