Krishna, The Joking God
→ NY Times & Bhagavad Gita Sanga/ Sankirtana Das

Various religions often  talk about God's compassion, God's wrath and that God is just. But God, like everyone else, has a well rounded personality.  There is a lot  more to Him then these particular qualities. For instance, what  religious traditions describe how God likes to play jokes and tricks?  Today being April Fools Day, is an appropriate time to talk about this characteristic of God. Krishna is the supreme joke maker and trickster.  He and friends, both the gopies and cowherd boys, delight in playing jokes upon one another.  This is part of their loving, playful exchange.  Krishna is forever engaged in loving pastimes  with His devotees.

These activities are described in Krishna Book(Srimad Bhagavatam) and categorized in Nectar of Devotion. Sometimes the boys would come to Yasoda's house early in the morning and wait for Krishna while she got Him ready for the day. Mother Yasoda would call to one of them, "Visala, why don't you come over and help."  And when the boy came and bent down to put on Krishna's ankle bells, Krishna would playfully hit him with His flute. Descriptions of Krishna smiling and joking abound in both His childhood and adult pastimes.

Prabhupada is giving us a profound understanding of a personal God,  our dearmost Friend, and by doing so, inviting us to develop a love for that Supreme Person.

 Sankirtana das is author of Mahabarata: The Eternal Quest -  www.Mahabharata-Project.com       

New Raman Reti, Alachua, during festive times (Album 108 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

New Raman Reti is a spiritual community based on the principles of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), located in Alachua, north Florida, USA. Situated on a rural 127-acre property surrounding a tranquil, marble-floored temple, New Raman Reti is a devotional refuge from the material world.The temple deities are the most merciful Sri Sri Radha Shyamasundara, Sri Sri Krishna Balarama, and Sri Sri Gaura Nitai. Read more ›

Returning to roots along with an apology
→ simple thoughts

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Their is an interesting notation when it comes to being labled as anti you get to the stage of what the heck it doesn’t matter they have made up their mind and it’s now closed to any discussion’s, or it could be a reflection of our own closed mind.
But continuing on the theme of late on returning to roots I’m also going to return to a continuing theme on my blog and that of initiation and spiritual progress in ISKCON and also the difference in perspectives and philosophical viewpoint’s.
In my years as a Jehovah’s Witness their was always a focus on book distribution a free home bible study, from their an invite to a free home study group and eventually on to the kingdom hall with the aim for baptism. I go back to the days like ISKCON the society charged for books, however two books were free, the study book for baptism and the one given to those who were regular pioneers who went on a special course a year after entering into the full time service, this is the group picture taken of my time attending the pioneer service school, the whole cost was covered by the local congregation who were amazing host’s.

image

I’m going to focus in on the baptism study aid book the approach and it’s aim and parallel this with ISKCON’s approach.
Firstly the study material is free a point I want to emphasis the society views this as the most important step ever and so is paid for by the society, the book is studied by the candidate along with the elders of the congregation. Each section would be taken each week and at the end the elders would discuss the candidates suitability for baptism.
A personal approach meaning also that those involved get to know the person as an individual and then the conclusion discussed by the senior elder and the candidate.
Now as far as I can see we have a wonderful closed system made up of committee members who can make a comment on an individuals suitability without actually sitting in the same room or getting to know them a very impersonal approach.
Now is added on a level or study programs all well and good however this is made as a requirement and comes with a charge, you have to do this course it’s good for you and by the way here’s a bill, have a nice day Hare Krishna. OK some say it’s to cover costs their is no free rides in Krishna Consciousness.
For me personally and as I’ve been labled anti-iskcon I can understand why some feel justified in accusing ISKCON of being fool hardy and money grabbing reducing bhakti and initiation to a financial exchange, sold to the individual who can pay for the course.
My background as a Jehovah’s Witness gives me an insight into a more personal way of doing thing’s whilst keeping standard’s which brings me swiftly and finally to an apology for due to influence for a time I prescribed to an impersonal even devastating philosophy view turning my back on all the good positives of my root’s.
But also reminds me of association and influence.
Their was for a small time a view that initiation and more to the point initiated names were or are divisive to the society, indeed my background their is no divisions as startling as a name change. So the view or philosophy was simple after a short time the person was given an interim name the argument went this will help integrate and encourage the individual.
OK
Well no not really as it muddies the standard’s we do expect a level of those who are initiated indeed when I hear my name it reminds me their is a level of responsibility and my own personal failings.
But even back then I didn’t see myself as anti-iskcon more delusional and puffed up with pride, I want more devotee’s and it hurts to see those leave for other devotee group’s ISKCON is a home for everyone even me.
So mentorship yes
Course’s yes
Even committee’s possibly
But returning to my root’s some things need to be free and personal
The tools to make sure individuals are ready and standard’s are their is needed and as a society we should offer this free of charge.
For my desire is just like the kingdom hall’s we have temples/centre’s to Sri Krishna in every town, village and country and for me this means we become personal in our or should I say my approach
And as always ending on asking what’s your view?

Harinama at Hash Bash – Color of Love Meditation Concert (Album 159 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

At the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, the Diag is a large open space in the middle of the university's Central Campus. Originally known as the Diagonal Green, the Diag derives its name from the many sidewalks running near or through it in diagonal directions. It is one of the busiest sites on the university campus, hosting a variety of events including outdoor concerts, fundraisers, demonstrations, and sun bathing. Read more ›

A visit to one of the last living disciples of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saravati (Album 32 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

Indradyumna Swami: Yesterday in Cuttack we visited Jogendra Candra das, one of the last living disciples of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saravati. Born November 16, 1912 he is 102 years old. He was initiated in 1932. During WWII he served in the Indian army, all the while maintaining his vows and chanting his rounds. After the war he became a policeman and retired in 1969. We had darshan of his japa beads which he has been chanting on for 82 years. They were as smooth as glass. Despite his age his mind was clear and his intelligence very sharp. He spoke fluent English and shared with us many pastimes of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati. For generations his family has been taking care of the original wooden shoes of Srila Rasikananda, the foremost disciple of Syamananda Pandit, whom Jiva Goswami sent to Orissa to spread Krsna consciousness sometime after the disappearance of Lord Caitanya. Read more ›

Infuse Your Spiritual Desires into Your Chanting, March 29, Dallas
Giriraj Swami

Lord-Chaitanya-at-RathyatraIn anticipation of Snana-yatra and Anavasara in Dallas, Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila, 11.61.

“Hankering to do better means that there is a separation between where you are now and where you want to be, or what you have now and what you want to have in the future. That hankering, which is another side of separation, can go into the chanting—whatever stage we are in. Even if it is just hankering to be able to chant with attention, our chanting can be infused with that mood. It is not something separate but it is something that is infused into the chanting. We want to infuse our chanting of the name with some feeling. And that feeling will come from within our heart. Our hearts have some feelings of spiritual desire—hankering, or separation—so that should be infused into the names we chant. Even if we think, ‘I am too neophyte to have any spiritual feelings’—we do have some feelings: We don’t want to remain neophyte; we want to be able to taste the things we read about and that other devotees have tasted. So put those feelings into the chanting.”

Snana-yatra, Cc Madhya 11.61, 3.29.2014, Dallas

A Day Of Causeless Mercy
→ travelingmonk.com

Yesterday in Cuttack we visited Jogendra Candra das, one of the last living disciples of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saravati. Born November 16, 1912 he is 102 years old. He was initiated in 1932. During WWII he served in the Indian army, all the while maintaining his vows and chanting his rounds. After the war he became [...]

Sunday, March 30th, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

Brampton, Ontario

Steps Through Food

Hiten and I had taken a few steps along Williams Parkway before his dad would pick us up for the drive to the ISKCON Centre in downtown Brampton.  I had spent the night at the family’s home.  I assumed, he is 14 and raised in Canada, to be a supporter of the local hockey team.  I had noticed the wallpaper in his room with Toronto Maple Leafs as the border trim.  It seemed to make a clear statement.

“You’re a hockey fan?” 

“I’m not following it too much,” he admitted. 

I know that he’s a fan of computers.  That’s pretty normal.  He loves food.  Who wouldn’t, at that age?  He also is fond of Krishna, which is a plus.  His parents tell me that he and his sister, Edha, take pleasure in bringing the tray of bhoga (food not yet offered to Krishna) up the stairs and then into their home’s temple room.  The tray of fruit, almonds, and rich cooked parathasis placed on the shrine before the deity of Krishna. 

The standard practice is that you present for the pleasure of Krishna, represented by a deity, food that’s prepared with love and devotion.  You chant some mantras before the deity as a way to say, “Please accept this humble offering of food as a token of gratitude.  This is all your mercy.”  After the few mantras are recited, one may take the tray of food, which is now consecrated, and is called prasadam.  This blessed food is then distributed to those in the proximity of the offering place or the home. 

In the household where Hiten lives, he and his sister bring the tray of prasadam from the upstairs temple room down to the kitchen, and then eat with enthusiasm the shared prasadam. 

This ancient practice of prasadam disbursement has gone on for thousands of years in India, especially involving the temples of Krishna.  This practice is also kept alive in places like the ISKCON Centre in Brampton, where really tasty yogicfood meets the tongue such as mine.  Hiten and Edha found the vegetarian feast that was held there to be absolutely delicious.  The feast was held after a moving ceremony of diksa.  Two people received initiation.  Nikhil’s new name is Nimai Nitai, and his wife, Manakshi, has a new Sanskrit name, Moksha Lila.  Congratulations to them.

May the Source be with you!

7 KM

Saturday, March 29th, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

Toronto, Ontario

As Much As You Can

Rajneesh, so kindly drove me to Professor’s Lake in Brampton on the way to his home.  It was 11 PM and it was the first shot I had to get out and move around.  I needed to wind down.

“In order for me to get a decent sleep,” I told him, “I need to exert some physical exercise.” 

Rajneesh is very understanding.  He’s a social worker by profession and is sensitive to the human need, so we pulled into the parking lot and both took that trek for a half hour in circumambulation of the lake.  Hundreds of geese appeared to be in samadhi (trance).  You could see them faintly.  Some of them blurted out their ever so common honking sounds.  I was surprised to see ice, although thin, still on the lake’s surface.  All was serene and all was dark – a perfect place to end the day of beautiful busyness at the ashram where there was a memorial kirtan, a play practice, important calls to receive and to send, a bustling Govinda’s eating activity and intense cooking in the kitchen for the annual Yoga Show, and plus, the sanding and painting within the walls of our area.  All of these goings on were happening for the sake of advancing the spiritual cause. 

Frankly, the geese likely had a hectic day as well, and now they were resting on their laurels and acting the type of meditation they understand.  We all have to function within our own capacity.  As humans, the obligation is to be as introspective as you can. 

May the Source be with you!

 3 KM

Friday, March 28th, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

Columbus, Ohio

Walk To See A Cow

The cow’s left front leg was fractured in her home location, a barn in West Virginia.  She’s one of our cows, a Krishna cow, who hails from the New Vrindavan rural community, and was shipped over Galbreath Veterinary Center at the Ohio State University for physical care.  Gaura Nityananda, a Columbus monk, and I, felt pretty fortunate that this animal hospital was within walking distance of the Krishna House where I’m staying.  We made our way to this super clean barn which has multiple stalls.  We met Doctor Niehaus, the person who did surgery on the four year old bovine.  He was happy with the results of the surgery, and the cow (let’s call her Surabhi), seemed to demonstrate a joyful disposition, “She’s chewing her cud,” said the physician.  That was true, and at the same time that she was chewing, she also seemed to be doing an extended yoga stretch.  Her leg was in a cast, she appeared to be well on the road to recovery, and seemed to have overcome her complications. 

So now we have been speaking about a cow.  A cow, or bull, are sensitive creatures who meet with challenges of maybe a less complex nature in comparison to a human.  The human mind, for instance, is more that what anyone can comprehend.  On top of physical challenges, humans also have psychological challenges that we should perceive as opportunities. 

In this connection I would like to bring to your attention a beautiful quote that came to me today which came from Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, our guru’s guru.  Here it is:

“Anyone who cannot understand that the complications which are ever present in the material universe are beneficial in a way that is pure, eternal, complete, and free… Is deprived of his true spiritual activity, devotion to Krishna.”

May the Source be with you!

5 KM







Chant Chant Chant
→ Japa Group


The mind says "Can't can't can't" - it's the nature of the mind to accept and reject and sometimes we find our mind will reject the idea of chanting the Holy names.
Each day the mind may come up with many excuses and reasons not to chant or to put it off "Don't worry about this chanting, you can do it later...there are more important things right now" - heard your mind preaching like this?
What we can do is to ignore this internal dialogue and remember the importance of making Japa the number one priority and to act on this knowledge.

Vani and vapuh are non-different
→ The Spiritual Scientist

"We are not separated actually. There are two—vani or vapu. So vapu is physical presence and vani is presence by the vibration, but they are all the same. So Krsna when He was physically present before Arjuna is the same when He is present before us by His vani of Bhagavad-gita."

Prabhupada's letter to Hansadutta, Los Angeles, June 22, 1970.

New Vrindaban Daily darsan @ March 31, 2014.
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

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In Vrinda?vana the leaves on the trees are made of emeralds, the flowers of diamonds, the new flower buds of beautiful pearls, the newly sprouting leaves of red kuruvinda jewels, the many fruits, all filled with various kinds of nectarean tastes, of rubies, the rain of an incessant shower of nectar, and the bumblebees of sapphires.

[Source : Nectarean Glories of Sri Vrindavana-dhama by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati Thakura, Sataka-2, Text-4, Translation.]

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The pressure to be super good!
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 20 March 2013, Melbourne, Australia, Srimad Bhagavatam 2.7.52)

Humility is something alien in the modern world. We had a comic in Holland; I saw it as a kid but it made an impression on me. It was a simple man; he had a cap on – a labourer type – and he was coming for a job interview which was happening in a big hall. The interviewer was sitting behind a glass with a screen so you couldn’t see him but his voice was coming out through a loud speaker.

Cat-Sees-LionThe voice was saying, “Name?” Then the man said his name and he said, “Thank you very much, please.” And after every question that he answered, he said, “Thank you very much, please,” and he looked like a total fool but actually, if you think about it, he was very humble and the other man (the interviewer) was very cold and arrogant.

But this humility was depicted as like… you become a fool when you are humble. when you are simple! So the whole world projects this upon us that you’re a fool when you’re simple.

Even when you are a devotee, it hounds you, “How many slokas do you know?”

Reply, “Seven!”

“Only seven! My god, how can you know only seven slokas!?” Who can be so simple to say so…

So, the social pressure upon us in this whole world, where you have to be greater than you are, comes into every field. In the modern world, it came into the field of sex because ordinary sex will not do – it has to be super sex! You have to be a super lover and if you’re not a super lover, you’re a loser. That’s the image that is being projected.

 

Prabhupada Letters :: Anthology 2014-03-31 14:52:00 →

1971 March 31: "My Dear Dayalaji Birla, my attempt to exhibit the Krishna Consciousness Movement to the Bombay public is still going on at the Cross Maidan, and it has become very successful. Similar attempts will be made in Calcutta and Delhi. I am therefore opening a fund and I hope you will kindly contribute so that your example may be followed by other rich men in India."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

From the Garden — 3/31/14
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

BeanHouseBeginning.jpg-1

Greetings…..

This past week brought us quite the selection of early spring weather sun, rain, and even snow.  There is always such great anticipation for planting this time of year. The rule of thumb for working the soil is, “if the soil is wet enough that it easily clumps into a ball it is just too wet for tilling”.

While we patiently wait for the soil to dry we have been planting bushes and preparing our garden beds. A crew as been working on the foundation project around the temple getting it prepared for 9 types of mint and Clethra alnifolia, Summersweet, which blooms during the tourist season.  In the Garden of Seven Gates we are planting fragrant flowering bushes around the gates. This week will we will be prepping the asparagus which should bring us the first bounty of spring vegetables. Also, this week I will be seeding vegetables in the greenhouse including melons, tomatoes, peppers, and greens.  For anyone planning their own garden this year now is the time to start your transplants indoors.

On Sunday we had a new worker  his name is Jonathan Davis. He attends Wheeling Park High School and was raised on a farm here in Marshall County.  He will be working in the garden until the end of July when he is leaving to join the US Marines.

We are looking forward to a warm productive week in the gardens.    Below is a really neat idea for a spring bean house that is low cost, ideal for climbing vegetables like beans or peas, and would make a beautiful addition to any yard.

Kacey Orr

 

What Nectar!
→ travelingmonk.com

This morning we discovered a treasure-trove of nectar in a private collection next to an old temple here in Orissa. Amongst many valued articles were ancient Gaudiya Sampradaya palm-leaf scriptures and a piece of sannyasa cloth worn by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur. I held the cloth to my head for a long time and prayed [...]

Harinama and Prasadam distribution at Murari Gupta Village in Mayapur (Album 55 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

Sri Murari Gupta was a very intimate associate whose pastimes with Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu were steeped in the loving bond of their eternal relationship. As an incarnation of Hanuman, Murari Gupta is as dear to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu as Hanuman is to Lord Rama. He appeared in Sri Hatta, the hometown of Jagannatha Misra (father of Lord Caitanya) and Srivasa Pandita, but became a resident of Mayapur when he was a young boy. He was only a few years older than Lord Caitanya and a close neighbour so they shared many experiences while growing up. Born into a lineage of Ayurvedic doctor, Murari Gupta followed that profession, but because of his elevated spiritual potencies, he also cured the spiritual diseases of his patients along with their physical ailments. Murari Gupta also wrote the first biography on Gauranga Mahaprabhu named Sri Caitanya-carita. Read more ›

Members of Religious Body Offer Prayer for MH370
→ ISKCON Malaysia

BY THE STAR ONLINE

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

KUCHING - Some 80 members of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, Malaysia (Iskcon) Kuching Branch held a special prayer for the passengers and family members of MH370.

The prayer session was led by its chairman Prabu Kripa Sindhu Krishna Das where they performed a kirtan prayer, chanting the maha mantra “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama,Rama Rama Hare Hare”.

The one-and-the-half-hour session from 6.30pm at the Kuching Waterfront here was to pray for all passengers of flight MH370 and their loved ones with the hope that they are safe in the hands of God and their loved ones given the strength and courage to face this unexpected tragedy.

The programme was a continuation of special prayers offered by Iskcon members at the Batu Kawah temple for MH370.

At the ceremony Iskcon Batu Kawah Kuching president expressed his heartfelt sympathy to all the passengers of MH370 and their family members.

He also thanked all his members for making the kirtan prayer a reality.