351. Xmas !
→ 9 Days, 8 Nights

Spent a good part of last Saturday decorating the yoga centre in a Christmas theme. There were bells, lights, snow flake wall stickers and even a looping video on the wall showing Santa Claus on his sledge flying across the blue full moon night.

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I was so tired putting it all up along with another guest but when everyone claimed it was really beautiful, i was rejuvenated again.

Learning from the day – do what you can for Lord Krishna, His devotees (past, present and future) no matter what the situation or ocassion is.


350. HH Bhaktivinoda Swami visit
→ 9 Days, 8 Nights

Last weekend, i had the great privilege to meet His Holiness Bhaktivinoda Swami. The meet came as a complete surprise. It seemed he had expressed an interest to visit our yoga centre in the city and perhaps lead a short kirtan.

Running up the stairs, i was mentally preparing on what to say to prepare him for the evening. It would be a short meeting i was told as he had only recently arrived. But we spoke for an hour almost!!

Maharaj spoke at length about his activities in South India and his great ambition to learn about various outreach activities at various ISKCON temples. His mannerisms and enthusiasm was very youthful and energetic.

Anyways, he arrived at our venue in the evening and truly stole the show with a wonderful kirtan dedicating it to the life and values of Nelson Mandela who had passed away the day before.

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After his kirtan, i mentioned on the microphone to him, “Thank you for turning the place upside down with your ecstatic kirtan!!”. He took the mic and enthusiastically said, “Spirituality means turning inside out!!”.

Looking forward to having him back in Melbourne next year.


349. Our attention
→ 9 Days, 8 Nights

Me just thinking….

As practicing devotees, i think there are 3 matters that we are attracted to/concerned with most of the times:

(1) Problems of the material world
(2) Issues with governance
(3) Atheistic mindset of the common people

But to grow further spiritually, nurture an even more softer heart and to fulfil the full mission of the human life, we must put extreme efforts in understanding a 4th subject matter:

- Krishna’s Pastimes


If we feel grief-struck on losing a loved one, how do we relate with Krishna thereafter?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

From Tamil Mani P

Supposing a loved one dies early as a result of a disease or some unnatural causes, how can we remain equipoised, when even Krishna’s greatest disciple, Arjuna, mourned the death of his son? How do we compensate (or relate to Krishna) for having shown our feelings of distress at the death of a loved one?

Answer Podcast

Rescued Dairy Cow Comes Home
→ Life With the Cows and Land



Jeannie (now named Vegan Indira) came home Saturday (December 7, 2013). She was living at a dairy and she could no longer produce enough milk for her owner to make a profit and therefore keep her. She was headed for slaughter when Judy, who works at the dairy, asked us to take her. Now she will never be sold for meat. Help us save more cows at this Link

Thank you! and in the meantime browse our web site for more info at the: ISCOWP Website

The Universe, According to ŚB 2.5.14
→ The Enquirer

Capture

Brahmā Jī explained the contents of the universe to Nārada: First of all there is jīva – life force, conscious will. Then there is sva-bhāva - the psychological nature of consciousness, with particular inclinations and desires. This sets kāla in motion – time, the underlying matrix upon which activity (karma) can proceed. From activity, various treasure objects (dravya) are obtained.

These five are the essential principles of the universe, and all of them are directly the energy of Hari.

 


Short Documentaries
→ Bhakti Lounge - The Heart Of Yoga in Wellington

Here you’ll find short video documentaries exploring some of the philosophy of Bhakti Yoga.

“Why do we have this ability to question?”

Featuring our very own Tuesday yoga teacher!

Special thanks to Devamrita Swami, a world traveling monk, teacher and author, for answering this ‘ultimate question’.

Music by Bhakti Shakti, check them out on our audio page!

(You can watch this video in HD)

What would you do if you had a constant headache for 20 years?

Special thanks to Muni Cari, our Wednesday yoga teacher.

Here you’ll find short video documentaries exploring some of the philosophy of Bhakti Yoga.

Those who are the happiest are those who do the most for others… But how to really help people?

Background music by DJ Avatar.

Special thanks to Devamrita Swami, world traveling monk, teacher and author.


Giving credit to others
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 29 September 2013, Melbourne, Australia, Srimad Bhagavatam 2.2.36)

How can we always remain appreciative in association of devotees? Sometimes we lose it so how can we stay always in the correct mood?

kks-seminarBy thinking that we are not appreciating devotees enough and that we are always falling short in appreciation. As soon as we start thinking, ”Yes, I am appreciating the devotees.” I think that is where we go wrong but when we think, ”I am not appreciating the devotees enough.” Then we can maybe stay a bit more alert. Anyway, it is only a theoretical answer because I am not appreciating devotees enough and that is a problem.

If we do not appreciate the devotees enough, then we get corrected. I wish I could tell you that my spiritual life was just ideal, that it was beautiful from day one and everything was just perfect and that I always appreciated the devotees very much.The truth is I did not and I get purified again and again, either by arrangements of Krsna or he sends me some association just at the right time! Krsna is there to look after us and that is our saving grace.

We must appreciate that we are not appreciating the vaishnavas enough, that will help and for the rest where we fall short, just wait awhile, Krsna will make an arrangement – sometimes sweet and sometimes hard like a thunderbolt! Anyway, giving credit to devotees is the key. Give credit to other devotees and do not take any credit ourselves.

Govardhana Retreat, Questions and Answers, December 5, Govardhana
Giriraj Swami

05.12.13_1.GovardhanRetreat——————
“Srila Prabhupada always spoke about anxiety in Krishna’s service as being spiritual. In relation to the Juhu temple, when construction materials were being stolen, he said, ‘How can I eat?’

There is a spiritual anxiety at the center of which is pleasing Krishna, and there is a material anxiety which is about pleasing me. And if one is in anxiety about anything, then, as Srila Prabhupada said, ‘Simply worrying is not good enough: one must act. The Lord helps those who help themselves.’ So if we are in anxiety—’Will I have  enough time to chant my rounds?’—one should immediately think, ‘What is my next action step? What can I do so that I will have enough time to chant my rounds?’ Don’t get caught just swirling around in your mind with anxiety. Act. Because the Lord helps those who help themselves.” —Bhurijana dasa

Questions and Answers
Sacinandana Swami on the Govardhan Retreat Project

The First 50th
→ NY Times & Bhagavad Gita Sanga/ Sankirtana Das


IMHO, as ISKCON makes plans for 2016, equal attention should be paid to the 50th anniversary of Prabhupada’s momentous journey to the West in 2015. In the public eye, the story of individual effort always trumps the story of an organization.  People can certainly make a more visceral connection with Srila Prabhupada since they would be natural inspired by a his struggle against great odds.  (Look at how the world has responded to the story of Nelson Mandela) And now especially as baby boomers head into their senior years (myself included), Prabhupada’s accomplishments will seem even greater. His is an important story to honor and to share.

To win the hearts of people in general one has to understand the potency of STORY. STORY is a valuable tool.  This has been my personal experience as a professional storyteller and workshop leader for over 25 years.

And Prabhupada’s is a remarkable story.  He came with practically nothing save for the three volumes of first canto of Srimad Bhagavatam he had prepared for the West.  He hitched a ride on a freighter, braved a month long voyage and struggled through a New York winter to present an ancient and venerable teaching to the West. And sociologically speaking, he came at a remarkable time when young people in the West were dissatisfied with materialistic culture and rejected the unprecedented wealth and education available to them.

This is the time for devotees to develop  projects as an offering for Srila Prabhupada in 2015.   I know Yadubara is doing a film and you may want to support that if you don’t have time to develop a project of your own.  But there should in fact be hundreds and even thousands of events and projects manifested in 2015 as a way to individually and collectively honor Srila Prabhupada for his selfless and untiring efforts to help humankind.


See www.Mahabharata-Project.comabout my new book – Free shipping in Dec.