Sunday, February 9th, 2014
The Journey Home Published in Tamil
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Friday, February 7th, 2014
→ The Walking Monk
Spiritual But Not Religious
Here we are in India, the land of dharma. Maha Mantra, the monk from Toronto, and I are joined by Fil and Mukunda, readying ourselves in Nodia, New Delhi's arm or suburb for the two hour trip to Vrindavan.
Lokanath Swami, our host from Maharastra has for years headed up a ministry for padayatra, which means, "festival on foot”. He has successfully seen to a pilgrimage involving a group of walkers, and a pair of oxen pulling murtis of Chaitanya and Nityananda, the 16th century revolutionaries promoting mantra culture. This endeavor has circled India several times.
Lokanath Swami, is physically a monk with a youthful demeanor, however, numerically he is in ascendancy to the point where he's looking for a padayatra successor. While he was showing me around the new construction in progress, Noida’s temple, which is already looking gorgeous, He asked if I could take the lead on the ministry. This is not the first time he's asking me. I’m touched that he has the confidence in me, but being a head for the creative arts team called VANDE, was the reason for the decline of the offer.
Our hour long time together in viewing the new facility in Noida, while having parlance on padayatra, made it clear that we are both engrossed in growing and expanding a more Vedic world throughout, not only constructing of temples (that’s his department), but through the humble act of walking. "Vedantic" is the word used by Phillip Goldberg, author of an article, in the time of India of yesterday, on America's view on religion. I browsed through the paper as we drove on the Yamuna Express en route to Vrindavan, and happy to note the expressway is well maintained. In the article, research by Gallup Harris and Pear discovered a trend in the U.S. It appears the reality is that "Many religions can lead to eternal life.” But common also is the notion that many people prefer to be in the category of "spiritual but not religious” (SBNR).
I found it interesting when he said every reputable analyst says that access to India's spiritual teachings has been a central factor.
May the Source be with you!
6 KM
Sunday, February 9th, 2014
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A Recorded Conversation With Srila Prabhupada And Myself
→ travelingmonk.com
Nityananda-trayodasi Evening, February 12, San Diego
Giriraj Swami
It is the same message: “Chant Krishna’s name, worship Krishna, accept Krishna as your life and soul.” But the people Srila Prabhupada was approaching did not even know who Krishna was. The people Lord Nityananda approached in Navadvipa to chant Krishna’s name, worship Him, and accept Him as their life and soul knew who Krishna was; they knew what Nityananda Prabhu was saying. But in America and Europe, nobody knew who Krishna was. So that simple request had to be explained in detail, and thus Srila Prabhupada wrote so many books to explain Krishna and His name and His service. It was the same message that Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu asked Lord Nityananda to deliver to everyone, whether pious or sinful, but in an expanded form, because the people Srila Prabhupada was approaching had no idea who Krishna was or what the significance of His holy name was or how to worship Him. Srila Prabhupada had to explain the message, but the essential message was the same.
Introduction to Woody Agriculture
→ View From a New Vrindaban Ridge
New Vrindaban Daily darsan February 13, 2014.
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit
I pray that I may engage in the service of the moving and non-moving residents of Vrndavana. What are Brahma and the other demigods in comparison to them? The residents of Vrndavana are more glorious. They are very dear to Vraja’s king. Their forms are eternal, spiritual and full of nectar. Their glories are limitless. They are the root that sprouts into the bliss of the Upanisads.
[Source : Nectarean Glories of Sri Vrindavana-dhama by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati Thakura, 1-61 Translation.]
For Each And Every Bead
→ Japa Group
If we listen to class, we will be attentive and able to absorb....when we perform some service for Krsna, we will be able to chant His Holy names and think of the Lord more easily.
Japa affects all the other aspects of sadhana and service so we need to give our chanting the best possible effort and love we can for each and every bead.
The bigger picture
→ KKSBlog
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, March 2011, Melbourne, Australia, Lecture)
When we look at all the devastation in the world, all the pain and suffering, then we think, “It’s too much! It is! It really is!”
The only way to rise above it is to look at the bigger reality – how there is eternity and how these temporary ups and downs are not so important. We should ascend this temporary reality. We should not allow ourselves to become so involved in this reality. So again and again, we have to remind ourselves that through our embodiment, we are inclined to become involved in this temporary reality. It is difficult! We cannot see the whole picture. We are like a small piece on a chess board – all we see is our own square. We don’t see the whole board.
But we have to always remember, “No, no! It’s part of a bigger plan and Krsna is simply purifying the living beings and bringing them back to him.” The living being is going through this cycle of birth and death, and when he gets a chance to express independent desire, it will be taken away. In this way, slowly the living being is being cured from this particular conditioning so that he can return to Krsna, in the eternal spiritual world. Once he is there, it is like he has been away only for a moment. Only for a moment! All this time in the material world… only a moment in eternity! So we have to practise again and again to see the bigger picture!
Mahavishnu Swami’s Facebook Wall 2014-02-14 21:44:54
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Ipoh-Thaipusam 2014 Thannir Panthal
→ ISKCON Malaysia Photos
Ipoh-Thaipusam 2014 Thannir Panthal
→ ISKCON Malaysia Photos
Ipoh-Thaipusam 2014 Thannir Panthal
→ ISKCON Malaysia Photos
Ipoh-Thaipusam 2014 Thannir Panthal
→ ISKCON Malaysia Photos
Ipoh-Thaipusam 2014 Thannir Panthal
→ ISKCON Malaysia Photos
Ipoh-Thaipusam 2014 Thannir Panthal
→ ISKCON Malaysia Photos
Ipoh-Thaipusam 2014 Thannir Panthal
→ ISKCON Malaysia Photos
Ipoh-Thaipusam 2014 Thannir Panthal
→ ISKCON Malaysia Photos
Ipoh-Thaipusam 2014 Thannir Panthal
→ ISKCON Malaysia Photos
Ipoh-Thaipusam 2014 Thannir Panthal
→ ISKCON Malaysia Photos
Mahavishnu Swami’s Facebook Wall 2014-02-14 21:36:22
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Devotees in Moscow celebrate Nityananda-trayodasi while preparing for a court battle for their temple (Album 99 photos)
→ Dandavats.com
Free Speech
→ Tattva - See inside out
Silence, it’s said, is the art of conversation. We often struggle with a quiet moment. When it does arise, most will instinctively grab their phone in a drastic attempt to engage their mind. To see someone sitting and doing absolutely nothing is rare! Even more unusual is to be with another person and not say anything. It feels awkward and uneasy. Yet silence is imperative – it forces us to understand, assimilate, reflect and think deeply about what is actually going on. Often times, however, in order to frantically fill those redundant moments we often end up generating substandard content to share with the world: meaningless, speculative and shoddy communication.
Don’t get me wrong, there is definitely room for chitchat, niceties, and light-hearted exchange between humans. It would be unnatural to jump to the other extreme of strictly regulating our every word. The Bhagavad-gita, however, offers the over-arching model to guide speech. Words, Krishna recommends, should be truthful, pleasing and beneficial. How much of our written and verbal communication would make it through this filter? Along with freedom of speech, it may be worthwhile to remind people of their longstanding right to freedom of thought.
“Wise men speak because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something” (Plato)
Glorious Ratha Yatra in Mumbai (Album 678 photos)
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Srila Prabhupada’s Daughters Get Together (Album 8 photos)
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ISKCON Moscow Rents New Space, Goes to Court
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Home Kirtan Program, Tokyo (Album 118 photos)
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Christians, Muslims, and Jews Come Together to Start the First Interfaith High School in the US
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US West Coast Vaishnavi Retreat
→ ISKCON News
Twenty-four Hour Kirtana Starts for Sri Sri Panca-tattva in ISKCON Mayapur
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The one Srimad-Bhagavatam verse that vividly describes Lord Caitanya’ appearance tells how this incarnation of Krishna has descended in Kali-yuga “accompanied by His associates, servants, weapons and confidential companions [the Panca-tattva]” and how He is worshiped by “intelligent persons” who “perform congregational chanting.”
Kirtan Academy Retreat (Album 112 photos)
→ Dandavats.com
The Bhaktivedanta Players in Mumbai (Album 20 photos)
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Visiting the samadhis of my godbrothers in Mayapura and thoughts of samadhis of the future
→ SivaramaSwami.com
The post Visiting the samadhis of my godbrothers in Mayapura and thoughts of samadhis of the future appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.
Valentine day Hare Krishna quotes (Love of God)
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit
Effect of Loving God :
Goal of Human Form Of Life :
Love of God :
Real Result of Devotional Service :
The real result of devotional service is the awakening of pure love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, which continues under all circumstances.
Srimad Bhagavatam 5.24.19,
Srila Prabhupada.
Result of Inoffensive Chanting :
When one is accustomed to inoffensive chanting, then his fruit is that he is promoted to pure love of Godhead or Prema.
Srila Prabhupada.
Eligibility for Serving Radha and Krishna :
In our conditional stage, we cannot worship Radha and Krishna. Radha-Krishna-seva is for them who have developed spontaneous love for God.
Srila Prabhupada.
Love :
Life without love is useless and poor they say, Appoint me in thy service, Oh Lord with Love as my pay.
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura.
Followers of Srimad Bhagavatam :
Srimad Bhagavatam does not allow its followers to ask anything from God except eternal love towards Him.
Bhaktivinoda Thakur.
Love of God :
Love of God is transcendental to liberation [mukti], and thus it is called the fifth stage of spiritual realization, above the stage of liberation.
Srimad Bhagavatam Introduction.
Means of Awakening All Good Fortune :
Simply by chanting the holy name of Lord Krishna, one can be freed from all undesirable habits. This is the means of awakening all good fortune and initiating the flow of waves of love for Krishna.
Chaitanya caritamrita Antya Lila 20.11