Were Valmiki and Vyasadeva eyewitnesses to the full Ramayana and the Mahabharata? Or did they write them based on some historical sources?
Can different family members take diksha from different spiritual teachers?
→ The Spiritual Scientist
Is it proper for one to neglect one’s family duties to devote oneself to God?
→ The Spiritual Scientist
When the disciplic succession has many branches, why do we need to connect with it only through Srila Prabhupada’s branch?
→ The Spiritual Scientist
New Vrindaban Daily darsan @ March 25, 2014.
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit
When, having cut the chains of feigned affection and, not seeing the slightest trace in my heart of the arrow loved by the learned followers of the Vedic path, will I overcome with excitement, take shelter of Vrndavana?
[Source : Nectarean Glories of Sri Vrindavana-dhama by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati Thakura, 1-98 Translation.]
Recordings from Sydney, March 2014
→ KKSBlog
Kadamba Kanana Swami visited Sydney from 6-13 March. You may read about his visit by clicking here. Audio recordings from the various programs are presented below.
KKS_Sydney_Govinda Valley_7 March 2014_Evening_SB 2.9.34
KKS_Sydney_Govinda Valley_7 March 2014_Evening Kirtan
KKS_Sydney_Hornsby_8 March 2014_Hall Program_BG 13.3
KKS_Sydney_Lecture_9 March 2014_SB 6.16.11
KKS_Sydney_Rouse Hill Program_9 March 2014_Lecture
KKS_Sydney_Sunday Feast Class_9 March 2014_BG 4.39
From India to Australia, 2014
→ KKSBlog
Various factors hindered regular updates of Kadamba Kanana Swami’s travels but we are happy to catch up now. On 5 March, Maharaj left India and travelled down-under to Sydney, Australia. Here is a report written by Smitakrsna dd.
So, in modern times, we have what people call “the buzz words”! We have our favourite words; I don’t know whether I should mention any (laughter); may be not, it gets too touchy. But someone stated that the person who has had the greatest influence on this age was apparently Sigmund Freud – on the surface, it is certainly so. We are living in the age of psychology and now, all the terms that we are using are also psychological, like “sharing”. I was somewhere and there was a whole debate,
“You can’t say preaching, no! It’s not for this age, you don’t say it. It is all sharing now.”
Of course, Srila Prabhupada said “PREACHING’’ and definitely didn’t say “sharing’’ although he was very kindly sharing many things with us…
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, July 2003, Caitanya Chandrodaya Nataka Part 2)
It was with the word “PREACHING” in mind that Kadamba Kanana Swami flew to Australia. First he visited Govinda Valley, a beautiful retreat venue located south of Sydney, where he inspired the resident devotees with his association and Krsna katha.
On Saturday, 8 March, Maharaj then travelled to Sydney Temple where the first program he did was at a hall. In his lecture, he mentioned that even though we were meeting at a hall, we were spending our time glorifying Krsna and that is the way a devotee lives. The audience consisted of many new-comers as well as devotees who came along with their friends; and they had many questions to ask. Maharaj encouraged everyone to walk the path of truth by following the rules and regulations.
On the next day, Maharaj gave the morning Srimad Bhagavatam class at the temple and thereafter left for a programme at the house of a prominent devotee. The highlight of the programme was Maharaj narrating in Hindi the story of a sadhu and a mouse to explain punar mūṣiko bhava, meaning that we become small like a mouse again and again, when pride kicks us. Sunday concluded with more glorification of Krsna at the Sunday Feast lecture at Sydney Temple.
Kadamba Kanana Swami spent Monday in a recording studio with the Bhakti Yogis of Sydney to record his upcoming cd titled “Heart & Soul – 2014”. The cd will be made available digitally on KKS Blog. The writer of this report requests all our readers to keep their ears open for a complete new experience of beats and amazing tracks that were recorded at the Cronulla studio.
It is said that whoever sees or hears the madness of Lord Caitanya uproots the disease of repeated birth and death. While madness for others is a disease, the madness of kirtan of Kadamba Kanana Swami removes the influence of passion & ignorance of the conditioned soul and brings him or her to the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada.
On Wednesday, 12 March, devotees gathered for a Kirtan Night that was organised by the temple. Maharaj inaugurated the program by explaining that in kirtan we are singing & making an offering, and at the same time, Krsna is revealing himself to us – so two things are happening at once. Everyone then absorbed themselves in the best form of glorification of Krsna in the way of chanting. Kadamba Kanana Swami then requested Sri Prahlad to lead kirtan and absorbed himself fully in the nectar of the transcendental holy name.
Thereafter, Maharaj left Sydney for Melbourne to inspire devotees and to attend the Gaura Purnima festival.
During his stay at Melbourne temple, Maharaj gave many Srimad Bhagavatam classes. The devotees went out on a harinam parade in the inner-city of Melbourne, to distribute the mercy of Lord Caitanya on His appearance day. The auspicious day ended with more kirtan by Maharaj during the abhishek ceremony of the all magnanimous Lord Caitanya.
Brisbane was the third city of Australia that got soaked with the mercy of Kadamba Kanana Swami, who travelled from Melbourne just to be there on time for the Sunday Feast lecture. Maharaj enthused devotees with his wonderful classes and kirtan. On Friday, Maharaj departs Australia for South Africa.
Here are photos from some of the programs. If you cannot view the slide-show below, then please visit flickr.
One of the most amazing Gaura Aratis with Mahavishnu Swami!!
→ Mahavishnu Swami
Radha and Krishna come to life in this beautiful play! (9 min video)
→ Dandavats.com
The Illusion of Material Happiness(With Russian Translation)
→ HH Bhakti Caitanya Swami
28 Mar 2014 – Disappearance Day of Sri Govinda Ghosh
→ ISKCON Desire Tree
Krishna’s Mercy Comes Through His Devotees, Sunday, March 23, New Dvaraka, Los Angeles
Giriraj Swami
Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.3.23 during the Sunday festival at New Dvaraka.
“It is a perfect system. But one must remain connected to the chain, the parampara. It is as if that chain is reaching down from the spiritual world into the material world for us. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura said that just as a person extends his hand to pick up an object that has fallen on the ground, the Lord picks up the souls who have fallen into this material world by extending His hand in the form of the devotee, the spiritual master, the disciplic succession.”
Third Brahmotsava and Pushpa Abhishek of Sri Sri Radha MadanGopalji at ISKCON Nasik (Album 29 photos)
→ Dandavats.com
Nimai’s Puppy!
→ TKG Academy
Nimai’s Puppy! Aren’t they cute! Did you know that when Lord Caitanya was a boy he had a puppy? So it’s very natural that any little boy or girl would also like to have a puppy. But parents, these puppies are no trouble at all.
[slickr-flickr private=on search="sets" set= 72157641327072844]
[slickr-flickr private=on search="sets" set=72157641363761365 ]
The whole video of the transcendental Boat Festival – Vrindavana 2014 (1hr video)
→ Dandavats.com
Prasad Distribution in the “Land of Saint’s and Scholars”
→ simple thoughts
Last week we took on the challenge of cooking subji and popperdoms for 5,000 people in Cork city; Our team consisted of Dharmatma Prabhu,Sanaka Prabhu, and Achintya Rupa Prabhu.
Srila Prabhupada says in the Srimad Bhagavatam: “The Krishna consciousness movement is based on this principle: chant the Hare Krishna mantra every moment, as much as possible, both inside and outside of the temple, and, as far as possible, distribute prasad. This process can be accelerated with the cooperation of state administrators and those who are producing the country’s wealth. Simply by liberal distribution of prasad and sankirtana,
the whole world can become peaceful and prosperous.”
SB 4.12.10 purport
The concept of the “Feeding the 5,000″ festival is to high light the food waste and attempt to divert that perfectly good food away from the landfills and back into the community. This project is up our street.
The Mayor of Cork came to help and all the media was there to report. These festivals are great preaching but also give our movement a good name. While looking on the Internet for media coverage on the event I came across an article in the “Independent” newspaper, titled “Why do so many people hate the harmless Hare Krishnas?” ‘ In a survey published last week,they were second only to drug addicts as the group we most want to avoid’.
Harinam and prasad is our way forward and if we get government help then we can move faster.
Enjoy the movie!
Your servant
Parasuram Das
Pictures of Davanala-kunda
→ SivaramaSwami.com
The post Pictures of Davanala-kunda appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.
From the banks of Davanala-kunda
→ SivaramaSwami.com
The post From the banks of Davanala-kunda appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.
March 25th, 2014 -Darshan
→ Mayapur.com
The post March 25th, 2014 -Darshan appeared first on Mayapur.com.
Gaura Purnima Lecture – HH Bhakti Purusottama Swami
→ Mayapur.com
[Kindly transcribed by Sheela Ravishankar Mataji) Download the audio of this lecture here: Download From: Sri Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir! Date: 16 March, 2014, Sri Gaura Purnima class 2/2 Speaker: HH Bhakti Purusottama Swami So all of you were enjoying HH Jayapataka Swami Maharaj giving nice Gaura Katha. I could see they were all drowning in […]
The post Gaura Purnima Lecture – HH Bhakti Purusottama Swami appeared first on Mayapur.com.
Prabhupada Letters :: Anthology 2014-03-25 09:52:00 →
"Panchami. Today one letter received from Brindaban Chandra De, Calcutta, India. Meeting in the evening seven ladies and gentlemen attended the meeting. Captain and Mrs. Pandiya also were there. Everyone brought some fruits and grains. There were two newcomers. Address taken."
Prabhupada Journal :: 1966
Prabhupada Letters :: Anthology 2014-03-25 09:49:00 →
Prabhupada Letters :: 1967
Prabhupada Letters :: Anthology 2014-03-25 09:43:00 →
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970
Prabhupada Letters :: Anthology 2014-03-25 09:37:00 →
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971
Prabhupada Letters :: Anthology 2014-03-25 09:34:00 →
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971
Prabhupada Letters :: Anthology 2014-03-25 09:32:00 →
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972
Prabhupada Letters :: Anthology 2014-03-25 09:31:00 →
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972
Prabhupada Letters :: Anthology 2014-03-25 09:22:00 →
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974
Pilgrimage to Muktinath, 3,710 meters above sea level (Album 150 photos)
→ Dandavats.com
Niranjana Swami at Kirtan Mela Mayapur 2014 Day 1
→ Gouranga TV - The Hare Krishna video collection
Niranjana Swami at Kirtan Mela Mayapur 2014 Day 1
HG Narottamananda Prabhu – reading ( Art of Chanting Hare Krishna: Japa Meditation Technique )
→ Kalachandji's Audio Archive
HG Narottamananda Prabhu / SB 10.58.06-07
→ Kalachandji's Audio Archive
HG Nityananda Chandra Prabhu – The Story Of Lord Jagannath
→ Kalachandji's Audio Archive
HG Narottamananda Prabhu – reading ( Art of Chanting Hare Krishna: Japa Meditation Technique )
→ Kalachandji's Audio Archive
HG Narottamananda Prabhu / SB 10.58.06-07
→ Kalachandji's Audio Archive
Maha Gaura Purnima, March 22, Laguna Beach, California
Giriraj Swami
Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Adi-lila 13.32.
“When we were little we went to the amusement park, and there were little cars that children would drive. As small children we were in the illusion that we were driving the cars independently, that we were going to crash into this one or bump into that one, but actually all the cars were on tracks. So what Srila Prabhupada and Sri Caitanya-caritamrta are saying here is that there are tracks laid out and all we have to do is get in the car. We may imagine that we are driving and that this calamity is coming and that calamity is coming—that we can crash like bumper cars—but actually it is all prearranged. Some architect has planned the whole thing. And you are in this little car thinking that you are the doer.
“The initial impetus that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu gave to the Krishna consciousness movement—the sankirtan movement—set in motion something that will spread all over the world and all over the universe. And we have the amazing opportunity to take part. Although in his purport Srila Prabhupada does not really mention himself directly, what he did with this initial impetus from Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is practically unimaginable.”
—————————————
How to Recognize an Advanced Devotee?
→ The Enquirer
Certainly many, many people have very confused ideas about this.
- Strictness
- Renunciation
- Learning and Knowledge
Many think that these are sure signs of advancement in bhakti-yoga. Some are so dull that they actually think “tenure” (how many years you’ve stuck around) is a measure of advancement. Others are of such a brick-n-morter mentality that they actually seem to think numbers can describe advancement: number of devotees in a temple, number of disciples, number of books sold and so on…
Why should we care at all for any of these confused ideas? So many people might be so confused about what constitutes advancement in bhakti yoga, but its really not confusing at all:
Bhakti means love, particularly love for Krishna. Therefore the more love you have (particularly for Krishna), the more you have progressed in Bhakti-yoga. It’s that simple.
But how do you measure or recognize love? Leaving aside instinct as overly subjective and prone to bias, there is a simple method: the more love you have for something, the more attracted to it you are. So, the more you love Krishna the more you are attracted to Krishna. Again, it’s simple. Attraction to Krishna is the measure of advancement in Bhakti-yoga.
But how do we measure or recognize attraction to Krishna?
In this world (i.e. in the sādhaka-deha) there is no tangible way to express that attraction to Krishna except through the 64 limbs of sādhana. The essence of the 64 limbs is constant remembrance of Krishna, and there are five essential mechanisms of that remembrance – the two most essential of which are hearing Bhāgavatam and performing Krishna-saṅkīrtana.
Therefore the only true measure of our advancement in bhakti-yoga is the extent to which our mind gravitates magnetically towards learning about Krishna (directly, Krishna himself) from Śrīmad Bhāgavatam and in how much taste we have for performing Krishna-Saṁkīrtana – especially Krishna-nāma-saṁkīrtana.
We can thus easily assess our own progress on the path. If there is a need to assess the progress of others, we measure the same principle by observing how easy or difficult it is to move the person away from discussion of Krishna (Krishna himself, directly – not stuff-remotely-connected-somehow-to-Krishna-because-of-x-y-z). We can do this by observing how much or how little time the person remains enrapt in Kīrtan and discussion of Krishna.
A person who is always deeply enrapt in Krishna Kīrtan and Kathā is a very advanced Vaishnava, they are very easy to engage in kīrtan and kathā for a long time with enthusiasm, and are very slow to moving the topic of discussion or celebration away from Krishna.
How to Recognize an Advanced Devotee?
→ The Enquirer
Certainly many, many people have very confused ideas about this.
- Strictness
- Renunciation
- Learning and Knowledge
Many think that these are sure signs of advancement in bhakti-yoga. Some are so dull that they actually think “tenure” (how many years you’ve stuck around) is a measure of advancement. Others are of such a brick-n-morter mentality that they actually seem to think numbers can describe advancement: number of devotees in a temple, number of disciples, number of books sold and so on…
Why should we care at all for any of these confused ideas? So many people might be so confused about what constitutes advancement in bhakti yoga, but its really not confusing at all:
Bhakti means love, particularly love for Krishna. Therefore the more love you have (particularly for Krishna), the more you have progressed in Bhakti-yoga. It’s that simple.
But how do you measure or recognize love? Leaving aside instinct as overly subjective and prone to bias, there is a simple method: the more love you have for something, the more attracted to it you are. So, the more you love Krishna the more you are attracted to Krishna. Again, it’s simple. Attraction to Krishna is the measure of advancement in Bhakti-yoga.
But how do we measure or recognize attraction to Krishna?
In this world (i.e. in the sādhaka-deha) there is no tangible way to express that attraction to Krishna except through the 64 limbs of sādhana. The essence of the 64 limbs is constant remembrance of Krishna, and there are five essential mechanisms of that remembrance – the two most essential of which are hearing Bhāgavatam and performing Krishna-saṅkīrtana.
Therefore the only true measure of our advancement in bhakti-yoga is the extent to which our mind gravitates magnetically towards learning about Krishna (directly, Krishna himself) from Śrīmad Bhāgavatam and in how much taste we have for performing Krishna-Saṁkīrtana – especially Krishna-nāma-saṁkīrtana.
We can thus easily assess our own progress on the path. If there is a need to assess the progress of others, we measure the same principle by observing how easy or difficult it is to move the person away from discussion of Krishna (Krishna himself, directly – not stuff-remotely-connected-somehow-to-Krishna-because-of-x-y-z). We can do this by observing how much or how little time the person remains enrapt in Kīrtan and discussion of Krishna.
A person who is always deeply enrapt in Krishna Kīrtan and Kathā is a very advanced Vaishnava, they are very easy to engage in kīrtan and kathā for a long time with enthusiasm, and are very slow to moving the topic of discussion or celebration away from Krishna.
The First Regulative Principle
→ Japa Group
Seeing spiritual reality
→ KKSBlog
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 20 March 2014, Melbourne, Australia, Srimad Bhagavatam 2.7.52)
Because we are in the spiritual world, we are not really here in this material world. We’re only here because the spiritual world is covered by some cloud of illusion and it seems that we are in the material world, but actually we are not. We are actually in the spiritual world.
We see that Srila Prabhupada had that kind of consciousness and became very tolerant and sort of unaffected by material things. Prabhupada was so focused on Krsna that he didn’t identify so much with the material world. Hari Sauri, who was Prabhupada’s personal servant, described that Prabhupada had a swollen cheek one day.
So Hari Sauri said, “Prabhupada, you have a toothache?”
Prabhupada said, “Yes, yes. Some discomfort”.
And that was all! He never mentioned it again. Prabhupada never brought it up again. I mean, you try that when you have a toothache. You know, it is not so easy. I mean, every three minutes you sort of have to go like, “Sssssss,” and everyone goes like, “Oh! You have a toothache?”
We need this sympathy, you know what I mean!? We need all the people around us to sort of suffer with us. We need that constant support, that emotional support, that people share our suffering. So we are like, “Mmmm, aaaah, ooooh”. We get into it, “This cheek and it’s swollen and the tooth is throbbing!” The mind just becomes a tooth, right. The mind is just a tooth. The whole consciousness is in the tooth. There is nothing else. The universe has become a tooth!
But we can see for Prabhupada that was not the case, that didn’t happen. His mind didn’t go into the tooth. His mind stayed with Krsna and therefore he could tolerate it, without painkillers and anything, which to us, is inconceivable. An intense toothache without painkillers is very tough but Prabhupada could do because he was so absorbed in the spiritual world.
So that is the idea which Bhagavatam is waking us up to. Bhagavatam is awakening that kind of vision, the vision of the spiritual world, the spiritual reality and one begins to see like that. So in this way, the Bhagavatam is more than just a book, it gives us an outlook.