Proof
Sadhu Sanga Retreat 2014
→ Servant of the Servant
I went to this one. I have one word. It was AWESOME!
Hare Krishna
One Must Practice It Seriously
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A wonderful thing!
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 03 April 2014, Cape Town, South Africa, Evening Lecture)
The 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.
Prabhupada Letters :: Anthology 2014-06-07 17:58:00 →
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968
Prabhupada Letters :: Anthology 2014-06-07 17:56:00 →
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968
Prabhupada Letters :: Anthology 2014-06-07 17:47:00 →
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969
Prabhupada Letters :: Anthology 2014-06-07 17:46:00 →
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969
Prabhupada Letters :: Anthology 2014-06-07 17:44:00 →
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969
Prabhupada Letters :: Anthology 2014-06-07 17:21:00 →
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971
Prabhupada Letters :: Anthology 2014-06-07 17:17:00 →
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974
Prabhupada Letters :: Anthology 2014-06-07 17:15:00 →
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974
The First 50th
→ NY Times & Bhagavad Gita Sanga/ Sankirtana Das
Huge Rathayatra at Brisbane 07 June 2014 (Album 266 photos)
→ Dandavats.com
Harinama in Geneva – S.Prabhupada Jubilee 2014 (Album 63 photos)
→ Dandavats.com
Radhakunda Seva: May 2014 Photos and Updates (Album 18 photos)
→ Dandavats.com
Krsnapriya, Anasuya, Gopibhava, Vaidarbi and Ananda Vrndava dds ask about
→ SivaramaSwami.com
The end of the world, whether women are weakened by sex, people criticizing guru, passing on Krsna’s blessings, and responding to criticism.
The post Krsnapriya, Anasuya, Gopibhava, Vaidarbi and Ananda Vrndava dds ask about appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.
Long-time New Vrindaban Resident achieves Finalist for an Indie Book Award
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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
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.
Humility, not intellect, is the qualification for spiritual knowledge
→ The Spiritual Scientist
Krsna gives his mercy when a jiva shows humility born of association with devotees. This is his qualification for spiritual matters. It is impossible to gain spiritual knowledge by material intellect.
Chaitanya Shikshamrita, Bhaktivinoda Thakura
ISKCON Kolkata Darshan Arti 2nd June 2014
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ISKCON Kolkata Darshan Arti 2nd June 2014
Mahabharata Characters 19 – Vidura 01 – A true friend, affectionate but not attached
→ The Spiritual Scientist
This talk is a part of the "Fascinating Mahabharata Characters" series. To know more about this course, please visit: bhakticourses.com
Please Join The Japa Group
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Tuesday, June 3rd, 2014
→ The Walking Monk
Of the Day
Images of the day.
· Loons on the lake at Norbury
· Ravens encircle the sky while I attempt napping on a gravel mound.
· Lumber trucks haul just that – lumber.
· Pickup trucks whiz by.
· Coal miners speed to work. So do those to the trout hatcheries.
· Nice to me were the road construction crew on the Wardner Steele Road.
· Beef cattle graze, a calf is milking.
· Deer stare at me from behind a bush.
· Fir, pine, spruce, cottonwood trees stand proudly.
· The alternative route is peaceful, a change.
· An old man stopped, wondered what I was about. He grabbed for his teeth so he could talk.
· Two bikers, Jake and Sigrid, stopped too. Theirs was a journey, a journey towards looking. Maybe they will find. Happy to meet them.
· Today was a treat right to the last minute.
· Legs and feet – sore.
· The road was more steep than usual.
· More angles work more muscles.
· A swim at Norbury Lake. Awesome and great.
· Relaxing with Karuna’s massage. Much needed, much.
· Many mantras I say today on top of everything else.
Thank you, Paul and Sarah, for putting us up for the night.
May the Source be with you!
36 KM
Monday, June 2nd, 2014
→ The Walking Monk
Pulling Over
A man pulled over as I was walking on the Crowsnest Pass. He just came from his nightshift work and asked, “Can I give you a ride?”
Quite routine, as far as my reply is concerned, but with some heart, I mentioned that I can’t accept a lift because my project doesn’t call for that. I handed him my card with my name and short bio. On the reverse side is the fully spelled out maha mantra beginning with “Hare Krishna”. I qualified my role as a monastic person with a portfolio as a walker, a pilgrim, and how I wanted to see more people take care of their physical and spiritual selves.
The man wanted to know where I stay at night, and I let him know that I tent-it-out with a small support team. He was compelled to reach into his pocket and pull out a twenty dollar donation. This, I very much appreciated, and let him know that putting energy into this healing-the-heart while-hurting-the-heels is a worthy project.
It was a rather brief exchange and wonderful. This kind soul took the opportunity to be of service to others.
In the afternoon I met another man who pulled over, but it was obvious from his questions and gestures that his intentions were not very sattvic or clean. I relayed to Michael the story and Michael who had also trekked the country mentioned that he had also met those types while on the journey.
In a more compassionate moment, I managed to pull out a thought in wishing the man well after the incident, and I hoped that he would seek the opportunity for higher tastes in life, namely, the spiritual component. I chose to reflect on the image that I saw between the exchanges of the two pulling-over people. I had watched a herd of elk cross the river in the valley. That was awesome, God’s mercy. It left me sleeping with good thoughts.
May the Source be with you!
35 KM
Birthday blues
→ KKSBlog
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 29 April 2014, Radhadesh, Belgium, Srimad Bhagavatam 6.4.49-50)
In India, in village life, some people grow up very simple. When you ask them, “How old are you?” they do not know…
Some people do not know their birthday.
“How old are you?”
“25, 26.”
“Are you 25 or are you 26? What is it?”
“25, 26.”
“What do you mean? When is your birthday?”
Silent. No answer. “Date of birth please?”
They do not know. They do not know. They do not know the date, they do not know the year. Can you imagine when you were a child and there was never, “Happy birthday…” (singing)
No “happy birthday” for them. Only Janmastami! (laughing) They never miss Janmastami. We, how many Janmastami’s have we missed but we never miss our own birthday. But they miss their own birthday and not Janmastami. So, they grow up in a totally different way; not so self-centred and not so much ego.
A lot of ego in us and then everything really becomes more important. The more ego you have, the more when somebody sneezes next to you, you go, “Aah, gosh.” It is like this. So we have a lot of ego, especially from the so-called “first world”, then you know, you have a first world passport and it makes the head a little bigger.
Do Not Compromise, June 1, Baltimore, Maryland
Giriraj Swami
“I looked at our friend with an expression that asked, ‘What is happening here?’ He looked me straight in the eyes and said, ‘I am a devotee of Krishna, and all my family members are devotees of Krishna. My family has worshiped Lord Krishna for many generations. Actually, I was just testing you. And you did not compromise. So I am very pleased, and I will be honored to become your life member.’
“We went back to his office, I took out the forms, he took out his checkbook, and he paid the whole amount in one installment and became a life member.
“Then I was really confused. I started thinking, ‘Well, maybe I haven’t been doing the wrong thing after all’—but I still wasn’t quite sure.
“When I got back to the room where I was staying, there was a letter from Srila Prabhupada. Receiving a letter from Srila Prabhupada was always a great occasion. When I opened the letter, the words practically jumped out of the page: ‘The fact is that I am the only one in India who is openly criticizing, not only impersonalism and demigod worship, but everything that falls short of complete surrender to Krishna.’ Prabhupada’s words continued: ‘My guru maharaja never compromised in his preaching, nor will I, nor should any of my students. We are firmly convinced that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and that all others are His part and parcel servants. This we must declare boldly to the whole world, that they should not foolishly dream of world peace unless they are prepared to surrender fully to Krishna as Supreme Lord.’
“So I got my answer from Prabhupada.
“That was Srila Prabhupada’s mood—his guru maharaja’s mood and his mood—and that was the mood he wanted us to have. We don’t compromise in our philosophy.”
Join us for Sunday Feast from 11.00am-2.00pm to hear from His Grace Ananda Caitanya Dasa.
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09 June 2014 – Pandava Nirjala Ekadashi
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Second Gen Devotees Give Manhattan a “Taste of Bhakti”
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While the Bhakti Center has had a restaurant on and off for the past seven years, Taste of Bhakti is a fresh new start spearheaded by ISKCON’s second generation and other young devotees. Taste of Bhakti’s home, at 25 1st avenue, is in the midst of Manhattan’s East Village, a hipster spot populated by vegan restaurants and organic juice bars.