Living in Krishna’s personal abode: Vrindavana (Album 43…
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Living in Krishna’s personal abode: Vrindavana (Album 43 photos)
Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s transcendental mission is to distribute love of Godhead to everyone. Anyone who accepts God as the Supreme can take to the process of chanting Hare Krishna and become a lover of God.
(Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 4.41 Purport)
See them here: http://goo.gl/gKYY8v

Packing of Back to Godhead Magazine in Maraimalai Nagar (Album 4…
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Packing of Back to Godhead Magazine in Maraimalai Nagar (Album 4 photos)
Every month end, nearly 33000 copies of Bhagavad Darshanam Tamil are packed and sent to Subscribers and distributors around the world. Here we see devotees of Iskcon Maraimalai Nagar packing the magazines. The editorial offices for Tamil divisions of Back to Godhead Magazine and the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust are also located here in MM Nagar
See them here: http://goo.gl/pbNcDz

On Gita Jayanti
→ NY Times & Bhagavad Gita Sanga/ Sankirtana Das


On this day, the warriors assembled
Where, generations before,
Virtuous Kuru sat in meditation.
The warriors made ready
For victory or the afterlife,
Yet they did not know
How thirsty the fields
Would be for their blood.

On this day, seeing
Friends, relatives and teachers
Opposed before him,
Arjuna felt the burden of his actions,
And his heart ached
As the mighty Gandiva
Slipped from his hands,
And tears flowed from his eyes.

On this day, Sri Krishna
Drove Arjuna’s chariot
And laid before him the secret teachings,
And revealed His fearful, cosmic form
And encouraged him to fight,
And yet, see friend and foe alike.
In one instance as He blessed Arjuna,
Krishna blessed us all.

“And I declare that he who studies this sacred conversation worships Me by his intelligence.” Bhagavad Gita 18:70

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What’s it like to grow up in a religious sect? Jahnavi…
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What’s it like to grow up in a religious sect?
Jahnavi Harrison, 27, grew up in a Hare Krishna community in Hertfordshire where her father is the priest. A musician, she still lives at home
I grew up in a Hare Krishna community called Bhaktivedanta Manor, an 80-acre estate that is the biggest Hare Krishna community in Europe. My parents and younger brother and sister all live in a house nearby, and growing up we spent all day, every day at the temple.
I had an incredibly special childhood. We’d start every morning with worship and would dance and pray several times a day. Most meals were eaten communally with the 300 residents of the community. A lot of the produce for our meals came from our own farm. The estate is a very beautiful place and includes extensive woods and a lake, and there was a primary school on-site.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/qJ5GHZ

Vraj Mandala Padayatra 2014
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On the 8th of October 2014 we left the Krishna Balaram Temple for the road to Mathura. 1,300 devotees walking on the Vraj Mandala Parikrama (a one month pilgrimage of the twelve forests of the Vrindavan area), and ourselves the “magnificent seven”, a small international Padayatra team consisting of Dharmatma Prabhu USA, Loka Saranga Prabhu Czech, Madhu Pandit Czech, Vikuntha Prabhu Russia, Arjuna Prabhu UK, Krishna Mayi dd Estonia and myself Ireland.

This was our 28th tour, and each year we print 40,000 small books, thanks to Bhima Prabhu and the BBT at Mumbai. We also make a hard hitting movie each year which covers topics such as cow slaughter in India, the illusion of material happiness and the importance of Krishna consciousness, in the Braj language. Before that movie we show some Ram or Krishna lila.

What makes Padayatra special is you have about 6 hours of Harinam daily, Deity worship, book distribution, prasad distribution, preaching programs and cow protection. Vraj is Lord Krishna’s home, it is called Vraj Dham or sometimes Madhurya Dham, and the sweetness can also be seen in the mood of the local people, the Brajabasis.

Enjoy the movie,

your servant
Parasuram Das.

Visitors from 43 countries can now get visa for India online NEW…
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Visitors from 43 countries can now get visa for India online
NEW DELHI: Foreign nationals from 43 countries may now apply for and get their tourist visa-on-arrival (TVoA) online, entitling them to enter India anytime within 30 days of the approval. The electronic travel authorisation, which will be in the form of an email received by the tourist from the Indian authorities, will entitle the prospective tourist to a 30-day stay in India.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/pRHnMx

Krishna worship and Rathyatra Festival in Ancient Egypt? It was…
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Krishna worship and Rathyatra Festival in Ancient Egypt?
It was around 2 years ago when I had seen an ancient Egyptian depiction of what seemed like a child drinking milk from a cow’s udder. At the very sight, it reminded me of Gopala (little Krishna). I had asked myself: Might it be the Hindu deity, or is it my imagination which is making wild associations? Also, I came across the Fayyum mummy portraits of ancient Egypt (Roman era) at that time- paintings of men and women, mostly with brown eyes and hairs. Something that caught my attention was a very ‘living’ portrait (found in 1911) of a bearded man with something that looked like a ‘tilak’ on his forehead.[1] …A tilak! A Vaishnava tilak? A Vaishnava in Egypt! Is that possible? Or, am I making arbitary connections once again?
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/6qCszK

Krishna’s moods in the Gita – Gita Jayanti class
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Lecture Podcast

Lecture Summary:

yatra gita-vicaras ca, pathanam-pathanam tatha
modate tatra sri krsno, bhagavan radhaya saha

With supreme ecstasy, the Supreme Lord Sri Krsna and His divine consort Sri Radhika are graciously present wherever the conception of the Gita scripture is discussed, studied, and taught.

(Gita Mahatmaya 43 from Sri Vaishnava Tantra Sara)

Gita – verbal and non-verbal communication

Understand mood from choice of words eg. Said / implied / suggested / insinuated / announced / argued

 

2.13-14: Exhortation – Use bodily identity to realize spiritual identity

3.26: Sensitivity – Surgery only after trust, milder treatments, anesthesia, sedative

6.33-40: Encouragement – 6.34 repeats 2.67 metaphor, but for inner wind; 6.35 – take other’s problems seriously, not by accepting their feelings as facts, but by giving due attention to those feelings, 6.40 – reassures and refutes Arjuna’s apprehension

9.20-34 – Accommodation – 5 glories of bhakti – eternality of result, simplicity of practice, breadth of scope, overcomes incidental sins and transcends inherent sins

10.12-19 – Appreciation - Knowing Krishna is not to know him fully, but to love him more

11.47-48 – Teasing eg. Remote spoilt when watching horror movie too close to home for comfort

18.63-73 – Compassion eg. Rope extended into well with seat; attained ekagrata stage (73)?

 

Srila Prabhupada Envisions a “New” Vrindaban
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

Srila Prabhupada Envisions a “New” Vrindaban

Written by Madhava Smullen. Archival Research by Chaitanya Mangala.

At Prabhupada's Palace of Gold, New Vrindaban

At Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold, New Vrindaban

“You have New York, New England, and so many ‘New’ duplicates of European countries in the USA, why not import New Vrindaban in your country?” –Srila Prabhupada, Letter, 3/17/68

 In the spring of 2013, board members for ISKCON New Vrindaban and ECO-Vrindaban unanimously adopted a new community vision statement. It was called “Srila Prabhupada’s Vision for New Vrindaban.”

Its implementation as a renewed focus for the community might be new. But its roots go back long before Srila Prabhupada had even left India for the United States.

Back in 1956, while working alone in Delhi on his Back to Godhead magazine, Prabhupada had written a series of articles detailing his vision for a community where people would live a simple life based on the teachings of the Bhagavad-gita.

When he established ISKCON in New York in 1966, his seven purposes for the society included bringing members closer together “for the purpose of teaching a simpler and more natural way of life.”

As early as January 1968, he was issuing specific instructions about the community to his disciples: “The Ashram may be named as “ISKCON-Nagari or New Vrindaban.” And from May 1968 – the year when New Vrindaban was established — he issued a string of letters to his disciples describing exactly how he envisioned the community.

Srila Prabhupada New Vrindaban Madhuban 1976

Srila Prabhupada in New Vrindaban at Madhuban, 1976.

Through these, it’s clear that Prabhupada saw New Vrindaban as a sacred place known worldwide for five primary things: cow protection, self-sufficiency, holy pilgrimage, spiritual education, and above all, loving Krishna. And it’s these things that form the core of New Vrindaban’s vision statement today.

The first four are all inextricably connected to the last, loving Krishna. While teaching the importance of cow protection, for instance, Srila Prabhupada aligned New Vrindaban with the original transcendental village of Vrindavan, where Lord Krishna, His brother Balaram and Their friends would take Their cows to the pasturing grounds every morning.

“Krishna by His practical example taught us to give all protection to the cows and that should be the main business of New Vrindaban,” he wrote in a 1968 letter to Hayagriva.

 

Sri Sri Radha Vrindaban Chandra New Vrindaban ISKCON

Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Vrindaban Chandra

Prabhupada taught the early residents of New Vrindaban to respect the cow and bull as their mother and father, as they could provide so many of the essentials of life. The bulls could till the ground, and be used for carting and transporting; while the cows could provide dung for fuel, and milk, butter, ghee and cheese for nourishment.

 

Baby Balarama Bull & his Mata New Vrindaban Cow Protection

Baby Balarama Bull & his Mata

“The whole idea of New Vrindaban is that men who are living there should produce their own food, of which milk is the principal thing,” he wrote to Kirtanananda in July 1969.

Prabhupada envisioned New Vrindaban as a “self-governing village” that would set an example for the world and contain all the basic necessities residents needed: in one letter he explained how they could grow vegetables, fruit, wheat and other cereals, hand-weave cloth, and use an ox-powered mill to grind seeds into oil. Working to create this self-sufficiency, meanwhile, would keep devotees busy in the service of the Lord and ensure that they didn’t have to search for work outside.

This simple life wherein devotees had everything they needed, and weren’t distracted by trying to derive sense pleasure from modern amenities, was key to developing high thinking; or, in other words, Krishna consciousness, the true nature of the soul.

Adding further to the spiritual atmosphere of New Vrindaban were Prabhupada’s grand plans to physically recreate the original Vrindavan there, turning the community into a pilgrimage place. New Vrindaban is unique as the only farm community he envisioned in such a way.

“I have got ambition to construct there 7 temples as follows: 1. Radha Madan Mohan, 2. Radha Govinda, 3. Radha Gopinatha, 4. Radha Damodara, 5. Radha Raman, 6. Radha Gokulananda, 7. Radha Syamasundara,” he wrote to Hayagriva as early as 1968. He added in other letters, “The hilly portions may be named as Govardhana” and “If there are lakes, they can be renamed as Syamakunda and Radhakunda.”

Prabhupada hoped that these attractions and the Krishna conscious way of life would draw the public to visit. “I am sure this… attraction will make our neighbors friendly and surely they will come in number in future so that New Vrindaban will be ideal place for visiting from the neighboring provinces,” he wrote.

Adding to the appeal of New Vrindaban would be its spiritually-educated residents, who would be able to realize the first of Prabhupada’s seven purposes for ISKCON and “systematically propagate spiritual knowledge to society… in order to check the imbalance of values in life and to achieve real unity and peace in the world.”

Prabhupada specifically called for a “Rupanuga Vidyapitha” in New Vrindaban, a “school for educating brahmanas and Vaisnavas.”

He also recommended a school to teach Varnashrama, a traditional Vedic social structure of natural vocations and life stages, as well as a primary school where children could come from urban centers to learn reading, writing, mathematics, the basic sciences and Krsna consciousness.

All of this, of course, ultimately comes down once again to the essence of all of Srila Prabhupada’s directions for New Vrindaban: Loving Krishna.

“The cows, the trees, the cowherd men and gopis [of Vrindavan], their chief engagement was loving Krsna,” he wrote in July 1973. “And in New Vrindaban we want to create this atmosphere and thereby show the whole world how practical and sublime our movement is.”

New Vrindaban winter scene

Serene N.V. winter scene

During his first visit in May 1969, Srila Prabhupada thought of Krishna when he tasted New Vrindaban’s fresh well water, and told devotees of all the other things there that could help them remember the Lord: the sun, the moon, the cows, the fragrance of the earth, the wind and the thunder.

“It is so easy here at New Vrindaban,” Prabhupada said. “So much is there to remind us of Krishna that the devotee can’t forget Him for a moment.”

Another integral part of loving Krishna, of course, is to love His devotees; and this was perhaps Srila Prabhupada’s second most important instruction for New Vrindaban residents and for the greater ISKCON society: to love and appreciate each other and work cooperatively together.

While at New Vrindaban in June 1969, he told devotees discussing how to manage the fledgeling community: “You must jointly work [together]… There may be sometimes disagreement, but you should settle up. Otherwise how you can make progress?”

In a letter to Upendra, he wrote: “Now all my disciples must work combinedly and with cooperation… Our Society is like one big family and our relationships should be based on love and trust.” And to Babhru he wrote: “Sometimes there may be disagreement and quarrel but we should not go away. These inebrieties can be adjusted by the cooperative spirit, tolerance and maturity…”

After his first visit to New Vrindaban in May 1969, Srila Prabhupada continued to guide his disciples in how to follow these instructions during visits in 1972, 1974, and 1976.

And now, nearly fifty years later, New Vrindaban residents and well-wishers continue to cooperate together and sincerely work to realize his grand vision for the ideal spiritual community – a New Vrindaban, imported all the way from Krishna’s sacred village right into their country.

 

Thursday, November 20th, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

Toronto/Houston

Man With a Light Heart


“What’s this?” asked the tall service man in a most jovial tone.  He was gesturing at my vestments as he was about to handle my luggage for the drop off at the airport terminal. 

“I’m a monk,” I said.

“Buddhist?”

“No, Krishna.”

“Do you teach fighting?” he went on with keen interest.

“Our order gets more involved in teaching music, teaching, singing, chanting, like that.”

“Oh, you mean all that peaceful stuff.  I go for those monks that fly in the air, come down crashing and then flattening someone.”

I joined in on his facetious way, appreciating that he loved his work and life.  I let him know that I was truly sorry to disappoint him.  I relayed that I do pilgrim work, occasionally fly (by United Airlines this time) and hopefully come down for a soft landing.  I offered him a mantra card, which when recited, the chant can take you places. 

The man gladly hoisted my two hefty pieces of luggage, one by one, onto the conveyor, gave a nod and outstretched his arm for the next person about to go through security.  The brief encounter with the happy uniformed man showed me how you should treat life – lightheartedly.   

May the Source be with you!

5 KM

Wednesday, November 19th, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

Toronto, Ontario
 
Favorites
 
At the Tuesday sanga led in our ashram last evening, I was asked to prepare a message. I chose to speak on my favorite verses from the Bhagavad Gita. I would say that I have about 10 verses that I have picked that are most endearing to me personally. I also gave a brief explanation as to why they are my chosen ones.
 
I see no harm in embracing words that resonate the most. Here goes:
(BG 4:35) "Having obtained real knowledge from a self-realized soul, you will never fall again into such illusion, for by this knowledge you will see that all living things are but a part of the Supreme, or, in other words that they are Mine."
 
My comment: Here, Krishna gives reassurance that after assimilating the wisdom He imparted, one will be protected. Secondly, the true perception of the world is that all creatures have a divine connection with Him.
 
Verse 2 (BG 5:18) "The humble sages, by virtue of true knowledge, see with equal vision, a learned and gentle brahmana, a cow, an elephant, a dog, and a dog eater."
 
My comment: This verse speaks of spiritual equality over physical difference.
 
Verse 3 (BG 7:8) "O son of Kunti, (Arjuna), I am the taste of water, the light of the sun and the moon, the syllable Om in the Vedic mantras; I am the sound in ether and ability in man.
 
Comment: Here, most profound, is the fact that Divine presence is identified in basic things, not excluding our outputs. We can take little credit for what we do.
 
May the Source be with You!
 
0 KM

Tuesday, November 18th, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

Toronto, Ontario
 
Sometimes
 
Sometimes when walking, and at the last time engrossed in conversation the time speeds by like a bullet. When the topic is particularly rich and holds your interests you can honestly say you are not taking steps at all. You almost forget where you are. Major attentiveness occurs only when crossing the street, otherwise you can find yourself quite aloof from your surroundings. This kind of preoccupation is rather sublime. You just hanker for more of this.
 
It was actually yesterday that my walking companion and I entered the world of "thinking out of the box." We explored the topic of becoming more relevant to the public in our efforts to sharing the science of Krishna devotionalism.
 
Generally I would wear my traditional robes, dhoti and kurta on such walks. Not today.  Weather, not so much permitting. My partner is also a Krishna follower, wore his civilian clothing, all in black as he came directly from the office.  In our dialogue my friend expressed that perhaps closing the gaps between East and West would be a favorable thing to do.  And he also implied when in Rome, do as the Romans do. In terms of attire and also the way you do things. In other words, we don’t have to compromise our philosophy, life's goals, and culture; only a few adjustments need to be made. His overall concern was that perhaps the face of Krishna consciousness could be more approachable perhaps even a CEO presence for our world-wide organization would be somewhat advantageous. These were some suggestions.
 
It was all good what he said. I was listening intently. The time passed by like anything. Of course all we spoke about had a connection to the Divine. Walking and talking are perfect marriage partners.
 
May the Source be with you!
 
5 KM

Monday, November 17th, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

Toronto, Ontario
 
Coming Back
 
Coming back to my desk I was greeted by the latest sent package. Through the padded package I could feel it was books. Tearing it open with a kid's excitement, the easy-to-do surgical session revealed the latest devotional meditations by editor Krishna Ksetra Swami. Part three of the series is entitled Gaura Smarana. Contributors of monologues on these devotional reflections are many. My gift was a piece called, "Jagai's Recall." Here's the opening of a monologue by confessions of a former derelict:
 
"Some people call it fate, some people call it luck. Others say that karma brought me to my present state of relief, calm, and joy; that I am the recipient of some meritorious doings in the past, that I earned it, that my higher birth with brahminical brain, bones, and blood bore the fruit of good fortune.  Most solemnly, I will say that these notions are no more than the hot fresh dung of a monkey. In fact, I will argue this point from the height of the heavens down to the big hole of hell, that none of the above fits the description of my personal destiny. I will declare it most emphatically that chance, effort, and birthright, play no part in the blessings that I currently enjoy.  The only, and I say "only" truthful explanation behind my present good turn in life is that I happened to stand in the pool of His radiance..."
 
May the Source be with You!
 
7 KM

Sunday, November 16th, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

Brampton, Ontario

Thinking About Walking


Even when I’m not on one of those walking marathons, I find the opportunity to think about or talk about the next venture.  While on flight back to Toronto, I spoke to the passenger next to me, a woman from Halifax, about my previous and anticipated treks.  She took a fancy to what I was saying in regards to these adventures. 

Yes, I do miss the road.  I can’t wait to get back.  We’ll just let the winter pass.  Now, with the current snow seen and felt, when on a short jaunt in Brampton, I realized the limitations of walking.  But it’s not full restrictions.  The stuff was coming down like those perfect light crystal flakes, and even later in downtown Toronto for a second take on my mobile feet, a wetter version of snow descended on the nose, giving a tickling sensation.  Still, I can walk. 

As long as you have the out of doors, as long as you have a good runway so to speak, you can walk in almost any condition.  I’m reminded of the ill fated, though heroic, Franklin expedition, sent from England in the mid 19th century, with the intent to explore a northwest passage to the east, a ship was jammed in ice and snow.  Crew members were forced to venture through a forbidden wilderness in Canada’s far north on foot, taking refuge.  They did a lot of trudging through thick snow.  Unfortunately no one survived those walks.  Sir John Franklin and his men were stricken with frostbite on top of the lead poisoning. 

It’s tales like this, like the Franklin expedition, that tell of incredible bravery, and makes me think that in this life I can’t claim to have done anything heroic on that magnitude. 

May the Source be with you!

5 KM

Saturday, November 15th, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

New Glasgow, Nova Scotia

The Snow Stayed Hard


We drove into the land of whiteness, where snowmobilers conquer any cleared areas.  Tracks of those passionate machines have clearly made their mark through the laden snow after a major storm yesterday.  This is not how it was when I landed in Canada’s east coast a week ago.  I wasn’t so much prepared, clothing wise, for the change.  I usually live in denial at pronounced seasonal changes. 

What a great wrap-up it was in these Maritimes, in a culture of traditional direction which goes towards the fruit of the sea.  But, “the times they are a changin’,” Dylan wrote.  Is it possible to see lobster dinners being replaced by kirtan on a Saturday night? 

Here in New Glasgow, just off the Trans Canada Highway, a curious group of people met with Mukunda, Nirmana, Joseph, Ashley, and myself, at a yoga studio on the floor atop a Subway restaurant.  The building owners showed up for our little session, so did yoga students, didgeridoo players, and Leslie.

Who is Leslie?  Well, she’s a fantastic networker who got the word out that this ancient practice of this immersion into sacred sound was about to take place.  Having full on experience from Vancouver, the country’s west coast, Leslie managed to summon the curious.  I know that the attendees came out of inquisitiveness.  They told me so.  They were cool with something so experientially different.  For them, it was learning new songs, moving to new dance steps and smacking the hands in unison claps – all wrapped in one.  It was fun!

To put the evening to a grand finale, one of the guys, a forest preserver by profession, did a demo of fire dancing.  Now, that was outside.  His kerosene flames didn’t quite melt the snow around us, but with his performance and the kirtan, hearts did melt. 

May the Source be with you!

0 KM

Dealing with old age – individual and social responsibility – 3.30.15
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Lecture Podcast

Lecture Summary: 

What is this section’s role in the Bhagavatam?

Use the world as a tool for meditating on God – eg. Universal Form, Sankhya and cosmology

How SB devotionalizes Sankhya

Use tatparya-linga

 

What is this verse’s role in this section?

Shows futility of materialistic living – not just by showing the illusoriness of the beauty of worldly objects but also by showing the innate misery in such existence

Soul’s seeking shelter in sense enjoyment is like a frog seeking shade from the sun under a snake’s fangs

 

How is this verse relevant to us?

Individual responsibility of the elderly – urgently raise consciousness eg. If after 50, you wake up without pain it indicates you are dead

Social responsibility – protect the elderly (one of the five categories of people to be protected) and create support systems for that

Hospice in Vrindavan – helped devotees, relatives of devotees and Vrajavasis

 

Is the Gita a world-affirming book and SB a world-rejecting book?

No, same principle of devotion presented according to context

Eg. Lord Chaitanya refused to meet Pratap Rudra, SP came out of the way to meet Indira Gandhi

Eg. Rupa and Sanatana Goswamis didn’t give initiation much, whereas Narottama Das Thakura despite being a non-brahmana initiated even brahmanas

Gita’s context – Krishna’s will executed by acting; Bhag’s context – Krishna’s will executed by renouncing

 

General application for individual-institution synergy:

Institution appreciates people’s sincerity and provides facilities to help them serve Krishna

Individual doesn’t complain about lack of facilities, but serves with whatever facility is available, meditating “What facilities did Prabhupada have?”

Rise from the love that hides to the love that guides - realize that whatever happens externally, individually Krishna consciousness always works

Making our scriptural study relevant
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Lecture Podcast

3 questions:

  1. What did this mean in its original context?
  2. What is the context-independent principle here?
  3. How does that principle apply in my context?

The more specific something is, the less universal it seems – unless we climb up the ladder of abstraction

Two meanings of original – for subjective interpretation (eg abstract art), original = originating from me; for objective comprehension (eg road sign), original = as it meant originally

Context determined externally by tradition, culture, mood and logic

How Prabhupada made scripture relevant:

Eg. Translated Prahlad prayer - ears attracted to radio songs; Gita 15.06 – included electricity; happiness of Vaikuntha like ocean of LSD

Learn to see context – Don’t mistake what is in scripture with what scripture teaches.

Eg. Hiranyakashipu praises Brahma as Supreme

Eg. Papa-yonayah in Gita 9.32 as fourth category

Sweet Like Sugar Candy
→ Japa Group

"The holy name, character, pastimes and activities of Krsna are all transcendentally sweet like sugar candy. Although the tongue of one afflicted by the jaundice of avidya (ignorance) cannot taste anything sweet, it is wonderful that simply by carefully chanting these sweet names every day, a natural relish awakens within his tongue, and his disease is gradually destroyed at the root."

From The Nectar Of Instruction Verse 7

Happy Laksmi
→ Ramai Swami

IMG_1067

The Happy Lakshmi Restaurant is operated by Mahavirya das and his wife Maha Pavitra devi dasi. Both are doctors but like to sell prasadam to local people.

There are regular preaching programs upstairs for the devotees and newcomers. Bali TV again came to record my lecture, especially the questions and answers that followed.
IMG_1068

An Evening with Srila Prabhupada at his Palace in New Vrindaban
→ New Vrindaban

New Vrindaban Fall Board Meetings 2014:

An Evening with Srila Prabhupada at his Palace

By Madhava Smullen

At 6:00pm on November 1st, New Vrindaban board and community members ended their first packed day of meetings with a true treat – spending the evening with Srila Prabhupada at his Palace of Gold. The event was one in a series of monthly sangams arranged by Kripamaya Das.

As devotees arrived, Palace Restoration Manager Gopisa Das showed them the latest work done, pointing out the renovated lookout tower, the black granite being laid on the steps, and the new drainage system to prevent future water damage.

As they stepped from the brisk cold outside into Srila Prabhupada’s warm temple room, with the ISKCON Founder-Acharya looking out from his vyasasana over the stunning gilded ornamentation, marble flooring and ceiling paintings of Krishna’s pastimes, they felt as if they were entering the spiritual world.

Joint board member Chaitanya Mangala Das set the tone for the evening by reading a 1974 editors’ letter from the 12th issue of Brijabasi Spirit magazine describing a “hectic” week of “all-out service” as New Vrindaban devotees prepared for Prabhupada’s visit, but saying that even more important was developing the proper consciousness to receive such a great personality.

Chaitanya Mangala pointed that this was still applicable today --  as we are outwardly engaged in service, our internal reflection should be to develop qualities of surrender, humility, appreciation and love in order to truly receive Srila Prabhupada.

He then read several stories about the visit itself, including Srila Prabhupada’s arrival at Bahulaban, the Saturday festival with him attended by 400 devotees from around the country, and his tour of his still under-construction Palace.

Chaitanya Mangala also read about Prabhupada’s visit to Daivata Das’ house in Madhuban and pointed out Daivata amongst the devotees gathered. Seeing a devotee featured in a story about Prabhupada sitting right there and smiling at the memory was a wonderful experience for a young devotee like this writer.

Varshana Swami spoke next, reminding everyone that this Palace was the first Samadhi built for Srila Prabhupada. He told the story of how when Prabhupada visited this very same temple room while it was under construction, his disciple Bali Mardana asked: “Will this room be lit up by jewels like in the Krishna book?” In reply, Prabhupada, gestured to the devotees building the Palace. “These devotees are my jewels,” he said.

Varshana Swami also recalled the night when news came that Prabhupada passed away, and how the shellshocked devotees all gathered in the only place that made sense: his Palace. Although it was the darkest night of their lives, and they felt like they couldn’t go on, as they cried and chanted together in a mood of separation, they began to feel closer to Prabhupada than they ever had.

“Prabhupada’s ultimate gift is that the highest part of Vaishnava siddhanta is service in separation -- which we’re all doing right now,” Varshana Swami concluded.

Finally Tamohara Das spoke about Srila Prabhupada’s management style, comparing it to parenting rather than corporate management and citing three specific qualities.

Firstly, like a good parent, he said, Prabhupada was a great communicator. Secondly, he brought the best out of his “children” by expecting the best from them. “Whatever Prabhupada asked us to do, we felt we could do,” Tamohara said.

Lastly, Prabhupada was warm and nurturing, like every good parent. “If we want to have Prabhupada in our lives and hearts, he’s there,” said Tamohara. “He continues to offer that protection years after  his physical departure.”

An endearingly “old school” kirtan lead by Daivata Das in Srila Prabhupada’s classic Hare Krishna tune followed, creating a mood very evocative of the memories that had just been shared. Finally, feeling blissfully closer to Srila Prabhupada and more encouraged in their quest to realize his mission, the devotees sat down together to a delicious prasadam meal.

 

Bhagavad-gita: The pure message of Krsna
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 30 March 2014, Cape Town, South Africa, Bhagavad-gita Lecture)

krishna-arjunaBhagavad-gita as it is, is the pure message of Krsna which was spoken to Arjuna who was at a state that was no longer his normal self. Arjuna was the most exalted personality who could go where none of the other Pandavas could go, even to the heavenly planets; he was not at all an ordinary person. But somehow, he came to the state where he was bewildered and said, ‘Govinda, I shall not fight!’

Because, when it comes to something that is very close to our heart then even one, who is deep in transcendental knowledge, can forget. Of course, Arjuna’s forgetfulness came from the Supreme Lord – it was a special arrangement so that Bhagavad-gita could be spoken. That is what happened to Arjuna, because he had to fight against his grandfather and his teacher, two people that were most dear to him, to whom he felt indebted, so how could he fight against them!? He could have fought so many others but them – it was not possible and that was the point where he said, ‘No! I will not fight!’  Ksatriyas are in a very difficult position as they have to fight for the principles of religion, regardless of situation. When it comes to injustice, even if that injustice is caused by one’s own family, a ksatriya has to act – it is a very difficult position, not to be envied!

In this way, Arjuna becomes a prototype of the conditioned soul who lives in this world and is influenced by the three modes of material nature and who tries to rise above. Therefore, the Bhagavad-gita is particularly a book that is aimed at those who are in this world and are preoccupied with this world. It opens up an understanding that actually there is the other, eternal dimension. Like in the second chapter where it is described that the soul never takes birth and never dies; actually the whole second chapter aims at this eternal aspect of our existence and that is where spiritual life starts, where we begin to look at our eternal position. So, in the beginning, Bhagavad-gita is focusing on our identity as eternal beings, as souls, again and again stressing that eternal aspect, but only later in the middle six chapters Gita is establishing that soul is not only eternal, but has also an eternal relationship with Krsna in devotional service.

It is explained that by becoming attached to Krsna, everything can be known. ‘Just hear from Me,’ says Krsna, and that is how the cause of all things and also this phenomenal world can be known. Knowledge of the phenomenal world means to have knowledge about the relationship it has with the Supreme, so the point is that one who knows that everything has relationship with the Supreme Lord will also look for the knowledge from the Supreme Lord, because even knowledge has a relationship with him.

So, we see that Arjuna had become bewildered and attached to control destiny. He wanted destiny to go according to his ideas, but that represents a false conception of life. Bhagavad-gita teaches us that we should be ready to accept Krsna’s plan and whatever Krsna desires with our life. Maybe now we are not at that level, but we need reminders to at least make attempts to rise above our emotional affliction with things. The things of this world are going to our mind and we become completely emotionally involved with them, but then at least some transcendental knowledge, as given in Bhagavad-gita, can help us to rise to another platform. Gita particularly gives us the essential knowledge that is required to deal with everything appropriately.

It can lift us way beyond our expectations, way beyond anything that we thought we could be and that is spiritual life. It is about changing the conception that we had about ourselves, about our identity, and there is where humility starts – where we can admit ourselves that the conception we had about ourselves is actually wrong and we don’t know who we are. ‘All this time, I had it wrong! All this time, I was so sure about my identity and therefore about all the things that belong to it, that I wanted, that I needed, that I had to have, and could not live without – now I am living without! And I never thought I could! But somehow or other, that is possible!’  So that is the secret and the essence of Bhagavad-gita.

With the combination of the holy name and the knowledge of the Gita we are discovering aspects of ourselves that we never knew we had, that we never thought we could have had. We are becoming something we have never dreamt of and we are reaching levels of satisfaction which we never thought would be possible. That is just amazing!

Discovering Ancient Pandharpur (Album 201 photos) Indradyumna…
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Discovering Ancient Pandharpur (Album 201 photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Pandharpur,in Maharashtra, is one of the most prominent pilgrimage sites in India.
Although many ISKCON devotees may be unaware of Pandharpur, historically the
town is of great significance to Gaudiya Vaisnavism. Lord Caitanya visited Pandharpur for a full 11 days during His travels through India. His elder brother Visvarupa, who left home at an early age, made Pandharpur his sannyasa-ksetra and left this world from there. Lord Nityananda took initiation from Laksmi Tirtha on the banks of the Chandrabhaga river, which flows through Pandharpur. The presiding Deity of the town is Lord Krsna in His form of Vitthal.This famous and popular deity resides in an ancient stone temple that covers a large area. Millions of pilgrims visit Pandharpur each year. We spent 3 days there and the town reminded me very much of India when I first visited 40 years ago. ISKCON has a large property on the other side of the river which is also popular with pilgrims. Pandharpur is a “must see” for all ISKCON devotees visiting India. It is a 3 hour drive from Pune. [ Photos by Indradyumna Swami ]
See them here: http://goo.gl/DWHqL8