Radha Nagar Kirtan Program
→ Mayapur.com

By the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada, Mayapur Local Preaching received another invitation for ‘kirtan mela’ program at Krishnanagar, Radha Nagar Natun Baroary on 02.06.2014, just after Shaktinagar Kirtan Mela on 28.05.14. They where to have 3 days of continuous programs, ISKCON was the first to inaugurate with auspicious Harinam […]

The post Radha Nagar Kirtan Program appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Video recordings from Czech, May 2014
→ KKSBlog

Kadamba Kanana Swami visited the Czech Republic from 20-25 May 2014. We are grateful to the Czech devotees who not only took pictures and voice recordings but also video recorded all programs that were done by Maharaj. Lectures are given in English followed by translation into the Czech language.

 

KKS_CZ_Prague_21 May 2014_Harinam

KKS_CZ_Govinda_21 May 2014_Kirtan

KKS_CZ_Govinda_21 May 2014_Lecture

KKS_CZ_temple_22 May 2014_SB_4.28.38

KKS_CZ_Govinda_22 May 2014_Kirtan_On_the_hill

KKS_CZ_temple_22 May 2014_BG_7.20

KKS_CZ_temple_23 May 2014_SB_4.28.39

KKS_CZ_Prague_23 May 2014_Harinam

KKS_CZ_farm_24 May 2014_SB_8.15.29

KKS_CZ_farm_24 May 2014_Kirtan

KKS_CZ_Harinam Mandir_24 May 2014_Kirtan

KKS_CZ_Harinam Mandir_24 May 2014_Lecture

KKS_CZ_temple_25 May 2014_SB_4.28.41

 

 

 

How Maya can refer to both Krishna’s energy in general and to his inferior energy in specifice
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Krsna  has  one  great   energy,  which   is  called  maya   in  many   places   in  the scriptures.  Maya  means the  external manifestation of Krsna,  by the  definition "miyate anaya,"  --"that  by  which   things   are  measured". Krsna  cannot   be  understood  except through the  agency  of maya.    Learned men  divide Krsna's  energy  into  the  superior, spiritual energy  (cit sakti)   and  inferior  or material energy  (maya  sakti).   Actually the superior energy  is the  inconceivable energy.  The inferior  energy  is its shadow.      That inferior  energy  is the  controller of the  material universe. The  maya  sakti  which  is condemned in spiritual discussions is this inferior  energy,  not the spiritual energy.

Chaitanya Shikshamrita, Bhaktivinoda Thakura

Srila Prabhupada Designs A Horse Driven Cart For Use At New Vrindaban – May 1969.
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

Srila Prabhupada Designs A Horse Driven Cart For Use At New Vrindaban.

Srila Prabhupada’s First Visit to New Vrindaban – May, 1969.

Excerpt from “The Hare Krishna Explosion.”

Chapter 18 titled: “Paramhansa in the Hills.”

By Hayagriva das.

As the late May days pass—beautiful, lengthening days with brief afternoon thundershowers—Prabhupada gradually builds his community, throwing out ideas, planning, even designing a two-wheel cart for the workhorses.

“With this kind of cart,” he says, showing me a drawing, “you can more readily go up and down the road. It will be easy for the horses to pull.”

Read the rest of the chapter HERE.

Prabhupada Horse Driven Cart Drawing New Vrindaban 1969

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proof
→ Seed of Devotion

On my evening walk, I reveled at every step the poetry and power and perfection of nature. I marveled at the red-brown leaves of the maple tree and how when the sun shone through the leaves the tree seemed to be made of glowing embers. Or a field splashed with the soft white globes of dandelions. The towering castles of clouds in the distance made bright by the evening sun. The air was intoxicating - the fragrance of life. New leaves, flowers, grass, earth... Truly, God is a genius. I bent towards a bush covered in thousands of little white flowers. Each one was so perfect, delicate, exquisite in color and design. The only proof that I  need that God exists is to take a walk down my road. 
Subscribe

A wonderful thing!
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 03 April 2014, Cape Town, South Africa, Evening Lecture)

Panca-tattva_AltarThe Panca Tattva appears in this world because Krsna is in Vrndavan, his eternal abode, performing his transcendental pastimes. Why would Krsna bother with the miseries of the material world? People are praying, “O Lord,  O Lord  please, cure my sneeze! O Lord, O Lord, I’m so bored!” (laughter)

Do you think Krsna is going to deal with that?  Forget it! Would you deal with that? I would not! If I didn’t have to, I wouldn’t! Absolutely not! So why would Krsna, who can do whatever he likes, bother with these things? He doesn’t! He is the Supreme Lord! He is spending his time with the blissful souls. Naturally! I would too. Why would you spend your time with sour grapes? (laughter)

So Krsna is absorbed in his transcendental sweet pastimes in the spiritual world, where life is fun eternally. Then he expands himself. Nityananda means ‘always blissful’. He is a specific mercy incarnation. Nityananda is ready to deal with anyone and everyone at anytime. It does not matter who it is. Nityananda deals with rogues, murderers… He approaches them and is ready to transform them.

Lord Krsna is absorbed in his eternal pleasure pastimes. Then one day, Krsna thinks, ‘For long I have not come into the material world and given love of myself. Wouldn’t that be a really wonderful thing?”

So Krsna descended into the material world, not expanding himself like he does many times. Yes, if we were God, we would not be limited by one form. So he is ananta-rupam – he has unlimited forms and as he likes, he can expand himself. But he chose to come in his own original form and he came in the form of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

 

The First 50th
→ NY Times & Bhagavad Gita Sanga/ Sankirtana Das


Next year marks the 50thanniversary of Prabhupada’s arrival  in the West.  This is the time for devotees to develop  projects as an offering for Srila Prabhupada in 2015. Think about some project that you would like to offer to honor Srila Prabhupada for his selfless and untiring efforts to help humankind. There should be hundreds and even thousands of events and projects manifested in 2015.

 IMHO, as ISKCON makes plans for 2016, equal attention should be paid to 2015 commemorating  Prabhupada’s historic journey to the West.  For 2015 I am planning to develop a power point presentation  to take to colleges, churches and various events to share Prabhupada’s story so that people may know of his remarkable contribution to humankind.

In the public eye, the story of individual effort always trumps the story of an organization.  People can certainly make a more visceral connection with Srila Prabhupada since they would be natural inspired by  his struggle against great odds.  (Look at how the world responded to the story of Nelson Mandela) And now especially as baby boomers head into their senior years (myself included), Prabhupada’s accomplishments will seem even greater.

We have to understand the potency of  STORY as way  of winning the hearts of people. STORY is a valuable tool.  This has been my personal experience as a professional storyteller and workshop leader for over 25 years.

And Prabhupada’s is a remarkable story.  He came with practically nothing save for the three volumes of first canto of Srimad Bhagavatam that he had prepared for the West.  He hitched a ride on a freighter, braved a month long voyage and struggled through a New York winter to present an ancient and venerable teaching to the West. And sociologically speaking, he came at a remarkable time when young people in the West were dissatisfied with materialistic culture and rejected the unprecedented wealth and education available to them.  

For 2015, we can each make some special offering. Imagine the impact of thousands, or tens of thousands of devotees all over the world,  sharing  Prabhupada’s story with the general public. 2015

Please visit www.Mahabharata-Project.comabout my new book. 

Huge Rathayatra at Brisbane 07 June 2014 (Album 266 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

Coming from the New Govardhan farm, Lord Jagannath’s chariot pulled down Elizabeth, Creek and Adelaide Streets. Accompanied by sweet kirtan lead by Sri Prahlad Prabhu, we sung and danced our way to the colourful festival at King George Square. Kirtan, drama, boutiques, kids craft activities, face painting and delicious prasadam cooked by Garuda Prabhu were just some of the attractions enjoyed by all. We had the fortune to have the sanga of HH Vedavyasa Priya Swami, HH Ramai Swami and HH Mukunda Gosvami who graced us with their presence. The last Ratha Yatra in the Brisbane CBD was fifteen years ago when the Rath cart was entered as a float in the Warana Parade. However, this June was the first time that the city council closed down some of the main streets in the city just for Lord Jagannath. Read more ›

Radhakunda Seva: May 2014 Photos and Updates (Album 18 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

We are excited to report that, thanks to your contributions, we will be serving evening meals to the widows of Radha Kunda for at least the next couple of months! During these months, we hope to find a few more generous Radha Kunda Bhaktas to join the endeavor so that it can continue long term. Thank you to those who have given already! Please visit http://radharani.com/evening-meals-for-widows/ to contribute to this cause. The daily cleaning seva continues despite the oppressive heat. We are seeking permission to start the previously described (see the April album) renovations and gardening at Sakhi Kunda. Please browse our latest photos and join our efforts by visiting www.radharani.com. Thank you for your support! Your servants, Mayapurcandra dasa and Campakalata Devi dasi. Read more ›

Long-time New Vrindaban Resident achieves Finalist for an Indie Book Award
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

Sankirtana Das is a disciple of Srila Prabhupada and a 38 year resident of New Vrindaban. He is a sacred storyteller, workshop leader and author of Mahabharata: The Eternal Quest. He was interviewed by Lilasuka Devi Dasi, Communications Director at New Vrindaban on May 11, 2014

mahabharata by sankirtan

Q. Congratulations. So how does it feel that your book was just selected as Finalist for the 2014 Next Generation Indie Book Awards?

A. Well, I have a good, warm feeling about it. On the other hand, I also feel that I didn’t write the book, that somehow, Krishna just let it all fall into place. I’m amazed that all the major elements and personalities of Mahabharata are all there in just 280 pages.

Q. That’s certainly a major feat. Mahabharata is 100,000 slokas. How did you manage to fit it into 280 pages?

A. It took ten years of strategizing on how to piece it all together to make it work. The writing was at times both a joyous and a nerve wracking experience. It’s like a huge puzzle, and every piece had to fit into place. Sometimes I had serious doubts about pulling it off and if it would actually work. I wanted the book to be for college courses, so the text couldn’t be too long. The book is fast-paced. The art of storytelling is to focus on the action and the characters with only minimal description. The idea is to just give enough description to activate the imagination of the reader or listener that they themselves can fill in the scenes. Now that it’s out, the response from scholars and readers has been tremendous.

Q. How did you go about writing the book?

A. I knew bits and pieces of Mahabharata from Prabhupada’s first and tenth canto of Srimad Bhagavatam and from performing scenes from it over the years. But I didn’t know the details of how the whole story unfolded.  I wrote the book, primarily, to get a better understanding of it for myself. So I looked at those chapters from Bhagavatam and also referred to the first complete English translation of Mahabharata written by Mohan Ganguli in 1896.

Q. There have been a number of Mahabharatas in the last few decades. What is the need for another Mahabharata?

A. Several devotees have asked me that. When Lokamangala prabhu and I toured with our two-man drama of Mahabharata, people would sometimes say we should do a movie. That never happened. So my other intention with this book was: what would the Mahabharata look like if I had the chance to make it into a movie. In my rendition of Mahabharata I bring to bear my background in theater, cinema and literature. I wanted to get to the essence of the Mahabharata and offer a very dramatic and cinematic reading experience. A book that is character driven.

Q. I think you’ve accomplished that. Who was your target audience?

A. Mahabharata: The Eternal Quest is meant to help devotees introduce Mahabharata to the public in general, and especially to their college audiences and contacts. I structured Mahabharata to be used in college courses that could easily be studied and enjoyed. Right now many courses are using William Buck’s version.

Q. And what’s the difference between the two?

A. There are many discrepancies in his book. For instance, Yudhuisthira’s Rajasuya sacrifice is totally omitted. It’s a major scene, and so there’s really no motivation for Duryodhan to sink into his profound depression and envy. Buck often departs from the meaning and intention of the original text.

Q. So, what’s the message of your book? You spoke about getting “to the essence.” What do you consider the essence?

A. The essence is Krishna’s intimate relationship with the Pandavas. Also, I wanted to give people a proper understanding of dharma, and to show succinctly that this ancient text is still relevant today. In making Krishna Consciousness available to the public, devotees need to demonstrate its relevancy to today’s issues and concerns. And Srila Prabhupada explains that our philosophy is very relevant on many levels. Mahabharata does all this while telling a fantastic story. It’s for story lovers. So I think my book can be a vital tool.

Q. What advice do you have for writers?

A. Be very organized. It will save you a lot of headaches. I’m speaking from personal experience.

B. When did you begin to think of yourself as a writer?

A. When I was a kid – twelve or thirteen – I was struck by the impact books and movies made on me. I wanted to give that experience to others.

Q. And finally, what projects are you working on?

A. One thing – just promoting Mahabharata takes up a lot of time. And although I have two uncompleted book projects, I want to work on a third which I feel is more important. Also, I plan to do several storytelling CD’s. I’m just about ready with – Brahma’s Song. It’s subtitle is: A Concert of Storytelling, Music and Chants.

Q. And if readers want more info about the book they can go to www.Mahabharata-Project.com Thanks for a great interview.

A. And thank you.