Planet ISKCON

Ojasvi Prabhu at Kirtan Mela Mayapur 2014 Day 3

Here are the notes I’ve prepared for speaking to a gathering of serious practitioners of bhakti-yoga on Gaura-Pūrṇimā …the anniversary celebrating the appearance of the Golden Avatāra, Śrī Krishna Caitanya.

Gaura Pūrṇimā 

The 4th, 5th, and 6th ślokas of Caitanya Caritāmṛta explain the reasons why Śrī Krishna and Śrī Krishna Caitanya appear in our world. The author of Cc, Śrīla Krishnadāsa Kavirāja, organizes these reasons into two groups: bahirāṇga-hetu and antarāṅga-hetu. This is often translated as “external” and “internal” reasons. “External” means “for the sake of other people,” and “internal” means “for his own sake.” So there are two groups of reasons for the avatāra of Śrī Krishna and Śrī Krishna Caitanya: reasons that benefit other people, and reasons that benefit himself. I will call these the “public motives” and “private motives” of these avatāra.

The 4th śloka explains their public motives. The 6th explains their private motives. And the 5th is important to both, because it explains how Śrī Krishna Caitanya accomplished the motives initiated many centuries earlier by Śrī Krishna.

Ādi 1.4

Quoted from Vidagdha-mādhava of Śrī Rūpa Goswāmī

anarpita-carīḿ cirāt karuṇayāvatīrṇaḥ kalau

samarpayitum unnatojjvala-rasāḿ sva-bhakti-śriyam

hariḥ puraṭa-sundara-dyuti-kadamba-sandīpitaḥ

sadā hṛdaya-kandare sphuratu vaḥ śacī-nandanaḥ

anarpita-carīṁ — No one made any attempt to give it

cirāt — For a very long time ago

therefore

karuṇayā — because of sympathy / compassion / kindness

avatīrṇa — he descends (avatāra)

kalau — in the age of Kali

what is it that has not been available for such a long time?

śriyam — a treasure …what kind?

sva-bhakti śriyam – the treasure of his own love

…this is the most important treasure because love is the only wealth that actually makes us happy, and “his own” love is divine love which is the only thing that can make us perfectly and totally happy.

…but what kind of love has not been available for a long time? Hasn’t divine love always been available?

ujjvala-rasā — the most beautiful, brilliant, intimate form of love – romantic love.

…hasn’t this also been available? i.e. Lakṣmī, Sītā, etc.?

unnata-ujjvala-rasā — the most exalted form of romantic love. (i.e. Vṛndāvana bhakti < gopī-bhakti < and even the love of Krishna that Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī herself experiences)

samarpayitum — he is not going to give just a little hint of it, but all of it, completely.

who is he? who is qualified to give what no one else has given?

hari — he is Hari, …but not black, not dark…

sandīpita — he is illuminated and bright

sundara-dyuti — with effulgent beauty …what color?

puraṭa / kadamba — the color of gold and kadamba flowers. (Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī’s color)

Who is this golden avatāra of Hari?

śaci-nandana — Śaci’s son, Gaura-hari, Śrī Krishna Caitanya.

Śrī Rūpa then gives a benediction:

hṛdaya-kandare — in the hidden chambers of our innermost heart

sphuratu — may he suddenly appear

sadā — forever!

Śrīla Prabhupāda has given us this beautiful translation:

May the Supreme Lord who is known as the son of Śrīmatī Śacī-devī be transcendentally situated in the innermost core of your heart. Resplendent with the radiance of molten gold, He has descended in the Age of Kali by His causeless mercy to bestow what no incarnation has ever offered before: the most elevated mellow of devotional service, the mellow of conjugal love.

Krishnadas Kaviraja explains what this verse means (Cc Ādi 3.5-31). He says,

Krishna forever enjoys bliss in the transcendental realm of Vrndavana, but every once in a while Vrndavana descends into our mundane realm. “Every once in a while” means once in every universal day – which means once every 8 billion years. Vṛndāvana descends into this world so that we can get a glimpse of real joy, real love – infinitely perfected in Krishna’s relationships with the inhabitants of Vrndavana. This happened fairly recently, about 5,000 years ago. That is why we currently know about Krishna.

Krishnadāsa Kavirāja explains Krishna’s motive for appearing in this world (Adi 4.14-35):

aiśvarya-jñānete saba jagat miśrita

aiśvarya-śithila-preme nahi mora prīta

“The whole world is full of awareness of my power, but love that is weakened by a sense of power does not please me. 

As long as someone thinks of me as The Master their love cannot overpower me. But I want to taste the joy of being overpowered by love. I want my mother to protect me and chastise me. I want my friends to wrestle and race me, and say, ‘You’re not such a big man!’ I want to have to beg for the mercy of my lover! No religion or philosophy can thrill me as much as this! 

I will take these devotees with me – my parents, my friends, and my lovers – and make them appear within the vision of the mortal world. We will display such unbridled, unrestricted pure love that cannot be found even in Vaikuntha and which amazes even me!

I will especially display my intimate romance with the gopīs, because this is the epitome of the unrestricted love that I crave, and that conquers my heart. This will bring me great joy, and will also benedict the whole world, because it will attract them to the supreme joy of the greatest love!

vrajera nirmala rāga śuni’ bhakta-gaṇa

rāga-mārge bhaje yena chāḍi’ dharma-karma

When my devotees hear about the pure and passionate love found in Vṛndāvana they will completely abandon the formal love inspired by morality and duty, and cultivate love for me with real, passionate affection – like the Vrajabāsīs!

This is why Krishna appears as an avatāra once every universal day. But after Vṛndāvana disappears from this mundane realm and a few thousand years have passed, Krishna is disappointed about the reaction. Krishnadāsa Kavirāja explains that he thinks:

cira-kāla nāhi kari prema-bhakti dāna
bhakti vinā jagatera nāhi avasthāna

“Even after all this time, people are still not embracing the blissful treasure of divine love. If people cannot experience the happiness of divine love, there is no point in the universe even existing at all!”

One of Krishna’s companions tries to console him. “Don’t worry, people do eventually become religious and worship God.” But Krishna becomes even more upset when he hears this. He says:

sakala jagate more kare vidhi-bhakti

vidhi-bhaktye vraja-bhāva pāite nāhi śakti

“The entire universe might become interested in the rules and regulations of religion – vaidhi-bhakti. But that will never be able to give them what I want to give them: the bliss of the divine love experienced in Vṛndāvana.”

His companion asks, “Why not be satisfied that they can at least attain some sort of divine love?” Krishna replies:

aiśvarya-jñānete saba jagat miśrita
aiśvarya-śithila-preme nāhi mora prīta

“The whole universe looks on me in awe. The kind of love that is polluted by awe is not very blissful, and doesn’t make me very happy.”

He goes on to say:

“No one can enter Vṛndāvana by following rules and regulations and looking upon me in awe. At best they can only hope to enter Vaikuṇṭha and associate with Nārāyaṇa.”

Then Krishna got an amazing idea. He decided to personally return to our mundane realm and show everyone how to attain the amazing blissful divine love of Krishna that shines in the transcendental realm of Vṛndāvana.

yuga-dharma pravartāimu nāma-sańkīrtana

cāri bhāva-bhakti diyā nācāmu bhuvana

“I will personally inaugurate a different religion, one that is beyond rules and regulations – the religion of Nāma Saṅkīrtana – which alone grants access to the intimate divine love available in Vrndavana. I will personally take the world by the hand and make them dance in joy!”

Krishna realized that you cannot effectively preach something you don’t practice. So, since he wanted to show the world how to love Krishna like the residents of Vrndavana, he could not continue to keep the identity of being Krishna. He would instead become a devotee of Krishna, so he could personally demonstrate how to attain ecstatic devotion, by his own example.

By saying that “he is hari with a brilliant golden complexion” a hint has already been given regarding how Krishna can accomplish his goal of spreading pure, unlimited devotion. He has to become a pure, unlimited devotee. The purest, most unlimited of all devotees is Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, whose complexion is brilliantly golden. The next śloka, the 5th śloka of Caitanya Caritāmṛta explains this.

Ādi 1.5

Quoted from the Diary of Śrīla Svarūpa Dāmodara Goswāmī

rādhā kṛṣṇa-praṇaya-vikṛtir hlādinī śaktir asmād

ekātmānāv api bhuvi purā deha-bhedaḿ gatau tau

caitanyākhyaḿ prakaṭam adhunā tad-dvayaḿ caikyam āptaḿ

rādhā-bhāva-dyuti-suvalitaḿ naumi kṛṣṇa-svarūpam

Rādhā — Rādhā 

Krishna-praṇaya-vikṛti — is a very special creation of Krishna’s passionate love

hlādinī śakti asmāt— she is Krishna’s pleasure potency itself

Line 2

eka-ātmānāu - Rādhā and Krishna are therefore a single being

api — but

deha-bhedam gatau tau — they attain two distinct forms

bhuvi — by manifesting tangibly

purā — since the very beginning

Line 3 (two become one)

adhunā — and now

tad-dvayam — those two

ekyam āptam — become one

prakaṭam caitanya ākhyam — manifesting as the being named Caitanya

Line 4 (Śrī Caitanya is…)

Kṛṣṇa-svarūpa  — Krishna himself

suvalita — beautifully enwrapt in…

rādhā-bhāva — Rādhā’s character / Rādhā’s personality…

dyuti —and effulgent complexion.

naumi — “he is my everything.”

Śrīla Prabhupāda’s beautiful translation:

The loving affairs of Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa are transcendental manifestations of the Lord’s internal pleasure-giving potency. Although Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa are one in Their identity, They separated Themselves eternally. Now these two transcendental identities have again united, in the form of Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya. I bow down to Him, who has manifested Himself with the sentiment and complexion of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī although He is Kṛṣṇa Himself.

Śrīla Krishnadāsa Kavirāja explains this verse (Cc. Ādi 4.56-100) by elaborately explaining who Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is. If I had the chance I would explain all these verses for Śrīmatī Radharani’s appearance festival. But because it is important to explain the private motive for Śrī Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s appearance and since we are modern people, always rushing to our next appointments and always checking our digital clocks, I have to skip these verses for now.

Ādi 1.6

An Original Composition of Śrīla Krishnadāsa Kavirāja

śrī-rādhāyāḥ praṇaya-mahimā kīdṛśo vānayaivā-

svādyo yenādbhuta-madhurimā kīdṛśo vā madīyaḥ

saukhyaḿ cāsyā mad-anubhavataḥ kīdṛśaḿ veti lobhāt

tad-bhāvāḍhyaḥ samajani śacī-garbha-sindhau harīnduḥ

śrī-rādhāyāḥ praṇaya — Śrī Rādhā’s passionate love for Krishna

mahimā — greatness

kīdṛśa — What is it like?

^ The first personal motive: to discover, “How great is Śrīmatī Rādhārānī’s love for me?”

anaya-eva — certainly no one except her

āsvādya yena — can taste / relish / enjoy that love

adbhuta-madhurimā — amazing sweetness

kīdṛśa — What is it like?

^ The second personal motive: to discover, “What types of amazing sweetness can she alone enjoy as a result of her love for me?”

madīya — from me

mad-anu-bhāvata — my reciprocation with her love

saukhya — happiness

kīdṛśa — What is it like?

^ The third personal motive: to discover, “What happiness does she experience in me and in my loving reciprocation with her?”

veti lobhāt  — because of intense desire to know the answers to these three questions

tad-bhāva-āḍhyaḥ — taking her personality / character

samajani — he was born

hari-induḥ — The Hari-moon

śacī-garbha-sindhau — from the ocean of Śacī’s womb.

Śrīla Prabhupāda translates;

Desiring to understand the glory of Rādhārāṇī’s love, the wonderful qualities in Him that She alone relishes through Her love, and the happiness She feels when She realizes the sweetness of His love, the Supreme Lord Hari, richly endowed with Her emotions, appeared from the womb of Śrīmatī Śacī-devī, as the moon appeared from the ocean.

Śrīla Krishnadāsa Kavirāja explains this verse (CC A.4.231-275). First he explains why Krishna so fervently desires to comprehend Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī’s love for him:

kṛṣṇera vicara eka āchaye antare

pūrṇānanda-pūrṇa-rasa-rūpa kahe more

Once, Krishna thought within himself, “everyone says I am the form of complete bliss and complete joy…”

āmā ha-ite ānandita haya tribhuvana

āmāke ānanda dibe — aiche kon jana

“The three worlds derive bliss from me. But is there anyone who can give bliss to me?”

āmā haite yāra haya śata śata guṇa

sei-jana āhlādite pāre mora mana

“If there was someone who had hundreds and hundreds more qualities than I, that person could bring joy and pleasure to my heart.”

āmā haite guṇī baḍa jagate asambhava

ekali rādhāte tāhā kari anubhava

“In the whole of existence there is no one who has more qualities than I, with the sole exception of Rādhā. I understand that.

“My beauty conquers millions of lust-gods, there is no sweetness of beauty greater than or equal to mine, it gives bliss to all the three worlds… but my own eyes become enchanted when they see Rādhā’s beauty!

“The songs of my flute attract the three worlds, by my own ears are attracted to Rādhā’s voice! My scent fills the universe with fragrance, but the scent of Rādhā’s body takes my breath away and steals my mind! Because of my flavor, the whole world is full of flavor, but I become a slave to the flavor of Rādhā’s lips! My touch is more pleasant than millions of moon beams. But Rādhā’s touch pleases even me!

ei mata anubhava āmāra pratīta

vicāri’ dekhiye yadi, saba viparīta

“So it is easy to understand why I love her, and easy to understand my emotions and feelings. But when I try to understand her emotions and feelings… they seem completely opposite to mine. I become completely satisfied by experiencing her, but she becomes completely hungry by experiencing me!

When the wind blows through the bamboos and makes a sound like my flute, she becomes mad and begins hugging dark trees, thinking that they are me! When the wind somehow carries her a scent that resembles mine, she leaps into the air and tries to fly towards it! I cannot possibly comprehend or even describe the ecstatic bliss that she experiences in me, it makes me forget my own happiness and desire to experience hers!

Now, Krishnadāsa Kavirāja begins to explain that Krishna wants to experience himself through her eyes.

tāte jāni, mote āche kona eka rasa

āmāra mohinī rādhā, tāre kare vaśa

So I can understand that there is some unique flavor in me… which only she can taste… and which is so exquisite that it captivates Rādhā, who captivates me.

Finally the Kavirāja expresses the third desire, that Krishna wants to experience what she experiences in his love for her.

I am constantly trying to taste the flavor in my love that she tastes… but it is impossible! I cannot. But I cannot give up this desire, because every time I see her it becomes more intense. 

I can taste what it is like to be the beloved, but unless I become the lover I cannot taste what it is like to be the lover. Bharata Muni claims that the lover and beloved enjoy pleasure equally, but at least in this case he is wrong. The lover, Śrī Rādhā, enjoys thousands of times more than the beloved, Śrī Krishna.

rādhā-bhāva ańgīkari’ dhari’ tāra varṇa

tina-sukha āsvādite haba avatīrṇa

“So I will accept Rādhā’s personality, which will transform my color to golden. Then, in that avatāra I will finally be able to fulfill my three desires!”

Conclusion

By fulfilling his personal motives, Śrī Krishna Caitanya automatically fulfilled his public motive. This is the most important lesson we have to learn from him.

By embracing the personality of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī and becoming the topmost devotee of Krishna, he fulfilled his personal ambitions to understand the greatness of her love, the sweetness of himself, and the delight of experiencing his love from her point of view. By fulfilling these ambitions he automatically fulfilled the ambition of granting the world access to love of Godhead in Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī’s mood.

We must learn his example, otherwise we are not fit to advertise ourselves as members of Mahaprabhu’s sampradaya. What we must learn is that the only way to spread Krishna consciousness is to become Krishna conscious ourselves.

Even Krishna could not grant the world access to Krishna-prema until he himself realized it. If even Krishna cannot spread Krishna consciousness without first becoming Krishna conscious, who do we think we are? How do we expect to spread any real Krishna consciousness without ourselves doing much more than just following joining a social group and external rules and regulations. How do we expect to act as servants of Śrī Krishna Caitanya on behalf of Śrīla Prabhupāda until we but actually realizing Krishna-prema in the Vṛndāvana mood, as he did? It is impossible!

We have all kinds of wrong ideas about what the Krishna consciousness movement is, and what “preaching” is. Let it be declared boldly and without fear or doubt that first and foremost, most important and most powerful preaching is nāma-kīrtana, which also includes nāma japa. There has never been and never will be a more effective, more powerful, more practical way to spread the Krishna consciousness movement than to simply forget everything else and fill ones heart and mind with the chanting of the Hare Krishna mahā-mantra 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, year after year after year. The extent to which we do not fully believe this statement is the extent to which we do not fully believe in Śrī Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

The tenth anniversary of the Panca Tattva installation at Sridam Mayapur was celebrated with great pomp and enthusiasm by the devotees attending the festival.

*
*
Arising
Passing away
ever at play
this
Brahman transformer
spinning maya
inviting all
to
a game
of
You are That

Ignoring your crying father, mother, children and other relatives, and not hearing their splendid words, with a very hard heart, quickly see the groves where Krsna enjoyed transcendental pastimes.

[Source : Nectarean Glories of Sri Vrindavana-dhama by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati Thakura, 1-82 Translation.]

Please click here for more photos

Dear Prabhus & Matajis,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
H H Bhanu Swami Maharaj will be visiting Perth on Friday 07 March till Tuesday 11 March.

Maharaj will be giving classes in the mornings at 7.30 AM and evening at 7.30 PM from Saturday 08 March. Maharaj will also be speaking at the Sunday feast on 09 March and on Tuesday 11 at Gopinath dham followed by Kirtan with Madhava prabhu.

Bhanu Maharaj is a very senior disciple of HDG Srila Prabhupada. He is well versed with the conclusion of the sastras and translated many of the commentaries of many acharys (Spiritual teachers) into English. Bhanu Maharaj is very expert in presenting the philosophy with the power point presentations and he has many to show us too.
In this visit Maharaj will be giving a seminar on “Tattva Sandarbha“!
Please come and hear from Maharaj and clarify any of the doubts and questions you may have.

For more information please contact Sita Rama Lakshmana dasa(0422045525)
Your Servant
Sita Rama Lakshmana Dasa

(Kadamba Kanana Swami)

Preaching will not become successful if we are not endearing ourselves to Krsna. Preaching does not just depend on some techniques otherwise we could all learn hypnosis and with hypnosis, we could take over the world! There are yogis like that who can bring people under their will, “Chant Hare Krsna!” and look into their eyes. This is not the way we want people to chant – by force! We want people to chant voluntarily. We want service to be voluntary.

When Prabhupada invited everyone to come to the Sunday Love Feast, everyone would eat so much, be totally ecstatic and then, they would go home. Prabhupada never asked, he would wait until someone offered to help. If someone wanted to help then he would make them in charge of that particular task. As soon as one extended help, he would take that help but he never forced anyone. In this way, Srila Prabhupada was very expert and captured everyone.

So there are many ways, many fronts in which we can spread Krsna consciousness while dealing with the modes of material nature – battle it out in the soaking rain with a kirtan party or we can stand soaking in the rain with a bag full of books. We can stand in the street with an umbrella and invite people under the umbrella, it was an old system – boys went out in the rain with a big umbrella and then would call someone over and give them a book. Like that, many tricks were employed. Another system was to sit in the car and call people over. They would think that you are lost and you intend asking for the road – people always want to give directions – and then give the books out of the car. Some would stand on the street and knock on the windows of cars.

Anyhow, we have many fronts with which we can deal with people and Prabhupada was broad minded. In this way, this movement is not stereotyped; it is not that there is a particular mould that everyone would have to fit into and that everyone has to be the same. But in one way, everyone must be the same – we have to start taking responsibility for the Krsna consciousness of others. We may do it on our own front, in the area where we are expert, whatever we are good at.

If we take responsibility for the Krsna consciousness of others, if we keep ourselves preoccupied with that then the mercy will come. If you don’t know what you are good at then we will put you in the book distribution army because that is very powerful.

Prabhupada was good at that. Prabhupada was very good at taking the essence of things from everywhere, from all the teachings of the acharyas, taking it together, taking the spirit and bringing it home to people. The essence which meant surrender to Krsna and if you read Prabhupada’s books, in so many ways, he is telling us to surrender to Krsna. When you read his books, you get hit from so many different angles with the same message: surrender to Krsna.

The real purpose is pure devotional service; the reason is to give up false ego; one should bow down before Krsna, humility means to do everything for Krsna and so on. Finally after you have been reading for a while you think, “Maybe I should surrender to Krsna!” This is what reading does. So in this way, all of us can surrender in our own individual way. That is the one thing we all have in common. We are all very different – some are intellectuals, some are practical – it does not matter!

Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.30.38 on the occasion of Siva-ratri.

“Srila Prabhupada said that there are two Sanskrit words: puja and bhakti. In puja one worships the deity to get some material benefit, and in bhakti one serves and worships only to give pleasure to the deity—without expectation of personal return. Generally people worship Siva in the mood of puja—to get some material benefit—whereas devotees worship Krishna in the mood of bhakti, just to please Him.” So there was no argument. Then Mr. Ramakrishna asked, ‘Is it not possible to worship Siva in the mood of bhakti?’ Srila Prabhupada replied, ‘It is possible, but it would be exceptional. For example, generally people go to a liquor shop to buy liquor. Now, one could go for another purpose, but that would be an exception. Generally people go to buy liquor.’ Then Mr. Ramakrishna asked, ‘But what if someone did worship Lord Siva in the mood of bhakti?’ And Srila Prabhupada replied, ‘Then it is all right.’ ”

Maha Siva-ratri, Moorpark

Around 1,300 devotees from 41 US states will attend this year’s Sadhu Sanga Retreat from May 23rd to 26th over the Memorial Day Weekend. A unique festival, it creates an immersive space for devotees to experience rejuvenating kirtan from morning till night in the company of many senior Vaishnavas who have a deep taste for the Holy Name.

First of all we have to understand what we are. Am I this body or something else? This is the first question. I was trying to answer this, but some people in my audience thought it was a kind of Hindu culture. It is not Hindu culture. It is a scientific conception. You are a child for some time. Then you become a boy. Then you become a young man, and then you become an old man. In this way you are always changing bodies. This is a fact. It is not a Hindu conception of religion. It applies to everyone.

- Srila Prabhupada, Journey of Self-Discovery : JSD 1

In regard to the GBC’s recent discussion of Krishna West in Mayapura, and their request to me, I wish to explain the following:

1. As everyone must know, there are few, if any, secrets in ISKCON and therefore the GBC must have known that the letter they sent to me would soon become a public document.

2. The GBC requested me to stay in America and not travel to other regions such as Europe and South America until further discussion of Krishna West. Thus effectively and literally, the GBC placed me in a state of quarantine. Quarantine is applied when a person has, or is suspected to have, a serious, contagious disease. Thus by placing me in a state of quarantine, the GBC, whatever their intention, sent the world a clear message: Hridayananda das Goswami has, or is suspected to have, a serious, contagious spiritual disease. Again, whatever their intention, this is the clear message they sent.

3. Before taking such a heavy, damaging step, did the GBC exercise ‘due diligence’ to verify there was a credible danger that I had a serious, contagious, spiritual disease? Did they follow normal standards of fair inquiry and discussion? Not at all. Here are the facts:

a) Before the GBC meetings, I repeatedly begged many GBC members to let me reply to any accusations at the meetings, before the GBC reached any decision. I did this because I knew that many false criticisms were circulating. Again and again I told the GBC that although health considerations did not allow me to travel to India, I would be available by phone, email, skype or any other media. They voted to quarantine me without allowing me to first answer my accusers. They arranged for a discussion to take place after, not before, causing significant harm to me and other devotees.

b) I was not alone in urging the GBC to be fair. Several of the most senior leaders of ISKCON, including senior GBC members, also urged the GBC body to wait and hear both sides BEFORE taking any decision. The GBC rejected this advice.

4. The inevitable result: the GBC voted to quarantine me based on obvious misunderstandings. Here are some examples:

a. At the GBC meeting on Krishna West, a ‘tipping point’ came when I was accused of disrespecting the Acarayas. This charge was based on a misinterpretation of a statement made someone else. In other words, it was not even my statement. And the GBC misunderstood the context of the other devotee’s statement. Further, this very issue, based on the same statement, came up one month before the GBC meeting on the Brasil forum. I explained there the misunderstanding and clearly stated that I fully respect the Acaryas’ statements according to principles taught by Prabhupada and the Acaryas themselves. Thus this issue, which so disturbed the GBC, had already been resolved and clarified weeks before the GBC meeting. A two minute phone call to me would have resolved this. The GBC did not make that call. Instead they voted on a misunderstanding that would have been easily resolved by fair procedure.

b. The GBC misinterpreted my statement that KW is a destination not a bridge. I explained over and over and over again before the meeting that this does NOT refer to starting a new movement, or promoting separatism in ISKCON. I explained this to a prominent Euro-GBC who wrote back to me that he was happy to have my answer, and that he would support me in Mayapura. I have his letter in my files. Yet the GBC still voted on a misinterpretation. Again, a two minute call could have resolved this. The GBC did not make that call.

It is a fundamental duty of the GBC to promote peace and cooperation in ISKCON within the boundaries of Srila Prabhupada’s teachings. Like any large society, ISKCON has liberals and conservatives, preservers and innovators, both of whom are necessary and valuable. The GBC should not underestimate the number of devotees who believe, as I do, that given the current state of our western mission, we should at least try to apply in the preaching field certain opportunities and adjustments explicitly authorized and even urged by Prabhupada. Krishna West seeks to do this, cooperatively and within the laws of ISKCON.

I want to make clear that I fully support Prabhupada’s GBC system and like other devotees, I want the GBC to be respected and admired. I also acknowledge openly to the world my own imperfections and mistakes in presenting Krishna West. In the Bhagavad-gita 18.48, Krishna states that all endeavors in this world are flawed. This is certainly true in my case. I have repeatedly and openly stated to all devotees, including my disciples, that Krishna West has made mistakes and we are sincerely trying to correct them. In fact, KW has demonstrated time and time again that we cooperate with the GBC. History shows that every time the GBC requested KW to adjust something, we complied. KW has never refused a GBC request. Therefore there was no reasonable cause to doubt that in my travel to Europe I would cooperate with the GBC. Quarantine was entirely unnecessary and unjustified.

Further, KW has benefitted from the criticism and advice of other devotees, including the GBC. I pray that we can go forward in unity based on mutual respect and fair procedure.

With best wishes,

Hridayananda das Goswami

Devotees concerned at the GBC decision and how it was arrived at, can contact Braja Bihari Prabhu, Ombudsman, at ISKCON Resolve at the following email address: brianjbloch@gmail.com.

“One leader justifies GBC procedure by saying that there were many complaints. But in what civilized society do complaints suspend one’s right to self-defense? The GBC took an action which caused much trouble to many people. They took that action before they had a fair and complete understanding. Actions that cause significant harm should be taken only with full understanding and when all other options are exhausted. These are basic principles of civilization.”

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Outside Navadvipa is Lord Caitanya in his original form and what is special about Lord Rama.

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Kirtan Premi Prabhu at Kirtan Mela Mayapur 2014 Day 3

New Vrindaban’s Transcendental “Throwback Thursday” – 03/06/14.

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

This week’s challenge: In the photo, with Srila Prabhupada, are nine devotees whose faces can be seen. Can you correctly identify them all?

Extra credit: Who is the person directly behind Srila Prabhupada (whose face can’t be seen, but is wearing a yellow shirt and white vest)?

Post your guesses on the “who, what, when & where” in the comment section at the New Vrindaban Facebook Page.

Technical stuff: We share the 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.

Hare Krishna Parents and Children,

We are happy to announce that Semester I of “The Hare Krishna Sunday School” will be starting from Sunday, 23rd February 2014 from 5:00PM – 6:00PM in the Children’s area in the ashram.
Both Syamanandini mataji and Darshika Mataji will supervise classes.

The classes are for children between  6 Years – 16 Years. All parents interested in their children joining this special class, are advised to fill in the registration form online or hand over to me the form on next Sunday Feast  23rd February.
Thank you.

Ys
Syamanandini Devi Dasi

“DOWNLOAD REGISTRATION FORM HERE“

O brother, when you close your eyes in death, where will your loving wife, children, brothers, relatives and friend be? Where will your good qualities be? Where will your fame be? Where will your pride, wealth, education, control over others, and other powers and opulences be? O learned and intelligent friend, why do you not renounce these temporary things and run to Vrndavana?

[Source : Nectarean Glories of Sri Vrindavana-dhama by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati Thakura, 1-81 Translation.]

Please click here for more photos

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 19 January 2014, Durban, South Africa, Lecture)

There is the story of a wrestler in South India who was very much impressed by a beautiful girl and he served her so nicely. He was opening doors and holding parasols and was doing whatever he could to please her! So, one day, Ramanuja Acharya saw that wrestler and said to him, “Why are you serving her in this way?” The boy then said, “She… is… so… beautiful!”

Then Ramanuja Acharya said, “You call that beautiful?” Now, if it had been anyone else, they would have been in serious trouble but since it was a sadhu, the wrestler held himself back even though he felt the urge. Then Ramanuja Acharya said, “If you want to see what beautiful is all about, I will show you.”

So the next day, Ramanuja took that wrestler through many different corners, left, right and then suddenly, they stood in front of the deities. And because of the presence of the pure devotee, the wrestler had a special experience; something that you cannot just get without mercy. But because of the mercy of a vaisnava, suddenly for a moment, he saw the deity in all its transcendental beauty and for a moment, he realized that Ramanuja was right and that actually, the beauty of Krsna was greater…

So the wrestler saw the beauty of Krsna and that day he changed completely. From that day on, he became a devotee and he also made that lady a devotee. Then the roles reversed, instead of him always serving her, she was always serving him after that and they became initiated disciples of Ramanuja Acharya.

Then time went on and one day, the brahmacharis in the ashram were criticising those fallen householders who were so attached, so attached – just collecting all kinds of material things, “Just see how she is decked out with gold – gold everywhere like a Christmas tree!” Okay, maybe they didn’t say Christmas tree in South India at that time (laughter!) but anyway, something like that.

So then, that night when everyone was deeply asleep, Ramanuja Acharya went to the brahmachari ashram. All the dhotis of the brahmacharis were hanging over the washing line and drying, and Ramanuja went up to every dhoti and ripped a strip off every dhoti and he took the cloth and he left!

Then, he went to the house of his grhasta disciples and when he was inside, he sneaked up to the sleeping householders and started to take the earring out of the ear of the lady and he even slid-off her golden bangle. Then she woke up and realized, “It is Guru Maharaj! He is taking my earring. Oh, I should give him my other one as well but he can’t reach it because I am sleeping on it.” So she decided to turn over and then Ramanuja immediately left. She then he woke up her husband, and told him the whole story, who chastised her, “You nonsense! Why did you turn over and disturb him like that. Give me that earring!”

So, it was morning and just around mangal artik time and the grhastas were just on their way to the temple. The brahmacharis were just waking up and there was a major riot; they were accusing each other of ripping pieces of their cloth, “Who took a piece of my cloth? Was it you, was it you…” It was a big fight! Then Ramanuja Acharya asked, “What’s going on here?”

“He took a piece of my dhoti,” all were saying.

Ramanuja said, “Who took a piece of your dhoti…” and he pulled from behind his back, all the pieces of cloth and held up all the pieces of cloth! Just then, those householders arrived and said, “Guru Maharaj, you were taking the earrings but you forgot something, here take these also…” then Ramanuja Acharya said, “See, who is attached!”

So, ultimately it is about dedicating ourselves to Krsna. It doesn’t matter where we are; it doesn’t matter what our position is; it doesn’t matter if we are married and we have thirteen children; it is okay!

(this blog is recorded on the full page: quick time player is needed; works best with Firefox or Explorer; if you are using Google Chrome it will automatically play, so to not listen, mute your speakers.)

Amidst thoughts about my past in my Fatal Attractions series (still in process) and how it relates to my present, I have thought, and felt, deeply about relationships I have had, and endeavored for. In response to my contemplation I wrote this free verse poem. It is full of angst and intense emotion for my failed relationships, disappointments in good ones, and my hopes and aspirations. While most of us value relationships highly, they are also the source of our greatest distress and sadness. Everyone wants to be loved and understood, but it is never quite to the degree we want. Even in what seem the best of relationships we may be separated from our beloved through death, debilitating disease, divorce, or mental imbalances, as in dementia.

Examining the depth of my capacity to love, I question who in this world can we love and understand that is capable of fully accepting our heart’s gifts? At least in my experience, no one can completely satisfy either our desire to love, or to be loved in return. This could be depressing or could point to our goal of loving and serving Radha-Krishna with our spiritual heart and soul. The negative impetus for such love and service is our bitter experience, or at least disappointments, in worldly relationships, while the positive impetus comes from our taste in spiritual practices and eventually our pure love for Krishna, or prema. All relationships with others and our dealings with the things of this world are meant to point us in the direction of Krishna, as the source of everything, and the complete object of our love. Our desire for unending and ever-increasing love can only be fulfilled by the One who can accept our love unlimitedly, and that is Krishna, the fountainhead of all relationships (rasas), the cynosure of our eyes, heart, and soul.

I
I’m a disabled person
climbing a mountain:
my words are my hammer,
feelings are my spikes, and rope,
I know not if they’ll hold or help me up,
in giving me a grip on my steady journey
to avoid be hurled down by trolls;
I only have my effort and a prayer
with the aspiration to reach the top
where I find the entrance to your self-universe:

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Hundreds packed into the auditorium at Srila Prabhupada’s Samadhi in Mayapur, West Bengal at 7pm on February 21st to watch Fabric of the Gods, a show depicting Vaishnava fashions throughout history.