New Vrindaban Daily darsan @ February 1, 2014.
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Brother, do you know for certain when you will die? Do you think the maha-mantra will check the powerful death? Do you think that death will patiently wait and allow you to die at the time you prescribe? Is it for these reasons that again and again you fearlessly leave Vrndavana?

[Source : Nectarean Glories of Sri Vrindavana-dhama by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati Thakura, 1-50 Translation.]

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Association with mundane people
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 31 July 2005)

redlightdistrict_amsterdamFor a sannyasi to associate with mundane persons is like willingly drinking poison! And not only for a sannyasi but for a devotee too. One should not associate with women who are addicted to lusty desires nor should one associate with men who are addicted to such women. This is not recommended for one who is serious about going back to Godhead because it is said that sex life is the chain, maithunya argara, it is the chain that binds us in the prison of material existence.

“But it is natural, it is natural, what can we say? You cannot be artificial. It is one of the natural inclinations of the body just like hunger and thirst! It is also not only that… it is like a means to express affection and love.”

Yes, one must also make a distinction between the gross lusty activities which, for example, are going on in the red light district of Amsterdam and the exchanges in a loving relationship. That is also a fact. A distinction is made and therefore Krsna says, “Yes, between a husband and wife.” Then that is a different thing. In the Vedic culture, a husband and wife would together go for spiritual life but nowadays that is not always there. Spiritual life, if it is at all there, is something symbolic and for most, it is something in the background. It is not a very prominent thing. But in Vedic culture, spiritual life was in the foreground. It was an important element in life – prominent and it should be! Therefore, sex life should be within religious principles, within marriage.

For all of us, it is not beneficial to associate with people who are in the grip of lust. At least not intimately. If one becomes very friendly with mundane people then after some time, we also become mundane.

 

The Power of Story (3)
→ NY Times & Bhagavad Gita Sanga/ Sankirtana Das


The storyteller has to be a jack of all trades. You are the script writer, the director and the actor. As such, you have to make a variety of decisions, beginning with choosing a story for your repertoire.  Then, how is your story is going to begin and how is it going to conclude. You have to be very clear on that. Know exactly what note your story is going to end on. The fun part is getting from point A to point B. That’s when you take the audience on a little journey. You can weave this way and that, sharing the philosophy here and there. Of course, you should know your story inside and out. Then only can you present the story and make adjustments based on the nature of your audience and how much time you have.
You also have to decide on what the story's focus. What’s your story going to convey?  Also, in the hands of different speakers, a story can sound and feel totality different.  The same story will even take on different meanings or evoke laugher at a place where an audience has never laughed before. Very often, all these elements fall in place over time.  You can’t rush it.  Through repeated tellings, deeper levels of the story, and way to share the story, open up. Very often these insights emerge from the responses of your audience. An audience can tell you a lot about how to improve your story. Prabhupada also comments, “Krishna will give the intelligence how to execute. Strictly adhere to Krishna's instructions and He'll give intelligence how to execute them from within your heart.” The thing is, a good storyteller is first of all a good listener.
See www.Mahabharata-Project.comfor info and reviews of my book Mahabharata: The Eternal Quest –  a ‘cinematic’ rendition of India’s ancient epic.  

Camel Caravan Kirtan
→ travelingmonk.com

Srila Prabhupada once said, “Tax your brains how to spread this movement.” So today we loaded our devotees, puppets and musical instruments on carts drawn by camels and did harinam throughout the city of Vadodara, all the while announcing our festival tomorrow night. News of the extravaganza spread quickly and soon all local newspapers and [...]

Camel Caravan Kirtan! (Album 131 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

Indradyumna Swami: Srila Prabhupada once said, "Tax your brains how to spread this movement." So today we loaded our devotees, puppets and musical instruments on carts drawn by camels and did harinam throughout the city of Vadodara, all the while announcing our festival tomorrow night. News of the extravaganza spread quickly and soon all local newspapers and television stations came out to interview us. Everyone we met on the streets promised to come. If they do, then our 'camel caravan kirtan' will have been a great success! -- Read more ›