Children of Trust and Acceptance
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Chapter One of Bhāgavatam’s Fourth Canto can read like a boring, irrelevant family tree. But if we dig into the names of all these parents and children – amazing revelations and wisdoms unfold. Here is an example of what unfolds from the simple family tree described in 4.1.34 & 35

Trust (Śraddhā) first bore four daughters for her husband, Acceptance (Aṅgirā). These daughters were like phases of the moon and are the four conditions that result from trusting and accepting something. The first daughter, named Unornamented (Sinīvālī), is like the new moon, when the sky is without ornament. She is the condition that arises when trust and acceptance are misplaced: nothing good results. Or, she is the first stage of trust and acceptance, which is somewhat “blind.” The second daughter, named Deceptive (Kuhū), is like the night after the new moon, during which we are told the moon is waxing, but it is still invisible. She is the condition that arises when we are uncertain about what we should trust and accept, and feel very vulnerable to deception and trickery. The third daughter, named Opulence (Rākā), is like the full moon, the night in which the sky has her greatest opulence. She is the condition that arises when trust and acceptance are well placed and generate the promised rewards. She is the condition attained when well-placed trust and acceptance survive their initial challenges and endure to produce good results. The fourth daughter, named Agreement (Anumati), is like the night after the full moon. She is what happens after we experience the tangible positive results of trusting and accepting something worthy: we then become agreeable to following that person or ideal even into further situations we may not yet be able to understand.

Later, in the Svārociṣa Period of history, Trust (Śraddhā) also gave Acceptance (Aṅgirā) two very famous boys. The first, named Ascent (Utathya), was an expansion of the All-Attractive himself. The second boy, named Expansive (Bṛhaspati) was an extremely learned person. These two sons illustrate that mature trust and acceptance allow us to rise higher that our individual limitations, and vastly expand our minds.


Tagged: Acceptance, Deceit, Deception, Faith, Trust

When we fall short…
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 26 January 2010, Cape Town, South Africa, Lecture)

Lord-Caitanya-and-Lord-Nityananda-DancingThe more we are enter into a relationship with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the more we will be able to actually have self confidence. Because, maybe our biggest struggle in spiritual life is not that we do not believe in Krsna consciousness, we do, but our biggest problem is that we do not believe in ourselves. Krsna consciousness, we believe is true, but can we really follow it? This doubt is much stronger than any other one – our lack of faith in our own ability to follow Krsna consciousness. But, the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is really meant for making up in what we are falling short…

 

Great Potential @ New Vrindaban
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

New Vrindaban Bahulaban Utility Building 2014

New Vrindaban Bahulaban Utility Building – 2014.

New Vrindaban Bahulaban Utility Building 2014

Utility Building roof replacement – 2014.

Ya, I know, it doesn’t look like much now…but it has “Great Potential.”

Great Potential @ New Vrindaban

by Vyasasan das

In some of my previous posts entitled Ox Barn Project and the Eco-Village I have been chronicling some of the positive changes that are beginning to happen here at the New Vrindaban Farm Community in West Virginia. Although there is so much that needs to be done, some of the improvements that are taking place, are beginning to change the atmosphere, and enliven some of its residents and the locals as well. For too long, New Vrindaban was caught in some kind of ‘time warp’ where things were simply neglected and had fallen into a state of disrepair and abandonment. Roofs were leaking, floors were caving in, post and beams were beginning to rot, and the elements of Nature were reclaiming the land once again.

Which was sad to witness, because New Vrindaban has so much history, and so much infrastructure, which was mostly a product of bhakti (devotional service) that it was sad to see it fall into ruin. But as it is in nature after a storm, the sky again clears, and the sun reappears, so it is with New Vrindaban, that there were dark days and the hope is beginning to return, a glimmer at a time. This I attribute to a small circle of devotees who remembered that two of the main purposes of New Vrindaban is agriculture and protecting the cows. And as one famous devotee here pointed out “that cows come in two sexes” and thus the Oxen Project was re-born.

“Agriculture and protecting cows, this is the main business of the residents of Vrindaban, and above all simply loving Krishna.”…..Srila Prabhupada, July 1973.

New Vrindaban Young Bulls 2014

Young bulls in New Vrindaban.

The second of New Vrindaban’s purposes is to create an ideal village, a Vedic or Eco Village. This topic has been openly discussed and greeted with enthusiasm by some of the residents and outside supporters of the plain living concept. The Eco Village is a hot topic at the moment.

“It may be an ideal village where the residents will have plain living and high thinking.” – Srila Prabhupada, June 1968

Eco-Village concept.

Example of Eco-Village type housing.

I have maintained since the beginning of these discussions, that it is of topmost importance to establish “Cottage Industry” (i.e. small business’s such as a woodworking shop, blacksmith, pottery, candle/soap making, agricultural products etc., just to name a few) to support such a communal ideal.

This is where the Utility Building at New Vrindaban can come into play. It is a monumental building, that at one time housed devotee businesses and many devotee residences. It is well built and surprisingly, it is in very good shape structurally! It has Great Potential!

Some time back I was asked to give an estimate on a new roof as ISKCON New Vrindaban was in a position to put a new roof on half of the building to stop the water damage. It was decided we would ask some local Amish workers to do the roof repair, and they put on a new metal roof on the one half of building.

New Vrindaban Utility Building New Roof 2014.

Utility Building new roof installation – 2014.

New Vrindaban Utility Building New Roof 2014

New roof on the Utility Building!

This was a great decision on behalf of the current administration, because it saved the building. Without immediate attention, the building was sure to decline rapidly as the following pictures will testify. The water damage was becoming so severe that a whole section of floor caved in, and this was sure to lead to more damage if it was not addressed.

New Vrindaban Bahulaban Utility Building Damage 2014 (2)

Example of internal damage.

New Vrindaban Bahulaban Utility Building Damage 2014

Close up of damage.

With the new roof, in essence saving the building from further decline, it opened up the possibility of reclaiming the building again, for use by members of the community.

The Second floor has a woodworking shop, some office type rooms, and 19 residence type rooms down main hallway, plus an area for bathrooms and shower facility. I personally see that it has great potential for either guest housing (retreats, festivals, etc.) or devotee housing.

*Now of course this is just my vision, and ISKCON New Vrindaban Management will of course have their own ideas on what should be done and where, but for me, I believe that renovation and remodeling old buildings is a better use of the resources, than tearing down structures and building new building from scratch. I like to save buildings and resources…maybe this is my understanding of “reuse reduce recycle.” Or maybe it is just a good practice. Hare Krishna!

reducereuserecycle

His Grace Lalita Krishna Prabhu (ACBSP) passes away Dear…
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His Grace Lalita Krishna Prabhu (ACBSP) passes away
Dear devotees, last night March 3rd 2015 at 12:46 am, His Grace Lalita Krishna Prabhu, a disciple of Srila Prabhupada left his body in Durham hospice, North Carolina, USA. Her Grace Sangita Mataji (ACBSP) was personally chanting in his ears and he opened his mouth and very peacefully left. He had been struggling with cancer for over three years now. He served Srila Prabhupada’s mission in various cities all over the world. He met devotees in Singapore during 1970 and met Srila Prabhupada in Malaysia in 1971. In the “Following Srila Prabhupada,” video series one can see him leading kirtan during the Juhu ISKCON temple ground breaking ceremony. In the last decade, he served in Dallas temple, New Vrindavan temple and New Goloka Hillsborough temple communities.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=15872

Bhagavatam-daily 138 – 11.09.13 – Life’s small events can teach us more than the so-called big events
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Bhagavatam-daily Podcast

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“Nimai and the Thieves” by Nishant Sura
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Nimai and the Thieves
Written by Nishant Sura
Grade 3, Age 8
Middle Elementary

Five hundred years ago, baby Nimai lived with his mother, Saci Mata and father, Jagannath Mishra. He lived in a peaceful village place called Navadvip Dham. Nimai is actually Lord Krishna who came down to the material world to save everybody from suffering. One day, He was playing with Saci Mata in the courtyard. Mother Saci said, ”You play here; I will go and cook your lunch.” Nimai said, ”Yes mother.” Saci Mata went inside to cook knowing that Nimai was safe.

Meanwhile two thieves passed by Nimai’s house. One said, ”Hey, look over there!” The other said, ”I only see a little boy playing in the courtyard.” The first said, ”Look at what the boy is wearing.” Nimai was wearing gold bracelets and gold earrings. The thieves plotted to kidnap Nimai and steal all the valuable jewels that he was wearing. Since Nimai’s courtyard had no fence, the thieves just walked up to Nimai and said, ”Hello, we are your dad’s friends. Would you like to go visit your dad? We can take you to him. We can also give you barfi on our way there.” Nimai loved barfi, so He agreed to go with them. The thieves thought they tricked Him. Actually Nimai is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and knows everything.

The thieves carried Him on their shoulders and took Him far away from home. They took Him deep into a forest. At that time Mother Saci finished cooking and came outside in the courtyard but she did not see her Nimai. She thought that Nimai went to play with His friends. She asked Nimai’s friends where He was, but they didn’t know. Saci Mata began to become frantic. The sun started setting but still Nimai was nowhere to be found!

Finally Nimai thought: “Enough is enough. My mother is very sad and worried. I will need to turn these thieves around.” Suddenly Navadvip Dham was right in front of Nimai and the thieves. The thieves were confused to see that Navadvip Dham was there in all four directions! Magically, they had left the deep forest! The thieves had no option but to put Nimai back in the courtyard. Mother Saci saw them and asked them who they were but they were speechless. At that moment, Nimai spoke, ”I went to the river to take a bath but I got lost. These nice gentlemen found me and brought me back home.” The thieves were amazed at what Nimai said. Mother Saci invited them for lunch but they said politely declined. Then they quickly raced out of there!

In this way, Nimai showed that He was very merciful.  He didn’t get the thieves in trouble, and he let them get darshan of His lotus feet, and to carry Him on their backs!  I wish I was one of those thieves because I could also carry Nimai on my back.

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
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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
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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
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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
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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…
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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
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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 […]

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Sri Gauranga Vandana The golden new moon known as Gauracandra…
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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