Appearance of Srila Srivasa Pandita and Disappearance of His Holiness Sridhar Swami, March 24, New Dvaraka, Los Angeles
Giriraj Swami

Srivas“This is another instruction for us: We should be immersed in krsna-katha. We should be so expert in krsna-katha that we can deliver just the katha that the audience needs to hear. And we should become so immersed in krsna-katha that we forget everything else; we loose track of time and are simply absorbed in chanting and hearing about Krishna. So we can pray to Srivasa Thakura to bless us that we have some taste for krsna-katha and can speak krsna-katha in the appropriate way—and that we become dear to him and his devotees. Because anyone who becomes dear to Srivasa Thakura—even a dog in his house—becomes dear to Lord Chaitanya.”

Appearance of Srivasa Pandita and Disappearance of Sridhar Swami, 2014

Inconceivable karma
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 20 March 2014, Melbourne, Australia, Srimad Bhagavatam 2.7.52)

snorkelKarma arranges amazing things – amazing, inconceivable things. How could it all come about? There is the karmic story about the man who went snorkeling in Spain, far into the ocean with his flippers. There was a forest fire and one of these big helicopters came with a water tank and they scooped him up and they threw him on the fire! Later, there was an article in the newspaper and I read it and they identified this man. It turned out he had a lobster restaurant. Just see, the workings of karma! Lobsters are also thrown alive into boiling water. He was also alive, thrown on the fire. Karma! Karma catches up in so many ways.

So yes, we see how that happens in the world but when it’s happening to us and then it’s more difficult. Then it’s much more difficult to accept. “How can, I mean, it’s too much! How can all this happen to me? And this is just…”

So, gradually, as we become situated in transcendental knowledge, we gain strength, strength to tolerate and deal with the material energy otherwise, “Phew…it’s too much!” and we get overwhelmed. But one who is well situated in transcendental knowledge is sort of bolstered by that and develops some detachment through that. We know that when things go wrong, “Ah well, that happens in the material energy. We can’t take it so serious”. When something comes to an end in this world, then that’s also life. So it all becomes much more relative actually, all the big things that happen in the world, also the big successes, they also become more relative. So gradually, one begins to see, it’s not so important. The real thing that is important is our spiritual progress.

 

Truth is Absolute
→ Servant of the Servant

Truth is always Absolute beyond relativity. It is the same for you, me and the third person. However, we have practical experience that people claim to know the truth which is often contradictory to one another. In other words, that so called Absolute truth seems to be relative to time, place and circumstance. This relativity is the cause of contradiction leading to confrontation.

Although Truth is Absolute still depending on our desire it is revealed fully or partially or not at all.  So the dualities we experience in the name of truth arises from desires tinged with material motives. For such seekers who actually really only care for their own material motives see only their own motives manifest in the name of evidence or truth. This manifestation is not truth or its part but its shadow. Therefore every individual seeking the truth will be faced with Truth and its reflection. If we have even the slightest tinge of material motivation, our mind will be convinced of that shadow.

Those very few who are materially selfless in their motives will experience the Absolute truth to the degree they want it. Seers of truth have documented that the non-dual truth is experienced in a continuum of impersonal light to personal loving relationship with the Absolute. As a seeker we can stop at any part of the continuum. Not everyone will be willing to go the entire journey of seeking personal loving relationships with the Absolute. Most world religions or spiritual paths adhere to some aspect of a formless impersonal light as the ultimate truth.

If we are unsatisfied with impersonal realization we can continue our spiritual journey from impersonal to personal but that comes with a cost. That cost is to attain a state of full surrender and unconditional service towards the Absolute. In this state, there is a complete abandonment of "I" and unconditional acceptance of service towards the Absolute Truth. In the opinion of truth seekers, this is the ultimate and final realization of Absolute Truth. When we reach this stage, there is nothing more to seek or search.

Truth is one (also means only one religion) with varying degrees. Depending on our motivation, desire and conviction, that one Absolute Truth is revealed as a whole, in parts or as a reflection.

Hare Krishna

Recordings from Melbourne, March 2014
→ KKSBlog

Melbourne_March 2014 (25)Kadamba Kanana Swami visited Melbourne from 13-22 March. Recordings of his classes are presented below, including a lecture given on Gaura Purnima, the appearance day of Lord Caitanya.

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

 

 

KKS_AUS_Melbourne_14 March 2014_S B2.7.46

KKS_AUS_Melbourne_15 March 2014_SB 2.7.47

KKS_AUS_Melbourne_16 March 2014_CC Adi 13.80

KKS_AUS_Melbourne_18 March 2014_SB 2.7.50

KKS_AUS_Melbourne_20 March 2014_SB 2.7.52

 

Prabhupada Letters :: Anthology 2014-03-26 16:08:00 →

1966 March 26:
"Sasthi. Today when I came back from Dr. Mishra's apartment at 1 pm. I saw my window on the door broken and entering the door I saw my tape recorder, typewriter, and books-bag stolen. A separate note is written in this connection. At 2 pm. someone came to to take me to Ashram and I went there. The whole thing was up set. Purchased one bottle Sour Salt .30. No income."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1966

Prabhupada Letters :: Anthology 2014-03-26 15:56:00 →

1968 March 26: "The best thing is to remain in the midst of pure devotees. So long we are engaged in devotional service with proper guidance certainly we are always in transcendental position, and transcendental position is unlimited, it doesn't matter whether you are in Vrindaban or America. So long we have not completely freed our material attachment, even Vrindaban residence can become uncongenial."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

Prabhupada Letters :: Anthology 2014-03-26 15:51:00 →

1969 March 26: "In the beginning we thought that we were losing a nice place but now I can understand Krishna's desire was to give us a still better place, and so we have now got it. So it is not the place alone which is responsible for beautifying the temple; it is the devotees who are actually beautifying the temple. So kindly try to maintain the present atmosphere, and try to improve it more and more, that is my request."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

Preaching program at Anand Prakash Yoga Ashram, Rishikesh, India
→ Dandavats.com

Anand Prakash Yoga Ashram is one of the most prominent ashrams in Rishikesh, India, on the bank of the Ganges river, at the foot of the Himalayan Mountains. Yogirishi Vishvketu ji and Chetana Panwar, the founders of the ashram, invited Radhanath Swami for a satsang program on the evening of 5th March, 2014. More than two hundred spiritual seekers and yogis who had been visiting Rishikesh converged at the ashram to attend Radhanath Swami’s discourse and kirtans. Read more ›

Festival of colours: New Varshana, Auckland, New Zealand (Album 266 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

Sri Sri Radha Giridhari temple was opened on 18th January 2004. The Deities (Sri Sri Gaura Nitai, Sri Sri Radha Giridhari, and Their Lordships Jagannatha Baladeva Subhadra) had previously been installed by the Founder-Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Read more ›

Monday, March 24th, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

White City, Saskatchewan

Paths

Aang, the air bender, a popular character from the animation series, is the latest person that I remind someone of.  On the list is Ghandi, Dalai Lama, Forrest Gump, Martial Artist Grasshopper, Buddha, and actor Kevin Spacey – all people I’m supposed to either resemble or give a reminder towards.  Whether I’m on one of those marathon walks or at a venue for a presentation, people don’t hold back from addressing someone that is relatable.  These remarks can be flattering or facetious.  I must admit, that in fact, I’m just an ordinary person, a simple monk who is a Prabhupada man.  I belong to my guru and I’ve set out for his mission which is to share the consciousness of Krishna.  My portfolio in this regard is teaching the science of bhakti yoga.  Every day of my life, the compelling obligation is to share some lesson with someone.

An opportunity in White City came when three young men volunteered to join me on the local trail system.  Our step was cautious, moving over intermittent snow, ice and general bareness.  On one trail, deer droppings marked the way.  We found the owners, the herd, who gave a good long curious stare.  We returned the stare, but they outdid us.  We were not prepared to stay there forever.  As we began to move, so did they. 

So the choice of trails was there, to go the way of snow and deer, or to take the path of relative dryness.  In life, we all have a choice to tread either of two paths.  One is called “nvriti marga”, the road of spirituality.  The other marga(path) is “pravritti”, the trail of self indulgence.  Take your pick. 

May the Source be with you!

3 KM

Open House: "Krishna Conscious Education for Our Children
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Temple!

Education is a cornerstone of society and for our Hare Krishna community at large. Many parents are
interested in providing meaningful, spiritual knowledge to their children to ensure they have a nourishing childhood. Further, there has been a keen interest among the GTA community in exploring various options for Krishna Conscious education for our children, ranging from home-schooling, home-schooling co-op, a devotional day care and even a full-fledged school.

While some parents have been already researching these topics independently, we felt that it would be valuable to come together and share our ideas and experience as a group. With this intention, the ISKCON Toronto Education Team is organizing an Open House entitled, "Bringing Krishna Conscious Education to Toronto" on Saturday, April 19, 2014 from 10:00am - 12:00pm to discuss these very options. Our hope is that together, we can come up with some exciting opportunities for Krishna Conscious education in and for our community.

Open House Details:

Bringing Krishna Conscious Education to Toronto
Date and Time: Saturday, April 19, 2014; 10:00am - 12:00pm
Venue: ISKCON Toronto, Green Room

Lunch Prasadam (vegetarian meal) will be served after the event.

To RSVP for this event, please click here to register. If you have any questions or suggestions, you can email us at kids@torontokrishna.com .


Leaving Aside, or Letting Go, of the Unessential
→ Karnamrita.das's blog

(this blog is recorded on the full page: quick time player is needed; works best with Firefox or Explorer; if you are using Google Chrome it will automatically play, so to not listen, mute your speakers.)
In the baby, the aged photo Quotes-by-Srila-Prabhupada-on-Death_zps3d887121.jpg
[Originally published on March 3, 2014--since we are now in the process of selling our house and letting go of more things this blog's theme is very appropriate]This morning, after rising, folding up my sleeping bag, and taking care of some natural necessities, I read some of Shri Chaitanya’s lila in Chaitanya Bhagavat. Such a nectar book of spiritual delight! Regular reading of scripture is one of my benchmarks for a successful day. I read about Lord Chaitanya’s (so-called) “birth,” heralded by the resounding chanting of the holy names, which was the custom during a lunar eclipse; how child Chaitanya, or Nimai, would cry and only stop when the ladies chanted the holy name; how mischievous he was as he grew older; how two thieves tried to take him away to steal his ornaments only to find themselves back in front of Nimai’s house; and how Nimai revealed his divinity to a visiting Vaishnava holy man staying with his family. These are very sweet lilas (pastimes), full of deep meaning, and providing me a great way to begin my day!

I have had continual interruptions, or necessary duties, in my regular attempt to write. Writing is a joy for me, but also a discipline; even though I find the effort relishable, setting priorities is required to make it happen—as we must, in the accomplishment of any valuable goal. Those who are devotees of a particular manifestation of God, or who have a spiritual orientation, will see the value of hearing about the activities of the Lord or great saints, and yet they are often understandably less interested in sharing about their own lives. However, everyone’s life is full of important lessons and inspiring events. We only need the right attitude to see this played out as we generally see what we are looking for. This is one of the reasons I write about my life—to show that even a regular person who is trying to live a devotional life has much of value to share. “Ordinary” or “extraordinary” are labels from a state of mind. We notice what we value, so what is going on in your life, right in front of you, that may be trying to get your attention?

read more

It Requires Great Determination
→ Japa Group

I have a good method on how to focus - it requires a spot to stare at and to not move your gaze from that place. It requires great determination, but when you see the effects and feel the benefits of total focus on the sound of the Maha mantra, it's all worth while.

Please try this and see for yourself - no matter what your mind tells you or the urges of the eyes to roam and wander, keep them firmly fixed there and just hear!