Chant the Holy Name
→ Seed of Devotion

*name has been changed in this post for privacy

"May I help you in some way?" I asked the customer who had just walked into La Maison du Chocolat.

"Sure," she replied, "I'm looking for a gift for a friend,"

"Okay, sure, what would you be looking for? Your budget?"

"Well, she is very sick,"

I was taken aback for a moment, then I laughed, "I see, and chocolate is the medication,"

"I mean, she is very... very sick,"

I grew sober, "Ah, I see." I continued to guide the customer to a collection of chocolates that was beautiful and was in her budget. I wrapped the gift and asked, "Would you like a blank message card?"

"Oh no, I have a big card here," and she pointed to a giant card in its envelope. "You see, my friend, she's sick... yes, the "C" word,"

I continued to listen with my eyes while I packed up the gift. She handed me a collection of bills of different amounts.

"She's only in her 30s, and last year she was diagnosed with breast cancer and she has been in treatment. Last month, though, they found some cancer in her brain. Stage 4."

"Oh wow,"

"Yes, so everyone at work has all pitched in to pay for a personal chef for the next month for her and her husband, and also to get these chocolates. Everyone signed this card. We just want her to take care of herself,"

"I see. I shall pray for your friend, may I ask her name?"

"Diana*,"

"I will pray for Diana, that she moves through this with grace,"

"Thank you so much Carmen [my legal name]," the woman responded. I handed her the beautiful gift bag of chocolates and we exchanged smiles. Then she left.

I was shaken.

Here was a woman on a crash course with death. There were so many people who loved her, but they had no idea what to do for someone about to die. They just wanted to comfort her, make her path a little smoother, a little more enjoyable.

But who cares about a personal chef and gourmet chocolate when you're about to die? From what I've heard and experienced for myself, when faced with death food tastes like cardboard.

When faced with death, I want solace. I want meaning to this life that seems so meaningless. I want truth. I want to know who I am and where the hell I'm going (hopefully not hell!).

Diana's coworkers meant well. They love her, they want to express that love. Nevertheless, all I can think is that if I was faced with Stage 4 brain cancer, I would just want people to chant the holy name for me, chant the holy name for me, chant the holy name for me. Pray that I take shelter's in Krishna's holy name.

If you are reading this, please chant the holy name for Diana, pray that the Lord protects her heart from all fear and carries her beyond this world of pain and death. May she go with God. 
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Chanting Krishna’s Sweet Names
→ Japa Group

"Chanting Krishna’s sweet names purifies the heart; sanctifies and steadies the mind; destroys the six enemies [lust, anger, greed, envy, illusion, madness]; stops birth and death; dissolves sins; scorches samskaras; annihilates attachment; induces detachment; uproots desires; empowers one; makes one fearless; removes illusion; bestows supreme peace; delivers prema; reveals the Lord and His dhama..."

From Art of Chanting Hare Krsna
by Mahanidhi Swami

Climate change demo and harinama
→ simple thoughts

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There was a massive climate change demo last Sunday in cities around the world.
We had the usual mass prasad distribution and Kirtan party, but we also put a music band together which became one of the focus points of the 20,000 strong demonstrators.
This is a type of project that I would not recommend other devotees to try, as it requires a strong understanding of the surrounding environment, time and circumstance.
We were encouraging the local devotees to join our straight Kirtan party, after the parade reached the Houses of Parliament, I switched to the chanting of the Maha Mantra and people joined in, even following us for another five miles back to our van.
I bumped into one of the organizers of the Climate Change event yesterday and she came running up to me in the shop and gave me a huge hug, introduced herself as one of the organizers and asked us if we would lead the march next year?
She thought we were absolutely brilliant check out how much fun we are all having:

A Message for Mr. C.: http://youtu.be/x6y8-k-TsPI

Your servant
Parasuram Das

Sri Vyasa-puja Celebration, September 27, Houston
Giriraj Swami

Giriraj Maharaj Vyasa Puja2-6The Vyasa-puja celebration for Giriraj Swami will be held in Houston on Saturday, September 27, starting at 9:30 AM CDT  (7:30 AM PDT, 10:30 AM EDT).

Devotees can watch live at: iskconhouston.org

Schedule:

  • Deity greeting/guru-puja 7:00 – 7:45
  • Srimad-Bhagavatam class 7:45 – 9:00
  • Breakfast 9:00 – 9:30
  • Greeting Maharaj/kirtan 9:30 – 9:45
  • Welcome 9:45 – 10:00
  • Footbathing ceremony 10:00 – 10:15
  • Offerings 10:15 AM – 11:45
  • Vyasa-puja address by Giriraj Swami 11:45 – 12:30
  • Puspanjali/arotik 12:30 – 1:00
  • Feast 1:00 – 2:00

Food For Life, Scottburgh, Mid-South Coast (Album 25 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

Simply by taking prasada and taking part in chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra, ordinary persons are being considerably elevated. Saubhari Muni regrets that he had bad association even in the deepest part of the water. Because of the bad association of the sexually engaged fish, he fell down. A secluded place is also not secure unless there is good association. (Srimad Bhagavatam, 9.6.51 Purport). Read more ›

Presenting the real solution during the huge Climate Change March in New York: Harinama Sankirtana (Album 32 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

Grand revolution in New York, chanting and dancing at the huge Climate Change March with nearly half a million people from all around the country. They do not realise they are receiving the unlimited mercy of Lord Caitanya by participating in the prescribed method for self-realisation in this dark age of Kali. Read more ›

Varsana Cleanup (Album 20 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

On the back of Varsana is a very mystical forest called Gahvarvan that is the beautiful playground of Radha and Krishna. Unfortunately it is littered with plastic and trash by thoughtless pilgrims. Seeing this one disciple of Bir Krishna Goswami, Krishna Rupa dasi, donated for a full bus and prasadam at Vrinda Kunda to go there and cleanup the forest! Read more ›

2014 Is World Holy Name Week’s Biggest Success So Far
→ ISKCON News

World Holy Name Week (WHNW), first established in 2008, has seen its biggest success so far this year. In 2013, around forty-three different ISKCON centers celebrated the week in some capacity with events designed to share, spread and become absorbed in the Holy Name of God. This year, WHNW organizers have already received reports from over fifty ISKCON centers from every continent in the world.

Construction of New Ukrainian Devotee Refugee Shelter Has Begun
→ ISKCON News

The shelter project for the devotees displaced in Ukraine has been going on smoothly over the past weeks. At this point, with the generous donations offered internationally, ISKCON Ukraine has raised enough to provide basic care and support for the devotees in need. Their focus right now is the development of buildings that will shelter devotees as the cold winter months quickly approach.

Good Words
→ Tattva - See inside out

One of my fellow monks is an extremely prayerful person. He has regular stories of the reciprocation and interaction that comes from conversing with God. Though inspired, I personally find it difficult to pray.  It usually feels unnatural and artificial; probably a combination of my impersonal character, hard-heartedness, lack of faith, and general life philosophy of “work hard and be practical.” Someone, however, recently offered me an interesting antidote – “pray for other people” they said. Whether a friend, family member, work colleague, or even a stranger you meet for the first time, just stop for a few moments and sincerely pray for something that will help them in their life. I began to try. Unconventional as it sounded, I could immediately appreciate the power of this approach on many levels:

  • Personal level – Rather than being critical, judgmental or aloof, we evolve into selfless agents of positive change. Since prayer invokes divine intervention, we are not simply observers of the world, but can make a difference, even to people we have very little physical contact with. In such moments of noble prayer, we rise beyond self-absorption and forget our own difficulties.
  • Relationship level – Taking the time to deeply contemplate someone’s life transforms our relationship with them. We learn to see beyond the external chaos, appreciating that everyone is a pure soul trying to break free from material entanglement. Prayer helps one to connect with people on a deeper level. 
  • Social level – When a group of people form, each one sincerely wanting the others to excel, it creates a unique spiritual energy. That unity, fellowship and genuine warmth helps them to achieve their goals and transform the world. Prayer brings people together.

It reminded me of how Swami Prabhupada would sign off his correspondence with “your ever well-wisher.” His prayer was completely selfless; a natural consequence of his incredible compassion and concern for all. Saintly persons are said to feel another’s pain as their own (para dukha dukhi). Just as we spontaneously attend to any ailment in our body, they are spontaneously impelled to relieve the suffering of the general populace. Even if we fall short of that pure stage, we can still institute the process of selfless prayer as a vehicle to developing deeper sensitivity, which is so integral to spiritual advancement. After all, we find ourselves by thinking of others. Try it out this week – take a few quality moments to sincerely pray for the wellbeing of someone else. And if you’re finding it difficult to identify someone, you could always slip in a good word for this struggling soul. :) 

Renovations at Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold in New Vrindaban
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

External Renovations at Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold

By Gopisa das & Lilasuka dasi

There have been many renovations done in New Vrindaban over the last two years.  Govinda’s Restaurant received a complete overhaul, including a drop ceiling and ornate Rajasthani style furniture. The Welcome Center, once an old wooden cabin, was brought up to date with high tech insulation and new exterior/interior improvements. The men’s and women’s asramas were renovated with new lighting, walls, floors and furniture and the Palace Lodge rooms were greatly improved with similar treatment.

Prabhupada Palace New Vrindaban Renovations 2014

Drainage on the 2nd Level of Palace.

This year, Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold is receiving some much-needed repairs. Renovations have begun with all new storm drainage pipes on the exterior second level. This is the first phase of an extensive design plan to handle all rain/snow water from roof to ground level and a necessity for protecting the soon to be installed new granite steps.

Prabhupada Palace of Gold New Vrindaban Restoration Repair 2014

Drainage Work.

The work is part of a new push to fully renovate and improve Srila Prabhupada’s Palace with major visual improvements planned for completion by 2016 as an offering to Srila Prabhupada on the 50th anniversary celebrating the formation of his beloved ISKCON.

Stay tuned- more to come.

Prabhupada's Palace of Gold New Vrindaban Rose Garden

Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold

Initiation Ceremony, September 25, Tucson, Arizona
Giriraj Swami

SP_initGiriraj Swami read and spoke from The Nectar of Instruction (Srila Rupa Gosvami’s Upadesamrta):

” ‘Diksa, or spiritual initiation, is explained in the Bhakti-sandarbha (868) by Srila Jiva Gosvami:

divyam jnanam yato dadyat
kuryat papasya sankshayam
tasmad dikseti sa prokta
desikais tattva-kovidaih

“By diksa one gradually becomes disinterested in material enjoyment and gradually becomes interested in spiritual life.” ‘ (NOI 5 purport)

“Divyam jnanam yato dadyat: It is the process by which spiritual knowledge is given. Then kuryat papasya sankshayam: It is the process by which sin is destroyed. Tasmad dikseti sa prokta desikais tattva-kovidaih: This process is known as diksa, or initiation, by  those who are learned and expert in the study of scriptural truth. And Srila Prabhupada makes it practical in terms of the Krishna consciousness movement:

” ‘We have seen many practical examples of this, especially in Europe and America. Many students who come to us from rich and respectable families quickly lose all interest in material enjoyment and become very eager to enter into spiritual life. Although they come from very wealthy families, many of them accept living conditions that are not very comfortable. Indeed, for Krsna’s sake they are prepared to accept any living condition as long as they can live in the temple and associate with the Vaisnavas. When one becomes so disinterested in material enjoyment, he becomes fit for initiation by the spiritual master.’ ” (NOI 5 purport)

 

Initiation Talk, Tucson