Prabhupada Letters :: Anthology 2014-08-14 02:00:00 →
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 09 May 2014, Bhaktivedanta Manor, England, Srimad-Bhagavatam 8.23.36)
In the Nectar of Devotion, we have a description of Kamsa’s moment of doubt. I like it! Kamsa sits on his throne in Mathura, in his ultimate mood of demoniac nature, and he is thinking, “Hah, what can Krsna do to me? Nothing! I have powerful malice. So many. I mean Keshi, you know Keshi, the ultimate personification of power. What is this Krsna going to do to me?”
Just then, the messenger runs into the court, “Your majesty, your majesty, your majesty. Tragic news!”
Kamsa, “WHAT?”
“Your majesty… Keshi!”
Kamsa, “Noooo, not Keshi!”
“Your majesty, Keshi is no more.”
Kamsa, “No, he (Krsna) is too powerful, he is inconceivable! How is it possible? Maybe, maybe I should just surrender unto him? But what would people say, imagine me, Kamsa! No, I could not do that! Maybe then I should just go to Vrindavan and inflict pain on the residents. But how can I go when I’m too afraid to leave the palace because of Krsna.”
Isn’t it nice that even Kamsa, for a moment, was thinking, “Maybe I should just surrender!” Just see, that gives us hope. If that can come up in Kamsa’s head and heart then anybody has a chance. That is nice. Even the demons are touched by Krsna. Krsna is Bhagavan.
As we have entered into August the weather has been anything but typical. The abundant rain has allowed us to use almost no irrigation. But the lack of sunshine, cold temperatures, and constantly wet plants has caused devastation to our crop of tomatoes. Late blight has struck nearly all of the 600 tomato plants in the Garden of Seven Gates. Next year we will move the crop, use all new supports, and increase the potassium in the early season. For more information about late blight check out this link. http://www.longislandhort.cornell.edu/vegpath/photos/lateblight_tomato.htm. On a very positive note we have been doing tons of flowers and vegetable harvesting. We are currently picking: tomatoes, peppers, swiss chard, kale, green beans, basil, mint, beets, radishes, cucumbers, dill, watermelons, lettuce, bittermelon, raspberries, and much more. Within the next few weeks we will be harvesting squash, sweet potatoes, soy beans, amaranth, sunflower seeds, and pole beans. Flowers have been thriving and we have a beautiful abundance and great variety. Each day flowers are picked for the deities and for the Pushpa Abhishek festival we were able to pick 154 gallons of marigolds.
The rain has been great for germinating new seedlings. This week we started fall seedlings: cabbage, beets, kale, spinach, kohlrabi, and peas. We are also starting to plant cover crops. One of the fields that has been resting to increase soil fertility first had a crop of buckwheat and has now been planted with daikon radishes. With 1 acre we will have unlimited greens and radishes and what we don’t use will be used as a ground breaking compost.
The most exciting improvement in the Garden of Seven Gates has been the reconstruction of two former greenhouses. We are building a hot house (heated green house) for both our spring and fall seedlings. We are also building two high tunnel greenhouses one for year round greens and the other for season extending flowers. The three greenhouses are located within the gates of the Garden of Seven Gates. As we enter into the late summer we will continue to plant and harvest while plans for next years gardens are already being drawn out. Happy Harvesting!
The exaggerations in the karmakanda section of the Vedas appeal to ambitious materialists. Concessions to selfishness are absent from the scriptural presentation of the method of chanting the holy name in pure devotion. The scriptures frankly declare that the results of the karmakanda process are merely transient sensual enjoyments, whereas the results of chanting the holy name and engaging in Krsna's service are eternal and permanent. Read more ›
This is where the kids want to be and where the parents want their kids to be.
Its not a theme park, there certainly are no merry-go-rounds but there's a guarantee that all children will enjoy this experience. The volunteers in Krishna-land are individually CRB checked and cleared. So guests can trust their children are safe!
The attractions for the little ones and the young at heart include stage performances, puppet shows, a treasure hunt, arts and crafts for the creative, face painting, a bouncy castle and the opportunity to engage in yoga. If that's not enough, children are given the opportunity to swing the beautiful Radha and Krishna dolls and if children missed the famous Rathayatra festival, they can see and play with Their Lordships Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra dolls. Read more ›
I am Anandradhe devi dasi, an insignificant servant in Srila Prabhupadas mission.
Our dear Srila Prabhupada has written many nectarian poems.
H.H.Jayapataka Swami has given us 27 verses in the book Vrindavane Bhajane of which we have attempted only 10 extracts. Read more ›
Aerial footage with the help of a drone. Read more › Last month, New Vrindaban cowherd: Ray built an outdoor facility for resident bull, Dharma. The previous facility proved to not be strong enough to contain Dharma as he had a history of break outs which have led to the impending welcoming of at least 5 new calves in the months to come. With the new outdoor facility Dharma will be able to sunbathe as often as he likes as opposed to being confined to his pen inside the big barn.
Currently an addition is being added to the milking barn in order to provide a roomier loafing area for the milking cows & a nicer feeding isle set up. Vyasanana Prabhu (one of New Vrindaban’s expert carpenters) and Rafael (now known as Radhanatha Prabhu) as his assistant, have been diligently working on this project. The extension on the barn will allow the yard to stay drier (from the snow/rain) & provide the cows with an outdoor resting area that is separate from where they eat. These improvements will hopefully facilitate the cows staying as clean as possible in anticipation of the pilgrims braving the frigid winter weather to get their darshan.
Come by any day of the week at milking time (7am or 6pm) to see the updated facilities, as well as, Caitanya Bhagavat & crew’s freshly painted red fence surrounding the milking cows pasturing grounds.
"The idea of an organized church in an intelligible form indeed marks the close of the living spiritual movement. The great ecclesiastical establishments are the dykes and the dams to retain the current that cannot be held by any such contrivances. They, indeed, indicate a desire on the part of the masses to exploit a spiritual movement for their own purpose. They also unmistakably indicate the end of the absolute and unconventional guidance of the bona fide spiritual master.
Bhaktivedanta Manor’s spectacular Janmashtami festival is expected to attract over 70,000 pilgrims to celebrate the birth of Lord Krishna on earth 5000 years ago. The festival will demonstrate the spiritual variety of India’s ancient Vedic culture in all its glory.
On arrival, visitors will walk through the newly completed ‘New Gokul’ complex, Europe’s largest cow protection project, as they make their way to the colourful festival site. At the site, the main marquee will stage cultural dances and musical extravaganzas. Over 50,000 pilgrims will also eagerly queue in anticipation to greet Sri Sri Radha Gokulananda, the temple Deities, in the Manor’s exquisitely decorated shrine. Even the queue itself will be a spiritual experience, as it makes its way along a flowered walk-way around the Manor’s lake, with pilgrims admiring the illuminated displays of Krishna’s pastimes. Read more ›
The Gurukuli children in Nigeria (Nanda Gram) did their painting competition in the Temple last Sunday, 10th August 2014. The competition was part of the Janmasthami celebrations coming up on the 17th of this month. Children painted Krishna; mother Yasoda, Nrishimadeva, Balaram, Devaki and Vasudeva. Winners of the competition will be announced on Janmasthami day and prizes will be given to them. Meanwhile, serious rehearsals and trainings is going on at the temple, ranging from Drama, Music, Bhajans, Gita recitations, Rasa dance, Fancy dress competitions and others to make this year’s Janmasthami a memorable one. The Temple President, His Grace Nataraja Das, has assured Devotees that, he has reached out to the prominent media practitioners both electronic and print media houses to inform and enlighten the public about the event. The Nanda Gram Temple has also taken a new look as serious work is ongoing to mark the event. Read more ›
In the chanting of the holy name of the Lord, capriciousness, cheating and exaggeration are shunned. For instance, when a devotee inspires someone to chant, he does so without self interested motives. He engages another in Krsna's service only for the pleasure of Krsna. Though attractive material results of chanting the holy name may be mentioned in some scriptures, a pure devotee pays no heed to them, for he is beyond material desire. Read more ›
Indradyumna Swami: Today in Pobierowo we battled with the rain. But people came despite the back weather.That's how attractive Lord Krsna is! Near the end of the festival the sky cleared and a big crowd of people arrived. [ Photos by Kalasamvara dasa ] Read more › 11 August ’14 Sringar Darshan at ISKCON Juhu, Sri Sri Radha Rasabihariji Temple
“You say ‘they mistake.’ Who are they? You say, ‘you do mistake’ don’t say ‘they.’ This is bureaucracy, ‘they.’ You are all ‘they.’ (conversation in ‘76 in Hyderabad).
- Srila Prabhupada
His grace Madhudvisa prabhu was a great inspiration to the Australian and New Zealand yatras being the GBC and a wonderful leader from the early to mid 70s.