Friday, February 14th, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

Noida/Delhi, India

Minimal Enjoyment                

Walking today was once again at a minimum due to circumstances.   A cold rain hit the area.  I have neither the clothing nor the footwear appropriate to withstand the elements outside.  Besides, I wanted to experience the atmosphere of a new sacred  space , a new building or temple, now officially open, in Noida.

Local residential monks and lay-members were huddled closely together benefitting from each other's body heat, in addition to sweaters and chauddars, as they sat in happy mediation.  It was 5:30 AM when after the first part was completed, that every five minutes a person would be bringing in a blast of cold wet air into the place of meditation.

I took to a circular-shaped pacing route in the room before settling in a chair. It was then my hour to deliver the Bhagavatam class, the third one since arriving in India.  From Canto 5 the message of the "Forest of Material Enjoyment" alludes to pleasure.  This is misleading, however, because duality is the actual reality.  Much pain is infused into the physical world and many people on the planet are steeped in it through war conditions where fear has over taken them. For millions of people the bare necessity are not met. One Vaishnava saint wrote about enjoyment in the material world proclaiming it to be minimal and liking it to taking a few drops a water while in a parched dry desert.

All around challenges become a preoccupation with little peace.  Even in the effort to create sacred space a disturbance welcomes itself.  To make the point more clear read next paragraph.

Our stay in Noida was over and we cabbed our way to Saint Nagar district in New Delhi where we booked our selves at the ISKCON guest house. We had time to catch up on rest, read, write and have darshan, the viewing of the deities of Krishna.  In the temple room a digital sign keeps rolling out the message for pilgrims, "Beware of pick pockets!"

So while we find ourselves in an apparent safe haven, there are still things to worry about - the worry of theft.  My pilgrim friends have lost in the past their shoes, phones, wallets, ID cards, etc. The point is, as long as we reside in this world it is a rarity to find complete, total, cent percent comfort.  Hence we must surrender to the spiritual.

May the Source be with you!

4 KM

Thursday, February 13th, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

Nodia, India

Walking/Flying

As out little drama troupe was in the midst of our practice for the Hindi version of "Gita: Concise”, an interviewer came, a Ms. Singh from the Delhi Times was informed about my being in town and that a story about  "The Walking Monk" might be interesting; she was gracious.

The usual questions came about why, where and what's next?  To put it briefly I told her about the value of pilgrimages, about the countries I've ventured through on foot and about doing Route 66 in the U.S. as a major undertaking from New York to San Fransisco.  I also told her of the many visits to elementary schools this last summer while walking through the Canadian prairies along with Daruka, my associate, and a parrot.  The teachers loved the notion of getting away from computers and games to see a bigger world, a bigger picture.

After the interview and drama practice I enjoyed some down-time reading through the pages of a new book by Lokanath Swami, "In Conversation With Srila Prabhupada".  I'm sure that my admired monk friend, the author, doesn't mind me pulling out an excerpt that got my attention.  It's to do with a walk he was on with our Guru, Srila Prabhupada on November 13/1975 Bombay/India:

"As Srila Prabhupada quickened his steps and we hurried along behind him, we glanced upwards to the clear Juhu beach sky and observed a flock of geese flying through the air in complete synergy with each other. Srila Prabhupada stopped, dug his cane steadily into the ground and commented,"’Yes… fast, these birds.  Airplane cannot do that.’

I inquired, ‘How do the birds determine the direction of their movement without clashing into each other?’

Srila Prabhupada responded, Informing me, ‘Yes, they have got intelligence.  You are thinking they have no intelligence. They have got complete intelligence.’

I acknowledged Srila Prabhupada’s explanation and pushed the discussion further.  ‘How do they all decide together to turn either right or left without clashing?’

Srila Prabhupada replied with authority, "That is intelligence.  You do not know that if you are given airplane, so many… immediately, at least half a dozen will be finished. That means you are less intelligent then the birds, at least in the matter of flying.’

Those who were there to hear the remarks… were highly amused.”
 
May The Source Be With You!
 
0 KM

From raga to rock!
→ Dandavats.com

Actually every living entity has its own raga, everyone has his own way of singing. Sometimes, we say that some people sing “off” but that is not a fact; they just have their own raga in their own musical scale. So, every living entity has its own raga, the birds have their own raga and all the animals have their own ragas but the sixteen-thousand, one-hundred and eight gopis have their ragas which are spiritual. Read more ›

Is karma yoga practical when even the people for whom we sacrifice consider it insane?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

From Sunil Goel

can you please explain the essence/importance/relativity of  NISKAM KARMYOG in this material world where it is treated no more than INSANITY, even by those to whom you do the favour by sacrificing your own self - interests. in that case, how it will be better than fulfilling your own desires and making him a loser instead.....

Answer Podcast

Why does the Bhagavatam say that we shouldn’t endeavor even for our necessities?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

From: vighnesh kamath
why did in srimad bhagvatam 7.15.16, it is told that we should not even endeavour to earn our livelihood . lord krishna will supply all our basic neccesities automatically . isn't  that it is contradicting the karma yoga concept , in which it is said work in krishna consciousness . and normally anyone who works , will work for earning his livelihood only . so shouldnt we even try to earn atleast for maintaining our body and soul together, if not greed . is it not we are triying to run away from our work , and in the name of god, expecting everything will come automatically . is it practical today ? i may have misunderstood the above verse, if yes then in what context it can be reconciled .

Answer Podcast

ISKCON Leadership Sanga 2014 Begins
→ ISKCON News

The 2014 ISKCON Leadership Sanga (ILS) was inaugurated on February 16 in Sridham Mayapur. Day 1 consisted of three sessions during which at least ten seminars would run in parallel per session. Seminars such as Effective Outreach, How to Implement the 5 Steps of Succession and Identify Future Leaders, Devotee Care Through Cow Care, Invest in the Future, and To Love is to Cooperate were just a handful of the numerous seminars devotees had the opportunity to attend.

Fate Attraction Part 5—Coming to Krishna
→ Karnamrita.das's blog

Author: 
Karnamrita Das

(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.)
Devotees chanting on Med Cafe Mural in Berkeley CA photo MuralonMedCafeBerkeleyCA_zps87e4c4a5.jpg
[I am continuing the reposting of this 5 part series as a way to commemorate this month which marks my 45th year of coming to Krishna. This is the final installment (previously posted 2-16-14)--until I make it into a whole book.] Chris had come back from Muir Woods to Berkeley a few times to restock his food supplies and then return, but this time he felt he would stay in town for a while. He wanted to begin searching the library and alternative newspapers for information about different spiritual orders and groups such as the Trappist monks, Buddhists, and various yoga societies. Somehow to have a new life, a spiritual life, and one by which he could focus on useful life skills, being in harmony with Nature, and helping others.

In his second year of college he wasn’t impressed or inspired by his teachers. He reasoned that if he continued his education he would become like they who were merely part of the materialistic status quo. His teachers didn’t seem interested in changing, becoming better people, or most importantly, in their own souls. Chris felt completely estranged from his old life, apparently lost, even damaged from an external perspective, and yet he felt somehow guided in the process of finding his path. It had been a radical, unpredictable journey and there no end in sight, but his effort to find and live the Truth was worth it, even if his material progress was impeded or lost forever. Without realizing and living the purpose of life, what was the use of any other obtainment, even if praised by the World?

He simplified his life by giving away most of his possessions, and began sleeping on the floor. During the day he would sit on his folded sleeping bag before a small coffee table that he used as a desk. It was covered with stacks of spiritual/religious books, magazines, and notebooks. He dreamed of being a sage or monk, what the I Ching referred to as a “superior man,” not in vanity, but in depth of character. Chris had become a vegetarian rather naturally,

read more

Living With Birds
→ View From a New Vrindaban Ridge

bird at suet feeder

Bird at suet feeder.

sunflower feeder

Cardinal arriving at sunflower feeder.   At times there are as many as 40 birds feeding there including a lot of juncos on holiday from Canada.  The snow fence keeps deer and crows from devouring the sunflowers.

bird tracks

We got an inch of snow overnight which I didn’t get around to sweeping off the kitchen steps. By late afternoon it was covered with bird tracks.


Filed under: Cows and Environment

GENIE
→ Gita Coaching

There once were two merchants in a town. Their shops were across the street from each other. Each man measured his success, not by how much he personally sold that day, but if he made more than his competitor. The rivalry grew year by year. One day, one of the merchants found a magic lantern. He rubbed it and out popped a genie. The merchant asked the genie if he would grant him three wishes.

Our Humble Efforts
→ travelingmonk.com

With a grand Ratha Yatra through the heart of Mumbai and a massive two-day festival in a large park we took our final bows in our 7-week festival tour of India. We pray that Srila Prabhupada has been pleased with our humble efforts to help spread Lord Caitanya’s movement in the land of dharma. With [...]

Insectarium
→ TKG Academy

tkg academy students had a fun time at the insectarium.

um is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry’s standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived

New Vrindaban Daily darsan @ February 16, 2014.
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

03

Dressed in a kaupina and kantha, living by eating fruit fallen from the trees, not speaking useless words, not passing the time in useless deeds, abandoning all pride, going to each house to beg a little alms, and following those for whom Sri Radhika is their entire life, I will live in Vrndavana.

[Source : Nectarean Glories of Sri Vrindavana-dhama by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati Thakura, 1-64 Translation.]

Please click here for more photos

Preparing Ourselves For Japa
→ Japa Group

Before we start our chanting we can pray to the Lord for assistance with our Japa - we can also remind ourselves about the quality and how we need to maintain that.
I personally reflect on what I need to strengthen in my Japa and make a specific affirmation before I start chanting.
I know some devotees like to make notes about their Japa, normally after their Japa session....notes that they can read over later and reflect on.
If we remain humble, realising that we can always make improvements in our spiritual lives, then we will give ourselves the best chance to make advancement.

From raga to rock!
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 13 January 2014, Mayapur, India, Lecture: Kirtan Academy 1)

kks boat_mamgacchiKirtan happens on the pure transcendental platform. It is an interesting combination of Krsna’s name and a particular melody, a particular raga, which brings out a mood.

It is said that there are sixteen-thousand, one-hundred and eight ragas that are spiritual because there are sixteen-thousand, one-hundred and eight gopis.

Actually every living entity has its own raga, everyone has his own way of singing. Sometimes, we say that some people sing “off” but that is not a fact; they just have their own raga in their own musical scale. So, every living entity has its own raga, the birds have their own raga and all the animals have their own ragas but the sixteen-thousand, one-hundred and eight gopis have their ragas which are spiritual.

So these ragas are known to some in the material world but not to me! I don’t come from a raga background; I come from a rock background and it does happen to me that raga turns into rock – what can I do!? It’s like, somehow or other, it seems to happen to me sometimes but I have always quoted something which is like the Krsna consciousness “Fifth Amendment”:

nāmnām akāri bahudhā nija-sarva-śaktis
tatrārpitā niyamitaḥ smaraṇe na kālaḥ
etādṛśī tava kṛpā bhagavan mamāpi
durdaivam īdṛśam ihājani nānurāgah, (Siksastakam, verse 2)

 

That basically, there are no hard and fast rules in this chanting so therefore I claim innocence; I am not responsible, rock will do as long as it will connect us to Krsna. Rupa Goswami says that whether it is Vedic or just a practical thing from this world, whatever is favourable for the service of Krsna, is accepted.