We hear excited shrieks coming out of the Middle Elementary Classroom today.  A “spotted leopard gecko” has visited the classroom.  His name is “Gil-Phil”.  He’s climbing up the students and has even leapt to the ground!

Gil-Phil was adopted by the Kelley family from Mathuranath Prabhu.  He had almost died, but TKG Academy student, Gopal Chandra, age 8 and his family, rescued him and nurtured him back to life.

Why has he come to visit?  The students have begun the year with a Desert Unit.  They are studying different features of desert animals; behavioral and physical adaptations.  How is it that they survive in such a hostile environment?

Krishna loves each and every living entity, in such a personal way, that he has made every living entity different and unique.  Each of these differences are for a very specific purpose.  These traits protect each animal in this intense environment.

Did you know?  Geckos have sticky feet to help them stay on the sandy ground, during a sand storm.  Elephants have large ears that flap, to keep themselves cool in the desert heat.  Meercats have dark circles around their eyes to cut down the sun’s glare and enable them to see.  Zebra’s have stripes to confuse predators, like lions, when in a group.

Students researched, re-wrote, illustrated and compiled their list of facts about fifteen desert animals.  They created Mini Books.  Take a look!

When Gil-Phil arrived, Gopal lovingly placed the timid lizard in each willing child’s lap.  We saw camouflage, feet, and other physical traits up close and in person.  We chanted Hare Krishna to it and students felt the Unit literally come to life.

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 06 August 2012, Ljubljana, The Balkans, Lecture on the Pastimes of Krsna)

When Krsna walks in Vrindavan as Madhava, carrying his flute tucked in his belt, then the trees which have branches laden with fruits and flowers, are trying to touch Krsna’s feet. The bees are just singing the glories of Krsna. Bhagavatam says that these bees must have been great devotee sages in their last life, to be bees in Vrindavan.

The trees are thinking, ‘We are so unfortunate. It is due to our sinful activities that we have taken birth as trees and therefore we cannot follow Krsna on his pastimes in the forest.’

Of course, Bhagavatam points out that Lord Brahma is praying to become a tree in Vrindavan. So, how can it be that they have committed sinful activities and offenses? Rather, these trees are the most fortunate because, after all, one moment of association with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one moment of devotional service to the Supreme Lord, is such great fortune!

Even if Krsna walks past these trees only sometimes, still, they are in the forest of Vrindavan! They may not be able to walk behind him, but they can hear him. It is stated in the Mahabharat that trees have eyes and ears. It is said that trees can see and hear. So these trees are hearing and seeing Krsna! Quite auspicious, actually! They are better off than we are.

Generally, all conditioned souls in the material encagement are influenced by the mode of passion because every one of them is trying to lord it over the material nature to fulfill his individual desire. But in spite of the individual mode of passion, there is always the chance of being influenced by the other modes of nature by association. If one is in good association he can develop the mode of goodness, and if in bad association he may develop the mode of darkness or ignorance. Nothing is stereotyped. One can change his habit by good or bad association, and one has to become intelligent enough to discriminate between good and bad. The best association is the service of the devotees of the Lord, and by that association one can become the highest qualified man by the grace of the Lord’s pure devotees.
SB 2.10.41

Over the past few months my mind has been pondering that of association and how valuable it is in spiritual progression and bhakti, coinciding with this the perception of prasadam in my own short spiritual life.

Initially I was captivated by the eccentricity of the devotee’s not fully appreciating their association, little understanding prasadam other than the fact the food was amazing and I was sent away with more than any individual could hope for.

Over time perceptions changed their association was so sweet a moment away from it was bitter to taste, they encouraged me to offer my foodstuffs to Sri Krishna, encouraged my reading of Srila Prabhupada books whilst making me feel a centre of their small group.

Time moved on the devotees one by one left and all one has is distant memories of the finest association on occasion I hear or read an update and remain inspired by how fixed and determined they remain in spreading Krishna Consciousness.

Slowly but surely being introduced to each festival each overwhelming in their unique way, and an expectation of excitement whilst lining up for prasadam listening to the sweet interactions of the devotee’s around.

Prasadam was indeed the first big attraction indeed Prasadam makes each festival unique and awe inspiring each one unique and shows the loving devotion to detail.

However for me prasadam has changed it gives me:
The opportunity to give association when running programs and to get to really know individuals in a relaxed manor
The opportunity to take association from inspirational devotees, from wiser senior devotees are to sit quietly and listen to the many and varied discussion’s

Recently however I’ve been in places were due to commitments work has required me to leave early the festival, or no prasadam was offered, disappointing? Well NO! For being in a position were I get very little association my appreciation of association of devotees has increased, for this small association keeps me grounded and focused in my own devotional life.

Yes realistically you can’t have one without the other
But for me the association of devotees in more valuable as time passes on.

But as always I end with the same tired and somewhat provocative answer for some what’s your thoughts?

As always I would love to hear and read them.
Humbly
Me

In celebration of Shri Krishna’s birthday, ISKCON Moscow has organized a beautiful and spiritually deep cultural show in the prestigious Concert Hall “Russia” in Luzhniki, Moscow. Fabulous were not only the performances, which included singing, dancing, and theatrical acts of Krishna lilas and Vedic philosophy, but also the sound and the scene illumination.

The post August 28th, 2014 – Darshan appeared first on Mayapur.com.

“Unless one is initiated by a bona fide spiritual master, all his devotional activities are useless. A person who is not properly initiated can descend again into the animal species.”

The post Anuj Verma, uninitiated but chanting and servings wants clarification on this appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

If You Are Too Foolish to Worship Rādhā… by Bhaktivinode Ṭhākur

rādha-bhajane jadi mati nāhi bhelā
If you are too foolish to worship Rādhā…
kṛṣṇa-bhajana tava akāraṇa gelā
Your worship of Krishna will be fruitless!

ātapa-rohita sūraya nāhi jāni
Can anyone see the Sun, without seeing his blazing light?
rādhā-virahita mādhava nāhi māni
Can anyone hope to meet Mādhava without Rādhā?

kevala mādhava pūjaye so ajñānī
He who worships Mādhava alone is a fool!
rādhā anādara koro-i abhimānī
He who disregards Rādhā is too proud!

kabańhi nāhi korobi tāńkor sańga
Never become close with such people,
citte icchasi jadi braja-rasa-rańga
If your heart desires the delightful mellows of Vṛndāvana.

rādhikā-dāsī jadi hoy abhimān
If you consider yourself Rādhikā’s maidservant…
śīghra-i mila-i taba gokula-kān
You will soon meet the one who delights Gokula.

brahmā, śiva, nārada, śruti, nārāyanī
Brahmā, Śiva, Nārada, the Vedas, and Lakṣmī…
rādhikā-pada-raja pūjaye māni’
Consider even the dust from Rādhikā’s feet worthy of worship.

umā, ramā, satyā, śacī, candrā, rukminī
The Apsāras Umā & Ramā; Goddesses Satyā, Śacī,
and even Candrāvalī and Rukminī…
rādha-avatāra sabe — āmnāya-vānī
…are all avatāra of Rādhā — the wise conclude.

heno rādhā-paricaryā jāńkara dhan
To be of service to this Rādhā is the only goal I cherish.
bhakativinoda tā’r māgaye caraṇ
Bhaktivinoda therefore begs for her feet.

The event was first launched by ISKCON’s Governing Body Commission in 1996 as a one-day celebration to commemorate 100 years since ISKCON Founder Srila Prabhupada’s birth. It was lengthened to a week-long event in 2008, and has been held every year since. Scheduled for September 5^th through 15^th this year, WHNW will be packed with sacred Vaishnava holidays.

The End Begins Janmashtmi 2013

This year ISKCON Atlanta hosted its first ever summer camp, “Atlanta Krishna Camp,” attended by 16 enthusiastic children. The week long camp was from July 20^th – 27^th and was held on the temple premises.

New Vrindaban’s Transcendental Throwback Thursday – 08/28/14.

Each week we highlight an earlier era of ISKCON New Vrindaban.

This week’s challenge: In addition to Srila Prabhupada, there are at least seventeen recognizable faces in this photo. How many can you identify?

Extra credit: What’s the cow’s name and do you know the special relationship between Srila Prabhupada and the cow?

Extra, extra credit: When and where was this photo taken?

What to do: Post your guesses on the “who, what, when, where & why” in the comment section at the New Vrindaban Facebook Page.

Technical stuff: We share a photo Thursday and confirm known details Sunday. Let’s keep it light and have a bit of fun!

Special request: If you have a photo showing New Vrindaban devotees in action, share it with us and we’ll use it in a future posting.

Seventeen hundred people flooded into ISKCON Italy’s Villaggio Hare Krishna on the outskirts of Milan to celebrate Krishna’s birthday, and to catch their first glimpse of the stunning new painted ceiling of the community’s Radha-Ramana temple. The one-hundred square meter (1,076 sq ft) oil painting is divided into two distinct sections, one depicting Sri Chaitanya’s pastimes, the other Lord Krishna’s.  

Good advice is easy to give but hard to take. As soon as we’re offered those words of wisdom, the defence systems kick in and the mind reels off a thousand justifications.

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 07 July 2014, Serbia, Summer Camp, Caitanya Candramrta Seminar Part 1)

Sri Caitanya-candramrta by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati

Chapter 1, Verse 7

“What benefit did the world attain when Lord Rama, Lord Nrsimha and many other incarnations of Godhead killed so many raksasas and daitya demons? How important is it that Lord Kapila and other incarnations revealed the paths of sankhya and yoga? How glorious is it that Lord Brahma and other guna-avataras create, maintain and destroy the material universes? How auspicious is it that Lord Varaha lifted the earth from the Garbhodaka Ocean? We do not consider any of these activities to be very important. The most important thing is that Lord Caitanya has revealed the great splendor of pure love of Krsna. Let us glorify that Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu!” 

Whenever we read this verse for an Indian audience, they are shocked! This sounds practically like a blasphemy. What benefit did the world attain when Lord Rama killed so many raksasas? What benefit!? So many raksasas he killed in the forest of Dandakaranya – in a single fight, he killed 14 000 raksasas! Then, he wiped out practically the major raksasas, man eaters, of Lanka. The point here is that killing of the raksasas certainly has made this world a better place even for pious souls, who would then get a chance to continue with pious activities, such as yajnas and sacrifices to the Supreme Lord Sri Visnu. In this way, they became free from the entangling nature of samsara, birth and death. All this became possible through the gift given by Lord Ramachandra, by him killing these raksasas – he actually gave facility for yajna to carry on. But what is the point of such yajna if it is not aimed at pure, unalloyed love for Krsna, such as that which is found in the residents of Vrindavan?

When Akrura had taken Krsna to Mathura, at that time, Krsna killed Kamsa and he was ready to return to Vrindavan. Still, he did not go. Why did Krsna not go? He wanted to but the Yadus said, ‘No! You cannot go, you have to stay because now that Kamsa is killed, so many of his allies will come to attack Mathura! And who will protect us?! Ugrasena is old, he cannot do it. So you have to stay!’

But Krsna said, ‘Sorry, I have to get back to Vrindavan – I am going home!’ Then again the Yadus said, ‘No, no. There was a heavenly voice who said that the eight son of Vasudev and Devaki would kill Kamsa. And who killed Kamsa? That is the proof that you are the son of Vasudev and Devaki! Then it is your duty to stay here and protect your parents!’

Krsna was really thinking about that one, ‘This is too much, too much!’ But how can you argue against such celestial voices, akash vani, that never speaks a lie? So what to do now!? Thus Krsna was forced to stay in Mathura. After some time, he decided to send Uddhava as a messenger to Vrindavan with instructions and many gifts. When the residents of Vrindavan received these gifts from Krsna, they were very upset, ‘Now he thinks that we want such things? He thinks that we can be satisfied, that we can be purchased by some gifts?! By some mundane opulence!?’ The residents of Vrindavan did not want anything other than Krsna. Nothing else would do.

Where is such kind of bhakti to be found? Lord Ramachandra did not give that unalloyed bhakti and none of the other incarnations also; not Lord Nrsimhadev either! Lord Kapila certainly explained the path of sankhya and yoga and with that, the path to liberation from material existence but not the path of pure unalloyed love. Somehow or other, amazingly so – it has reached us! We know about it! Even in India, some of the most pious of the pious do not know.

But somehow, we got the knowledge of that unalloyed devotional service of the associates of Krsna in Vrindavan. Not that we are in any way like them, oh no, far from that! We are still impious, still irreligious, still not committed at all to service…

But in spite of all that, we have the knowledge and that cannot be taken away, that is not so easily forgotten. Once the eyes are opened - om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya - it is not easy to close them again – that is our predicament! So, we can see how we have actually received the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and knowledge of the topmost. Although we are not yet qualified nor willing to dedicate ourselves to the topmost, still we are attracted to it and it is hard to leave it, so this is why we are still here, somehow or other.