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.

The post April 5th, 2014 – Darshan appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Bhagavatam class: Niranjana Swami.

The post The treasure of pure devotion – service appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

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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.

Give up false identification with this wretched material body, identification that is the cause of the horrible cycle of repeated birth and death. Meditate on your spiritual form in Vrinda?vana. Millions of calamities may fall. Don’t be disturbed. Until all past karma is destroyed, reside in Vrinda?vana and always meditate on the pastimes of your two Lords, Sri Sri Ra?dha’ and Krishna.

[Source : Nectarean Glories of Sri Vrindavana-dhama by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati Thakura, Sataka-2, Text-8, Translation.]

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Saturday Night Harinam London ****************************************
This weekend we were joined by one of Srila Prabhupada’s
senior European disciples, Srimate Mandakini Devi Dasi.

Mandakini came over from France to visit the London Yatra for Gaura Purnima. She was one of the guests of honour, along with mothers Malati and Manjuali at the Connaught Rooms on Lord Chaitanya’s Appearance Day. Over one thousand devotees attended this the festival.

We all felt great pleasure to have this humble and sincere disciple of His Divine Grace join this weeks Harinam party.

Please prabhus, try to find the time to take part in these ecstatic Saturday Night Street Kirtans. Following in the footsteps of Lord Chaitanya and His intimate disciples, we should certainly be going out every night, but in lieu of that, once a week is a must.

Please encourage us to push these weekly festivals to greater and greater heights by your blessings

Yesterday some of us chanted around the bedside of Bhakta Steve Roy as he left his body at the Peace Hospice in Watford.

Srila Prabhupada Kirtan was playing loudly for him.

Life is short.

Kirtaniya Sada Hari

All glories to Srila Prabhupad

Intrepid ISKCON Guru and GBC Bhaktimarga Swami, known colloquially as “The Walking Monk,” is planning his next big adventure. The Swami has already trekked across his native Canada three times, and has walked in Ireland, Israel, Guyana, Trinidad, Fiji and Mauritius, promoting spiritual thought and healthy living.

One of the joys of teaching is seeing students master concepts that previously gave them trouble. Long division no longer phases the fourth graders!

Students begin a flower experiment, in which five of the same kind of flower will listen to different kinds of music. Today students performed their initial observations; noted the control, independent, and dependent variables; and created their hypotheses. Stay tuned for updates on the flowers.

Vraja Kishor learns about the different states of matter. What happens when you heat water in a glass jar with a balloon on top? The seventh grader records his observations and measures them against his own hypothesis.

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If the message of sacrifice as a means to deep human relationships was all that the Ramayana offered to the world today, then that message in and of itself would be valuable. But the Ramayana’s gifts are much greater.

The post Does accepting disciples diminish a guru’s spiritual strength – continuing from yesterday appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.