Monday, January 20th, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

Longdonville, Trinidad

When Walking is an Art

One of the monks of Longdonville in Trinidad quoted Schopenhauer, he compared life to walking.  He referred to taking a step forward and in order not to fall, you correct yourself by striding and planting the other leg forward. 

If I got him right, it’s hard to stand on one leg.  The balance factor has to be in place. 

The last few days I’ve been trying to strike a balance by not always being on the feet.  Addressing some varicose vein issues, I recall my doctor saying, I must give some time to the blood in the legs to flow downward while they are suspended up.  So in the last few days, I chose the wall next to the bed I’ve been laying on for propping my legs up and allowing the flow of blood to occur.  I believe I should religiously follow this regiment, even when I’m not on long marathon treks.

It was the same monk, Kavi, by name, who quoted Schopenhauer, who took me for a short jaunt within the neighbourhood of the ISKCON Centre.

The neighbourhood is predominantly Hindu.  This is clearly demarked by the various flags you see pegged in their front yard.  The colours of the flags vary and they represent different personalities of the Vedic pantheon.  By the time we walked, the sun was descending when we met some of those folks, and connected with them.

Kavi and I discussed the art of connecting.  Connecting is sometimes referred to as the word ‘yoga’, as in when you take up the practice of yoga, you are ultimately making a connection or union with the Divine, in other words, communicating with God.

Our guru, Srila Prabhupada, went so far as to say that this is the art of all work.  This full reference from the Bhagavad  Gita goes as such:

“A person engaged in devotional service rids himself of both good and bad reactions, even in this life.  Therefore, strive for yoga, which is the art of all work.”

Take walking, for example.  It takes the form of an art and going beyond mechanics when the spiritual connection is made, when you walk not just for fitness, but when there’s a spiritual intent behind it. 

May the Source be with you!

5 KM

Glory be to Krsna
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 12 December 2013, Midrand, South Africa, Evening Lecture)

on your kneesIt is the nature of Krsna that he wants to give the glory to his devotee because Krsna serves his devotee as the devotee is serving him. So, it is a mutual thing. It’s not like here is God and there is the living being on his knees, “Oh yes, on your knees, on thy knees! Thou shall go and thou shall pray and I will…bless!” Not like that.

Rather, Krsna is seeing, “Oh, why are you praying? Why are you praying to me? Why? You don’t want anything?”

“No, no”

“You don’t want any wealth?”

“No, no”

“Then why are you praying to me? Do you have some health problem? Do you want to fix it? Is that why you’re praying to me?”

“No, no.”

“You want to get married? Is that why you’re praying to me?”

“No.”

“You want to get rich? Is that why you’re praying to me? Why are praying to me?”

“No. Oh, I’m actually praying to you because you are so amazing.”

“Oh, you mean you are praying to me and you have no desire for anything in return?”

“Well, I want something…”

 “Oh, what do you want?”

“I want to serve you eternally.”

Oh, that purchases Krsna! Then Krsna will also serve that devotee. He will become the servant of that devotee and that is the highest, when the devotee becomes the servant of Krsna and Krsna becomes the servant of the devotee. The devotee is trying to give the glory to Krsna and Krsna trying to give the glory to the devotee!

A Fun Read – 32 Ways NOT to Chant Japa!
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Temple!

We came upon this funny little list of "32 Ways Not to Chant Japa", sent to us from Mahatma prabhu.  For serious practitioners of bhakti-yoga (Krsna consciousness), daily mantra meditation (japa) is a big part of our devotional practice.  Of course, one of the main challenges is staying focused while chanting!  :o)

Here's a fun list of what we shouldn't be doing!

32 Ways to Not Chant Japa in 2014
From The Japa Workshop by Mahatma das
(For more classes on Japa, go to www.krishna.com/mahatma)

  1. To Do List Japa - Meditating on your to do and shopping lists, sometimes adding and deleting items between mantras. This may also include mentally balancing your checkbook or mentally going over which bills you have to pay. Caution: This process can cause you to lament about how many bills you have to pay, and thus changing your prayers from "Oh Lord, please engage me in your service," to "Oh Lord, please add a few more zeroes to the end of my bank balance."
  2. I Hate Him Japa - While chanting, meditating on who hurt you, how badly you were hurt, how  much you hate that person, and what you’ll do to get back at him. By the end of 16 rounds your hatred has increased tenfold and you have developed excellent plans and strategies to take revenge.
  3. I am Right Japa - Meditating while chanting on how right you are and how wrong someone else is, and with every mantra you become more convinced how right you are. Also know as "Pump Your Ego Japa. "
  4. Watering the Weeds Japa - Chanting so poorly that by the time you finish you feel disgusted, depressed and miserable. Gone are the days of "Chant and Be Happy." Now it is, "Chant and Be Miserable."
  5. Beat the Clock Japa - You chant as fast as possible in an attempt to get those bothersome rounds over with, sometimes trying to break your previous record of one round in 3 minutes 59 seconds - which was formerly thought to be humanly impossible - until you proved it could be done if one is intensely motivated to get his chanting over with as soon as possible!
  6. Robot Japa - You chant like a robot. Chanting while totally disconnected from the mood of the mantra. You sometimes wish another devotee or a robot  could chant your rounds for you.
  7. Firing Blank Mantras Japa - Krsna’s name is chanted, but your mind and heart are somewhere else - and so is He. The sound Krsna comes out of your mouth, but because there is no consciousness, it is like firing blank mantras.
  8. Killing Time Japa - Chanting, but thinking of things to entertain yourself with while you chant so you won’t be so bored just listening to the mantra. In this way you kill time while chanting and thus make chanting 16 rounds quite tolerable by making it much less painful than usual. 
  9. Creative Japa - Using japa as a time for brainstorming, thus doing some creative thinking,  generating new ideas, and finding solutions to your problems. It is useful to have a pen and paper handy to write down your ideas. Although you may get very few rounds done, and you won't get the nectar of the name - you have spent the past two hours in a such a high degree of passion that you will definitely have a long list of good ideas. (But is it really a good idea to ruin your japa to get some good ideas?)
  10. Novocain Japa - Your heart is so numbed that you feel absolutely nothing when you chant.
  11. Driving Japa - Chanting while distracted by the task of driving,  sometimes accompanied by cursing at people who cut you off (i.e. the anti-trnad api sunicena mantra).  Of course, the reason you chant while driving is that you get up late.
  12. No Japa, Japa - While holding your beads you converse with another devotee, moving your beads as you talk. In this way you sometimes finish a so-called round or two by the end of the conversation. (Oh God, help us!)
  13. Prajalpa Japa - You chant a few mantras and then speak a few words of prajalpa to your friend. You chant a few more mantras and then listen as they speak some prajalpa to you. Then you respond with some even more juicy gossip. This process often continues for the entire japa session.
  14. Call and Response Japa - You talk to someone, and while listening to you they chant japa. Then they reply and while listening to them you chant japa.
  15. Reading Japa - Reading and chanting at the same time. (Note: This would not be a problem if you had two or more heads.)
  16. Left Hand Japa - Chanting japa while doing something with your left hand (cleaning, cooking, tinkering, organizing, washing your car, etc.). This is very useful for developing left arm strength.
  17. Bubblegum Japa - Chanting in a way that sounds like you are chewing bubble gum while chanting Hare Krsna.
  18. New Mantra Japa - Chanting a new form of the Hare Krsna mantra, such as "here kitty, kitty, here kitty, kitty," or "nish, nish, ram, ram, ari, ari."
  19. Entertainment Japa - Chanting while watching TV or a movie. Note: watching TV while not chanting, but chanting during the commercials is also totally bogus! (And, Krsna conscious video is also included in TV Japa.)
  20. Internet Japa - A few mantras and a few emails, sometimes chanting and reading at the same time.  Inevitably, the beads get put on the table and the right hand lands on the keyboard.
  21. Window Shopping Japa - Chanting while window shopping (this commonly happens when making the attempt to knock out some rounds while in the shopping mall).
  22. Boredom Japa - You are so bored while chanting that you feel like killing yourself.
  23. Relaxing Japa - Lying down or relaxing in a hammock while chanting (often accompanied by coconut water in your left hand).
  24. Slumber Japa - Taking advantage of japa to get a good nap. Another variety of "Slumber Japa" is trying to fight off sleep, but continually failing. This is also known as "Dive Bomb Japa" due to the head constantly rising and falling (diving).
  25. Bitter Medicine Japa - Your experience of the holy name is like bitter medicine and your face turns in disgust as you chant.
  26. Painful Japa - Your mind is so out of control that it is painful to try to control it. Thus, the expression on your face while chanting appears similar to the expression of a person with a knife in their back (or a person with severe constipation). This is often accompanied by banging your head with your hand, or in severe cases - banging your head against a wall.
  27. Shaking Japa - (Also known as "Ants in Your Pants Japa") -  You chant as if you were a toy monkey that was just wound up.
  28. Radar Japa - Looking around at anything and everything - and everybody - while chanting.
  29. Audio Japa - Chanting japa while listening to a lecture, kirtan, song, or the radio. This is especially challenging while listening to the radio (unless, of course, it is one of your favorite songs or some juicy news).
  30. Sightseeing Japa - Walking or driving  and chanting while doing some serious sightseeing.
  31. Shopping Japa - Nish, nish, ram, ram, ari, ari-ing your way through the supermarket or mall.
  32. Apathy Japa - Chanting with absolutely no desire or enthusiasm to chant.

Understand God from God
→ The Spiritual Scientist

If we try to understand God by our limited knowledge, it will be a failure. We have to understand God from God. Then that will be perfect knowledge. So this Bhagavad-gītā is the science of God where God is speaking about Himself. And it is accepted by all great scholars, philosophers, and, I mean to say, religionists, everyone.

- Srila Prabhupada, Lecture on BG 4.1-6 -- Los Angeles, January 3, 1969

Seven Storey Temple Rises in Noida, India
→ ISKCON News

Over thirty thousand people are expected to attend the grand opening of the seven-storey Radha Govind Dev Mandir and Bhaktivedanta Academy in Noida, Uttar Pradesh from February 11th to 13th. Each morning of the festival will feature talks by senior devotees and spiritual ceremonies inviting the new Deities of Sri-Sri Radha Govind Dev into Their new home.

New Vrindaban’s Transcendental “Throwback Thursday” – 01/23/14
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

NV TBT 01-23-14

New Vrindaban’s Transcendental “Throwback Thursday” – 01/23/14.

Each week we highlight an earlier era of ISKCON New Vrindaban.

This week’s challenge: Identify the three devotees in the photo.

Extra credit: Name the two young oxen as well.

Post your guesses on the “who, what, when & where” in the comment section at the New Vrindaban Facebook Page.

Technical stuff: We share the photo Thursday and confirm known details Sunday. Let’s keep it light and have a bit of fun!

Special request: If you have a photo showing New Vrindaban devotees in action, share it with us and we’ll use it in a future posting.

Srimad Bagavatam Class
→ Welcome to the official site of ISKCON Perth

Dear devotees & Friends

We would like to invite you all to come and hear from H G Chaitanya Chandra Prabhu who will be visiting Perth from
22nd January till 24th January.

Srimad Bagavatam Class at
7.30 AM Wednesday 22nd January,
7.30 AM Thursday 23th January,
7.30 AM Friday 24th January at the Temple.

Evening Class at
7.30 PM Wednesday on 22nd January at the Temple.

Hare Krishna

The Critical Moment
→ Seed of Devotion



In the valley community of Nova Gokula in Brazil, electricity had been out all evening. I had just put my journal aside for the night and was about to blow out my candle. I looked at the flimsy column of wax and felt a flutter of unease. How easy to knock this candle over, I thought. I carefully waved my hand to extinguish the little flame and the room fell dark.

My mind was drifting off to sleep when bloodcurdling screams shattered the night. Shrieks, one after another after another.

I jumped out of bed, flung open my door. Across the way in the other half of the guesthouse, a woman burst from her door, screaming. Powerful orange flames poured from the door and window.

The woman dashed away and up the hill towards the temple.

The candles, I thought.

Immediately, instinctively, I knew that this fire was all-consuming. I gaped in disbelief. Parama Karuna, the gurukuli who owned the guesthouse, had also emerged from his room in his pajamas. It took several moments for the sight to register. Then, “No, no, no!! Senor Supremo, no!” he cried out. He tried to retrieve a water hose, but it was puny. I sensed that even if we had had fire extinguishers, they would have been useless.

I dashed back into my room, heart pounding. I grabbed my purse, chanting beads, passport – go, go, go, stuff my things in my suitcase and drag it out to the lawn. The flames climbed higher and higher and began to devour neighboring rooms. Wooden rafters began to cave and the ceramic roof tiles collapsed in crashes. 

Parama and his wife Katyayani began to dump out mattresses from the rooms. I also grabbed mattresses and whatever else I could. “Oh, Senor Supremo!” Parama kept crying out. He had grown up for some time here in Nova Gokula, Brazil. Only one week before, he and his wife had worked so, so hard to renovate this place as a service to the community. For a week straight they had worked sometimes 15 hours a day, painting, cleaning, buying everything brand new and beautiful.

And now… ashes.

From up the hill at the temple, repeated cries of the conch shell rang out throughout the valley. Help, help. Soon enough, devotees in their pajamas came running, their faces a mixture of shock and determination to help.

I was immobile. I stood at a distance in awe and fear at the awesome sight of the all-devouring inferno. The smoke and flames reached high into the black sky. I was standing so far away but still I could feel the heat on my skin.

I had these moments in the escape and in observing this fire that this is my moment of death. The house is my body, the flames of death are approaching.

The fear goes to the core.

I had had time to save my things tonight, but with death I can save nothing. Nothing. Death is unstoppable, there is nothing and no one for me at that time.

Only Krishna.

Soon enough, I was shaken from my reverie and I dove into the salvage efforts. By the time firefighters arrived, the fire had smoldered down to coals, leaving only a broken shell of what this place used to be.



***

NOTE: The fire had started from leaving a candle unattended. No one got hurt. 

Parama Karuna and his wife Katyayani are in the process of rebuilding the guesthouse. Their deep intention is to usher in fresh hope and energy to Nova Gokula in service of Srila Prabhupad. 

They will be rebuilding the guesthouse in a similar way as ISKCON's Life Membership program - people can invest in the guesthouse and stay for a portion of the year every year. If you are interested in this investment, please contact Vaikuntha Murti Prabhu at vaikmurti@hotmail.com.
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New Vrindaban Daily darsan @ January 22, 2014.
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

01

With great devotion Brahma and the demigods glorify and the Supreme Personality of Godhead nullifies the karma of a glorious person who because of many past pious deeds has obtained Vrndavana as a guest residing in his eyes.
[Source : Nectarean Glories of Sri Vrindavana-dhama by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati Thakura, 1-40 Translation ]

Please click here for more photos

Apologies, Good Bye for now sweet friends
→ simple thoughts

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As some of you are aware I’ve written a small blog for many years, my thought’s, struggles, realizations and difficulties along with the wonderful time’s sharing Krishna Consciousness so this is going to be the most painful blog posting but is one from what is a crumpled broken heart.

Last year I was hit by a health scare, it has taken a lot out of me and the material body has given lot’s of problems since and so I’m waiting for further appointments at the hospital; with this in mind I have decreased my working hours. However one thing I didn’t decrease was my monthly visit’s and small preaching work.

My work colleges haven’t questioned this knowing it’s a no go area as far as decreasing goes; indeed I was determined to increase with plans already at hand for a third community Diwali, along with plans to hire a small local theatre something I had discussed for some time. I had also taken the freed extra time to visit a few more schools and community groups.

So my next comment’s are the hardest get.

Each month I have made a journey in order to get just a little nectar of association, I enjoyed my little seva it wasn’t a great amount but I had one aim to do a little more those who talked to me knew I had one desire; this kept me going month after month after month.

Over the past few months my colleges have expressed some concern seeing me return tired and exhausted; but knew discussion or requesting my cut down was not open for discussion indeed they were aware of my desire to increase.

I had one little desire to one day get the deities ready for rest in the evening for me it’s something I’ve desired since the time the idea was planted in my mind by my mentor for the last five plus years; their kindness and encouragement has kept me going.

During my last visit they had to break the news that they knew would break my heart, I feel they were putting it off as the news has hit me hard that I’m now struggling to go on.

So I write to apologies to those who over the years have been and expressed encouragement by my commitment and faithfulness in traveling so far to do just a little seva; my visit this month will be my last for a while.

It’s a personal failing, I put too much emphasis on one thing one desire and when that is taken away you look and theirs nothing left; just a sense of failure and spiritual failure an inability to make the grade is for me the biggest devastating blow imaginable.

And for those who have put a lot of emphasis on my always being their, who came to every class I gave and invited me to there sange I deeply apologies but ask that you personally don’t loose heart

Keep chanting look to slowly increase your rounds; you can do it I know you can.

I’m sure some will rejoice with a hearty “told you so, knew he wouldn’t make it”

But for those sweet friends and ever well wishers I pray one day our paths will cross again and you will as always great me with great love and affection; the affections that only devotee’s know

Hope against hope
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 04 October 2013, Melbourne, Australia, Kirtan evening)

KKS_leipzig retreat_june 2012By his kind mercy, Krsna has revealed himself in his holy name. Although we cannot see Krsna face to face – other than in his Deity form – whenever we chant the holy name, wherever we are, in any place, any condition of life, Krsna is manifest! Although we may not believe that, although we have heard it many times, although we have read it, although we can philosophically explain it, still we don’t believe it!

Because if we would believe it, then when we would chant the holy name, our hairs would stand on end, in ecstasy. If we would really believe that the holy name is non-different from Krsna, we would change our whole life. We would leave all material interests, if only we would believe that Krsna and his name are non-different. We can quote the verse, if we are little learned, from the Padma-purana:

nāma-cintāmanih krsnas
caitanya-rasa-vigrahah
pūrnah śuddho nitya-mukto
‘bhinnātvan nāma-nāminoh
 

But we don’t believe it, what to do! But our good fortune is that even although we don’t believe in this chanting, it still works. Therefore tonight, we, the faithless ones, the ones who actually don’t believe in Krsna’s name, will chant the holy name in the hope that somehow or other, we break through the clouds, break through the ignorance that covers us. Just like here in Melbourne, sometimes for a few moments the sun shines, not too long! In the same way, we hope that sometimes, even for a moment, we can appreciate that Krsna actually is present in his holy name.