Staying high forever
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 28 September 2014, Durban, South Africa, Sunday Feast Lecture) 

kingsday_2014If we can have Krsna in the foreground, in every situation – first Krsna and then everything – then we have Vrindavan. Simply Krsna, is most important in every situation and that is the spirit of Krsna consciousness.

Then there is another level of Krsna consciousness, where Krsna is the backdrop. In a nice backdrop, we kind of like it and we would not want any other backdrop in our life; but it is a backdrop nonetheless! In our own pastimes… in activities which are on our mind… in our own life and what we are going through and what we are not going through… in what we wish we would be going through… all these things that had never happened… and all that had happened that we had never asked for… like that, so many things and Krsna was always there.

Nice auspicious life, good life, blessed life when Krsna was always there. But how much better could it be when Krsna was always there in the foreground. Then such a life it would just dissolve the demarcation between the spirit and matter. We would be walking in the spiritual world. Our feet would not touch the ground!

Just as the demigods, their feet never touch the ground. The demigods are floating above the ground. But the devotees who always put Krsna first, with every step, they walk in the spiritual world. Not just touching the ground but touching cintamani dham – touching these transcendental touchstones. These cintamani stones are for the spiritual world, the land of the wishful fulfilling desire trees. The land of the Kamadeva, the surabhi cows who can give oceans of milk. That abode, the abode of Krsna…

 

 

United In Prayer
→ travelingmonk.com

In solidarity with the people of Sydney, who were slowly coming to terms with the recent hostage siege downtown at Martin Place, we took our harinam party to the streets to give them solace and relief from the grief they were feeling. Our sign, “United in Prayer For Those We’ve Lost,” was greatly appreciated by [...]

Our Personal Undercurrent—And What We Can Do About It!
→ Karnamrita.das's blog

Author: 
Karnamrita Das

(this blog is recorded on the full page: quick time player is needed; works best with Firefox or Explorer; if you are using Google Chrome it will automatically play, so if you don't want to listen, mute your speakers.)
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As I was working on last week’s blog about undercurrents in communities, I also thought about a related, important topic concerning our personal undercurrent, and how that affects our life, relationships, and whatever groups we are part of—such as family, school, occupation, and religious organization. I did bring up the subject, without naming it, when I spoke about how devotee’s unresolved “life issues” or undiagnosed mental health problems can create difficulies in any group they are part of. However, that was about “them,”—you know, those “other” devotees that cause all the problems—and I wasn’t specifically addressing you, that saintly person who never causes any conflicts. (Smile!) Many “you’s” make up any group, and each person has an effect on the whole. We must soberly consider that we can’t change others, but only ourselves—and that with great difficulty and endeavor. Never the less, changing for the better, within and without, is our most important work in life, and specifically for those on the path of loving devotional service to Krishna, or our conception Divinity.

If we are in a leadership position, we can carefully and lovingly point out problem areas we observe in others, or if serious enough, recommend they seek professional help. Ultimately each person has to accept their shortcoming and see the value of working toward improvement. Taking personal responsibility for relationship conflicts is the first step, combined with a willingness to do the difficult work of introspection and self-examination. I have written before about our “shadow” side, or those disowned or repressed parts of our psyche, that we don’t want to accept or deal with. “Undercurrent” is another way to label those problematic parts of ourselves and encourage everyone, in addition to spiritual practice, to be engaged in self-improvement and developing less reactionary ways of dealing with others. The principle to “Seek first to understand, then to be understood,” applies if we are to minimize our problems with others, and be a positive force in our family and/or community!

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The eternal glories of transcendental book…
→ Dandavats.com



The eternal glories of transcendental book distribution!
…Kavicandra’s bus covered the Midwest states. The fifth bus, now under the charge of Gurudasa Swami and Parivrajakacarya Maharaja, was more or less like a “phantom.” The two Maharajas were difficult to control and refused to be pinned to a particular area. A week would go by without any report, when suddenly they would appear a thousand miles away in a completely new location. And finally our sixth bus, led by Dhrstadyumna Prabhu, had the thankless task of working right in the midst of our archrivals. Like the great warrior Abhimanyu, Dhrstadyumna had to contend with the mighty sankirtana-maharathis of Los Angeles. Placing his men in towns along the West Coast, Dhrstadyumna personally drove his bus from van to van, keeping the devotees constantly supplied with books, fresh prasadam, and much-needed association.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/1rnb5H

charity back to Krishna
→ Servant of the Servant

A homeless man in Preston, England helped a college student at 3am in the morning with her taxi fare so she can get home safely. The homeless person gave all the money he had with him at that time - about four pounds. The gal reached home safely and immensely touched by his selfless act is trying to do something in return. The full story can be read here.

How many of us will be willing to give "everything" we possess to a complete stranger? The man had no possessions except for few pounds and he apparently donated everything to the girl so she can reach home safely. Also the homeless man did not give any further contact details so it was all in all a selfless act of compassion to a complete stranger.

According to the Bhagavad Gita (17.20), Krishna says "Charity given out of duty, without expectation of return, at the proper time and place, and to a worthy person is considered to be in the mode of goodness". I think this incident fits all of the criteria for charity in the mode of goodness. It is the duty of humans to help fellow humans and the charity was done with no expectation or return to protect the girl from danger as it was in the wee hours of the night.

As devotees of the Lord, we should practice good samaritanism at the mundane level whenever the opportunity arises, but the greatest charity is to practice transcendental samaritanism. This greatest charity is to awaken the souls from their deep slumber of maya or illusion of materialism. Many devotees during this time engage in distributing books to strangers, undergo difficulties, somehow convince people to take a book and ask for donation. It is by no means easy as sometimes we invite the wrath of the people. However, despite the wrath and inconvenience, devotees persist on "reawakening" a sleeping soul.

This charity in one way is like the homeless person story, except this time the taxi will not take you to a temporary apartment, but a transcendental taxi that will take you back home back to Godhead where every walk is a dance and every word is a song! How much more should the book distributors and their charity be glorified! All glories to the book distributors!

Hare Krishna

Kaliyuga ‘Warriors’
→ NY Times & Bhagavad Gita Sanga/ Sankirtana Das



You know how things get watered down over time. They get mixed up, polluted and only lead to confusion. The idea that warriors who die on the battlefield go to heaven, and that beautiful, heavenly damsels are eagerly waiting to receive them, actually has its origins thousands of years ago in the Mahabharata. But today, the concept of a ‘warrior’ has been bent way out of shape. So much so that they equate the death of a warrior on a battlefield to going into a school or café and murdering children and women. In the Kaliyiuga no one is exempt. On one is spared.

The Mahabharata, however, has very strict codes for warriors. First of all, the fighting is done away from the civilian population. That means it’s only among willing participants. And usually you have to fight with an equal. And if someone’s wounded and they want to leave the battlefield, they are not to be attacked. These and a bunch of other stuff. It was clear on what it meant to be a warrior. There were responsibilities and rules of civility for warriors, leaders and for all branches of society. In many ways, the world we live in is in a deep hole. It’s very sad. And many people suspect this, even if they don’t know about the Kaliyuga.

www.Mahabharata-Project.com

ISKCON Communications Prepares for 50th Anniversary, Seeks Funds…
→ Dandavats.com



ISKCON Communications Prepares for 50th Anniversary, Seeks Funds for Next Phase
As it prepares to play a major role in creating awareness for ISKCON’s upcoming 50th anniversary in 2016, the ISKCON Communications Ministry (IC) is looking back on decades of relationship-building and gaining support for Srila Prabhupada’s society. Meanwhile, it’s also seeking funds to ensure an even more effective next fifty years. It was really ISKCON Founder-Acharya Srila Prabhupada himself who started ISKCON Communications. Always looking for opportunities to meet with government officials, media representatives, religious leaders, scholars, and opinion-makers like the Beatles, Prabhupada sought ways to help them understand Krishna consciousness, support the movement, and thus improve its worldwide reputation.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/jRz4Oo

Krishna Consciousness Grows in South Korea Krishna consciousness…
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Krishna Consciousness Grows in South Korea
Krishna consciousness continues to spread in one of the last frontiers, South Korea, with Patanjali Muni Das and Prayojana Das recently returning from their third tour of the East Asian country. Former Korean army officer Patanjali Muni spent three years living and teaching Krishna consciousness in his native country in the mid 2000s, and has translated both the Bhagavad-gita As It Is and the Sri Isopanisad for the Korean audience. Today, he works as the kitchen manager in the U.K.’s Bhaktivedanta Manor, but has toured South Korea with his spiritual message for two weeks each in 2011, 2012, and 2014. Retired aircraft engineer and temple commander Prayojana Das assisted him each time.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/fEUY2v

US Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard visits India and talks about…
→ Dandavats.com



US Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard visits India and talks about Bhagavad gita and Bhakti (18 min video)
Srila Prabhupada: Devotional service begins with the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra and side by side trying to understand Krishna in truth. Unfortunately those who are simply official students of the Vedas become more interested in offering sacrifices to the different demigods, like Indra and Candra. (Bhagavad-gita, 9.20 Purport)
Watch it here: http://goo.gl/U2ipaj

Gita 02.63 – Irritation, delusion, oblivion, stupefaction, destruction – Last 5 of 8 stages to falldown
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Gita verse-by-verse study Podcast:


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A visit to Iskcon Auckland, New Zealand (Album 27 photos) Srila…
→ Dandavats.com



A visit to Iskcon Auckland, New Zealand (Album 27 photos)
Srila Prabhupada: By the grace of the Lord, if a devotee, at the time of death, can simply chant Hare Krishna, he immediately surpasses the great ocean of the material sky and enters into the spiritual sky. He never has to come back for repetition of birth and death. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 4.10.30 Purport)
See them here: http://goo.gl/ZHd3SE

Devotees Chant for Peace in the Aftermath of the Sydney Siege
→ ISKCON News

An armed man took 17 hostages in a cafe in Sydney's central business district on Monday. Three people, two hostages as well as the gunman died in the incident. Sydnyers are coming to terms with the tragic loss of life during the Lindt Cafe siege on Tuesday, by adding to a rapidly expanding floral tribute in Martin Place. To help the healing process ISKCON devotees led by Indradyumna Swami have been chanting and doing Harinama nearby. 

United In Prayer (Album 142 photos) Indradyumna Swami: In…
→ Dandavats.com



United In Prayer (Album 142 photos)
Indradyumna Swami: In solidarity with the people of Sydney, who were slowly coming to terms with the recent hostage siege downtown at Martin Place, we took our harinam party to the streets to give them solace and relief from the grief they were feeling. Our sign, “United in Prayer For Those We’ve Lost,” was greatly appreciated by the people, but so was our joyful singing and dancing, which brought a sense of relief and closure to the ordeal they’d experienced. People slowly began smiling again. We sold a number books that day as many sought answers to questions that often come up during tragedies.
See them here: http://goo.gl/RkgLcn