Video of Agnideva dasa leading New Vrindaban’s 24 Hour Kirtan - June 15th, 2013.

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

Chanting Hare Krishna is so utterly simple that it is difficult. How can something simple be difficult? Because there is no faking it. Not to be crass – but it is a lot like being naked after bathing. Then there is no makeup and no clothes – so you are either beautiful or you are not. You cannot fake it. There is nothing to hide behind, because nakedness is simplicity.

So it is difficult to be beautiful when absolutely naked. Only a truly beautiful person will be beautiful in that condition.

Similarly chanting Hare Krishna is so simple, it is naked spirituality. There is no makeup and no clothing on it. Makeup is like jñāna and philosophy and clothing is like rules and relugations and rituals. These are things we can hide behind to make it seem like we are spiritually advanced, when, in fact we are not. We can follow a bunch a rules and behave just the right way, and then it looks like we are good devotees. Or we can learn a lot of words and phrases and ideas, and become good at explaining them – and then people can think we are good devotees. In this way by jñāna and karma (makeup and clothes) we can fool ourselves and others into thinking we have bhakti (beauty).

But none of these things help us chant Hare Krishna, honestly.

When it is time to chant Hare Krishna, the mind will completely lose interest in all other thoughts and feelings and completely embrace Krishna like a lover embracing her long-absent beloved at a rare opportunity of privacy. Is that what happens when you chant Hare Krishna?

Not for me, at least, not very often at all.

But this is the TRUE MEASURE of our bhakti – how passionately our heart and mind runs to embrace Krishna and drop everything else. And this is truly measured when we sit and chant Krishna names.

It is so SIMPLE – you just have to hear Krishna’s name and naturally think of Krishna as a result of hearing his name. By hearing the name your mind will flood with the image of him, the sound of him, etc, and his associates, and their activities together. Just by hearing the name, such a simple thing – just like if you hear “President Obama” you immediately get a mental image of him, etc. Similarly hearing any name (what to speak of a non-dual name) you will think of the person named. It is a very simple thing.

But our practice is so poor.

Our mind insists on thinking of other things, and makes up excuses that “this distraction is related to Krishna so its OK to think of it while I bounce around, pace around, and mouth some words with some rhythmic pacing to make sure I keep going with the mantra even though I’m paying zero attention to it.”

So, we are very useless sadhakas. Therefore we should try harder, because you should know that kripa-siddhi is EXTREMELY rare. Sādhana siddha is the standard path. In other words we will not get anywhere until we finally become less useless sadhakas. So its time to practice more seriously.

That doesn’t mean getting new clothes and makeup. It means simply forgetting everything else for a few minutes at a time, and just paying attention to the plain and simple names of Krishna for a few minutes at a time, at least.

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare.
Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma
Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare

Chanting Hare Krishna is so utterly simple that it is difficult. How can something simple be difficult? Because there is no faking it. Not to be crass – but it is a lot like being naked after bathing. Then there is no makeup and no clothes – so you are either beautiful or you are not. You cannot fake it. There is nothing to hide behind, because nakedness is simplicity.

So it is difficult to be beautiful when absolutely naked. Only a truly beautiful person will be beautiful in that condition.

Similarly chanting Hare Krishna is so simple, it is naked spirituality. There is no makeup and no clothing on it. Makeup is like jñāna and philosophy and clothing is like rules and relugations and rituals. These are things we can hide behind to make it seem like we are spiritually advanced, when, in fact we are not. We can follow a bunch a rules and behave just the right way, and then it looks like we are good devotees. Or we can learn a lot of words and phrases and ideas, and become good at explaining them – and then people can think we are good devotees. In this way by jñāna and karma (makeup and clothes) we can fool ourselves and others into thinking we have bhakti (beauty).

But none of these things help us chant Hare Krishna, honestly.

When it is time to chant Hare Krishna, the mind will completely lose interest in all other thoughts and feelings and completely embrace Krishna like a lover embracing her long-absent beloved at a rare opportunity of privacy. Is that what happens when you chant Hare Krishna?

Not for me, at least, not very often at all.

But this is the TRUE MEASURE of our bhakti – how passionately our heart and mind runs to embrace Krishna and drop everything else. And this is truly measured when we sit and chant Krishna names.

It is so SIMPLE – you just have to hear Krishna’s name and naturally think of Krishna as a result of hearing his name. By hearing the name your mind will flood with the image of him, the sound of him, etc, and his associates, and their activities together. Just by hearing the name, such a simple thing – just like if you hear “President Obama” you immediately get a mental image of him, etc. Similarly hearing any name (what to speak of a non-dual name) you will think of the person named. It is a very simple thing.

But our practice is so poor.

Our mind insists on thinking of other things, and makes up excuses that “this distraction is related to Krishna so its OK to think of it while I bounce around, pace around, and mouth some words with some rhythmic pacing to make sure I keep going with the mantra even though I’m paying zero attention to it.”

So, we are very useless sadhakas. Therefore we should try harder, because you should know that kripa-siddhi is EXTREMELY rare. Sādhana siddha is the standard path. In other words we will not get anywhere until we finally become less useless sadhakas. So its time to practice more seriously.

That doesn’t mean getting new clothes and makeup. It means simply forgetting everything else for a few minutes at a time, and just paying attention to the plain and simple names of Krishna for a few minutes at a time, at least.

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare.
Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma
Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare

"So if you neglectfully chant Hare Kṛṣṇa you become so benefited, then how much you will be benefited if you carefully chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. That should be the ideal."

Srila Prabhupada Lecture on SB 6.2.4
Vrndavana, September 8, 1975

————————
Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.3.21 during the Sunday program in Houston.

“The common man who is puffed up with his material position and does not bow down before the Deity of the Lord in the temple, or who defies temple worship without any knowledge of the science, must know that his so-called turban or crown will only succeed in further drowning him in the water of the ocean of material existence. A drowning man with a heavy weight on his head is sure to go down more swiftly than those who have no heavy weight. A foolish, puffed-up man defies the science of God and says that God has no meaning for him, but when he is in the grip of God’s law and is caught by some disease like cerebral thrombosis, that godless man sinks into the ocean of nescience by the weight of his material acquisition. Advancement of material science without God consciousness is a heavy load on the head of human society, and so one must take heed of this great warning.” (SB 2.3.21 purport)

—————————————
Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.3.21

1966 April 8:
"Chaturthi. Today the whole day and night also I stayed at Mr. Paul&'s loft. Saw Elsy to enquire about the Library of Congress card. No very encouraging. Evening there was meeting. Seven boys & girls attended. Contribution $5.00 and some fruits also. Expenditure - Bus fare .30."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1966

1968 April 8: "If your present paintings are not acceptable to the general public, I do not mind; they are fools. You continue trying your best to make your pictures as far they can be nice looking, but not to satisfy the senses of the rascal public. "
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1970 April 8: "By the grace of Srila Prabhupada my preaching work is coming out very successful. So you can help by sending as many mrdangas and Navadvipa made karatalas as you can because we require them for our Sankirtana movement all over the world."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1972 April 8: "This discrimination is spiritually illegal. Many hundreds of my foreign disciples will be coming to India in the near future and it will be the misfortune of the administrative officials of Puri if so many qualified devotees of the Lord are not allowed into the temple, simply because they have taken their birth in a faraway place."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1972 April 8:"MEMO TO ALL ISKCON TEMPLE PRESIDENTS: I AUTHORIZE YOU TO DISREGARD ANY DECISION FROM THE GBC. ALL GBC ORDERS ARE SUSPENDED HEREWITH BY ME UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1973 April 8: "Your program for traveling and holding festivals at schools is approved by me. Especially you must try to convince these students to join us. There is nothing else that will save the world from destruction and it is our responsibility to recruit these young educated boys and girls before they become spoiled by the degraded conditions of this society."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

1974 April 8: "If there is genuine preaching the local people will be attracted, so long the preacher has no self-motivation, but simply chants and preaches. This is how I started. Sit down and simply talk about Krishna and organize the local people."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

1975 April 8: "Study our books very carefully and then try to write something. Do not concoct your own theories. This is not the process. Write just as you have heard from the Spiritual Master and nothing else. Otherwise, your writing is useless."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

Vedic knowledge was originally imparted by the Lord into the heart of Brahma, the first created living being, and Brahma in his turn disseminated this knowledge to his sons and disciples, who have handed it down through history.

- Srila Prabhupada, Sri Isopanishad Mantra 1

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"Yes, the nine devotional process and how, by each process, one becomes perfect, just like Pariksit Maharaja, simply hearing, and Sukadeva Gosvami, simply chanting, reciting Bhagavatam. So both of them got salvation. Laksmi, she is simply pada-sevanam, giving massage to the lotus feet of the Lord. Arjuna simply made friendship with Krsna. Hanuman simply worked as a hard servant. He doesn't know what He is... "Lord Ramacandra wants it." Then it is done. Jump over. He does not know any philosophy. He has got bodily strength, so whatever Ramacandra says, he'll do. He was asked to bring that medicine for Laksmana. He did not know where to find it. "Take this whole mountain." (laughter) He was not intelligent. "Fight! We have to fight with Ravana. Then block his whole city by throwing stones and trees and dirt." Everything became blocked. They could not move. So in one side he is born of animal life, he had no higher intelligence, but his staunch desire, that "I shall serve Lord Ramacandra..." By that... Only this desire made him perfect." Read more ›

The post April 8th, 2014 – Rama Navami Darshan appeared first on Mayapur.com.

INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS Founder-Ācārya: His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda The following lecture on the Pastimes of Sri Ramacandra was given by His Hosliness Bhakti Charu Swami in ISKCON Chowpatty on 08 April 2014. Hare Kṛṣṇa kīrtana, Raghupati Rāghava Rājā Rāma kīrtana. His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami: Gaur Premānande Hari Hari bol. namo(...)

https://flic.kr/s/aHsjWy5wo4

The post Pictures from yesterday’s deity room renovation meeting and of Radha-Syama on Ramnavami appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

The post Lessons from the Ramayana appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

He who listens every day to this oldest epic, composed by the sage Vālmīki, which is calculated to bestow religious merit, renown and longevity, and which lends support to the Vedas, is completely freed of sin. Kings will overcome their enemies and conquer the earth, men will overcome all difficulties and women will be blessed with excellent sons and grandsons. Those listening to this epic will receive from Śrī Rāma all the boons they desire. Through a hearing of this work all the gods are satisfied. One who keeps a copy in his house will find all his obstacles coming to an end. A man offering worship to and reading this historical work is completely rid of all sins and attains a long life; all the gods are thus pleased and one’s ancestors are gratified forever. Those transcribing this work with devotion are guaranteed residence in heaven, while those hearing it will secure the growth of their family and wealth, supreme happiness and the accomplishment of all their objects on earth.

Yuddha Kanda

The gods, Gandharvas, Siddhas and ṛṣis always listen with great pleasure to the Rāmayana in heaven. This legend is the bestower of longevity, the enhancer of fortune and the dispeller of sins. It is the equal of the Vedas. A man reading even a quarter of it is freed from all sins; indeed, even if one sins daily he is released from the reactions if he recites just one verse of the Rāmayana. A man gets the results of one thousand Ashvamedha sacrifices and ten thousand Vajpeya sacrifices merely by hearing this great work. He has visited all the holy shrines and bathed in all the sacred rivers. One who listens to the story of Śrī Rāma with full reverence roots out all sins and goes to the world of Viṣṇu. The Rāmayana is the unsurpassed form of Gayatri. By hearing it with devotion one will undoubtedly achieve liberation, along with many generations of ancestors. The exploits of Śrī Rāma are the bestower of all four of life’s objects—dharma, artha, kama and moksha. Hearing even one line of this work with full devotion guarantees one’s attainment of the world of Brahmā.

Uttarā Kanda

Find the Ramayana here

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with Madhava prabhu Read more ›

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Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu belongs to the spiritual world, and His methods for propagating the sankirtana movement are also imported from the spiritual world. Srila Narottama dasa thakura has sung: golokera prema-dhana, hari-nama-sankirtana, rati na janmila kene taya. This states that the sankirtana movement has nothing to do with this material world. It is imported from the spiritual world, Goloka Vrndavana. Narottama dasa thakura laments that mundane people do not take this sankirtana movement seriously. Byron Bay is a beachside town located in the far-northeastern corner of the state of New South Wales, Australia. Read more ›

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Kirtana forever: Auckland NZ. with HH Indradyumna Swami Read more ›

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When Maharani Berg opened her third Good Karma vegetarian restaurant in the DeLisle community near Pass Christian recently, she thought only a few people would show up for the soft opening. The response caught her by surprise. “One hundred people came in that night,” she said. “It was the first time I ran out of food for an opening. I didn’t expect that many people to be there.” Ingredients come mostly from Oriental stores and includes locally grown produce. “In the summertime we have a lot of vegetables coming out of our garden at the farm where I live,” she said. “I plan all the food and every day is different. I see what grows in the garden locally and seasonally.” The farm is part of the the New Talavan community, which is affiliated with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, commonly referred to as the Hare Krishna movement. Read more ›

03-04-2014 Lessons from Lord Ramacandra’s Banishment, ISKCON Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa.MP3

2014 04 05 SB 10 42 15 38 Breaking of Sacrificial Bow Gaur Krishna Prabhu ISKCON Chowpatty

Abhaya Carana das and his wife Jayanti devi dasi lived in New Zealand and were rendering service at the Wellington temple at Newlands. Last year Kaliya Krsna from New Gokula Australia asked if they could come to the farm and help with service there.

One of the most incredible perks of being part of the TKG Academy is the vibrant community around the school, Sri Radha Kalachandji Dham.  This community celebrates the major Vaishnava festivals regularly.  Here, students, alumni, parents, supporters and all the families worship Lord Chaitanya and Lord Nityananda on the auspicious occasion of Gaura Purnima.

5,000 years ago, Sri Krishna’s friend Arjuna asked Him a question.

“Oh Krishna, what are the symptoms of one whose consciousness is merged in transcendence?  How does he speak, and what is his language?  How does he sit, and how does he walk?”  BG 2.54

On March 31st, the TKG Academy students had a chance to ask similar questions to two Vaishnavas, His Holiness Giriraj Swami and Rtadhvaja Swami, whose consciousness is completely merged in Krishna.

“What is your favorite food?  Your favorite pastime?  Your favorite color?”

Giriraj Maharaja’s favorite color is blue, like Krishna and Rtadhvaja Maharaj’s is yellow for Gauranga.

Students also asked other questions they had been wondering for some time.  “What does Krishna like most in Vrindavan?”  “How do we give up material desires and attachments?”  “Why did Krishna let Kamsa kill his baby brothers and sisters?”

The Maharajas lovingly and patiently answered the questions, tailoring their answers to young children’s understanding.

One student asked, “When did you first meet Srila Prabhupada?”

Giriraj Maharaj answered, “March 31st, 1969.”

Wait!  Today is March 31st!  The students worked to figure out how many years it had been.  It had been 45 years since Giriraj Maharaj had first met Srila Prabhupada!  Wow, what an auspicious day for his visit.

Rtadhvaja Maharaja’s years of practice as a teacher showed when he only answered those whose hands were raised quietly.   He ended the session with a brain teaser for the young ones to figure out.

We always look forward to their visits, and are grateful to get a chance to spend some time with them.  If you didn’t already know, Giriraj Maharaj’s favorite food is rasagulla.

Spring time means time with plants and flowers!  Our March days began with offering flowers, leaves and nuts to the Deities, and reciting the Bhagavad Gita verse 9.26.  “If you offer me with love and devotion, a leaf, a flower, a fruit, or water, I will accept it.”

Special Ramanavami Maha Feast

When? TuesdayApril 8th from 7.00-9.00(pm) Where? 6 George Street South Brampton, Ontario L6Y 1P3, Canada Park underground(free) @ City Hall Phone:416-648-3312 New! Listen Click here to listen to previous class recordings on our blog Make a Donation

"Raghupati Ragava Raja Ramapatita Pavana Sita Rama" “Lord Rama is the chief of the house of Raghu and the saviour of the fallen souls; all respects and praise to mother Sita and Lord Ramacandra.” The word Rama literally means one who is divinely blissful, gives joy to others and in whom sages rejoice. The name of Lord Rama is the greatest purifier of the heart. It not only wipes away all one’s sins but it wipes away the sinful tendencies as well. Lord Shiva tells His consort Parvati: “This Ram Naam is equal to the Lord’s one thousand names or repetition of the mantra a thousand times.” The Ramayana’s perennial relevance lies in its power to inspire us to broaden our consciousness from “me” to “we” and to momentously expand the definition of “we” from the human-human paradigm to the human-divine. The kingdom of God, or Rama-rajya, is impossible without the awakening of God consciousness in the mass mind of the people of the world. Ramanavami is therefore a spiritual reminder of the noble ideals for which Lord Rama stood. Devotees celebrate this day by fasting till sunset, singing and chanting His holy names, pastimes and glories. Sponsor the Event "So far as your working engagement is concerned, certainly you are not a karmi. Any person whose constant occupation is Krishna Consciousness, he is not a karmi ; he is a devotee in all circumstances. You should accept the best source of monetary income and use it for Krishna. That is better than sannyasa. Stick to your job and use it for Krishna Consciousness. You are not a karmi."(Srila Prabhupada) If you'd like sponsor/finance this event,contact Krsna Smaran Devi Dasi(kavitabalram@yahoo.com) Ramanavami Maha Feast.....$251 Florals & Garlands...............$108 Special Program 7:00pm         Guru Puja 7:15pm         Gaura Aarti 7:45pm         Narasinga Aarti 7:50pm         Welcome Announcements 8:00pm         Glories of Lord Rama by HG Mahabhagavat Dasa                      **Rama means perfection personified** 8:40pm         Closing Kirtan & song Glorification of Lord Rama 9:00pm         Ramanavami Maha Feast Please note that ISKCON Brampton is a nut free environment in order to support those with allergies. Your cooperation is appreciated. Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare Chant and Be happy!

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, December 2013, Pretoria, South Africa, Caitanya Caritamrta Lecture)

The nature of Srimad Bhagavatam is that it is ever fresh. It is never old; it is never stale but ever fresh! It is going on right now – Bhagavatam. There is no limit to the Bhagavatam. The demigods have a Bhagavatam of 100 000 verses. We have 18 000 verses and they have a 100 000. There is more and more… and more will be revealed. Bhagavatam will be revealed from within the heart because dharmasya tattvaṁ nihitaṁ guhāyāṁ (Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya 25.57) – true religious principles are not found within the scripture alone but they are hidden within the heart. Within the heart these things will be revealed.

So we read Srimad Bhagavatam and then we live by Srimad Bhagavatam and then Srimad Bhagavatam becomes revealed to us, gradually. This is the system of how to change our lives. That is the idea. Only then will we know Srimad Bhagavatam. You cannot know the Bhagavatam just by reading. By reading, you scratch the surface but you cannot know; just as you cannot know Vrndavan by just buying a ticket, going there and walking around. One may say, “Radhe Radhe,” but we cannot know. We cannot penetrate into Vrndavan unless we live like the eternal residents of Vrndavan, unless we become pure devotees then we can perceive Vrndavan.

 

With Their soft flower-petal hands Sri Ra?dha?-Krishna carefully watered the trees and vines from the time of their first sprouting. They nourished them and made them grow and, at the proper time, married each vine to an appropriate tree . When They saw new flowers beginning to blossom, They became delighted and spoke many playful joking words. Let us bow down and offer our respectful obeisances to these trees and vines of Vrinda?vana forest.

[Source : Nectarean Glories of Sri Vrindavana-dhama by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati Thakura, Sataka-2, Text-11, Translation.]

Please click here for more photos

"And practically we see, those who are chanting, they're becoming free from the contamination. If you follow the rules and regulations, very simple thing, and chant Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā mantra. That is our only request. Then, in spite of this contaminated age of Kali, you'll be saved. You'll be saved."

Lecture SB 1.16.19 Hawaii
January 15, 1974

Rtadhvaja Swami and Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Kabe Habe Bolo by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura.

“This is the aspiration of the devotee who is making advancement—to relish the ecstasy of the holy name. Not as a selfish desire, but as a sign that Krishna and the acharyas are pleased, that they have granted him admittance into the nectarean realm of pure chanting. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura mentions specifically, ‘after grasping the feet of a saint who constantly relishes the flavor (rasa) of devotion.’ ‘Grasping the feet’ can be taken literally, but ‘grasping the feet’ can also mean holding tightly to the instructions and following them.” —Giriraj Swami

Rtadhvaja Swami and Giriraj Swami on Kabe Habe Bolo

1966 April 7:
"Tritiya. Today I am staying with Paul. I cooked food and dined with him and Sakar. They liked the foodstuff very nice. Circumstances seem to be favorable. Paul promises to organize. He is enthusiastic. Let us see. He attended the morning class punctually."
Prabhupada Journal :: 1966