Planet ISKCON

Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 3.5.11-13… Vidura says it so well

“Who among us ever ceases to be thirsty for hearing about Krishna, whose sacred feet are adored by the gods? When this sound enters a person’s ears, it severs their affection for all the homely catalysts of material existence. Yes, your dark-skinned friend Vyāsa did describe the qualities of the All-Attractive in his Mahābhārata — using stories of worldly pleasures to attract the minds of common people to hear from and about Hari. If someone nourishes their interest in hearing Hari Kathā, it will cause them to lost interest in everything else. The pleasure of always remembering Hari immediately destroys all sadness.”

Vidura asked Maitreya many popular questions about the universe. Maitreya replied, “haven’t you heard the answers to these questions? Vyāsa has recently written about them in Mahābhārata.”

Vidura replied, “I’ve heard but I am not entirely satisfied.”

Maitreya: Why?

Vidura: The answers are not sufficiently connected to Krishna.

Maitreya: But Krishna is a central character of Mahābhārata.

Vidura: Yes, that’s true. Your friend Vyāsa has given Krishna in Mahābhārata… but not in a very direct and clear way. Mahābhārata is clouded with so many ordinary stories… so much “packaging” and “advertising” and not enough of the actual commodity – Krishna.

I don’t blame him for writing it like that. It was wise. By including all these stories he attracts the attention of ordinary people. And then, once their attention is attracted, he delivers sections like Bhagavad-Gītā, which contain the essence of Krishna Kathā.

And once ordinary people hear these sections, if they pay a little attention to them… the more they pay attention the more they will gain interest in Krishna and lose interest in everything else, everything which causes their entanglement in mundane existence. So the Mahābhārata will be effective for the ordinary person.

But I want something more.

I want something that is 100% Krishna-kathā, because I already have no interest in other topics. I can never get enough Krishna Kathā.

~ ~ ~

Śrīmad Bhāgavatam is history’s first attempt to provide a radically condensed and saturated presentation of Krishna Kathā for the sake of people like Vidura, who are already directly interested in Krishna.

Śrī Caitanya Mahaprabhu and his followers have further condensed and sweetened it in their commentaries and expansive works.

We want to be born into (or moved into) a situation where such works are the dominant art form and entertainment that constantly saturates our ears. We are tired of watching hitopadesh type Lord of the Rings and Star Wars tales where Krishna is only very indirectly and allegorically present.

And certainly we are dead tired of coming into situations where Krishna Kathā is supposed to be spoken, but instead we are served reheated leftovers of grāmya-kathā in the form of psychology, astrology, sociology, astronomy, and plain old prajalpa.

We want our Krishna-kathā, and we want it now!

Happily picking many kinds of flowers from the trees and vines, Radha and Krishna praise the forest of Vrinda?vana. They bathe and sport in the lakes of Vrinda?vana forest and They play with the birds and other creatures there. Who would not serve Vrinda?vana forest, the supreme transcendental abode?

[Source : Nectarean Glories of Sri Vrindavana-dhama by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati Thakura, Sataka-2, Text-10, Translation.]

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Kadamba Kanana Swami visited Cape Town from 28 March to 4 April 2014. Please find below recordings of lectures and kirtans from the various programs that he participated in.

You may listen online by clicking the “play” button on the media-player or download by right-clicking on a title and “save target as”.

Lectures

KKS_Cape Town_30 March 2014_SB 10.39.39

KKS_Cape Town_30 March 2014_Lecture_Sunday Feast

KKS_Cape Town_31 March 2014_SB 9.5.1

KKS_Cape Town_1 April 2014_SB 9.5.6

KKS_Cape Town_1 April 2014_Lecture_Evening Program

KKS_Cape Town_2 April 2014_SB 9.5.7

KKS_Cape Town_2 April 2014_BYS_Lecture

KKS_Cape Town_3 April 2014_SB 9.5.9

KKS_Cape Town_3 April 2014_Lecture_Evening Program

Kirtans

KKS_Cape Town_30 March 2014_Bhajan_JRM

KKS_Cape Town_30 March 2014_Bhajan_Sunday Feast

KKS_Cape Town_30 March 2014_Kirtan_Gaura Aarti

KKS_Cape Town_1 April 2014_Bhajan_JRM

KKS_Cape Town_2 April 2014_BYS_Bhajan

KKS_Cape Town_3 April 2014_Bhajan_Evening Program

It was in 1652 that Dutch colonialist, Jan van Riebeeck, reached the native pastoral land of the southernmost tip of the African continent. It was due to the optimism of establishing a supply camp for ships en-route to the East that this area was known as The Cape of Good Hope! It was here that the Dutch East India Company set up camp and developed the region to what eventually became known as the city of Cape Town.

Since the turn of the 21^st century, another Dutch descendant has been making inroads into the development of this region but this time, on a spiritual level. Kadamba Kanana Swami has been referred to as the ‘favourite devotee of Cape Town’ as a result of his long-term dedication to the yatra. It was also nice for me to meet Maharaj here as it was at this temple that I met him for the first time in 2003.

Maharaj travelled from Sydney, Australia and arrived in Cape Town late on Friday, 28 March. After a day of rest to recover from the long journey and jet lag, the first program he did was at the house of a disciple on Sunday morning. Due to the intimate nature of the audience, his lecture was based on Krsna’s Vrndavan pastimes from the 10^th canto of Srimad Bhagavatam and he spoke deeply on the guru-disciple relationship. The day continued at the temple with the Sunday Feast Program where the lecture focused on topics such as knowledge, guilt and attachment.

The daily morning Srimad Bhagavatam classes were from canto 9, chapter 5 entitled Durvasa Muni’s Life Spared and covered subjects like offenses, austerities, forgiveness and offering respect, amongst others.

Tuesday (1 April) evening’s lecture could be entitled The Good Times Ahead where Maharaj spoke of the imminent doom of technology and how it will serve as a catalyst for a shift to village life that is based on the teachings of Bhagavad-gita.

On Wednesday, Maharaj presented a lecture entitled The Modern Age, at the Bhakti Yoga Society weekly meeting at the University of Cape Town. The final program in Cape Town took place on Thursday night where the lecture began with descriptions of the mercy of Panca Tattva and then he continued to speak about faith in spiritual in life!

This was Part One of the visit to Cape Town. On Friday, Maharaj flew to Durban and then drove inland to the town of Newcastle to participate in their Ratha Yatra Festival (5 April). Today, he gave class at the Sri Sri Radhanatha temple in Durban at their pre-Rama Naumi Festival. Tomorrow (7 April), he will return to Cape Town and spend the rest of the week there.

Here are photos from all the programs mentioned above. If  you cannot view the slide-show below, then please visit flickr.

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https://flic.kr/s/aHsjWiakja

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I received this email from a senior devotee friend few days ago. I have read it twice and I find it absolutely amazing, fulfilling and true. The letter has everything that a devotee could ask for – hope, affection, guidance and love.

Letter from H.H. Radhanath Swami Maharaj

To the Worshipable Devotees of Sri Sri Radha GopinathBrahmacari Ashram and Congregation,

Please accept my respectful obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. I am very grateful to receive the very kind letters, which many of you have sent to me.Thank you very much. I have been traveling quite extensively. At present I am at Purandara Misra
Prabhu’s home near Viareggio in Italy. Last night we
had a program on a high mountain in a dense forest of
olive trees. We were gathered amidst large ancient
rocks and beautiful caves. I was very much remembering
Gahvarvan in Vrajadham. In that natural, austere
atmosphere everyone was very pleased to worship Sri
Radha Vrajasundara by hearing Their glories and
chanting Their Sacred names.
I cannot properly express to you the major impact that
all of you are having on thousands of peoples lives all
over the world. It is certainly difficult to believe
how Srila Prabhupada is allowing you to be so very
instrumental in inspiring faith and hope in devotees
hearts. I beg of you, be very careful to protect the
sacred service, which you are being blessed with.
Please remain humble and united under all
circumstances. Kali will present every possible reason
for you to disagree and feel enmity for each other. We
must take shelter of the higher principle of bhakti.
The root cause of all of our problems is that we want
to be the cnjoyer. We must humbly surrender to the
precious jewel that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has blessed
us with. The divine consciousness of being the sincere
servant of the servant of the servant.
While performing japa, bhajan and kirtan strive to be
enthusiastic and attentive. Carefully guard against the
ten offences. They are like highway robbers always
waiting to plunder you of the all the fruits of your
devotional service. Seek shelter of the Holy Names from
the core of your hearts. Desperately beg for humility,
honesty and a deep desire for pure bhakti.
Continuously, allow the nectarean Ganga of the Holy
Name to wash away all sins and water the seed of Divine
Love. May your sincere chanting of the Maha Mantra
attract the most precious mercy of Sri Radharani. Hari
Katha will nourish your heart with the unlimited mercy
of Sri Guru and Gauranga. Each day bathe your
consciousness in Srila Prabhupada’s books and our
Vaisnava Sastras. Earnestly pray for genuine eagerness
to hear and chant the divine messages of our
Worshipable Parampara.
Absorb your consciousness for Krishna’s pleasure in
everything you do at every moment of your lives. Be
enthusiastic to perform each and every service you are
given with sincere gratitude. Complaining is the
pastime of the mind immersed in petty selfishness.
Meditate upon the humility of our beloved Acaryas.
Although they are eternally immersed in the sweetest
rasas of Vrindaban’s Lila, they consider themselves
lower than the worm in stool, paying their heartfelt
dandavats to every devotee, feeling themselves to be
the most fallen, praying with the heart of an
insignificant beggar. Without sincerely striving to
imbibe this sacred mood of humility, our knowledge will
remain theoretical and will expect to be worshipped
while seated on the ornamented throne of the material
intelligence.
Please, never forget the infinite causeless mercy that
Srila Prabhupada has bestowed upon you. He is your
eternal well wisher. His mercy is all that we are made
of. As the preeminent Guru of your life, Srila
Prabhupada is eager to shower His Divine Grace upon
you.
Always remain faithful to his Divine Mission.
Never lend your ears to those who try to delude you by
the propaganda that they possess the key to something
higher.
Dance and chant together in great joy. Study together.
Preach together. Honor prasadam together. Worship the
mood of being a servant and see all others as your
master. Honor all vaisnavas and vaisnavis with great
care and from the heart.
In a hundred year old building in Chowpatty, Bombay,
Srila Prabhupada is miraculously revealing the
transcendental abode of Sri Sri Radha Gopinath. Please,
remain united, faithful, humble and pure. Throughout
the world; many are depending upon you.
With whatever insignificant sincerity I have, I place
my lowly head at your holy feet and beg you to take
these words as your life and soul.
I pray that Sri Sri Radha Gopinath may forever bless
you with Their causeless mercy. I hope this letter
meets you in the best of health.
Your servant,
Radhanath Swami hare krishna

26/03/2014 H.H.Sivarama Swami maharaj SB -

Srila Prabhupada reading outside the original New Vrindaban farmhouse, 1969.

Srila Prabhupada Expresses “Great Hope” & Encourages “Gradual Development” of New Vrindaban – February 1972.

From a series of letters written by Srila Prabhupada outlining his vision for New Vrindaban.

Thanks to Vanipedia for the source material.

February 28,1972

My dear Satyabhama,

Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of January 24, 1972, and I am very much pleased that you and your good husband are developing the New Vrindaban land very peacefully, and I think that you both are perfectly suited to remaining there and managing things very nicely, and you may gradually bring that New Vrindaban property to its full potential by stages, and that will please me very much. I always had great hopes for New Vrindaban, and gradually we are developing, as I can understand from Hayagriva’s recent Cow Protection Report.

You are experiencing some doubts, that you cannot believe that the Krishna from Krishna Book can be the Supreme Personality of Godhead, that it must be like some fairy-tale. To clear up these things the best remedy is to discuss amongst yourselves all members regularly all our books in classes, then these doubts will be killed. Without reading books it becomes hackneyed and such obnoxious ideas trouble us. Our thoughts are always changing, that is the nature of the mind, so you cannot expect that even the great saintly persons are free from thoughts coming and going. But after thinking there is feeling and willing, willing being the stage of putting the thoughts into action. So if we are able to employ our intelligence, then we kill the thoughts before they become manifest in activity, but because we are so much inclined to enjoy something unintelligently, we have to therefore daily sharpen our intelligence faculty by reading and discussing and preaching to others. In this way we are able very easily to defeat all challengers to our philosophy and everything becomes very clear as it is revealed from different angles of vision. Krishna makes promise to one who is striving to serve Him sincerely that He will give such devotee the intelligence by which he may come to Him. Therefore we should always pray that Krishna may kindly provide me the intelligence to kill all demons of doubt, and because He understands the heart of His sincere devotee, immediately He gives assistance. For my part, for example, I am absolutely certain that anyone who challenges me I can defeat you. Why is that? Because Krishna gives me the intelligence.

Your idea to start a nursery school in New Vrindaban is very good proposal and you may immediately try for it by cooperatively consulting amongst yourselves how to do it. But one thing, we are teaching Bhakti by practical attendance and by decreasing playing desire or drive. If the children simply do as their elders are doing, that is, regularly attending mangal arati, rising early, chanting, eating prasadam, looking at books, worshiping the __ like that, then automatically they will become trained up in right way and there is no need for special program for education. Children will always do as they see others doing, so if by the good association of their parents and the other older persons, they will come out nicely fixed in Krishna Consciousness, and because they are not spoiled by an artificial standard of sense gratification, they will think that performing austerities is great fun, just like in India we see the young brahmacaris are sent out to beg for their spiritual master to teach them humility and non-attachment, and they spend the whole day in the hot sun and come back at night, take a handful of rice, and sleep without blankets on the hard floor—and they take this type of life as very much enjoyable and great fun. This is how we train our children in Krishna Consciousness, just be keeping them always attending our regular program and associating with Krishna devotees, teaching them in spiritual realization by giving them the idea that sacrifice and tapasya for achieving the highest goal of life is a very nice way of life. Not that we shall give them many games for playing, these so-called scientific methods of learning are artificial, unnecessary, and on the whole I do not have much trust in this Montessori system or any other such system of teaching. Your idea for having altars to train the children in deity worship is very nice.

So far your Jagannatha deities which have become badly cracked, it is better to replace them, but if that is not possible then you may repair. The story of Lord Jagannatha is like this: Once King Indradyumna wanted to establish the picture in the temple of Krishna, Subhadra, & Balarama coming in a car or chariot during solar eclipse to Kuruksetra so he employed Visvakarma to carve them from wood, and actually the carving was going on behind closed doors, but the King was very impatient to see, so Visvanatha (Visvakarma) stopped, but the King was satisfied with them half-finished.

Hoping this meets you in good health.

Your ever well-wisher,

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

ACBS/sda

(Kadamba Kanana Swami,  28 August 2013, Germany, Srimad Bhagavatam 10.90.48)

Krsna is depicted as victorious. He is the shelter of all living beings. So yes, surely Krsna is also shelter for us.

Where else is there shelter? We need shelter but where will we find it? Restlessly, we continue to wander on and have not found peace of mind anywhere. Where will we find shelter other than in Krsna, who is sushmita, always sweetly smiling, and so attractive?

Please worship and serve this effulgent transcendental couple enjoying transcendental amorous pastimes together in this grove of Vrinda?van, His complexion the color of sapphires and Hers the color of gold, He holding a splendid flute and She a red long-stemmed toy lotus, He with a splendid peacock-feather crown and She with long splendid braids, He dressed in splendid yellow garments and She in splendid red garments.

[Source : Nectarean Glories of Sri Vrindavana-dhama by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati Thakura, Sataka-2, Text-9, Translation.]

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Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur describes the Salvation Army band marching through the streets of the western world as the first strains of Sankirtan in the West.

Sajjana Tosani 1885

Also he says “Lord Caitanya did not advent Himself to liberate only a few men of India. Rather his main objective was to emancipate all living entities of all countries throughout the entire universe and preach the eternal religion.”

Enjoy the movie,

your servant Parasuram Das

Shankari hanging out in her OSU Veterinary Hospital recovery stall.

Early morning on the 14^th of March, Shankari, one of the milking cows in the New Vrindaban Goshalla, was found in the milking barn lying in an unusual spot. Lalita Gopi & Venkata Prabhus encouraged her to get up to no avail & knew something must be wrong. They gave her grain & water & kept a close eye on her for the rest of the day to see if she would move on her own. Later on in the day, she got up on her own & they observed that she had a bit of a limp. It was not immediately apparent what part of her was injured – the leg or the shoulder – as she was still putting her weight on it at that time & was let out to pasture which most certainly aggravated the injury.

On Monday the 17^th, one of the community doctors came by to take a look at her. He advised the cowherds to monitor her leg closely by measuring it daily for signs of increased swelling, keep her confined inside, &  isolate her from the other cows to prevent them from touching her & thus aggravating her injury further. He said to call the local vet, if there was any sign of it getting worse.

On Tuesday the 18^th, Lalita Gopi noticed that the swelling had increased by a half inch & decided to call Dr. Moore, the cows’ usual vet, who was unfortunately not able to make it out until a few days later. In the meantime, Ananda Vidya Prabhu went to Wheeling to pick up another cow vet, Dr. Rana & some first aid supplies for Shankari. Dr. Rana identified that Shankari’s leg was fractured. With the help of Dr. Rana, they bandaged Shankari’s leg & gave her some cow-sized aspirin to reduce the pain & prevent her injury from getting worse until Dr. Moore could come out.

An x-ray of Shankari’s leg before the operation.

Dr. Moore came out on Friday the 21^st & x-rayed Shankari’s leg. He confirmed that it was broken. Dr. Moore contacted the doctors at the OSU Veterinary Hospital in Columbus & they said that surgery was the best treatment option for her. With just a cast alone, the doctors gave her 0-5% chance of recovery, whereas with surgery her chance at recovery was 50%. Typically this type of injury for a cow would be a death sentence, but by Krishna’s mercy, Shankari was fortunate to be in the care of devotees who would go out of their way to do whatever they can to aid in her recovery.

(left): Murti Prabhu looking at Shankari in the trailer after she was loaded up. (right): Shankari loaded up on the cow stretcher at OSU

On Saturday,the cowherds arranged a divided stall for Shankari in the milking barn to keep her isolated from the other cows & allow her to peacefully rest. By Sunday night all the logistics of transporting Shankari to OSU were worked out & first thing Monday morning Rafael & Murti Prabhu drove her out to Columbus to be treated.

An x-ray of Shankari’s leg after the surgery with all the pins, plates & rods in place

At OSU the surgeon decided that the treatment method that would give Shankari the best chance at full recovery was to put two metal plates/screws & a rod in her leg as the break had produced many fragments. The surgery was performed on Tuesday the 25^th.

(left): Malati Prabhu chanting Hare Krsna to Shankari (center): Malati Prabhu talking with Dr. Andy (right): Dr. Andy Neihaus, Shankari’s good surgeon

On Wednesday, Malati Prabhu & I stopped by to visit Shankari at the OSU where she was recovering from her surgery. We brought her some maha-water from Radha-Nathabara at the Columbus Krishna House. Malati Prabhu chanted Hare Krishna for her benefit, as well as, for the benefit of all the other fortunate souls at the veterinary hospital. We spoke to the surgeon, Dr. Andy Neihaus & he was very happy with Shankari’s recovery. He said she was eating & drinking normally & seemed pretty comfortable getting around in her cast. The doctor said her chance of recovery is 50% & the way things were looking Shankari will be able to go back home to heal peacefully in the holy dham within the next few days.

Shankari showing off her fancy red cast that Dr. Andy put on for her.

As of right now, Shankari is back in New Vrindaban & her healing journey has just begun. In six weeks she will have another x-ray to make a new cast & see how her healing is progressing. It will be many months before she is able to go out to pasture again. Please send a lot of love, healing energy & prayers Shankari’s way, so that if Krishna wills, she may resume her service to him for many years to come.

Shakari will be recovering in a special stall in the big barn, next to Ranaka’s office and the ox pen. She would love visitors to stop by & see her. For her safety please don’t feed her, go inside with her, give her garlands or anything else before contacting Rafael in person, by phone or email.

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Bhagavatam class: Niranjana Swami.

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I was a little agitated an hour ago. Something didn’t go the way i want. And when you are in that mood, your relationship with others isn’t really positive. And i hate that feeling when i realise i could have been better. The guilt kills you. Anyways, i was lucky to come in the association of devotees who had a kirtan night on. The holy name will fix my problems and me. Thats for sure.

2014 02 15 Prerna Festival A Date With Krishna Devamrita Swami ISKCON Chowpatty

The Art Department has been working a marathon with early mornings and late evenings to progress with sculpting the Six Goswamis.

Jananivas and Pankajanghri prabhus were recently into the TOVP to approve the final mood of Gopal Bhatta Goswami’s deity. The next step in this process will be covering it in fiberglass followed by a bronze casting.

The attention to detail by the team of artists has made the form very life-like. We look forward to the next phase!

We can notice the different stages of animal life from the invertebrates to the fully-grown human beings. These stages have been classified by the Indian sages of a scientific outlook in ten orders, viz, (1) the invertebrate, (2) testaceous or shelly, (3) vertebrate, (4) erectly vertebrate (as in the combined form of man and beast), (5) mannikin, (6) barbaric, (7) civilised, (8) wise, (9) ultra-wise and (10) destructive. These are the historical stages of jivas [souls]. According to the gradation of these stages as indications of evolution of the serving mood of the jiva soul, there are manifested the ten Incarnations of God, viz., Matsya (fish), Kurma (Turtle), Varaha (Boar), Nrishmha (Man-Lion), Vamana (Dwarf), Parasu-rama, Rama, Krishna, Buddha and Kalki, as worshippable Deities with eternal transcendental Names, Forms, Attributes and Sports.

Conversation between Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur and Albert E. Suthers, The Harmonist (Sree Sajjanatoshani), January 1929 issue.