Answer Podcast

Bleach the “Indian” out of “Krishna”?

There is a trend these days to westernize Krishna consciousness. I disagree 100% with the idea that Indian culture is a detriment to “preaching sales” (so-to-speak), a detriment to the allure of Krishna consciousness. In my opinion it is ISKCON-culture, which has so far been only a fanatical-neophyte-oddity-version of bits and pieces of Indian culture, which is off-putting to the general population. I think Indian culture is quite attractive and alluring, especially to those with interest in spirituality, meditation, yoga, etc. (who, according the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, should be the “prime target market” for Krishna consciousness).

I am all about making things accessible and relevant by highlighting the essentials and downplaying peripherals, but we Gauḍiya’s hail from the Theistic Vedānta of the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam which is a treatise produced on Indian soil, the comprehension of which was cultivated by Indians through Indian culture. Therefore I am proactively against trying to remove the Indian elements from our presentation of Gauḍiya Vedānta to Westerners. Rather, I am in favor of so deeply and thoroughly understanding those elements that we can present them without the fanatic neophicity that makes any culture look culty, weird, and unrelatable.

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 23 September 2014, Durban, South Africa, Srimad Bhagavatam 1.10.4)

The message of this purport is a very clear one and it is a message which we should not fail to present to the world, again and again. We must thoroughly understand it. We must understand that due to the fact that society is organized in a totally wrong way, therefore there are all kinds of misconceptions such as the idea that the world is overpopulated! Are we ready to say that it is not and are we ready to defend that!?

Many say that the world is overburdened now with seven billion people. How can the planet possibly sustain seven billion people? That is the question. Many say it is impossible and that there is a major problem on the planet due to overpopulation – except Srila Prabhupada. He said something else. Are we ready to repeat it, logically understand it and defend it?

It is simple: Because people eat so many animals, therefore they breed so many animals and all those animals need so much grain. Cattle eat thirty times more grain than human beings, so it is said. Think of how many animals are being produced for food.

If human beings would simply eat the grains then there would not be a need to breed so many animals. Then, the animals that are alive would be protected and live peaceful lives. Then, everything would work. Prabhupada said that he travelled the world many times over and in so many parts of the world, he saw so much vacant land. If the land is simply used by different farmers to produce food grains for their own sustenance, then everything would work fine and the world can still carry many more people and therefore, there is no question of overpopulation! We must be able to stand up for this and project this message into the world.

Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Caitanya-caritamrta Antya-lila 7.

Antya 7
161 — “I wanted to agitate you,” the Lord said, “but you did not become agitated. Indeed, you could not say anything in anger. Instead, you tolerated everything.
162 — “Your mind was not disturbed by My tricks. Rather, you stayed fixed in your simplicity. In this way you have purchased Me.”
163 — No one can describe the characteristics and ecstatic love of Gadadhara Pandita. Therefore another name for Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Gadadhara-prananatha, “the life and soul of Gadadhara Pandita.”
164 — No one can say how merciful the Lord is to Gadadhara Pandita, but people know the Lord as Gadaira Gauranga, “the Lord Gauranga of Gadadhara Pandita.”
165 — No one can understand the pastimes of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. They are like the Ganges, for hundreds and thousands of branches flow from even one of His activities.
166 — Gadadhara Pandita is celebrated all over the world for his gentle behavior, his brahminical attributes and his steady love for Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
167 — The Lord purified Vallabha Bhatta by cleansing him of the mud of false pride. By such activities the Lord also instructed others.
168 — Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was actually always merciful within His heart, but He was sometimes externally negligent of His devotees. We should not be preoccupied with His external feature, however, for if we do so we shall be vanquished.

Giriraj Swami — “This is a very important point about judging devotees. Externally the Lord may appear to be neglecting a devotee but we shouldn’t jump to any conclusions about the devotee because internally the Lord is always affectionate toward his devotees. He may be dealing with the devotee in a particular way for the benefit of that devotee. He could be purifying the devotee or showing the devotees wonderful qualities. If we judge externally we can misjudge the devotee and misjudge the Lords attitude towards the devotee and fall down.”

Disappearance of Gadhadhara Pandit, Cc Antya 7

Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya-lila 16.137
Translation:
No one can understand the loving intimacy between Gadadhara Pandita and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Gadadhara Pandita gave up his vow and service to Gopinatha just as one gives up a piece of straw.
Purport:
Just to get Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s association, Gadadhara Pandita gave up his life’s vow to engage in Gopinatha’s service. This kind of loving affection can be understood only by very confidential devotees. Ordinarily, no one can understand its purport.

Giriraj Swami — “This pastime took place on the level of pure love. On the level of pure love one has no material desires. Ordinary devotees may give up their service or be negligent in their vows because of spiritual weakness—they have other priorities. But Gadahardhara Pandit had no other interest then pure devotional service. Within the realm of pure devotional service he could not give up his association of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Even his lifelong vow of ksetra sanyassa was nothing to him. He gave it up like a piece of straw because his attachment to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was unlimited.”

Disappearance of Gadhadhara Pandit, Cc Madhya 16

Bhagavatam-daily Podcast

IDVM Logo lunch on Gopastami at ISKCON Vrindavan
(Album 88 photos)
The devotee can constantly think of the object of worship, the Supreme Lord, in any of His features-Narayana, Krishna, Rama, etc. - by chanting Hare Krishna. This practice will purify him, and at the end of his life, due to his constant chanting, he will be transferred to the kingdom of God. Bhagavad-Gita 8.8 Purport.
http://goo.gl/nfjfUP

Eat What You Grow -Stay Healthy In Krishna consciousness (Album 11 photos)
Some delightful veggies and greens from the village. Offer Krishna only the best, create your own backyard garden and offer Krishna the best fruit and vegetables, straight from your garden to Krishna’s plate!
http://goo.gl/P6zB39

Vraja 2014 (Album 32 photos)
The Lord does not say that one should give up his prescribed
duties or engagements. One can continue them and at the same time think of
Krishna by chanting Hare Krishna. Bhagavad-Gita 8.7 Purport.
http://goo.gl/IIxyTn

What is a good bhajan, does the mood of the kirtana leader influence the kirtaners, when should the kirtana leader direct other musicians, are western tunes ok to sing?

The post Szabo Piroska asks appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Harinama in Gorky Park, Moscow, Russia (Album 14 photos)
There may be so many impediments for a person who is chanting Hare Krishna. Nonetheless, tolerating all these impediments, one should continue to chant so that at the end of one’s life one can have the full benefit of Krishna consciousness. Bhagavad-Gita 8.5 Purport.
http://goo.gl/y8QRwH

Maha Harinam with Guru das Prabhu,during Halloveen in Mexico City
(Album 33 photos)
Pure devotees chant the Hare Krishna mantra, and simply by hearing this chanting from a purified transcendental person, one is purified of all sinful activities, no matter how lowborn or fallen one may be. (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Antya-lila, 3.126 Purport)
http://goo.gl/BFnSqc

Jaipur, ‘The City Of Victory’ (Album 225 photos)
Indradyumna Swami: The final album of our parikrama to Jaipur takes us to various spots throughout the city; the famous Amber Palace on a mountain overlooking the city, to Kanak Vrindavan where Radha Madhava, the original deities of Jayadeva Goswami, are worshipped and to a house program at a devotee’s home. Everywhere we continued kirtan and katha as we explored the “City of Victory” and it’s historical and devotional significance.
http://goo.gl/pjbxT8

Durvasamuni’s asram HG Bada Haridas kirtan part 1

From: vignesh P
if one is suffering from serious disorder ,which is very painful ,at that time will our chanting and devotional service help us reduce pain

Answer Podcast

From Keshava Kashmiri P

Bhagavatam says  "If I especially favor someone, I gradually deprive him of his wealth. Then the relatives and friends of such a poverty-stricken man abandon him. In this way he suffers one distress after another."

then why at other places ,in sastras ,like for eg

In the Padma Purana, in the Vaishakha-mahatmya, in a conversation of Narada Muni and King Ambarisha, it is said: (quoted from hari bhakti vilasa ,eleventh vilasa ) .

"When He is worshiped with devotion, the Supreme Personality of Godhead responds by fulfilling all desires. He gives beautiful wife, good children, long life, kingdom, residence in Svargaloka, and final liberation. "

and there are many more such statements in sastras ,where such material doses are given like good wife ,svargaloka and long life . when bhagavatam clearly says ,such material benefits are impediments to attain devotional service to krishna ,and thus as 10.88.8 says , devotees at times also their material possessions ,as a mercy of lord ,then why such transcendental devotion to lord ,is brought down to some material benefits by the same scriptures ,as it is seen from the verse quoted above from HBV .

what is the result of those who worship lord hari ,do they lose their possessions or become rich in their possessions ,as above things seems contradictory . please explain .

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From: Vivek Kikaan P
I am new in KC, so asking this question. Please tell that if we try to control lust forcefully to be faithful to Krishna's Love, then, is that a temporary Mental state, a rise in consciousness or a forceful harm to our shaking consciousness?

Answer Podcast

Filmed by Filip Cargonja and Kuva Zakheim. Edited by Hladini Hilary Zakheim.

Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.15

“The day of Gopastami, or the day that Krishna and Balarama were given charge of the Cows instead of the calves, marks a very significant change in Krishna’s pastimes in Vrindavan. It is stated in Caitanya-caritamrta that in the kumara age, from birth until the age of five, Krishna made vatsalya rasa successful. In other words in the first five years of Krishna’s pastimes he especially nourished the mood of the elders who had parental affection for Him. Then in the pauganda age, from six to ten, He made sakhya rasa successful. Along with His friends He engaged in taking the cows to pasture. And this marks the importance of Vrindavan. For the first time Krishna and Balarama and their friends sport in Vrindavan.”

Gopastami, Dallas

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 31 March 2012, Cape Town, South Africa, Srimad Bhagavatam 7.15.26)

The etymological meaning of the word ‘guru’ is heavy. So is it, that there is some personality sitting on the vyasasana who is a heavy dude, ‘Okay guys, get your act together! With all this sense gratification, you are just attached to material things! When are you going to get serious in Krsna consciousness?’

Is that the meaning of a guru being heavy? Well, sometimes maybe but not necessarily. The meaning of guru being heavy is that the guru is ultimately so heavy that you cannot move him from his position, since he stays fixed at the lotus feet of Krsna! I mean, others are light; so light that sometimes they get shaken on the path if you give them a little push, like a boat which has been put out of its course by the wind…

But, the spiritual master is heavy and he is there, at the feet of Krsna. As time goes by, he has not changed since he is still there; still serving Krsna; still talking about Krsna; still chanting Hare Krsna and so many things have happened:

Disciple, ‘I mean, oh Lord, I didn’t see you for a long time. So many things have happened!’

Guru, ‘And in the course of that, what about Krsna?’

Disciple, ‘Yeah, I’m still into that but things have changed a bit.’

But for the spiritual master, nothing has changed, nothing! It is just the same and it is a great relief to know that there is someone who is still just doing it! There is someone who is still a devotee, and is still chanting Hare Krsna; someone who just did not change and that we find shelter at his lotus feet. It is not about, ‘Is he the greatest intellectual on the planet? Can he quote more verses than anybody else? Can he explain the most complicated philosophy? Does he know the most stories?’

I guess with this, it speaks for itself – this is all kindergarten. That is all I will say about it. We are not taking these things too seriously. And it is also not about the external, ‘My guru is skinny and your guru is fat.’

These things do not matter since it is mentioned that one should not judge the spiritual master by his external appearance. One should see that he is firmly fixed onto the lotus feet of Krsna. Therefore by connecting with him, we will also be fixed because he is always there. Anytime we connect to him then we are also automatically connecting to the lotus feet of Krsna!

Bhagavatam-daily Podcast