Is Prabhupada’s usage of “Thou shall not kill” to meat-eating an out-of-context application?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

A Christian missionary argued that the Bible sanctions even killing of humans in a righteous war. So "Thou shall not kill" is not a blanket injunction applicable to even all humans, leave alone to animals.

Answer Podcast


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Relevant article of Satyaraja Prabhu on this topic:

Srila Prabhupada and the Sixth Commandment

Symptoms of one who will take to Krishna Consciousness
→ Servant of the Servant

There are symptoms for us to know if someone will take to the science of Bhagavad Gita or Krishna Consciousness or not. 

One symptom is if someone understands and accepts that this world is temporary will take to the message of Krishna in earnest. What I mean is when we internally accept the message of temporariness, then all so called problems of this world will come into focus more clearly. It will also help us to gradually give up our attachments of this world.

Another symptom of someone who will take to the message of the Gita is the fact that we are spiritual beings encased within a physical body. This also will help put things into focus as far as this world is concerned. This also will impact the way we live our daily lives as parents, student, employees, friends etc

If we study the Gita, we will find that Krishna also begins His message by speaking about these two crucial points. (1) we are spiritual beings (2) this world is temporary and that we should simply perform our duty without being disturbed.

These two points can be used as a way to assess if someone will take to Krishna Consciousness or not!

Hare Krishna

Thursday, February 26th, 2015
→ The Walking Monk

Mayapur, India

A Cool Black Dude


Every year at this time a large group of us get to honour one of our favourite monks.  Bhakti Tirtha Swami, was born in Cleveland, Ohio.  He became a prominent figure in Princeton University before he decided to renounce worldly things to enroll in the Hare Krishna movement.  We were celebrating his birth anniversary today and also his ten years since he passed away from cancer.

He was a very personable and magnanimous type.  When I was asked to say a few things I told of my fascination always for black folks (him being one) - for their high sense of rhythm, musicology, and physical agility.  I told of how, being born in an area of Canada where black slaves in the Civil War came pouring in and settling in areas all around where I grew up.  In fact the famed Uncle Tom's Cabin was just a bike ride from where I lived as a child.  We were also just an hour's drive from Detroit, Motown.  Yes, the black boys and girls produced happy music.

In our town, Blenhem, Ontario, there were no black kids but I always hankered to meet and befriend them.  It wasn't until college that I finally had a friend of the black race.  Then I joined the movement and got to meet Bhakti Tirtha Swami, who was a real cool black dude.  He impressed me for his austerity, friendliness, and above all - being a clear demonstrator of service to others.  He was tall, well-built, spoke well, and smiled "to kill."  To kill what?  The materialistic tendencies.

In any event we are indebted to an inspirational monk, Bhakti Tirtha Swami.

May the Source be with you!

2 KM

Wednesday, February 25th, 2015
→ The Walking Monk

Mayapur, India

The Main Thing


"At the most it's one and a half kilometre, please join me," I encouraged one of our Canadian pilgrims.

I was set to do this short trek and I like the company.  Krishna Balaram, the pilgrim referred to is a bee keeper back home.  He produces honey, a terribly fantastic-tasting variety, in the area of the Laurentian Mountains.  In fact Krishna Balaram is quite sold-out to self-sustaining living.  He made a good attempt in collaboration with a few friends with a base in a rustic country home in Quebec.  At this point, however, not all the ingredients necessary to bring the project to fruition became a reality as of yet.

"Never give up!" is my motto in such endeavours.  Like walking it's worth the effort, always a little hard to psych yourself up and get the machinery going, but once started, it's like a piece of cake.  

Krishna Balaram is a real hero in my estimation for targeting the "simple living, high thinking" model.  He only showed a tiny apprehension about the walk.  He's rather short compared to my stature.  "I heard you walk fast!" he remarked.

"Hey, don't worry, I'll adjust to your speed.  The main thing is to walk."  And so we did, four of us.  We trekked before the sun came up and by the elephants who have their breakfast early enough - a breakfast of banana stalks and leaves.  It's all a great way to start the day even if you start with 1.5 KM.

May the Source be with you!

6 KM

Tuesday, February 24th, 2015
→ The Walking Monk

Mayapur, India

We Treated and Cheated Ourselves


We had treated ourselves to a PPP (Post Production Party) with Del Ray pizzas and natural ginger soda water.  This was to honour our second consecutive successful performance of "Blue Mystic."  Our cast, acting and technical members, had our own version of "toasts" in the upper deck of Govinda's Restaurant.

The Samadhi Auditorium was in "packed" capacity both nights.  Now we are prepared to film the production. 

As Chandrashekar, one of the actors, and I walked to return to our rooms, we caught a glimpse of the moon as it rested there as if on its back suspended in the heavenly skies.  It very much appeared as if it was actually held up by the massive crane standing by the new temple's construction site.  Of course this was our vision from our particular stance.

The eyesight is indeed a deceptive perception point.  Our second perception was, as put in Chandra's words, "Why not consider the moon holding down the crane?"  That was a bright observation.  In truth though, both visions appeared real but war in fact illusory.  There is a great gulf of difference between our benevolent moon and man's sometimes malevolent machinery - what to speak of the vast distance between the two.

In general our sensory powers delude us.  You can't rely on them.  Our inner evolved perceptions bear much greater ability.

May the Source be with you!

6 KM

Monday, February 23rd, 2015
→ The Walking Monk

Mayapur, India

Best Trail


The best walking trail in the area runs close and parallel to the Jalangi River.  "Best" for me means the quietest, most scenic, most interesting.  To my knowledge it has no name.  Locals may have a term.  Let's call it marg which means path.

It's on the marg that automobiles can't wheel their way through.  It's here that trees get tapped and overnight generously fill clay pots suspended from them.  The contents - the sap, invite birds, bees, and arouse human nostrils.  It's here that the elevation is about 12 feet above the fields on both sides.  You have a view despite the vegetation that is found, apart from the trees, that could in some way obscure the pleasure of the eyes.

I could detect mint.  I pulled off one leaf, pinched it and held it to my nose - what a surprising explosion of green power!

On this day I also met a sadhu.  Within this morning's mist the saffron fused through.  The colour was worn by Janananda Swami, a monk from the UK.  We met at a juncture.  Amiably we spoke and out of it he expressed curiosity about the marg.  He hadn't yet explored this perpendicular trail.

I said, "Maharaj, it's worth every footstep.  Do yourself a favour and chant here!"  He said he would give it a go.  I think being there and meeting the monk midway became a highlight for my morning in addition to hearing a class delivered by friend Anuttama regarding the pride of a progenitor and how we are all victims of their interesting element.  It is to be curbed.

May the Source be with you!

6 KM

Hare Krishna! Maharashtra bans beef, 5 years jail, Rs 10,000…
→ Dandavats.com



Hare Krishna! Maharashtra bans beef, 5 years jail, Rs 10,000 fine for possession or sale
Beef lovers in Maharashtra will now have to do without the red meat as President Pranab Mukherjee has given his assent to the Maharashtra Animal Preservation (Amendment) Bill, 1995, nearly 19 years after the Maharashtra Assembly passed the Bill during the BJP-Shiv Sena rule in 1995. The slaughter of cows was previously prohibited in the state under the Maharashtra Animal Preservation Act of 1976. However, the passage of the new Act will ban the slaughter of bulls as well as bullocks, which was previously allowed based on a fit-for-slaughter certificate.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=15869

Gaura Purnima Sponsorship Appeal
→ Mayapur.com

After the ecstatic Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama, all six parties returned to Mayapur. Gaura Purnima festivities began in Sri Mayapur on 28th Feb with Sri Sri Radha-Madhava Boat Festival. This shall be followed by other festivals like Ganga puja, Ratha yatra, Deity procession, Jhulan yatra etc. Ratha Yatra is on 3rd March and Ganga puja is […]

The post Gaura Purnima Sponsorship Appeal appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Sri Gauranga Vandana The golden new moon known as Gauracandra…
→ Dandavats.com



Sri Gauranga Vandana
The golden new moon known as Gauracandra wanders on the streets of Nadia. This moon of Nadia is an ocean of mercy and a bestower of love and affection upon His devotees.
His moonlike face, His red lips, and the waves of love emanating from his moist eyes defeat the loveliness of millions of moons and suns.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=15862

Harinam in Wellington in New Zeland (Album 56 photos) Srila…
→ Dandavats.com



Harinam in Wellington in New Zeland (Album 56 photos)
Srila Prabhupada: “O Lord,” the demigods say, “the impersonalists, who are nondevotees, cannot understand that Your name is identical with Your form.” Since the Lord is absolute, there is no difference between His name and His actual form. In the material world there is a difference between form and name. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 10.2.36 Purport)
See them here: http://goo.gl/eH1144

Hare Krishna! Meeting with the Hon’ble President of India Mr….
→ Dandavats.com



Hare Krishna! Meeting with the Hon’ble President of India
Mr. President then recollected his visit to Mayapur and staying in the guest house in 1999 during elections. He also recollected inaugurating the Kolkata Rathayatra. His Holiness Radhanath Swami then presented him the booklet about Govardhan Eco Village at Mumbai. His Grace Gauranga Prabhu explained to the Hon’ble President how GEV project is helping the villagers. President was very happy to go through the booklet and with great interest he noted the work done by ISKCON in reviving the economic prosperity of farmers, preserving the eco system, organic farming etc.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=15857

Hare Krishna! Grand events tracing Prabhupada’s journey on…
→ Dandavats.com



Hare Krishna! Grand events tracing Prabhupada’s journey on Jaladuta will flag-off ISKCON’s 50th anniversary
The global celebrations for ISKCON’s 50th anniversary will be flagged off by mega-events in India and America that will track Srila Prabhupada’s epic journey on the Jaladuta from Kolkata to Boston in 1965. On August 13th, the day that Prabhupada boarded the Jalduta, devotees have planned a VIP event at Khidirpur Dock, where several Government ministers, politicians, businessmen, civil servants and celebrities are expected to attend. “A programme on August 14th at the Ravindra Sarovar auditorium is being planned for several key supporters, senior disciples of Prabhupada and thousands of congregation members,” explained Sankarshan Nita Das, one of the main organisers of the Kolkata festival. “This will be followed by a national youth festival with delegates travelling from all over India on August 15th at the prestigious Science City Auditorium. The culmination of the grand celebrations will see 25000 people attending a satsang and kirtan programme at the Netaji Indoor Stadium.” The Kolkata events will be followed by a programme organized by Bhaktivinode Swami in Cochin, South India. Prabhupada’s ship, the Jaladuta stopped at Cochin to load Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavatam set before leaving for America.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=15845

We Have This Freedom
→ Japa Group

If we understand how wonderful it is to chant one mantra attentively, then instead of thinking about all the mantras we haven't heard we will free the mind to focus on a fresh attempt to hear Krishna’s name.
Be detached. If the mind wanders toward other thoughts, bring it back and try again. We have this freedom, by Krishna's mercy.

From Nine Keys from the Siksastaka to Improve Your Japa
by Bhurijana dasa

Madhavendra Puri’s Disappearance Day, March 2, Vrindavan
Giriraj Swami

03.02.15_VdvnGiriraj Swami read and spoke from Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Antya-lila 8

ayi dina-dayardra natha he
mathura-natha kadavalokyase
hrdayam tvad-aloka-kataram
dayita bhramyati kim karomy aham

Translation: “O My Lord! O most merciful master! O master of Mathura! When shall I see You again? Because of My not seeing You, My agitated heart has become unsteady. O most beloved one, what shall I do now?”

ei sloke krsna-prema kare upadesa
krsnera virahe bhaktera bhava-visesa

Translation: In this verse Madhavendra Puri teaches how to achieve ecstatic love for Krsna. By feeling separation from Krsna, one becomes spiritually situated.

— Cc Antya 8.34-35

Giriraj Swami: This is a very important principle. Srila Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami says it here and Srila Prabhupada has said it on numerous occasions that to develop love for Krishna one should develop feelings of separation from Krishna.

Disappearance of Madhavendra Puri, Vrindavan

The miracles…
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, November 2011, Mayapur, India, Caitanya Caritamrta Seminar – Part 4)

The divinity of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has been established. It comes up many times that he is clearly the Supreme Lord. There were many miracles which are related to this. This is expected since whenever you deal with the Supreme Lord, there will be miracles.

panca tattvaBefore his birth, mother Śacīdevī saw celestial beings. When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was very small, they could hear a child, with ankle bells on, running around in the house but no one was running around. There were footprints in the house which they thought were from the śālagrāma-śilā but then, they saw that the marks of the footprints of Visnu were the same marks on Nimai’s feet, but he was too small to run! So how was all this possible?

On Ekadasi, there was a great offering being made in the house of Hiraṇya and Jagadīśa, and a huge feast was being cooked. Nimai was feeling very sick that day and he said that the only thing that could cure him was some of that prasadam. But how did he know that they were having such an offering in that house? Nobody else knew but somehow or other, Nimai knew and that was mystical!

lord caitanya in forestHe was extremely learned! Later, as a preacher, he went into the Jhārikhaṇḍa forest where he made the tigers and deers chant Hare Krsna, and embrace each other. The tigers and deers were kissing each other, which was quite a miracle! He cured Vasudeva, the leper, from the disease. He also cured Sanatana Goswami’s sores.

About one million years ago, Lord Ramachandra was showing Sugriva how very powerful he was and that he was able to defeat Bali. Therefore, Lord Ramachandra took an arrow and shot it through seven tall trees. Those trees were there when Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu went to South India. He embraced those trees and as he embraced those trees, they disappeared, one after another. It has been said that they went to the spiritual world!

LCWhen Lord Jagannatha’s chariot did not want to move, he pushed it with his head. The king called in big wrestlers but they could not move the chariot. Then he got elephants to pull the chariot but still the chariot would not move! But, when Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu went to the back of the chariot and pushed it lightly with his head, then it started to roll down the road – the ropes were lying in the hands of people but they were not pulling at all, the chariot was just moving on its own.

So these are just some of the miracles but the main miracle that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu shows us is his outstanding symptoms of love of God and that is the real topic of the Caitanya Caritamrta!

 

Caitanya Mahaprabhu – 2 of 5
→ NY Times & Bhagavad Gita Sanga/ Sankirtana Das



In Navadvipa, Caitanya began the Sankirtana Movement at the beginning of the 16th century. It immediately created a spiritual revolution, bringing together people from all walks of life and different religious traditions.  Caitanya designated Hari Das Thakura, who was a Muslim, as the Namacharya – master of the holy name. For hundreds years Navadvipa had been  a center of learning and scholarship. In his youth, Caitanya was a well known prodigy, and already a teacher within the academic community. When the British arrived over two hundred years later they dubbed the area the “Oxford of Bengal.” Navadvipa means the place of “nine islands.” There, the Ganges, had teamed with fresh water, river dolphins. The river is sacred to all Indians. It originates high in the Himalayas and flows for 1500 miles. In Navadvipa the river meanders passed rice and wheat fields and passed coconut and papayas groves, and finally spills  into the Bay of Bengal. 

Please visit site of my award-winning book - www.Mahabharata-Project.com


Hare Krishna! Joyful Prison Program We led kirtan–the inmates…
→ Dandavats.com



Hare Krishna! Joyful Prison Program
We led kirtan–the inmates all knew how to chant Hare Krishna and they chanted enthusiastically–then my husband spoke about how we are all prisoners in this material world and that the best use of human life is to extricate ourselves from this prison and go back home to Krishna. Sarva-drik Prabhu commented, “You men are all lucky because you’ve had everything taken away–wives, homes, jobs, bank balances–so now you are in a perfect position to surrender fully to Krishna.” They’ve all heard this type of preaching before, but somehow they all expressed appreciation for my husband’s and Sarva-drik’s words.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=15848

SNOW BOUND (Our Self-Created Prison) and LIBERATION FROM BONDAGE
→ Karnamrita.das's blog

Author: 
Karnamrita Das

photo 11017051_10204842142446820_88322299_zpsed7f7b6f.jpg
Here in North Carolina we don’t get anywhere near the amount of snow of northern states. Mostly the big storms pass us by or don’t leave much snow. Occasionally we get a little dusting, or a few inches of that white fluffy stuff. If there is accumulation we have our Mitra (friend) who uses his tractor to plow our road and driveway. Unfortunately for us, he is out of town, and so we really appreciate his kind service, being unable to move out of our driveway, and with temperatures remaining below freezing, there is no end in sight.

We are stuck, and naturally, this is fodder for writing. Today I thought of the idea of being imprisoned by the life we create to be happy—house, car, possessions, family—which at some point may seem a great burden if we aren’t using our life for spiritual progress, or to fulfill our life’s mission. We may also be psychologically stuck. In these cases we often need outside help to get out of our predicament. For example, we come in contact with a devotee who introduces us to spiritual life and is able to give us a way out of our self-created prison by the holy name and service of the Lord, or as appropriate, tools to change our negative conditioning. We need our Mitra, or well-wishing friend, who can removed the snow of our misconceptions, and give us the true freedom our soul hankers for.

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No Ordinary People
→ travelingmonk.com

As I was getting into my taxi to leave Vrindavan today literally hundreds of thousands of people were on the parikrama marg, circumambulating the holy town. The crowds were so big that my taxi couldn’t move an inch. So I got out of the car and began taking photographs of all the beautiful people passing [...]

Forever Indebted
→ travelingmonk.com

Tomorrow I am leaving Vrindavan. I have been fortunate to have spent much of the past 5 months in this transcendental abode. Today I went out to Radha Kunda to offer prayers of gratitude and ask blessings for my forthcoming preaching in the west. I also requested mercy to be able to return to Vrindavan [...]

Why Krishna is not mentioned in the scriptures of the World?
→ Servant of the Servant

A general criticism you will hear among people of all religions Christian, Jews, Muslims (including Hindus) etc is that if Krishna is indeed Supreme God, why He or His name is not specifically mentioned in the Bible or Torah or Quran or the four Vedas (Rg Sama Yajur and Atharva). Even in the four primary Vedas, the name Krishna is not explicitly mentioned as Swayam Bhagavan. Only I think in one place the name "Devaki nandan" is mentioned in the Upanishads. Otherwise, in the vast body of the four Vedas or Sruti, Krishna is not mentioned at all as Swayam Bhagavan, why?

For us to understand this contradiction requires one to understand the nature of God. Below are some points to consider;

  1. God is so great that He chooses not to reveal Himself to anyone BUT only to His pure devotees who love Him without any conditions.
  2. The scriptures such as Bible, Quran Vedas etc DO NOT teach pure devotional service. They only teach religious and moral values, elevation to heaven and moksha (this is not pure devotion) 
  3. Pure devotion is accepted by only highly elevated souls and not the common man.
  4. So because the above popular scriptures are mainly targeted to a larger audience who have all sorts of material desires, God chooses NOT TO reveal His name or form in these scriptures.
  5. Therefore continuing that line of thought, Srimad Bhagavatam is considered Supreme Scripture as it was spoken and heard ONLY for the sake of PURE DEVOTION to BHAGAVAN - hence the title of the book Bhagavatam - that which is related to Bhagavan.
  6. Bhagavad Gita is the prerequisite study to understand Bhagavatam.

There are many types of services to God - only the one with an "x" in the table below will give us understanding into the "true' nature of God. if you tick yourself in other boxes, we cannot understand God (what to speak of scientists and atheists). The grey box indicates null&void.

Type of service
Indirect
Direct
for pleasing one's self only (impure)


for pleasing God and one's self (mixed)


for pleasing God only (pure)

x


Hare Krishna