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Impersonal liberation is bitter, the objects of the senses shine like a fearful hell, sense pleasures are great flames of virulent poison, all great demigods are insects, and yogic powers are mirages, now that my heart is intoxicated by tasting the sweet nectar of Vrndavana.
[Source : Nectarean Glories of Sri Vrindavana-dhama by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati Thakura, 1-66 Translation.]
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 15 December 2013, Soweto, South Africa, Lecture)
Temple life is a little bit like a pressure cooker! In the world, there are some outlets – there is all this frustration and you can just get drunk one night! So okay, you got rid of that frustration for a night.
But as a devotee, all that you can do is eat lots of prasadam, take shelter in that since you cannot drink, smoke or do anything like that. For sex, then you have to get married! There is no sexual recreation, it is just for the sport!
So in that way, sometimes we may get into a pressure situation in the temple but you just tolerate. In the pressure situation, you brought your false ego and someone else has brought his and these two false egos really clash nicely!
So yes, it is very difficult. Lord Caitanya understands, he understands where we come from; he knows that we are not pure; he knows we are full of false egos. So, he knows that in the beginning, sometimes it gets out of hand. I have seen all kinds of cases – I have seen the skinny mataji strangle the fat one…
So Lord Caitanya understands that in the beginning, we are going to be a little rough on the edges, and maybe there will be some sparks flying. He does not take it very serious but when we get really envious, “I am going to destroy this guy!” That is vaiṣṇava-aparādha, that is when it really gets to vaiṣṇava-aparādha if you just go after someone.
‘tṛṇād api sunīcena
taror api sahiṣṇunā,’ (Siksastaka, verse 3)
Be more humble than a blade of grass and more tolerant than a tree but if we just go after someone, “Get this guy! Screw this guy!” That is envy and then you get strong reactions. But the little rough dealings between new devotees are not so serious, are not taken so serious. If you keep on doing it, it will destroy some taste!
Otherwise, what chance would we have? Because everybody comes from different background than a pure devotee. You cannot act like a pure devotee overnight. We should try, it is about trying. Sometimes we fail, but we should keep on trying to be more tolerant than a tree, to be respectful!
Density is the measurement of how much mass something has. The more tightly packed together the molecules, the denser the substance is; the more loosely packed the molecules, the lighter or less dense it is. The concept of density is taught using a few simple household items.
Students learn about density through layering liquids.What a fun!!!!!
A fun way of learning things by playing games!!!!
Sixth grade students play periodic table battleship.Fourth graders play geography games.These activities are challenging, and experimental in nature and can build on and further children’s learning in a stimulating and creative way, thus maintaining the positives associated with play, while also helping children develop new skills and learn new information.
SB 1.11.19, Purport:
Śrī Bilvamaṅgala Ṭhākura, a great ācārya of the Viṣṇu Svāmī Vaiṣṇava sect, in his householder life was overly attached to a prostitute who happened to be a devotee of the Lord. One night when the Ṭhākura came to Cintāmaṇi's house in torrents of rain and thunder, Cintāmaṇi was astonished to see how the Ṭhākura could come on such a dreadful night after crossing a foaming river which was full of waves. She said to Ṭhākura Bilvamaṅgala that his attraction for the flesh and bone of an insignificant woman like her would be properly utilized if it could be diverted to the devotional service of the Lord to achieve attraction for the transcendental beauty of the Lord. It was a momentous hour for the Ṭhākura, and he took a turn towards spiritual realization by the words of a prostitute. Later on the Ṭhākura accepted the prostitute as his spiritual master, and in several places of his literary works he has glorified the name of Cintāmaṇi, who showed him the right path. Read more › 
Walking around the Pink City... Read more › 
In Mayapur Dhama Read more › 
Should the GBC members be changed or they are "for good? Read more › 
Mantra Music at one of the biggest London-wide university talent showcases of 2013. Jahnavi Harrison with Tulasi and Nama Rasa Sutaria, Ananda Monet, Namamali Harrison, Jagannatha Suta, and Colin Campbell - filmed by Rajesh Hirani.
For example, when a man falls ill, he goes to a physician who prescribes medicines which eventually cure the suffering patient. Similarly, the materialist is ailing, and he should consult an expert transcendentalist-physician. What is his ailment? He is suffering the tribulations of repeated births, deaths, diseases and old age. Once he agrees to put himself under the "back to Godhead" treatment, he is able to transfer himself to the anti-material world, where there is eternal life instead of birth and death.
- Srila Prabhupada, Easy Journey to Other Planets : 1 - Anti-material Worlds
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Devotees had the opportunity to attend talks such as Unity in Diversity, Being Trusting and Trustworthy, Harmonizing Lines of Authority, Srila Prabhupada: The Living Bhagavatam, The Avanti Schools Model or a Theatre Arts Workshop (VANDE) which were among the twenty two seminars offered in the morning.
Ecstatic Kirtan By Damodar Caitanya Prabhu
This website has inspired such an old (55) aspiring devotee! I live 2 hours from the nearest temple so this keeps me intouch with the "work" of Krishna around the world. Keep up the good work and chanting your rounds - it makes a difference.
BV
[Source : Nectarean Glories of Sri Vrindavana-dhama by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati Thakura, 1-65 Translation.]
(Kadamba Kanana Swami)
The key to build up a spiritual life must be a regular practice in hearing and chanting, preferably on a regulated schedule as much as possible – the same every day, starting early in the morning. One psychologist said that if you do something every day for one month, then it becomes a habit. Can you imagine if we do something every day for a lifetime, then it becomes a second nature.
This is what it means to become situated in the mode of goodness, to build up good habits. Besides the fact that the mind gets trained, the soul which is otherwise in a dormant state in this material world, also awakens by transcendental rasa (taste). It is this ‘higher taste’ that makes us strong in the fight against maya. It is then that we become situated on the spiritual platform. So try and make a schedule for yourself which includes ample time for hearing and chanting. Lord Krsna Caitanya will help you and please pray to his lotus feet every day….