Who is the actual doer according to the Gita?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

From Sushant Kulkarni

Krishna says in the Gita: "Never consider yourself to be the cause of the results of your activities." (2.47)
If we are not the cause of the fruit of our work then what is the cause of the fruit of our work? Is it only the material nature as mentioned in the verse 5.14, or is it all the five factors of action collectively as mentioned in the verse 18.14?
Answer Podcast

How can we reconcile the Gita (3.4) – don’t give up work – and the Bhagavatam (1.5.17) – give up work?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

From Sushant Kulkarni

Krishna says in the Gita (3.4) "Not by merely abstaining from work can one achieve freedom from reaction, nor by renunciation alone can one achieve perfection."
In the Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.5.17) we have- tyaktva sva dharmam caranam bujam harer...
So how to understand these seemingly contradictory instructions?

Answer Podcast

New Vrindaban Daily darsan @ April 24, 2014.
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

01

Sri Radha’s charming teen-age maidservants in Vrindavana have braids that swing to and fro, beautiful broad hips, slender waists, splendid necklaces decorating the flower buds of their beautiful breasts, various splendid ornaments and garments, glistening golden complexions the color of saffron, and youthful beauty that is as sweet as nectar. Please meditate on Sri Radha’s maidservants in this way.

[Source : Nectarean Glories of Sri Vrindavana-dhama by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati Thakura, Sataka-2, Text-22, Translation.]

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Telling Stories
- TOVP.org

Rudyard Kipling wrote, “If history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten.” Perhaps he was exposed to the rich tradition of story-telling in Gaudiya Vaishnavism during his time in India. Indeed, stories are an honored means to understand the pastimes and philosophy of this spiritual practice.

What of ISKCON’s history? How will future generations of devotees imbibe not only Srila Prabhupada’s persistent determination, but also appreciate the dedicated service of his disciples and their disciples? The TOVP serves as a monument to Prabhuapa’s vision and sacrifice and commemorates those devotees whose united efforts built it. The temple carries stories of Prabhupada’s ambition while each day of construction accrues new tales of their own. Noteworthy are those of the main dome, the latest being that the second tier has just been completed and the third segment will begin being raised by the end of the month.

Grounded in the roots of ISKCON’s history, the temple will also play an integral role in the development of its future. It will be a home for discussion and sadhu sanga. Devotees are the troubadours, poetic lyricists spreading transcendental knowledge across the plains.

Harinam at Mentakab, Malaysia (Album 29 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

H G Harigaura Prabhu president of ISKCON Mentakab organised Harinam at Mentakab on 19 April 2014. Mentakab is a town which is around 120km away from Kuala Lumpur. This was the first ever harinam organised at mentakab. Deities of Sita Ram Lakshman Hanuman were taken on a palanquin procession in and around the housing areas of Mentakab. 40 residents did offering for Their Lordships and 50 devotees attended the harinam. The Harinam which continued for 3 hours started and ended at Sriman Arumugam’s house who is an active member of Mentakab centre. H G Siva Caitanya prabhu gave a class on chanting and Bhagavad Gita at the end of the harinam and enlightened each and every one who were present. Read more ›

Chronology in Eternal Time
→ The Enquirer

Some relationships are chronological, others are ontological.

An example of a chronological relationship is “Flavor comes (mainly) from chewing.” The order in the relationship is sequential, chronological – first chew, then experience flavor.

An example of an ontological relationship is, “The sunlight comes from the sun.” It is not that the sun first exists without the sunlight and later the sun comes. The relationship, the order in the relationship, is not chronological order, but ontological order; i.e. the sun is the root of the sunlight.

The relationship between ātmā and paramātma, and also between the various forms of Hari and the original form of Hari (Krishna, Govinda) is an ontological relationship, not a sequential relationship. Sequence is ruled out in authentic texts describing these things by prevalent use of words like anādi (beginningless) and sanātana (eternal). Paramātmā is the root of the ātmā, and Krishna is the root of Bhagavān in an ontological manner, analogous to how the Sun is the root of the sunlight.

Ontological relationships, however, have an implied, non-literal chronology. The Sun, for example, has an implied status of being historically prior to the sunlight, although this chronology is not literal. Similarly, there is an implied chronology in the unfolding of the original One Entity (Govinda) into various forms, and eventually even into the jīva-ātmā entities such as us. Therefore chronological descriptions are helpful for illustrating the ontological status, but the chronology is merely implicit within the ontological status, it is not a literal reality under chronological control.


Being Open to Learn Through Humility: Part 2 “The Glory of Humility, and Pride Precedes a Fall”
→ Karnamrita.das's blog

Author: 
Karnamrita Das

(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 if you don't want to listen, mute your speakers.)
Pride and humility photo Pride4_zpsda4b6360.jpg
We continue exploring what could be called the “glory of humility” in this blog with an emphasis that pride precedes a fall. I find much to celebrate about someone who is modest in their attitude, yet competent, and—or—hardworking and sincere. Such a person shines in whatever they do, whether as a great leader, or street sweeper. Even though you won’t find humility or modesty listed on the qualities desired for a job applicant, this quality has always been appreciated, and even more so today since modesty seems extremely rare—even quaint, or archaic to some.

Part of humility is also being authentic and honest in our life—or in our conditioned identity, work, and family, etc., neither vainly proud, nor full of self-loathing. Being authentic means being a balanced human being with a good understanding of one’s nature and a feeling of dependence on God. Unfortunately with the decline of good families and spiritual values many children are raised with glaring deficiencies and poor attitudes that as adults they try to over compensate for. I speak from experience.

With television, magazines, and frenzied social media all hungry for sensational stories, coupled with a busy population awash in (mis)information and infinite entertainment distractions, a “sound bite culture” has been created without much depth, but with much money invested in promoting it. Fame, though still rare, may be easily conferred on someone for insignificant reasons, and is often pursued for its own sake, rather than given, unsought, as an acknowledgement for special skills or good qualities.

On the other hand, persons who do have the advantages of beauty, wealth, social position, or acting or athletic ability, can be full of pride, conceit, boasting, or unwarranted audaciousness. Those in the limelight have special responsibilities because, as the Gita teaches us

read more

Vaishnavas and Muslims Discuss Peacebuilding in 5th Annual Dialogue
→ ISKCON News

The fifth annual Vaishnava-Muslim Interfaith Dialogue was held on Saturday April 19th this year in the Washington D.C. area. After covering topics such as the name of God and “What do we Love When We Love Our God?” during previous years’ meetings, this year’s focused on peace and peacebuilding within the Vaishnava and Muslim traditions. Twenty participants attended, including professors, scholars and religious leaders.

New Sanga Initiative Inspires North American Youth
→ ISKCON News

New youth organization The Sanga Initiative just launched in October of last year, but it’s already inspiring North American youth to pursue big ideals – building relationships, offering service to ISKCON, and setting the foundation to become future leaders in their communities. The Sanga Initiative hopes to hit the ground running because it already has a sizeable base of members.

Wednesday, April 23rd, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

Dubai, UAE

Clothes Vs. None

I’m not the only one in free flowing loose attire.  At the international airport at Dubai, you see plenty of Orthodox wear that isn’t necessarily square.  There’s the Islamic clothes, for men it’s head gear in white, with long gown to match.  Some men sport the lungi, a draped from the waist down comfortable cloth, and then a white chaddar wrapped around the upper torso, folded over on the left shoulder.  Some women wear the traditional black, some with the burqa over the entire head.

As a Hare Krishna monk, I don’t stand out as unique any more, unless I’m walking in the prairie country or the mountains which I’m quite excited about for the coming May.   Common place in these areas are coveralls and denims, and where you hardly see a lady’s dress, that seems to be something of the past. 

Back in the airport you see the signs for the passengers’ washrooms where you see the symbols of the human figurines, one with a dress and one with pants.  The male’s room shows the form with the pants, but that doesn’t necessarily apply to an airport like Dubai’s where the genders seem to cross borders when it comes to dress style. 

Look!  There’s another guy in robes, a solid dark brown material worn by a Southeast Asian who happens to be a Buddhist monk. 

Whatever the duds, it’s mostly needed to cover up embarrassing figures and conceal bad body odour from being stuck on a plane for hours.  Thank God for clothes, whether it be a dress or pants.  Thank God that Adam and Eve came up with something practical after realizing the naked truth.  Thank Providence that the naga babas (naked sages) of the Himalayas have their caves to wear as their clothes.  We might, however, learn something from their being beyond the bodily concept.  I am not this body, I have a body, and I will shed it like I do my clothes. 

I am spirit. 

May the Source be with you!

0 KM

Don’t be proud of being a strict Vegetarian
→ The Spiritual Scientist

It is wrong, however, to think that simply by becoming a vegetarian one can avoid transgressing the laws of nature. Vegetables also have life, and while it is nature's law that one living being is meant to feed on another, for human beings the point is to recognize the Supreme Lord. Thus one should not be proud of being a strict vegetarian.

- Srila Prabhupada, Sri Isopanishad Mantra 1

How to build good relationships
→ Matsya Avatar das adhikari




PART II
The loss of awareness of our original essence results in a deep dissatisfaction and inner deterioration. People do not behave in a bad manner because they just wish so, rather because they are dissatisfied within.
How can we help people to feel satisfied?
Sensitiveness is not enough to empathize with the others so knowledge and discipline are required.
What about those people who do not even show sensitiveness?
We may learn to acquire, develop, find sensitiveness, which in Latin is called pietas. Sensitiveness can be found in atman, our spiritual matrix. We cannot trust the mind because when external circumstances change, our mental frame modifies consequently. For this reason we have to help people to start an inner search, to rediscover their real self. In this way, by developing such awareness, we can face the situations that otherwise could have become our limits, according to the changeable circumstances of life.
Our relations should not depend on external circumstances, we ought to learn to overcome them.
A great daily effort within needs to be done if we want to achieve this target. By conquering the inner enemies one after another, we lead ourselves to steadiness, tolerance, peacefulness. By practicing such attitude we learn not to react automatically to events, provocations, offences, abuses.
A person needs to modify one’s point of view. One may wear a heavy shield to protect oneself, but it will not be strong enough because it is only by switching and elevating our point of view that we reach a steady and broad inner confidence.
We miss a great deal of life which cannot be reproduced in the present span of time, if we carry on to identify as real what real is not. By modifying our point of view, our efforts, our dedication towards such an elevated mission will unveil to us the meaning of living.
It is not easy to succeed because we were born with a superficial mental attitude, with prejudices and tendencies acquired through behaviors we have brought back from previous lives. Performance of actions are pressing from our subconscious and lead us to repeat the same old mistakes. Therefore we need great care and attention to avoid circumstances that may put us at risk.
A person does not learn by punishment, rather by improving through education on an ethical and spiritual level, so that one may distinguish and filter between experience and its interpretation and between experience and reaction to events.