Lord Balarama: The Supreme servant
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami)

KB_vrindavan_3August2014Balarama is the elder brother of Krsna and also the direct expansion of Krsna. He is non-different from Krsna; in fact, the same Supreme Personality of Godhead, Balarama and Krsna, appear in two forms but in these two forms they have different moods.

Krsna is the supreme enjoyer, Krsna is the one to whom all sacrifices are being offered to, Krsna is the controller of all the planetary systems… In this way, Krsna is always the Supreme Lord.

But Balarama is the Lord in a mood of a servant. He is the Supreme servant. He is always serving Krsna and it is said that Balarama experiences the greatest pleasure, even greater than Krsna because in service there is greater pleasure than in taking…

 

Harinama in Byron Bay, Australia (Album 30 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

Byron Bay is a beachside town located in the far-northeastern corner of the state of New South Wales, Australia. Even if one distributes ten million cows in charity during an eclipse of the sun, lives at the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna for millions of years, or gives a mountain of gold in sacrifice to the brahmanas, he does not earn even one hundredth part of the merit derived from chanting Hare Krishna. Read more ›

Madhudvisa Prabhu
→ travelingmonk.com

Today ISKCON lost Madhudvisa prabhu, an iconic figure in the pioneering history of spreading Krsna consciousness around the world. Srila Prabhupada once described him as the, “Emperor of Kirtan.” When Srila Prabhupada himself was departing this world he said, “bring my son Madhudvisa here.” He was a powerful general in Lord Caitanya’s samkirtan movement, while [...]

Reflections on Polish Woodstock – By Acyuta Gopi dasi
→ Dandavats.com

Bada Hari sings and they go wild. And at one point I just looked up and out into the crowd. A veritable sea of people. And I said a prayer in awe of how attractive Sri Nama Prabhu is because there is no logical reason that these people, with their purple hair and their rock and roll t shirts, their crazy costumes and covered with tattoos should love Bada Hari. Lol. He's an older gentleman, he doesn't have any crazy hair, he doesn't look particularly cool by material standards. He's not screaming or anything. No tattoos. He’s not singing songs about drugs, sex or rock and roll. Just singing the best old school ISKCON melodies from the heart and they are shouting the holy name back to him and all of us on stage with all their soul. Just goes to show that when you do kirtan with a sincere heart, it doesn't matter what you look like, what you sound like, or even what melody you choose. Read more ›

New Vrindaban’s Transcendental Throwback Thursday – 08/07/14
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

New Vrindaban Throwback Thursday

New Vrindaban’s Transcendental Throwback Thursday – 08/07/14.

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

Though there are at least half a dozen people in this photo, none are easily recognizable. Still, it chronicles a dynamic time in the history and evolution of New Vrindaban.

This week’s challenge: The “where” will be obvious to many. Can you identify “when” this was taken?

What to do: Post your guesses on the “who, what, when, where & why” in the comment section at the Brijabasi Spirit Website.

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.

ISKCON New Vrindaban Logo

Couple’s Retreat Aims For Healthy Marriages, Strong ISKCON
→ ISKCON News

Healthy marriages, happy families, strong ISKCON. “The larger society is a microcosm of the family unit,” says Grihatha Vision Team member Krishnanandini Dasi. “So if our family units are healthy, vibrant, dynamic and enthusiastic, our ISKCON society will be too.” The GVT are doing their bit towards this aim with their second annual Couple’s Retreat from September 12th to 14th this year.

Utter And Hear The Name Distinctly
→ Japa Group

"The devotee should make it a regular practice to spend a little time alone in a quiet place and concentrate deeply on the holy name. He should utter and hear the name distinctly. It is impossible for the jiva to singlehandedly avoid and overcome the illusion of distraction. By the mercy of the Lord, however, this is accomplished with ease. Therefore it is essential to prayerfully beg for the Lord's grace with great humility, for this is the only means to salvation from this offense."

From Harinama Cintamani
by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur

Prabhupada Disciple Madhudvisa Das Passes Away
→ ISKCON News

On August 5th, 2014, one of Srila Prabhupada's earliest disciples, Madhudvisa Das, passed away at the age of 67. He took his initiations in 1968; the first in San Francisco, and the second in Los Angeles. Srila Prabhupada once described him as the "Emperor of Kirtan." When Srila Prabhupada himself was departing this world he said, "bring my son Madhuvisa here."

Madhudvisa Prabhu: A Letter in Separation
Giriraj Swami

Madhudvisa-Prabhu-at-LA-Ratha-yatra-cropMy dear Madhudvisa Prabhu,

I am feeling your separation so much right now. My mind is flooded with memories of our service to Srila Prabhupada together, not the least of which was our meeting in the last months and remembering his glorious qualities and activities.

All the circumstances surrounding your departure were auspicious. As was your desire, you lived through Ratha-yatra in Los Angeles and sang before all three carts. Then, just two days later, while your caregiver chanted Hare Krishna by your side, you departed—with a smile on your face. You were a great pioneer and champion of Ratha-yatra. During last year’s procession we discussed the importance of following Srila Prabhupada’s instructions in regard to Ratha-yatras, and in our last meeting in your room at New Dvaraka, six weeks ago, you told me how Srila Prabhupada sent you from Juhu to Australia and you introduced Ratha-yatra there:

“I thought, ‘Australia sounds like a pretty good place.’ So I went down there, and it was great. Immediately I decided that we had to have a Ratha-yatra. One leader said, ‘No, no. We’ve got all these books. We have to sell these books. We have a whole warehouse of books here.’ But I said, ‘Yes, we will sell all those books—don’t worry. We’ll hold a Ratha-yatra and we’ll make devotees and all these devotees will sell all the books we can get.’

“Then I said, ‘We are going to make the whole country into one temple. The whole country is going to cooperate, and we’re going to have this Ratha-yatra, and then we are going to sell books.’

“So we started organizing a Ratha-yatra. ‘You need money for Ratha-yatra,’ I told the devotees, ‘a lot of money. We’ll collect a lot of money and use it for building the Ratha-yatra cart and for publicity and for everything like that.’ So we started collecting money like crazy.

“We built a big, beautiful Ratha-yatra cart, and meanwhile we were saving money, too, because we were looking for a temple. They didn’t have any temples down there—just two small centers—and we needed a big temple, a big establishment. ‘But we can’t afford two,’ I realized. ‘We can get one, so let’s get one.’ So I started collecting money for a temple. I didn’t care if it was in Sydney or Melbourne; they were equally good. But we decided to have the Ratha-yatra in Melbourne. So, we collected money and built a Ratha cart. Melbourne was, and still is, an intellectual kind of place, with several universities. And there is a lot of interest in Krishna consciousness—they embrace Krishna consciousness.

“Anyway, Prabhupada decided for me to go to Australia—that it would be a good idea—so I went, and that was great.”

When you left Juhu, it was a loss for us. But I can see, in retrospect, that you went on to do even bigger and better things in Australia.

Now I am deeply lamenting your loss, but I know that you have gone to do greater service. And I hope that just as we met in New Dvaraka, after your serving in Australia and my serving in Bombay, and were reunited in service to Srila Prabhupada and the holy name, we will be reunited again, in service to Srila Prabhupada and sankirtana, and that again, as brothers, we will relish devotional service under Srila Prabhupada’s guidance and shelter.

In separation,

Your eternal servant,

Giriraj Swami

Need a shortcut?
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 14 September 2013, Durban, South Coast Hall Program, Class “Living in truth”)

srimad-bhagavatamIn one verse, the whole message of Srimad Bhagavatam is summarized. So, I am saving you from the trouble because the Bhagavatam is 18 000 verses long. So you pay attention, just for one moment, to catch this one. This is a shortcut to 18 000 verses. So that helps. It has been identified like that: as the one verse that sheds light to all the other verses – paribhasa-sutra – in a condensed form.

ete cāḿśa-kalāḥ puḿsaḥ
kṛṣṇas tu bhagavān svayam
indrāri-vyākulaḿ lokaḿ
mṛḍayanti yuge yuge (Srimad Bhagavatam 1.3.28)

 

“I appear again and again, millennium after millennium, in so many forms, as so many avatars, but in this form of Krsna I am bhagavan svayam. I am – svayam – the Supreme Lord Himself – the Original Supreme Personality of Godhead, from whom everything emanates, who is the origin of all other forms and the origin of everything that exists. That original personality am I – Sri Krsna.”

That is the essence of Srimad Bhagavatam; the conclusion of all the 18000 verses.

On Love
→ Seed of Devotion

For the past 8 months or so, I have been in a relationship with a wonderful man by the name of Ghanashyam. He has met my parents and sister, and I've met his parents, siblings, and extended family in the US. The other day, he told me that his grandparents wanted to meet me.

So we hopped on a train to go meet them in New Jersey.

Ghanashyam's grandparents have been married for 69 years.

Sixty-nine years.

I don't think I have ever met anyone who has been married for 69 years. 

Sometimes when people say that "we'll be married forever" it almost seems like too long. I can't wrap my brain around forever.

But I can wrap my brain around 69 years because I witnessed it the other day. I witnessed two people at the age of 91 who have love, respect, and affection for each other.

I asked Ghanashyam's grandma the secret for such a long, healthy marriage. She replied, "Patience. Lots of patience." I wonder what this means because it can mean so many things. I'll stay in this question. 

I asked Ghanashyam's grandpa the secret for such a long, healthy marriage. He replied, "We like each other."

I found that profound. These two people simply like each other. They like each other's company, each other's sense of humor, each other's rhythms. Loving someone can be a little fickle, but liking someone seems to be a steady truth. 

I walked away from our lovely afternoon quite pensive. One day the grandfather or grandmother will pass away. It's hard to imagine being married for 69 years, but it's harder to imagine being married for 69 years and then one day that person is gone. So many journeys, so many lessons of love - so much so that the souls seemed to have intertwined. 

Then bam, gone. 

I feel a cavernous hole in my chest just to think about it. 

I resolve that along with cultivating my relationship with my partner in life I want to cultivate my relationship with God, with Krishna. Allow the three of us to intertwine. We'll be patient with each other. We'll like each other. We'll love each other. 

Then whether my partner and I are married for 69 years or 69 hours before death comes for one or both of us, there is no cavernous hole of sorrow but an overflowing cup of joy. I pray that we may be carried beyond these material bodies by the Lord to a place where love never ends. 
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what is shanti or peace?
→ Servant of the Servant

God is great, and we are most insignificant servant of God. Our business is to give service to God. When you come to this stage, then there will be shanti. Otherwise there is no possibility of shanti....He knows, "Krsna is there. Whatever I need, He will supply." And Krsna said, yoga-ksemam vahamy aham, tesam nityabhiyuktanam: [Bg. 9.22] "Those who are constantly engaged in My service, I take care how to supply their necessities of life." Then why shall I disbelieve Krishna if I am Krishna conscious? Let me do my duty as servant of Krishna, and whatever necessities are required, He will arrange for them. If you become confident about this thing and completely engage yourself in Krishna consciousness, that is the stage of shanta

- Srila Prabhupada, Dec 30 1974