What is happening to the devotees of Iskcon Ukraine?
→ Dandavats.com

Today, Ukraine is all over the news for the worrisome events that are happening in the zone, along with government unrest and military intervention from Russia. But devotees are safe, and doing what they can to assist those affected. Back in 1980 when Ukranian devotees Amala Bhakta Das, Kirtida Dasi, Achyuta Priya Das and Tungavidya Sakhi Dasi started ISKCON in Kiev, the country was also a troubled place, then under the communist regime. But in contrast to the situation today, back then devotees encountered extreme trials in their attempts to spread Krishna consciousness. Throughout the 1980s, devotees were put in prison and subjected to inhuman treatment in “psychiatric wards”. One of the most prominent, Bharadvaja Das, was arrested more than 20 times and was heavily drugged in an attempt to remove his devotion to Krishna. Read more ›

Maha Gaura Purnima 2014 in Laguna Beach, California, US (Album 51 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

Besides its beautiful location, ISKCON Laguna Beach has the only Pancha Tattva Deities in the Continental US (excluding Hawaii). Meanwhile its festivals throughout the year feature some of the most energetic kirtan and sumptuous feasts you’ll find, delivered with a uniquely heartwarming service attitude. Chief amongst these is Laguna’s regional Maha Gaura Purnima festival in honor of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, held a week after Gaura Purnima Day and attended by devotees from all over Southern California and beyond. Read more ›

Prabhupada Letters :: Anthology 2014-03-23 15:47:00 →

1966 March 23:
"Tritiya. One letter of Mayor's office replied. Informed that I shall wait to see Mayor Lindsay till he is free to talk with me. One letter sent to the Director Library of Congress, Washington D.C. asking for the Library card no. of my Srimad Bhagwatam. In Doctor Mishra's apartment there were ten to eleven members and I cooked for them all. Today's meeting only two gentlemen attended therefore I did not record the speeches. No expenditure."
Prabhupada Journal :: 1966

Taking darshan of the Kali Gandhaki river (Album 148 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

Indradyumna Swami: Kagbeni is one of the furthest places foreigners can journey in Nepal, as Tibet and China are not far away. Before leaving we took a walk around to see the ancient sites and meet the inhabitants of the village. We also took one last darshan of the Kali Gandhaki river, which now flows with the ashes of my dear godbrother Bimal Prasad das in her sacred waters. Read more ›

Srila Prabhupada Encourages Investment in Devotee Housing in New Vrindaban – February 1969
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

Srila Prabhupada, 1969, at New Vrindaban's "Old Vrindaban" farm.

Srila Prabhupada, 1969, at New Vrindaban’s “Old Vrindaban” farm.

Srila Prabhupada Encourages Investment in Devotee Housing in New Vrindaban – February 1969.

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

Thanks to Vanipedia for the source material.

——————————————————————

February 8th, 1969.

My Dear Hrsikesa,

Please accept my blessings. I was very much pleased to receive your letter of 3 February, 1969, and I have carefully noted all of the contents. Regarding the insurance money, if you are able to use it immediately, without waiting for two years, it will be a great boon. The best use of this money is for the constructing of so many living quarters in New Vrindaban. There are so many schemes pending in New Vrindaban, such as press, school, etc., and as soon as there is adequate accommodation facilities, we can at once begin work very fruitfully. So if you can immediately engage this $2600 in these plans it will be very much helpful. I have received one letter from Nara Narayana, and he has already drawn up the plans for the various buildings which are required to be constructed in New Vrindaban. Now as soon as the proper manpower and finances can be arranged, we can immediately start on this important task.

So far as your occasional agitation from the maya, the answer is very simple that one must either strictly control his senses, or else he must get himself married. If one is strong enough in Krishna Consciousness, then there is no reason to become grhastha, but if one is still disturbed by sex-desire, then marriage is the only other possibility. But if one is still brahmacari, then he must be sure to follow all of the rules and regulations very strictly. There is no place in spiritual life for cheating in this matter. Caitanya Mahaprabhu has never criticized a householder for having sex life for the purpose of bearing children. But when it came to Junior Hari das, who was posing as sannyasa but was still engaging in lustful thoughts, Lord Caitanya would not tolerate, and Junior Haridasa was banished from the association of the Lord. So this is very important that we remain very firm in our vow of brahmacari, or if this is very difficult, then householder life is the next satisfactory solution.

Regarding your idea of a Krishna Conscious book of many of our prayers, this is a nice idea, and very soon Dinesh will have many prayers which he has been tape recording written out in English transliterations. I am advising him to send these to you when it is available.

I have seen the plan for the cottage which was sent along with your letter. It is very nice, but so far as I can understand, it will only accommodate for one person. If you like, this house may be constructed, but I think the immediate necessity is to construct buildings to accommodate the many people who may soon come to New Vrindaban to work there.

So I thank you again for your nice letter. Please convey my blessings to the others there with you. I hope this will meet you in very good health and cheerful mood.

Your ever well-wisher,

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

Friday, March 21st, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

A Genuine Pilgrim

I met Joyce in 2006 when I trekked through Saskatoon at that time.  She, along with other walkers, runners, cyclists and yoga people, sat down to hear some of my Tales from Trails stories, and lessons learned on the road.  The venue was a place called Yoga Republic, a cozy setting in a building dedicated to healing, and which was formerly a convent for nuns located on Idylewild Road (most people around here call it Iddly Widdly). 

I was happy to connect with her again.  At that time, in 2006, she sent me an e-message, saying she had an aspiration to do the Camino de Compostela, the famous pilgrim walk in Spain.  She also asked me in that message if she could join me for part of my trek while I was in the province of Saskatchewan. 

Meeting someone like her is rare, with all this passion she has for pilgrimage.  She regularly walks.  I expressed at the time that it would be a little bit awkward since I’m a monk, and she’s a woman.  If a third person was there, especially a male, it would be different.  Culturally, traditionally, that’s the way it would work.  I hadn’t heard from her after that.  In any event, I kept walking eastbound to complete a third walk across Canada.  It wasn’t until now that I heard from her and that I saw her for the first time in person at this night’s event.  She mildly persisted in the most gentle way, “Would you be willing to guide a group in a walk across Canada?” 

I could not give a complete answer to that, and I expressed that we could talk after the presentation is over.  My thought on the matter is, “Here is a real live pilgrim who in the meantime did walk the Camino.  How can I inspire and/or facilitate someone like this?”  I will give some thought to it and see if on a small scale something can be accomplished.

Those in attendance at the Yoga Republic joined us in kirtan, followed by halava snacks.  They left feeling lighter in heart and a little heavier in stomach.  I would really like to thank our facilitator, Lorel.  I was also thinking, “This is the silent time of year (winter’s end) when you have big dreams that you have to put in to plan and action.”  Earlier on in the day, my host, Kasyapa, and I were walking on soil as well as on ice and dry snow.  With our feet we were crushing the stuff under us with a crunch and a crackle.  This is the most quiet season of the year, but it’s a time when you can make the most noise. 

May the Source be with you!

5 KM



Sweet surrender
→ KKSBlog

 

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 03 October 2013, Melbourne, Australia, Srimad Bhagavatam 2.3.8)

The strong elements of the material world, of the heaviness of our suffering, are the symptoms of Krsna’s strong love. If you really love your son, let’s say a teenager with puberty and everything, you love him but at the same time, he is totally “off” but what can you do?

photo (71)Names withheld but there was one son, who grew up in Krsna consciousness, who went to a party and got drunk to a point where he had to be brought home in an ambulance. The insurance would not pay the bill for such cases. The parents said, “Sorry it is your bill. We are not paying.” A big bill from the ambulance, so suddenly the son had a big debt. Yeah, so it was so heavy. One has to learn to take responsibility for one’s actions. It is a child who does not take responsibilities for their actions but an adult is meant to take responsibility. How many lifetimes are we going to remain children – under eighteen year old children and next life again! When will we actually become mature and accept responsibility for our actions?

That is dharma – that is the path of dharma. It may sound heavy but it sounds only heavy to those who are rebellious. It sounds heavy to those who have had a heavy case of rebelliousness and now say, ”Actually of course, I do want to surrender but I just  cannot surrender!’”

This translates to, ”I do not want to surrender. I do not want it and I am just looking for any damn excuse I can find to not surrender. So to get you off my back I would say, I want to surrender but I cannot surrender.’”

Prabhupada Letters :: Anthology 2014-03-22 15:40:00 →

1972 March 22: "I am always glad when my disciples exhibit good sense. Now you simply stick very closely to the regulative principles and always keep yourself so much engaged that you will be too much busy serving Krishna to think about other things. Your husband shall remain with me to learn Sanskrit. I do not think it will be practical for you to join your husband just now, but perhaps later we shall see."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

Prabhupada Letters :: Anthology 2014-03-22 15:34:00 →

1974 March 22: "Our Vrindaban temple is perhaps our nicest building in the whole movement and I want at least 25 good men here at all times. Those who come here must be exemplary and whether grhasthas or sannyasis, must behave like real Goswamis so that all the people of Vrindaban will see that we are actually followers of the six Goswamis headed by Rupa Goswami."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

New Vrindaban Daily darsan @ March 21, 2014.
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

01

The real goal of my life is to attain the nectar of confidential devotional service to Sri Sri Radhika-Krsna. I shall some day renounce everything and live in Vrndavana. These are the words of feigned renunciation spoken by one addicted to the affairs of household life. The holy abode of Vrndavana will not give shelter to such a person.

[Source : Nectarean Glories of Sri Vrindavana-dhama by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati Thakura, 1-94 Translation.]

Please click here for more photos

Chaitanya Charitamrita – Adi lila 13.91-92 – HH Bhakti Caitanya Swami
→ Mayapur.com

[Kindly transcribed by Sheela Ravishankar Mataji) Audio for this lecture may be downloaded here: Download From: Sri Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir! Date: 15 March, 2014 Verse: CC Adi 13.91-92 Speaker: HH Bhakti Caitanya Swami a-kalanka gauracandra dila darasana sa-kalanka candre ara kon prayojana Translation: When the spotless moon of Caitanya Mahaprabhu became visible, what would be […]

The post Chaitanya Charitamrita – Adi lila 13.91-92 – HH Bhakti Caitanya Swami appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Chaitanya Charitamrita – Adi Lila 1.4 – HH Prahaladananda Swami Maharaja
→ Mayapur.com

[Kindly transcribed by Swetha Ganeshan Mataji] Download the audio for this lecture here: Download From: Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir! Date: March 14, 2014 Speaker: HH Prahaladananda Swami Maharaja Subject: C.C Adi Lila 1.4 HH Prahladananda Swami: I am going to read from Sri Caitanya Caritamrita, Adi Lila, Chapter 1, Text number 4. I am just […]

The post Chaitanya Charitamrita – Adi Lila 1.4 – HH Prahaladananda Swami Maharaja appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Srimad Bhagavatam 5.13.24 – HH Bhaktivaibhava Swami
→ Mayapur.com

[Kindly transcribed by Sheela Ravishankar Mataji) Audio for this lecture should soon be downloadable from here: Download From: Sri Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir! Date: 13 March, 2014 Verse: Srimad Bhagavatam 5.13.24 Speaker: HH Bhaktivaibhava Swami sri-suka uvaca ity evam uttara-matah sa vai brahmarsi-sutah sindhu-pataya atma-satattvam viganayatah paranubhavah parama-karunikatayopadisya rahuganena sakarunam abhivandita-carana apurnarnava iva nibhrta-karanormy-asayo dharanim imam […]

The post Srimad Bhagavatam 5.13.24 – HH Bhaktivaibhava Swami appeared first on Mayapur.com.