Sweet Memories
→ travelingmonk.com

Just before leaving India a few weeks ago we recorded a promotional video of our theater, Usa and Aniruddha, in a proffesional studio in Mumbai.The filming took an entire day. Once the video is edited and completed we will use it to promote our show in other countries. While filming was going on, I took [...]

A natural progression
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, August 2010, Lecture)

KKS_2004_Prague_HarinamaWe cannot say that the four regulative principles in themselves constitute bhakti or devotional service. These are preliminary activities of renunciation and austerity. When we rise above and become attracted to Krsna and absorbed in devotional service, naturally the regulative principles will be followed!

A pure devotee naturally will not engage in sinful activities. He is not consciously thinking, “I should not engage in these things because they are sinful.” Sinful activities have nothing to do with pleasing Krsna and a pure devotee’s entire life is absorbed in pleasing Krsna.

The Taste is in the Pudding
→ TKG Academy

What is a better way to learn about the senses than to use the senses to learn? As the saying goes, “The proof of the pudding is in the eating”… So, we engaged our tongues in tasting a variety of items, ranging in flavors. The faces in the pictures speak for themselves! While blindfolded, we made our attempts at recognizing an assortment of aromas, guessed our way with feeling multiple textures, and listened intently to a selection of sounds. Lastly, we studied how Maharaja Ambarisa used all his senses in the service of the Lord, as sung in the “Little Vaisnava Songs”, for that is our process and method for purification!

Acrostic Snow Poems
→ TKG Academy

The Lower Elementary Class made Snow Acrostic Poems, as the snow piled high outside their windows.

 

Romanmon Cards
→ TKG Academy

Fifth and sixth graders needed a hands-on way to remember the many historical figures they came across in their study of Ancient Rome. When I suggested “Romanmon Cards” – modeled after Pokemon cards, but containing information specific to our Ancient Roman personalities – students were immediately excited. They got to work right away, researching what the different Romans were known for and applying that to the cards.  Upon completing the project, students got to re-enact different struggles and battles by using the cards.

Moon Phases
→ TKG Academy

As a part of our Earth Science unit, students learned all about the moon – how it orbits the Earth, how it affects the tides, and how the lunar phases are caused. Vraja Kishor and Conor Jennings demonstrate the phases of the moon with their motor-operated model. Students also read what Srila Prabhupada had to say about the moon landing:

“First of all, whether they are going to the Moon planet, that is doubtful. At least, I am doubtful. Because we get information from the sastra, that there is a planet which is called Rahu. That is very near to Moon. […] So they might be going to this Rahu planet, not to the Moon planet. […] Moon planet is heavenly planet. Heavenly planet. […] Or just like if somebody comes to the, this earthly planet and drops in the Arabian desert, he may conclude that this, is desert. But there is Europe, America and nice cities, and nice bungalows. […] Maybe they are also diverting them to the deserted portion of the Moon.”

Addressing the Opposition
→ TKG Academy

image (4)In Literature, students are writing persuasive essays. We discussed how a strong persuasive paper addresses the opposition – that is, it accounts for opposing arguments and subsequently defeats them. In reading “Bhakti Bhava” by Devamrta Swami, one student, Arjuna Penate, made note of how the author tends to play the devil’s advocate – bringing up many points of Krsna consciousness that people may doubt and then showing how our philosophy allays those doubts. “Mother Vrnda Priya,” Arjuna said, “Devamrta Swami addresses the opposition a lot!” Making connections like this demonstrates learning retention and integrates Krsna consciousness and academics.

Holi & Gaura Purnima class notes
→ simple thoughts

Share

These are the notes I used for the Sunday 1pm class given at Bhaktividanta Manor

Appearance of Lord Caitanya

History
600BC Lord Buddha (Krishna himself) appeared I’m order to stop cow killing by denying the vadas and instead taught the principle of karma and non-violence
788AD Sankaracarya appeared (non other than Lord Siva himself) he reintroduced the Vedas in a twisted way through word jugglery to attract the Buddhists establishing that everything is one
1017AD Ramanuja taught the philosophy known as visistadvaita, the difference between the supreme brahman and the eternally fragmental soul
1230AD Madhvacarya who taught a type of Vedanta philosophy called suddha-dvaita
Sankaracarya gave the thesis of oneness
Madhavacarya gave the thesis of duality
Then came Lord Caitanya
Lord Caitanya gave the synthesis of simultaneous oneness and difference.

www.dandavats.com
It was 1486 in the month of Phalguma (Fed-Mar) and Navadvipa-Mayapur vibrated with tramultouous sound of chanting “Hari Hari” which penetrated the entire material universe and heralded the appearance of Supreme Personality of Godhead.
It was lunar eclipse and everyone, even the impious and ethiest who had never chanted the name of Krishna, found themselves going to Ganga and chanting “Hari Hari” as if compelled by some imperceptible force.
By his own sweet will, the supreme lord, who incarnated as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to inaugurate Harinama Sankirtan Movement, appeared in the midst of loud chanting of his own names:
HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA
KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE
HARE RAMA HARE RAMA
RAMA RAMA HARE HARE
Nilambra Cakravati, Sachimata’s farther, saw 32 devine symbols on the body of his grandson.He read astrological calculations for the time of birth but became more overwhelmed the more he tried to explain the unlimited glories he saw in the chart. An elevated saintly person was presented dressed as a brahmana
He predicted “His child is the Supreme Lord, Narayana himself. He will establish the essence of all religion. He will imitate a wonderful preaching movement and deliver the whole world. Even stubborn atheist will worship his feet.”
Sachimati named her son Nimai because he was born under the neem tree
The ladies named him Gaurahari because of his beautiful golden complexion.
And his farther named him Gauranga
When Nimai was six months old, Sachimati noticed devine signs on his lotus feet, seeing the Nilanbara Cakravati immediately called all brahmana’s and held a festival for Nimai’s nama-karana (name giving) ceremony.
Recalling extraordinary predictions in his grandson’s chart, he said, “In the future this child will protect and maintain the whole world. For this reason he is to be called Visvambhara.

SB11.5.21
In Satya Yuga the Lord is white
And four-armed, his matted locks and wears a garment of tree bark. He carries a black deerskin, a sacred thread, prayer beads and a rod and wqterpot of a bramachari

SB 11.5.24
In Treta Yuga the Lord appears with a red complexion
He has fournarms, golden hair, and wears a triple belt representing initiation into each of the three vades. Embodying the knowledge of worship by sacrificial performance, which is contained in the Rg, Sama and Yajur Vedas, his symbols are the ladle, spoon and other implement’s of sacrifice

SB 11.5.27
In Dvapara Yuga the supreme personality of godhead appears with a dark blue complexion
Wearing yellow garment’s. The lord’s transcendental body is marked in this incarnation with Srivatsa and other distinctive ornaments, and he manifests his personal weapons.

SB 10.8.13
We actually see that in Kali yuga, bhagavan has appeared in pita-varna, or a yellow colour, as Gaurasundara.
SB 11.5.32
Sangopangastra prasadam further indicates that Lord Caitanya is lord Krsna. His body is always decorated with ornaments of sandalwood and with sandalwood paste. By his superexcellent beauty he subdues all the people of the age. In other descents the lord sometimes used weapons to defeat the demonic, but in this age the Lord subdues them with his all-attractive figure as Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Srila Jiva Gosvami explains that his beauty is his astra, or weapon, to subdue the demons. Because he is all-attractive, it is to be understood that all the demigods lived with him as his companion’s. His acts were uncommon and his association wonderful. When he propagated the sankirtana movement, he attracted many great scholars and acaryas, especially in Bengal and Orissa. Lord Caitanya is always accompanied by his best associates like lord Nityananda, Advaita, Gadadhara and Srivasa

CC.Adi 3 The external reasons for the Appearance of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu
Krsnadasa Kaviraja has herein presented much authentic evidence from Srimad Bhagavatam and other scriptures to substantiate the identity of Lord Caitanya with Sri Krsna himself. He has described bodily symptoms in Lord Caitanya that are visible only in the person of the supreme Lord, and he has proved that Lord Caitanya appeared with His personal associates – Sri Nityananda, Advaita, Gadadhara, Srivasa and other devotees – to preach the special significance of chanting Hare Krishna. The appearance of Lord Caitanya is both significant and confidential. He can be appreciated only by pure devotees and only through the process of devotional service. The lord tried to conceal His identity as the Supreme Personality of Godhead by representing himself as a devotee, but his pure devotees could recognise Him by his special features. The Vedas and Puranas foretell the appearance of Lord Caitanya, but still He is sometimes called, significant, the concealed descent of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

CC. Adi 1.6 — Mayapur, March 30, 1975
So Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu means Krishna feeling separation, or Radharani feeling…Radha-bhava-dhyuti-suvalitam
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Therefore it is said, Sri Krishna Caitanya Radha Krsna nahe anya. If you simply worship Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu, then you will be able to worship both Radha and Krishna
So Caitanya-Caritamrtita author, Krishnadasa Kaviraya Gosvami, is describing the cause of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s appearance. The cause is that Krishna wanted to know, “what is their in Radharani?” He is Madana-mohana. Krishna another name is…he is all attractive. Krsna is attractive to everyone, even he is attractive to cupid, Madhana. Madana is attractive in the material world, and he is madana-mohana. And Radharani is Madhana-mohana-mohini, meaning she attracts even the madana-mohana. Therefore Krsna is trying to understand, “what is their in Radharani that she attracts? I attract the whole universe, and She attracts Me.”

Connection between Holi Pernima and Gaura Purnima

Holi Pernima, the word ‘Holi’ is burning and is most often associated with the legend of Prahlad Maharaja and the demon king Hiranyakashyap
Hiranyakashyap wanted everybody in his kingdom to worship only him but his son Prahlad maharaja became a devotee of Lord Narayana even whilst still in the womb of his mother?
Hiranyakashyap commanded his sister Holinka to enter the fire with Prahlad on her lap; Holinka had a boom that she could enter a fire without being burnt herself but little did she realise that this boom only worked if she entered it alone. Due to this she was burnt whilst Prahlad exited the fire showing the grace of Sri Krishna towards his devotee. The festival thus Celebrates good over evil and the triumph of the devotee against adversity.
In mainly the North India regions this is celebrated with the burning of Holinka in the fire before the festival we now know as the festival of colours starts.
www.holifestival.com

Kadacid atha govindo
ramas cadbhuta-vikramah
vijahratur vane ratryam
madhya-gau vraya-yositam
Once Lord Govindha and Lord Rama, the performers of wonderful feats, were playing in the forest at night with the young girl’s of Vraja
This verse introduces a new pastime. According to the acaryas, the occasion mentioned here is the Holinka-purnima, a day also known as Gaura-purnima
SB 10.34.20

Srinivasa Acharia initiated many disciplines (Ramacandra Kaviraja and others), wrote songs full of bhakti (Sad Gosvami Astakam), and introduced a special kirtana style. When leading kirtans kirtans he would sometimes lose his voice from chanting so long.
srinivasa was in his siddha svarupa as muni-mamjari watching Srimati Radharhani, Sri Krishna, and the gopis in Holi lila (joyfully throwing coloured powders and dyes on each other). The gopis to Muni-manjari to supply colours to Radhika and side with themin their war against syama. The earth shook from their furious battle, Srinivasa’s body abruptly broken. His body was completely covered from head to toe with fragrant and exotic raindow coloured powders Imported from the spiritual world. His samadhi is in the Dhira Samira samadhis area
Gaudiya Samadhis in Vrindavana 7

Norttam Das Thakura unveiled five sets of Radha Krishna Deities, whose names were Ballabhi Kanta, Shri Krishna, Vraja Moham, Radha Kanta and Radha Raman and also two gorgeous deities of Shri Chaitanya and his consorts — all to be installed with the blessing of the assembled Vaishnavas
Vaisnava Saints 2 The festival begins
The author of Bhakti-ratnakara incredulously asks, “who can describe the incomparable happiness of the devotees when in the midst of the kirtan the munificent Shri Chaitanya and His associats descended for the pleasure of his devotees? Like a flash of lightening in the middle of a mass of beautiful cloud’s, Shri Chaitanya Himself appeared within the multitude of follower’s
Vaisnava Saints 2 The Lord Descends
Just as Narottam Das Thakura kirtan came to an end, Jahnava-devi began a new festival. She approached the newly installed Deities and offered a special form of red powder, the kind that Radha and Krishna throw at each other during their Holi Festival. After the deities enjoyed the dye, Janava Ma instructed the devotees to take the many duckets of coloured dye and commemorate the Holi festival by throwing it at each other. Before the words had emanated from her lips,however , the devotees –thousands of them– were throwing the dye with great enthusiasm, enjoying remembrance of Radha and Krishna’s fun-loving pastime’s. This took the devotees well into the night, and then they joyfully celebrated Mahaprabhu’s appearance festival with special composed songs about His divine birth and early pastimes.
Vaisnava Saints 2 The unending festival

Final note Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu came to put out the fire of material existence and by this simple chanting of Hare Krishna brings us back into contact with our eternal self as spirit soul thus making it possible to return home this lifetime

Hare Krishna! Victory in ISKCON Finland Campaign to Obtain the…
→ Dandavats.com



Hare Krishna! Victory in ISKCON Finland Campaign to Obtain the Malmi Manor!
ISKCON has been active in Finland for more than 30 years but there has never been a fixed location to serve as a temple. In 2012 the devotees had to vacate the previous temple due to the termination of the lease. Devotees have been working since then to find a temple for Srila Prabhupada and a suitable base for the Vaishnava community in Finland. The devotees had been promised one property at reduced rate by the Helsinki City Council. Unfortunately, a business group managed to talk the council in selling them the property. When this became known to the public, there was a flood of protests. In what could only described as Krishna’s miracle in Finland, the City offered ISKCON the Malmi Manor for €260,000.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=15989

Hare Krishna! GBC College for Leadership Development, Day…
→ Dandavats.com



Hare Krishna! GBC College for Leadership Development, Day One
The GBC College for Leadership Development started its first day of its first year of operations today, 8 March 2015, at the Govardhana Ecovillag on the outskirts of Mumbai. The College has been formally established by GBC resolution last month, February 2015, with the following words: Whereas Srila Prabhupada repeatedly indicated the need for training qualified leaders: “There is need for intelligent young men to train them up as future leaders and preachers to go all over the world for spreading the message of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.” (Letter, 9 January 1973) “If we simply go on expanding and there are no qualified men to lead, then everything will be spoiled eventually.” (Letter, 5 January 1973) Whereas the GBC wishes to promote high standards of spiritual leadership and management throughout the Society Resolved, That: The GBC College for Leadership Development is hereby established. The College’s primary focus shall be on contributing to prepare devotees to serve in crucial leadership roles within ISKCON.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=15985

A big HARIBOL to our Gaur purnima 2015 sponsors
→ Mayapur.com

Devotees from around the world came forward to sponsor one or the other seva during Gaura Purnima 2015. Our heartfelt THANKS and HARIBOL to all these devotees. We pray to Their Lordships Sri Sri Panca Tattva, Sri Sri Radha Madhav and Sri Sri Nrsimhadev to grant them pure devotional service unto Their lotus feet.   […]

The post A big HARIBOL to our Gaur purnima 2015 sponsors appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Festivities during Gaura Purnima in Mayapur. In this post, we…
→ Dandavats.com



Festivities during Gaura Purnima in Mayapur.
In this post, we are sharing selected images of festivals that took place in Mayapur Temple during Gaur Purnima 2015.
Right after Nabadvip mandal parikrama, there was the boat and swing festival on 28th Feb. Small deities of Sri Sri Radha Madhav were brought in a procession amidst kirtana to the lake at Srila Prabhupada’s Pushpa Samadhi Mandir. There, the Deities had a boat ride. After the ride, the Deities were placed on a swing. Devotees sang bhajans and swung Their Lordships.
On 1st March, Small deities of Sri Sri Radha Madhav went around the Temple campus in an Elephant procession accompanied by kirtana. On 2nd March, there was Shantipur festival in the house of Sri Advaita Acarya. Like last year, many devotees had khicri prasad in Shantipur . This festival is based on the scriptural injunction that anyone who has khicri prasad in Shantipur on that day attains Krsna prema. Next, devotees had the fortune to witness Ratha yatra and Ganga puja on 3rd and 4th March respectively.
Most of Morning lectures in Temple from 2nd March were also dedicated in preparation of this grand festival. There was kirtan purnima on 4th March as a final preparation to Gaura Purnima day. There was a huge turnout of devotees and visitors to the Temple on Gaur Purnima day. A Maha abhishek of Lord Gauranga took place in the evening and attracted a large number of devotees.
Apart from above festival programs, there were also many pandal programs and movies displayed in Srila Prabhupada’s samadhi auditorium. Selected images of these can be viewed above.
Gaur Purnima festival 2015 ki jay. All Glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga. Hare Krishna!!
See them here: http://goo.gl/SXEuUK

Hare Krishna! A Texas-sized Temple with Room to Grow Texas is a…
→ Dandavats.com



Hare Krishna! A Texas-sized Temple with Room to Grow
Texas is a big state, but Srila Prabhupada’s disciple Dina Bandhu Dasa recalls how the International Society for Krishna Consciousness in Houston, Texas, began in a small way. “When my wife [Akuti Devi Dasi] and I arrived in Houston in 1971,” he says, “Prahladananda Dasa was the temple president at 406 Gray St. It was a dilapidated two-story wooden building just outside downtown, in a very bad neighborhood. The plaster was no longer on the walls; only the lathe was there, and the wind used to blow right through the wood siding into the temple room. We felt the place was haunted.”
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=15980

Festivities during Gaura Purnima
→ Mayapur.com

In this post, we are sharing selected images of festivals  that took place in Mayapur Temple during  Gaur Purnima 2015. Right after Nabadvip mandal parikrama, there was the boat and swing festival on 28th Feb. Small deities of Sri Sri Radha Madhav were brought in a procession amidst kirtana to the lake at Srila Prabhupada’s […]

The post Festivities during Gaura Purnima appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Hare Krishna! Global Sustainability Award to HH Radhanath Swami…
→ Dandavats.com



Hare Krishna! Global Sustainability Award to HH Radhanath Swami for Govardhan Eco Village
HH Radhanath Swami was conferred Global Sustainability Award for his Govardhan Eco Village (GEV) on World CSR Day at the 4th Enhanced Edition of the Global CSR Excellence and Leadership Awards recently held in Mumbai. also GEV Received Platinum Award from SKOCH Group for Water Conservation and provisionally certified with Five Star rating under GRIHA, the Indigenous Rating System for Green Buildings in India.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=15975

Sri Gaura Purnima festival was celebrated by ISKCON, Ludhiana in…
→ Dandavats.com



Sri Gaura Purnima festival was celebrated by ISKCON, Ludhiana in Sri Sri Radha Gopinath Temple (UnderConstruction) beautifully decorated with lights and flowers .
A large number of people including political, religious enthusiastically participated in the festival. Deities Sri Sri Jagannatha, Baldeva and Subhadra and Sri Sri Gaur Nitai look very beautiful in their colorful dress.
Harinama sankirtan was recited by devotees of ISKCON,Vrindavan HG Narottamanand Das,TP,ISKCON,Ludhiana speak on the past time of Their Lordship. People were dancing on mahamantra and there was also Pushp Holi (Flower Holi).People were seen in queues for darshan of Their Lordship. The temple hall was very beautifully decorated with lights, flowers etc. After aarti of their Lordship there was Panchamrit abhishek of Sri Gaur Nitai. ISKCON steering committee consisting of HG Rakshanath Das(GKG), HG Yamlarjun das(GKG) and other members make a wonderful arrangement to make this festival a grand success.
1008 Bhoga was offered to Their Lordship.Then fasting prashadam was distributed to the people. Jaya Srila Prabhupada!

“I do not have to pay?”
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 19 January 2015, Bhaktivedanta Manor, England, Srimad Bhagavatam 9.10.23)

Misers hold on to whatever wealth they have and do not want to share, and the result is they are being deprived. So here we are in Europe, we brought wealth from all over the world. We got it by hook or Captain Cook, somehow or other, we brought it in. Here it is and now we are sitting on it. But gradually, it is running out. London is still going strong but if you go a bit North, people are poor! It is like, England is sinking in poverty. I am sorry to bring it up so early in the morning but it is happening. Why is it so? Because of this miserliness, because of just bringing it all in for us, instead of giving it out. The more we give out, the more everything will happen. That is our movement. Our movement is based on the principle of namo maha-vadanyaya krsna-prema-pradaya te krsnaya krsna-caitanya-namne gaura-tvise namah (CC Madhya 19.53).

sp_prasad_distIt is a movement of extraordinary generosity. We see that when Srila Prabhupada was present, it was like that. Even when I joined, at that time, the Sunday feast was still fifteen incredible preparations. I mean absolutely incredible. Every single one of them was like, “Whew!” You know, I mean the rice was loaded up with cashews and paneer balls and what not. Oh! What to speak of the other preparations. Everything was ecstasy. There was abundance and nobody paid. It was all for free. The guests would just come and would eat to the max. Then they would get packages to take home. That is how it was. No wonder people were joining like anything! (laughter) It was just inconceivable – such generosity!

That purchases people. This movement will only spread through generosity. It is generosity that makes people feel indebted, “It is amazing, they give you all these things! What kind of people are these? I cannot believe it.” That is what it will do it. That is what will actually bring people. Incredible generosity!

5Say, “Yeah, but then how will we live?”

Do not worry, because generosity breeds generosity. That is the principle of this movement. When we are just generous then people will say, “Wow, that is amazing. You are giving all these things away. I want to help.” Then they start to give money and just give… This whole spirit of giving, that is the spirit of this Hare Krsna movement. Then people will join and everyone is welcome.

In this way, this movement is a wonderful movement based on this maha-vadanyaya. This principle of just being incredibly generous. Vaisnava generosity is something amazing. It is about giving, not only what you have, more than that, it is about giving yourself.

 

Bhakti Centre Opening
→ Ramai Swami

11024732_10203418250889551_4461502993199154036_n10448790_10203418260129782_6802871730194864846_n

The inauguration of the Bhakti Tree Centre in Newcastle was very enlivening. Over 250 plates of prasadam was distributed on the night.

Jayadeva prabhu gave a wonderful performance and Sri Prahlad led an hour long blissfull kirtan.
Everyone was impressed with the attractive design and decoration of the Bhakti Tree.
10406810_10203418261729822_5277344620985227155_nphoto

Bookmarks
→ TKG Academy

Have you ever heard of a Public Library located in a Mall? Bookmarks is a Dallas Public Library for Children at Northpark Mall. It hosts many programs for young children, one of which we took part of earlier this month.

We arrived early, allowing time for snack and exploring the library’s “treasures”. Indeed, we found quite a few. From puzzles, to computers equipped with learning materials, to a very inviting little “reading-nook”. The program began with an introduction of the continents of Africa and America, using a large air-filled globe, which the children got to bounce and toss around. Then the history of slavery was narrated, accompanied with songs, ending with the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Our 1st grade students just earlier that week, on Presidents’ Day, learned about the presidents and got the chance to share their knowledge and name the president who signed the document.

The excitement wasn’t saturated until we took a detour and climbed up and down the nearby escalators. Just for fun!

Sunday, March 1st, 2015
→ The Walking Monk

Mayapur, India

Crowds


Most of the senior monastic people, what we call sannyasis, have left Mayapur for other pilgrimage sites in India or have left for their areas of responsibility in their respective places on the globe.  The numbers of pilgrims to Mayapur, however, have not diminished - but only increased. 

The various places of devotion, worship, and sanga (classes or chanting) are crammed situations at times.  What do you expect with an additional 8,500 pilgrims coming as an influx on top of the thousands already here?  The other areas of "clogging" are where the food is served.  And with today being ekadasi, a day of abstaining from grain, the congestion at serve-out zones is no less.

Meals are sponsored every day.  Some people opt for a more hopeful efficiency at numerous food stalls and restaurants.

I was taken by the fully capacitated pandal, a rather elegant bamboo-framed colourful tent, which drew a Russian audience to hear the day's Bhagavatam class, presented by "yours truly" (translation provided).  Hours later our final performance of "Blue Mystic" was executed at the same location - a packed house again.

That was satisfying enough!  However, in my brief walk to our accommodation, the fire in me changed directions.  A motorcycle came tearing through the crowd.  One driver and two passengers (three young men) occupied the machine and I truly "chewed them out" for their inconsiderate, careless nature.  My final words were, "Sell your monster!  Learn how to walk!"

May the Source be with you!

4 KM

Saturday, February 28th, 2015
→ The Walking Monk

Mayapur, India

Last Day


It's the last day of the month but dates as we (humans) have established according to the movements of heavenly bodies like the sun and moon, mean as little to certain creatures in the dhama (sacred ground) here in Mayapur.

Just outside our room in the Gada Building is a hornet's nest.  Affixed to the ceiling, these brown-winged fellows buzz around not bothering anyone very much.  They have their purpose, to multiply and survive.  You just have to watch yourself when hanging your wet clothes out to dry over the balcony wall.

An just around the corner by the stairwell leading to the ground level, you find, a dove set to roost within a light fixture.  The fixture is shaped like a sea shell, so it appears cupped, perfect for laying twigs in and leaves for nesting.  The construction of this nest is a team effort.  I assume it's the female that's sitting upon the bulb.  It must be warm for her.  The second dove goes out, presumably the male, gathering the goods for the nest.  I see him regularly.  He's busy.  And I'm sure Feb 28th means nothing to the love couple.  Only their love and instinctive plans means everything.

Now, to one of my room-mates, today has become significant to him.  Jon and I got our accommodation almost a month ago.  With his initiation he's now Jnanagamya.  Jnanagamya pointed out to me on one of my breaks in the room that actor Leonard Nimoy passed away on this day.

"How do you know?" I asked.

"Facebook.  I liked his character, Mr Spock.  I was an extra in one of his movies, Holy Matrimony."

"Congratulations!  I guess it's a great day."  I thought somewhere along the line Krishna blesses everyone in some way, shape, or form.

May the Source be with you!

6 KM

Friday, February 27th, 2015
→ The Walking Monk

Mayapur, India

It Started At the Shoe Rack


After a modest morning walk I was destined for the Pancha Tattva Hall and then the adjoined Radha Madhava Temple.  There is an arrangement for parking your shoes.  For those we call Srila Prabhupada disciples (students) a separate shoe rack is reserved.  While other racks are available for others pilgrims' shoes are apparently dispersed on the ground at the temple's entrance.  The shoe rack for those of us in the mature category (Srila Prabhupada disciples) it is three-fifths empty.  In 1977 when I first came to India, Mayapur, for pilgrims, we had one sole guru.  There were over five thousand of us and practically all of the pilgrims were "us."  Now in 2015 a number of the early day pilgrims are aged and some have passed on.

It's just an observation.  The gathering in the temple was for a sit down to a class on the Bhagavatam.  I was one of those sitting down but my seat was higher because today was my turn to deliver the class.  I was accommodated on the vyasasan, the seat of the representative of Vyasa, the great compiler of Vedic knowledge.

It's a larger audience than usual, five hundred or so, and yet a greater listening audience over the air waves was additionally present.

Two points made which I recall at the time of my sending this entry are as follows based on 6.4.27-28 from the Bhagavatam:

1)  As fire is found in wood, as spirit is found in all life forms, so also Supersoul is realized by the sincere human.

2)  More important than the sacred sound is the devoted because where there is devotion there is the sound.

This evening a second audience became a reality.  To a packed house in the Samadhi Auditorium came to view our "Little Big Ramayan" drama.

I was humbled by the response of both crowds.

May the Source be with you!

8 KM

Dallas World Aquarium
→ TKG Academy

On February 20, 2015 TKG Academy Middle Elementary students went to the Dallas World Aquarium, the finale for their Oceanography Unit.  Take a look at all their other accomplishments in this unit here.

Hare Krishna! Bhaktivedanta Hospice: Aid for the Journey…
→ Dandavats.com



Hare Krishna! Bhaktivedanta Hospice: Aid for the Journey Home
Shortly before passing away in Vrindavan, a devotee requested her spiritual master to establish a “Back to Godhead” clinic there for Srila Prabhupada’s followers. The land is adjacent to the parikrama road trod by pilgrims during their devotional walks around Vrindavan. It is a sacred grove of mostly kadamba and tamala trees known as Giriraj Bhag (“Giriraj’s garden”). For five generations it belonged to the family of Sri Padmanabha Goswami, hereditary priests and caretakers of Vrindavan’s Radha-ramana Temple.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=15967

Hare Krishna! Why are Women in today’s India not Safe The…
→ Dandavats.com



Hare Krishna! Why are Women in today’s India not Safe
The Bhagavad-gita (16.21) identifies lust, anger, and greed as the “three gates leading to hell.” Present-day society is unfortunately well equipped to aggravate the disease of lust. Obscenity has become so common in movies, TV, advertisements, Bollywood songs, and so on. Some leading newspapers and magazines are stuffed with semi-nude pictures of women just to increase circulation. Internet and mobile pornography is at its peak. Even in cricket tournaments like IPL semi-clad cheerleaders are brought in to entice the audience.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=15964