Does Gita 9.32 which says that anyone can begin bhakti apply to those who fall while practicing bhakti?
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The question is based on this article:

                 Never lose heart on the path of the heart                

I just have a faint feeling that there is intermixing of two concepts here:

1)      Qualification to start on devotional path

2)      Fall downs of someone traveling on this path

The main theme of the article is that we don’t need any prerequisites for zooming on the path of devotional service. In this way, this truly fulfills the communist slogan: from everyone according to his capacity, to everyone according to his needs. The verse quoted is on the same theme.

Then there is how we deal with fall downs. There are BG verses that deal with that: ksipram bhavati dharmatma, shashvat shantim nigacchati, verses around 6.35, etc. The basic theme being that there is no need of being disheartened on failure.

Answer Podcast

If we need to see intellectually before we can see visually, what about non-intellectual practitioners?
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From Chiranjeev

The question is based on this article:

                 We need to see intellectually before we can see visually                

what about those people, who do Spiritual practices just as a tradition they learnt from their upbringing?? They don’t try to understand everything intellectually…

Answer Podcast

 

Thursday, December 5th, 2013
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I Missed Something
Toronto, Ontario
I missed a purport in order to get my passport.  Let me explain, to secure my passport it’s a 3 KM hike to that office.  Who needs a car, right?  It’s advisable to go as early as possible and avoid lineups.  Leaving early in the day though meant I had to miss a purport.
What’s a purport you ask?   By dictionary’s definition a purport is, “the meaning or substance of something, typically a document or speech.”  In my own simpleton’s terms, it’s an explanation.  For 40 years plus I’ve been seeing with my eyes this word ‘purport’, almost as if it’s a constant walking companion.  I make it a point wherever I travel, by foot, air or other, where the location has an ashram, I will find myself sitting down amongst monks and laypersons, wrapping attention around a purport.
In the standard texts that we read such as in the morning’s Bhagavatam verse, you will find the joining purport or elaboration.  It’s not just a footnote as you might find at the base of each page in a Shakespeare play.  The Bhagavad Gita in its 700 verses also has practically each verse clarified by way of a purport by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.  For many of us on the devotional path, Sanskrit verses could appear abstract, even when translated.  It’s as if they are a voice from another world and another era.  It’s the accompanying and illuminating purports that bring it all home.
On my return journey from the passport office I found myself caught up in a momentary self-lament because I missed the morning class with its purport.  Of course, I was elated to carry a spanking new document in my pocket.  So to compensate for the lack of purport, I attempted to insert a spiritual message into my head while walking.  I passed by Saint Michael’s hospital and viewed this massive sign of a mammoth angel’s head at the side of the building.  The image has a blue tint to it, so guess who this reminded me of?  Just the sight of this massive bust gave me a boost, even though there was no philosophical message behind it.  It is just gorgeous and it’s a remarkable break from the downtown atmosphere.
Purports are realizations, revelations, epiphanies.  And what I find really great about them is that after reading through one of them in Prabhupada’s books, you also hear the facilitator of that day deliver a purport to the purport.  By good fortune, I am also one of those on the schedule to elaborate or speak on the morning’s purport when called for.   Our guru, Prabhupada, also encouraged his students to write down any realizations you may have (purports).  Hence, this blog.
May the Source be with you!
13 KM

Wednesday, December 4th, 2013
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Two Wings
Toronto, Ontario
I had with me two companions on my night trek and one of them asked about polarity and how to deal with it.  More specifically, he expressed a dichotomy involving two people in his life whom he really respects over the fact that they have opposite opinions on a particular subject.
“What is the subject?” I questioned.
“It’s the topic of female gurus, one person is for and the other one is against.”  One of the two people he was referring to was myself.  I’ve made my position clear to him in the past, I’m for both male and female gurus (spiritual teachers) as long as they qualify.  My logic behind this conclusion is that there’s a great need and demand.  Teachers are small in number, the growth of people in this service description is very slow, while you have an expanding society of bhakti yogis.  So, I support the increase of gurus because there are many qualified, even senior women.
The position of the other person with the opposing view is my companion’s own guru who takes a more conservative and perhaps, traditional stance.  Mind you, in June of ’76, just two blocks away from where the three of us were walking, the founder of our movement, Srila Prabhupada, was asked this question about female gurus.  It was Professor Joseph T. O’Connell who was making the query.  At the ISKCON Centre, the answer given by Prabhupada at the time was that in our gaudiya lineage of Krishna Consciousness, the wife of luminary, Nityananda, whose name is Jahnavi, accepted many students confirming female guruship.   The dilemma my companion was going through was who was right and how can there be differing opinions?  To this, I responded that there is no dispute that the guru principal is essential in aiding the spiritual student towards spiritual progress.  We all agree with that.  For many issues such as this one, you have a right and left wing circumstance.  Without two wings a bird can’t fly.  Let the two positions be deliberated upon and something fairly satisfactory should be the outcome.  The exercise of intelligence should carry on.  After some flying in the air, the bird usually comes in for a landing.
May the Source be with you!
7 KM

VIHE Holy Name Retreat, Questions and Answers, and Taking the Retreat Home, November 25, Varsana, Vraja Mandala
Giriraj Swami

11.25.13_Vdvn——————
Sacinandana Swami, Giriraj Swami, and Bhurijana dasa addressed the assembled devotees on the final day of the retreat.

“Every day you spend about two hours on retreat. You chant your rounds, and you do some reading. So every day each one of us goes on retreat. In that time—the time of your spiritual practice—take something that you have learned here and apply it. For example, some devotees have told me that they have taken the simple point of focusing on the first ‘Hare’ of each mantra with them and it has changed their chanting. Others take a memory—this works for me, as I will take the memory of sitting under the kadamba trees and chanting. When I chant my rounds in Munich or Berlin, I will remember the desire tree under which I sat. So my suggestion to you is to remember something essential that you learned here and practice it. And when you practice, it will start to come automatically, as you will have developed a new samskara in your heart. You live out of the suitcases of your samskaras—your karmic baggage. We live and react and think out of this baggage. Now let us create a new samskara, which can be done by taking one essential point with you. It is possible to change. Please never ever join the fatalists who think we are helpless victims of our habits. Create a new habit and break out of your personal prison.” —Sacinandana Swami

Questions and Answers
Taking the Retreat Home

A glorious destination
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, September 2013, Cape Town, South Africa, Srimad Bhagavatam 8.20.13)

Himalaya-mountains

It is stated in the Bhagavad-gita, ‘One who does good will never be overcome by evil.’ That is a very important point because it sometimes seems that one who does good gets overcome by evil.

But it actually means is that if a person has done devotional service then it cannot be lost – it is not lost! Even when devotees die, even when devotees are killed, as we have sometimes seen, then Krsna will take are of that soul. Krsna takes care of the soul and never neglects the soul. That soul always continues on a glorious journey.

We cannot see that and therefore we sit here gloomy, have a terrible funeral and feel totally depressed. Actually, that soul continues on a glorious destination. We should never lose our faith in Krsna’s goodness and never lose our dedication.

 

 

ISKCON Joins the World in Mourning the Death of Nelson Mandela
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Released by the International Society for Krishna Consiousness (ISKCON) Ministry of Communications, Anuttama Dasa, Washington, D.C., USA, Champakalata Dasi, Durban South Africa and Nanda Kishor Das, Johannesburg, South Africa. The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) joins the world in mourning and paying tribute to the foremost human rights icon of current times, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. We offer our condolences to the Mandela family and to the entire South African nation. Read more ›

ISKCON’s Journey Through Apartheid With Mandela – A Tribute to Nelson Rohihlalha Mandela (1918-2013) Father of the South African Nation
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As the world joins the South African nation in mourning the death of anti-apartheid struggle hero and South Africa’s first democratically elected State President, Nelson R. Mandela, devotees of ISKCON in South African cherish the wonderful memories of his visits to the Sri Sri Radha Radhanatha Temple and a Food For Life festival hosted by them as well as recount ISKCON’s journey through apartheid and into democracy Read more ›

ISKCON Brampton Grand Opening (Album 5 photos)
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The Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting of ISKCON Brampton, on George Street, took place with great energy and enthusiasm recently. The ISKCON Vedic Cultural Learning Centre joins a community of over 350 centres worldwide, for the express purpose of making Vedic teachings more accessible to the people. Visitors to the open house enjoyed a free vegetarian feast, performances from local bands, a play about Vedic history and Odissi dancing. ISKCON is the International Society for Krishna Consciousness and visitors to the Brampton Centre will find a variety of class offerings including Yoga, Vegetarian cooking, dance lessons, scripture study and much more. Additionally, the Centre will be open to the public on Sundays for a vegetarian feast Read more ›

New Vrindaban’s Semi-Annual Joint Boards’ Meeting Minutes – November 9, 2013
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

 

Board members and N.V. well-wishers return from hiking trail to original Vrindaban farmhouse.

Board members and N.V. well-wishers return from hiking the trail to the original Vrindaban farmhouse.

Minutes of the Semi-Annual Meeting of the Joint Boards Of New Vrindaban

November 9, 2013

Day 2 of 3

ISKCON New Vrindaban (INV) Vision Statement: Founded in 1968, Srila Prabhupada boldly envisions New Vrindaban as a sacred place known worldwide for Cow Protection, Self-Sufficiency, Holy Pilgrimage, Spiritual Education, and, above all, Loving Krishna.

ECO-Vrindaban Mission Statement: ECOV (Earth, Cows, Opportunities & Vrindaban Villages) is dedicated to cow protection, sustainable agriculture, self-sufficiency and simple living — all centered around loving service to Sri Krishna, as envisioned by the ISKCON New Vrindaban Founder-Acharya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

INV Board Members: Gopisa, Ranaka, Dayavira, Chaitanya Mangala, Jaya Krsna, Tamohara

ECOV Board Members: Chaitanya Mangala, Madhava Gosh, Ranaka, Navin Shyam, Anuttama, Kripamaya

GBC: Malati, Anuttama, Tamohara

Recording Secretary: Laxmi Honest

Guests: Bhima Walker, Keval Patel

The meeting began at 10:00 with a walking tour of Bahulaban, Srila Prabhupada’s Palace and Old Vrindaban.

Dayavira mentioned that he and Ranaka had toured the Valley Barn area. He was impressed with the neat appearance of the area and the silos ready for bulk grain.  Ranaka reported that they will be getting a grinder to make flour. The brick factory is in the process of being cleared and organized. It was agreed that we would add a visit to the Valley Barn to the next Community Tour in March/April 2014.

Chaitanya Mangala then introduced the guest candidates.

Bhima Walker lived in the community from 1980-1988.  He was an ashram student and has been a regular visitor since that time.  He spent 13 years full time in the military and is still a part time member of the Air National Guard.  He is studying for his PHD in electrical engineering at Dartmouth College and has done Kulimela related volunteer service projects here in NV, and in Los Angeles, Australia and New Zealand.  He is very interested in voluntarily serving as a board member in New Vrindaban where he thinks he can make a substantial contribution to the long-term progress of the community.

Keval Patel lived in the community from 1983-1996.  He was also an ashram student in the 1980’s.  He graduated from WVU in 2010 and is currently employed by JP Morgan Chase in Philadelphia.  His parents live in the community.  He feels that New Vrindaban is his home and it is important for him to give back to the community.

Both devotees are being considered as potential candidates for members of the board(s).

Chaitanya Mangala explained that qualities needed for board membership include strong personal character, deep roots in New Vrindaban and a clear history of volunteerism.  It was noted that a sense of humor is also vital.

Deconstruction of the Bahulaban barn was discussed. The plan to dismantle the building sometime in 2014 remains the same. It was reconfirmed that we will recycle or repurpose as much of the building materials as possible.

The disposition of the Bahulaban utility building still remains unanswered. It was decided to get a quote on temporary roof repairs and it was noted that ECOV had previously agreed to spend up to $5,000 on temporary repairs.

Jaya Krsna next made a presentation about an eco-village proposal for the Old Vrindaban property.  HH Bhakti Raghava Swami has suggested a model of a rural community be built there based on the principle of simple living and high thinking.  It was agreed that we do want an eco-village, and this is a good discussion, but more details are needed before making any firm decisions.

The next item was a report on Srila Prabhupada’s Palace restoration. Jaya Krsna stated that repairs to the front steps are in progress and the balance of funds from that project will be used to put a roof on the walls of the old ghee factory building. The original molds are being returned and we need a place to store them. He also reported that there are plans to hire a project manager. It was agreed that projects already funded and in progress will go on with or without a project manager.

Next there was a discussion about the future of the Garden of 7 Gates. Jaya Krsna requested that ECOV take responsibility for managing food production. It was generally agreed that ECOV will oversee the gardens and INV will purchase the produce. Jaya Krsna suggested that ECOV develop plans to discuss with INV.  It was agreed that this will go on the agenda for the next ECOV board meeting in December.

A plan was set for presentations at the Community Dialog, scheduled for the final day of the meetings. It was agreed Anuttama would lead and that department heads would review their reports of 2013 accomplishments, the settlement with Tapahpunja prabhu would be explained, Jaya Krsna would highlight the five primary instructions from Srila Prabhupada regarding New Vrindaban and Chaitanya Mangala would discuss the ECOV integrated auxiliary transformation. The Community Dialog would then be opened up for questions and discussion.