What We Think About During Japa
→ Japa Group

In a recent discussion about Japa this question came up....it was in relation to the wandering mind and if we should think of anything and if so, what should that be?

One suggestion by Sacinandana Swami was to meditate on the meaning of the mantra "Oh Lord, Oh energy of the Lord, please engage me in your devotional service" - his point was that if the mind is going to think of something it's better to think about the meaning of the mantra.

For me personally I try to focus on the sound vibration so the mind has no chance of wandering....of course this comes and goes and is dynamic.
By determination and persistance the mind will actually surrender and naturally focus on the sound without us having to be consciously aware of it...until then it's a battle...but a battle that can be won.

Cairns Rathayatra
→ Ramai Swami

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This year, after many years, the devotees from Cairns, headed by Adi Kesava Das and Syamarupa Devi Dasi, arranged to have a Rathayatra in the Spring Festival Parade.

The parade started at a central park and then went along the famous Cairns Esplanade where it ended near the pier at the far side of town. Other floats were in the parade but Lord Jagannatha’s Rathayatra cart was by far the best.
Cairns Rathayatra Ki Jaya!
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Radhastami Meditations – Part 1
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 05 September 2011, Berlin, Germany, Radhastami, Caitanya Caritamrta, Adi Lila 142-145)

radha krsna'I like the comparison of the love of Srimati Radharani to a mirror which reflects the qualities of Krsna – as she discovers more and more qualities of Krsna, her love is just responding to those qualities. In this way, the love of Srimati Radharani is eternally growing. This explains the nature of love in the spiritual world and how one is increasing in one’s devotional service and one’s devotional experience eternally. Krsna becomes captured by this love which increases his experience of love; so that exchange eternally continues.

The topmost relationship in the spiritual world is parakiya rasa, which is a forbidden relationship of paramours. Not the conjugal love within marriage but forbidden relationship of paramours – those stolen moments are considered to be the topmost. Gopis cannot openly associate with Krsna – that is not possible because it is socially not acceptable that they mix with Krsna. Many are married, others are young girls under the authority of their parents – how can they openly mix with the young boy in the village? It is not possible. Therefore, in the relationship between Radha and Krsna it is not possible that they openly meet, as there are many obstacles. Some stolen moments are there which are very precious for that reason. There is great eagerness to finally have the opportunity to meet Krsna; that is usually very difficult.

radha krsnaWhen Srimati Radharani encounters Krsna, she is overwhelmed. It is described that when Radha sees Krsna in public that she cannot help but smile, but she is hiding that smile. So her smile is practically not visible, it is slightly there, by the corner of her lips, but Krsna notices that smile and therefore he also starts mildly smiling, also controlling his smile. Srimati Radharani notices that Krsna is seeing that she started smiling and therefore she begins to smile more. Krsna notices that she has noticed that he had noticed that she was smiling and therefore Krsna begins to smile more. Then she notices that Krsna has just noticed that she had noticed that he was noticing that she was smiling… and in this way, they go on with noticing until in the end, they cannot control the smiling anymore! So in this way, there is the intimate exchange but at the same time, it is covered by the separation. The essence of parakiya rasa is separation. The mood between Radha and Krsna is always one of separation with some stolen moments of coming together and then again increased separation. This is the basic theme of that topmost love.

I find very interesting this image of the love of Srimati Radharani being a mirror reflecting the qualities of Krsna and then eternally discovering more qualities because it shows how one eternally makes spiritual advancement – there is no limit to it! It is very profound and it does not just apply to only Srimati Radharani, it applies to all devotees – especially to all the eternal associates of the Lord and even to us! We are also discovering little-by-little, more and more, about the nature of Krsna and the qualities of Krsna. Maybe, at this stage, our love is not very developed but some attraction is there – it is unavoidable even! One of meaning of the word Bhagavan, as told by Srila Jiva Gosvami, means, ‘Krsna is irresistible, you have to worship him!’ So this is the situation – there is no question of not coming to the point of loving Krsna! 

World Holy Name Week: New Posters, Banners, and Hashtags!
→ Dandavats.com

We are starting a Hashtags Campaign! Please include the Hashtag below in as many of your social network posts as possible. #WorldHolyNameWeek Please anyone and everyone from GBCs to ABCs, use the following Hashtags in your posts on all social media like Facebook, twitter, etc. Here is an explanation about hashtags courtesy of Bhaktin Shruti: To use a hashtag all you have to do is make a post (it can be any kind of post, such as text, pictures, videos, links, etc.) on any social media website that supports hashtags and then include the appropriate hashtag(s). Usually people put a hashtag at the end of a post when possible. For example, if I post a photo of myself at a japathon, I could include the caption "At the japathon today. So excited! #WorldHolyNameWeek"when I post the photo. A hashtag campaign is simply a campaign to get as many people as possible to use a particular hashtags, with the hope that a particular hashtag will become popular and will catch a lot of attention, thus promoting the brand name or event or whatever it is that the marketers want to promote. It's a very commonly used strategy nowadays, in the age of social media. Read more ›

H.H. Bhakti Purusottama Swami Dazzles Detroit with Three Day Srimati Radharani Katha (audio)
→ Dandavats.com

H.H. Bhakti Purusottama Swami visited Detroit for three glorious days and flooded the congregation with very sweet narrations of many pastimes of Srimati Radharani in anticipation of Radhastami. His visits to Detroit are always memorable but this visit will stand out as one of the best. The three classes brought everyone to a greater appreciation of Srimati Radharani and fueled the congregation with great enthusiasm to celebrate Radhastami in the best way. Read more ›

Harinama in Tel Aviv, Israel (Album 47 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

Even if one is sinful and cannot give up sinful life immediately, if he chants the Hare Krishna maha-mantra with devotion and faith he will certainly be freed from all sinful activities, and his life will be successful. Param vijayate sri-krsna-sankirtanam. This is the blessing of Lord Ramachandra, who has appeared in this age of Kali as Lord Gaurasundara. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 9.10.51 Purport) Read more ›

Sjmkl’s Harinama Sankirtana At Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Album 107 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

The Harinama Sankirtana accompanied by the beautifully decorated palanquin of Their Lordships Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda organized by Sri Jagannatha Mandir Kuala Lumpur (SJMKL), this time around headed to Kampung Tasik Tambahan in city of Ampang, Kuala Lumpur. The event was held on 23rd August 2014 and was led by HG Sadananda Prabhu and Sriman Subra Prabhu with approximately 50 devotees participating in it. Read more ›

Accepting our limitations helps us see the light beyond limitations – SB 10.49.19
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Lecture Podcast

Lecture Outline:

Dhritarshatra never accepted the limitation caused by his congenital blindness. Hurt people hurt people. Just by being in a position we imagine that we have the qualification for it.

It requires courage to aim for the impossible and it requires courage to admit that something is impossible. Don't be so resentful about the door that is closed as to miss the other doors that are open - and open specially for you.

Choose carefully what pleasure we enjoy vicariously eg cricket - vicarious enjoyment through triple misidentification

Only two verses nearly identically repeated in the Gita: 9.34-18.65 and 3.35-18.47: do para-dharma and stick to apara-dharma

Our svabhava limits us and also directs us

Brahmana-diksha indicates change of guna, not necessarily of karma eg. Businessperson does business in sattva-guna or intellectuals do word jugglery in ignorance to perpetuate ignorance

Don't mistake dissatisfaction caused by material incompatibility to be ineffectiveness of bhakti

Bhakti is not just about surrendering to Krishna's instructions, but also about taking initiative on Krishna's behalf

 

Radhastami Schedule Tues. Sept. 2, 2014
→ New Vrindaban

Morning at Radha Gopinath Mandir w/ H H Varsana Maharaj:
11:30 AM               Bhajans
12:00                    Arotik and Kirtan
12:30 PM              Class by H H Varsana Maharaj
1:30  PM                Feast
*Note: If you would like to bring an offering for Srimati Radharani, please bring it by 11:45 AM to the Radha Gopinath Mandir.
Evening at the Temple:
5:00 PM                   Abhishek
6:00 PM                   Class by Sankirtan Prabhu, click above for the rest of the schedule. 
7:00 PM                   Arati   & Kirtan
7:45 PM                   Feast at the Temple
*Note: If you would like to bring an offering for Srimati Radharani in the evening, please bring it by 5:45 PM to the temple pujari room.

A Lament
→ travelingmonk.com

“The fortunate town of Navadvipa remains on the earth. The seashore remains. The city of Jagannatha Puri remains. The holy names of Krsna remain. But Alas! Alas! I do not see anywhere the same kind of festivals of pure love for Lord Hari. O Lord Caitanya, O ocean of mercy, will I ever see your [...]

View from a Distance
- TOVP.org

This is a view of the TOVP from Nabadvip Ghat. We can see how wonderful and immense the TOVP looks from a greater distance.

In this photo we have captured a beautiful monsoon cloudy day. Also you can see the fourth ring of the main dome coming up. One can imagine how beautiful the TOVP will look with the main dome fully completed.

The post View from a Distance appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.