Conference Kirtana
→ Ramai Swami

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Each night after the strategic planning meetings ended at Radha Rasabihari temple in Mumbai, there were kirtan sessions that all the devotees were invited to attend. There is nothing more satisfying than to get together with advanced devotees for blissful chanting.

On the first night, His Holiness BB Govinda Maharaja led ecstatic bhajans with his band of expert kirtaniyas. The next night, His Holiness Radhanath Maharaja led followed by Yadubara Prabhu and needless to say, this was also a very enlivening evening of wonderful kirtan.
His Holiness Bhakti Caru Maharaja led next and BB Govinda Maharaja rounded out the chanting sessions to much appreciation from the assembled devotees.
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Taking shelter
→ KKS Blog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 8 September 2013, Lenasia, South Africa, Sunday Feast Lecture)

When should a person approach a spiritual master for initiation into Krsna consciousness?

Srila-Prabhupada-initiates-a-discipleOne must first get situated in the process of devotional service. One must first get situated in chanting sixteen rounds and following four regulative principles and once that’s there, then we can approach the spiritual master seriously, for initiation.

Otherwise, you know, if you’re not following any standards – you’re not chanting, you’re not following four regulative principles, just in between the fish and a glass of wine, you ask the spiritual master, “Excuse me, can I become your disciple?”

“Why?”

“Aaah, don’t be so far out.”

No, first get situated in four regulative principles and sixteen rounds, for some time and then it’s time to ask and find a spiritual master.

 

Radha Kunda Festival – Tomorrow!
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Blog!

There are many places of pilgrimage for Krishna devotees, especially in India. Devotees visit them to become inspired in their spiritual lives. Devotees of Krishna observe the appearance of Radha Kunda, also known as Bahulashtami. This Saturday, October 26, 2013 the Hare Krishna Centre will be celebrating this auspicious occasion beginning at 6:00pm and will include kirtan and a wonderful discourse.

Radha Kunda is a reservoir of water located in Vrindavan, India, where Krishna and Srimati Radharani had Their pastimes. It is mentioned in Sri Isopanishad and other Vedic texts as one of the most sacred places in the universe. Be sure to come out and be transported to this amazing place! 

Further, this Sunday' festivities will be extra special as we will have a themed Sunday Feast, celebrating the appearance of Radha Kunda. Festivities will begin at 6:00pm, continue through to 9:00pm and will feature kirtan, class and wonderful prasadam!

Wednesday, October 23rd, 2013
→ The Walking Monk

To Pune
 
Pune, India
 
Enroute to Mumbai is another city in the state of Maharashtra where devotion soars high in the midst of the passion of urbanization.  The place is Pune which had recently opened doors to a new temple located in its suburbs.  I was to see this as a stopover before proceeding to Mumbai.  There is this gorgeous temple of red stone and white marble.  I was warmly greeted by at least twenty monks engaged in kirtan chanting at the temple's entrance.  Inside a class was in session, conducted by Bhanu and Bhakti Chaitanya Swamis.  Then I was called up to speak a few minutes.
 
Unaware of the actual topic of today, I just decided to 'wing it' and ask an even larger group of monks to answer my question.  In this way we could be more interactive and keep the group alert.
 
My question was, "Why have you all decided to take up life in this temple/ashram?"  The answers flowed like water.  It was easy to hit thirty-five reasons for being a monk in this very sattvic place, in this mode of goodness atmosphere.  We could have gone on but it was time to terminate.  "Love, care, friendship, education, purification, peace," were some of the clinchers for these young men moving in.
 
From here I was driven to breakfast at a devotee's apartment (I hope I can fit some time into a trek somewhere in the day).  Ascending the steps to the apartment building a young man was standing there.  I saw the opportunity to leave him the flower garland given to me at the temple.  As a kind gesture I began to raise the beautiful crafted flower garland towards his head.  He immediately backed away as I could understand he was likely not a Hindu. He resisted like anything.
 
In the Marathi language my assistant started speaking to the fellow, whom I now offered a handshake instead. He then responded.  It turns out that the fellow was Muslim and was not willing to partake in a foreign gesture.  I appreciated that he did compromise though.  "Why must there be such colossal walls between the different approaches to the Absolute?" I thought.  When the Berlin Wall finally did come tumbling down it opened up a greater communication between East and West Germany. The problem with the invisible wall between faiths is that it appears more formidable than that apparent solid barricade that politically tears people apart, such as the great wall of China.
 
"Come together, right now!"  John Lennon.
 
May the Source be with you!
 
5 KM

Tuesday, October 22nd, 2013
→ The Walking Monk

Safari Destination


Mahabaleshwar, India
 
This place could easily turn into a safari destination point.  I put my feelers out there hoping to attract a crew to go hiking with.  Initially it was going to be Dominique, Dina Sharina, one of our outstanding female leaders from Germany, and myself to trek a longer route today and only in the wilderness.  By dispatch time, 9:00 am, a dozen willing and eager people came forward for the time together and time for mantra meditation on foot.  News got out that leeches found under leaves and on grass are in abundance.  It didn't seem to intimidate anyone - a sign of leadership, I'd say.
 
As I've said before to have a real adventure it takes getting lost to accomplish that.  Dominique, who's a well-intentioned guide, himself became a little bewildered when paths turned into overgrowth.  Being the person he is, he was as cool as a cucumber about it and consulted with some women in sarees who, out of habit and need, were in the forest collecting firewood with machetes in their hands.
 
A second time of losing grip on directions forced intuition (or supersoul) to help us gain our bearings.  We took to uneven ground over volcanic rock.  In some instances thorny branches grabbed the ends of our flowing devotional attire.  We crossed one of those creeks balancing ourselves on tottering rocks; not bad for a bunch of people mostly in their sixties.  Finally we connected with a road of pavement which led us to an extraordinary vista.  From there a coincidence (if you want to believe such) happened - our pick-up van showed up, terminating the trek, much to all of our troupers' dismay.  Just under two hours was not sufficient for the adventuresome.
 
There is no bonding like this that takes place when people in moderate number, move together through thickets and clearings on a wild trail.
 
We merged with our larger group, fellow devotees, when finally in the night over a veggie barbecue enterprise, we offered ghee lamps to the image of Damodara (baby Krishna) and listened to a dramatical reading from the script 'Gita: Concise' which I compiled paraphrasing Krishna's rich words.  This was the last of readings by Praghosa and I to our group of peers at Mahabaleshwar.  In front of the Heritage Building at the resort our challenge at reading was getting our scripts to behave considering the winds were high, tossing the pages of the script.
 
One of the many instructive lines was the script indeed contained a message about wind.  As I turned a page the word popped out.  In regards to the mind Krishna says, "Be like a flame in a windless place where it does not waver."
 
May the Source be with you!
 
7 KM

How Some People Take Up Japa
→ Japa Group

Recently I was reading a sankirtan story which talks about the effects of chanting and how some people take up Japa from all walks of life.

"I was in Kensington this week and the cold would not allow me to stand at one place, so I was walking around trying to stay warm. That’s when I saw 3 ladies I had seen a little while ago and wanted to talk to them but missed the opportunity. So this time I said Hi and introduced myself.
The slightly older lady seemed interested and told me how she was into meditation and then stopped. So I showed her the books and when she finally decided to take the book, I decided to probe deeper. So I started to ask her about what kind of meditation she was doing?
She told me a few years ago she had heard a mantra at some program and then she told me she had been chanting this mantra (the Hare Krsna mantra) for a year and then life got busy and she stopped for a while and now recently she wanted to chant again and was looking to join some meditation program. I explained to her how she had met the right people and got the right book to fulfill her desires. It was magical to see how Krishna arranges these sankirtan encounters."

This story gave me faith that the chanting of Hare Krsna is a very powerful weapon in the age of Kali and by this chanting the effects of the material world can be reduced and eventually vanquished.

It was a Sweet 24 Hour Kirtan in New Vrindaban
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

Madhuram Madhuram

Intimate and sweet. Those were the words most often used to describe this year’s Kartik 24 Hour Kirtan in New Vrindaban.  The main organizer of this year’s kirtan, Vrindavan das, expressed it this way, “Many of the devotees told me that although the bigger and more extravagant summer 24 hour kirtans are always exciting, still this kirtan had a special, intimate feeling that made people feel more connected. There weren’t all the usual well-known kirtan leaders but many said that they really appreciated the more traditional and intimate kirtan mood of this weekend.”

People also liked the variety of kirtan styles: bluegrass kirtan, ukulele kirtan, flute kirtan, to name a few.

Bringing Srila Prabhupada's Drum from the Palace of Gold to the Temple

Bringing Srila Prabhupada’s Drum from the Palace of Gold to the Temple

One regular kirtan-goer exclaimed, “When the kirtan is married with devotion, it transports you to the highest place.”

Another young lady from Columbus, Ohio was at the 24 hour kirtan for the very first time. She declared, “This kirtan has been amazing! I can feel that the spiritual energy here is real.”

Another regular kirtan participant confirmed, “I love to chant Hare Krsna even at home, and I do that most of the time, but I especially like the super-charged, collective spiritual energy that I always experience when in the temple 24 hour kirtan. It gets me through until the next time I can attend.

Vrindavan, this year’s kirtan organizer, claims, “We are aiming to double the number of participants at next year’s New Vrindaban Kartik 24 hour kirtan! See you there!”

24 hr kirtan

Current And Former New Vrindaban Residents Lead the Chanting.

 

A Day in the Life of a Cowherd Boy in New Vrindaban
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

A Day in The Life of One of Krsna’s Cowherd Boys

“By the end of this week, we’ll be all finished putting up the hay bales in the barn for the season!”

These are words that every farmer likes to be able to boast, before winter sets in. Down at New Vrindaban’s  farm and cow shelter, Ranaka was able to make this claim with great satisfaction, as another summer leaves New Vrindaban.  “We put up 800 to 1,000 bales this year.  It was a good year,” declares Ranaka.  This cowherd boy is especially happy because he is helping  to fulfill Srila Prabhupada’s vision for New Vrindaban, which includes the importance of cow protection

Hay's In!

Hay’s In!

In addition to the hay, the acre of potatoes that Ranaka plants organically every year have just been dug up for collection, which is another sign that the summer is coming to an end.  But Ranaka feels ahead of the game, in preparation for another beautiful, yet sometimes brutal, New Vrindaban winter.  Self-sufficiency is one of the other main points in Srila Prabhupada’s vision for New Vrindaban, and the potato crop and other vegetables are a big part of that.  As a matter of fact, Ranaka has lived through 36 winters in New Vrindaban, since 1977, and his devoted helper, Ray, has worked with him for most of those years. “Ray is a hard worker and a good guy!” declares Ranaka.

Farmers Ranaka and Ray

Farmers Ranaka and Ray

The barns in New Vrindaban first opened almost 28 years ago, in 1985, and have been continually serving Sri Sri Radha Vrindaban Chandra’s cows since that time, following Srila Prabhupada’s mood for the community. This year, there will be some new residents at Krsna’s Goshalla in New Vrindaban, according to Ranaka Prabhu.

“We have three heifers old enough to breed, so we have built a strong pen for them and the bull. Then, in about nine months, the pregnant gomatas can be moved up to the milking barn across from the temple to give birth to their calves.”  And at the end of October, the 16 retired cows out to summer pasture in Bahulaban will be brought back down to their winter home at the farm and cow shelter.  There’s a lot of action at the Goshalla.

The barn got a new coating on the roof this year!  Chaitanya Bhagavat Prabhu was instrumental in organizing this for the barn roof. Ranaka explains: “They rolled out a new coat of aluminum roof coating on the almost 50,000 square footage of roof, to keep the rust under control.  It was a hard job, but Chaitanya Bhagavat and some helpers worked hard until it was time for the contractor to come in and spray on the finish.”

We’re happy with it.  We’ve been re-doing this barn roof every couple of years, but we’re hoping this new roofing to last longer.”

New Roofing Going On

New Roofing Going On

Is every day in the transcendental abode of Vrindavana simply nectar? (Album 168 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

Indradyumna Swami: On the auspicious disappearance day of Srila Narottam das Thakur our parikrama party heard his glories from Sitala dasi in a beautiful park next to the temple of Vraja Mohan. Vraja Mohan was one of 7 deities Narottam das Thakur installed in Keturi. Afterwards, we relished walking around the streets of our beloved Vrindavan. Every day in this transcendental abode is simply nectar Read more ›

When the music stops!
→ KKS Blog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, September 2013, Cape Town, South Africa, Srimad Bhagavatam 8.20.12)

queensday_2013Many artists are only recognised for their greatness once they are dead but Beethoven was famous during his life - a famous composer, you know, like the complex symphonies. But then, he went deaf. Can you imagine that? It was practically the one thing, the worse thing, that could affect him. For a musician, the ear is essential. People who cannot sing, it is not that they cannot sing – they cannot listen! That is the problem, they cannot listen and they just do not listen. It begins with listening actually. Music begins with listening. So that is all about the ear, really!

Beethoven, with the perfect ears, who he could perfectly hear different tones and notes, went deaf. So, it was a set up, he became bigger and bigger, he was the greatest and then he went deaf, lost it! He had to go through the agony of everything he had being taken away!

In spiritual life, it is also like this. In spiritual life, in the course of our service we may get recognition; we may get so many facilities and so on, many external attributes. Over the years, you collect a library of your books, your fancy chadaars and everything. But in a spiritual crisis, all that we have is the Krsna consciousness within! Therefore, you have to make commitments within. Internally, we have to say, “Yes Krsna, I will put you first. I will put you before my senses. I will put you before my mind. Yes, whatever you say.”

 

home again
→ everyday gita

Verse 4.25: Some yogīs perfectly worship the demigods by offering different sacrifices to them, and some of them offer sacrifices in the fire of the Supreme Brahman.

It has been ages since I've written. Although numerous legitimate reasons can be given as to why I haven't been able to dedicate the time, it doesn't matter. The effects of not writing are resoundingly clear - I feel totally empty.

Yet coming back to the Gita today doesn't feel awkward or foreign. Instead, I feel welcomed back home! Just like a soft-hearted friend who finds a sweet way to tell us what we need to hear, today's verse is doing the same for me.

The word sacrifice has taken on a new relevance after having stepped away from writing this past month. I realize now that writing was a sacrifice I was performing on a daily basis - one of time and thought. And by taking that sacrifice for granted, I minimized its value.

As we've heard before:

Bhakti is all about attitude and intention.

The moment something becomes routine or automatic, it's time to take a step back and really check in to see where we stand. Have we become complacent? Where and how have our priorities changed? Is there something that is preventing us from experiencing the resolve and determination that we had when our enthusiasm was high?

It's often said that it's much easier to begin something than to maintain it. This phrase takes on a new meaning for me as I can see now how directly connected it is with sacrifice.

In order to maintain and sustain anything, it is impossible to do so without some sacrifice.

Whether it is a sacrifice of energy, time, money or mental resolve, it requires us to do a little bit more, push a little bit harder and give more than we may be willing to in that moment. But for anyone who has put in that sacrifice, they know how sweet the results can be.

In this instance, I'm not speaking about external results that can be measured visibly (although those too may come), but rather I speak to the internal growth one makes. That growth which helps us in our journey of discovering who we really are and becoming spiritual warriors.

Worry Surgery
→ Seed of Devotion

I lean in and place a bracelet around the wrist of Murlidhar, the deity of the Lord here in Manhattan. Trays filled with mirrored cloth and glittering jewelry surround me. The morning is quiet. Even the sounds from the street below are muted.

I reach for Radharani's garland and place it around Her neck. Too long. I take it off, tie it to make it a little shorter. Still too long. I take it off and tie it again.

Now I can barely fit it over Her head. When it finally goes over, the garland is so small that it looks like some strange flower necklace. Radharani looks a little miffed.

"Oh no," I mutter. My face flushes. I shimmy the garland back over Radharani's head, murmuring my apologies.

I rush back to the pujari room and get out a pair of scissors. Maybe I can cut the string, retie it at a longer length... but the flowers are delicate and keep slipping off, the garland is getting shorter and shorter. The thread is slippery and the knots are not staying.

I'm starting to sweat. I feel like I'm in the midst of a surgery gone awry.

My friend Ghanashyam, who is offering worship to the smaller deities this morning, comes into the altar room loaded down with several trays.

"Ghanashyam," I say with a note of panic. "Radharani's garland... I tied it too short, and now I don't know what to do,"

Ever equipoised, Ghanashyam puts down his trays and says, "Oh really?"

"Yes," I say. We both peer down at the garland and discuss a plan of action. "This is garland surgery," I say.

Ghanashyam is working on the garland and then says quietly, "Scissors,"

I get the scissors and hand them to him, grinning, "Scalpel,"

We both laugh.

But even with Ghanashyam's attempts, the garland still seems to not be working right.

"Go do what you need to do," Ghanashyam says. "I'll handle this,"

"Okay," I say, relieved. Radha Murlidhar still need so much more in Their dressing today.

I rush back to the altar. Only fifteen minutes left to make Murlidhar's turban and finish dressing. The clock is ticking. At this point, I realize that Radha Murlidhar are dressing Themselves. There is no way that I could be doing this.

I head back to the altar room, where Ghanashyam holds up the garland, "It's okay now,"

"Really?" my eyes widen. The garland is perfect. "How?"

"I called in the reinforcements - Murali Gopal. He fixed it. Don't know how, but here it is,"

Relief rushes through me. "Thank you," I say reverentially. We both head to the altar, and Ghanashyam hands the garland to me to place around Radharani's neck.

"I'm nervous, why don't you do it," I say.

"Go ahead, it'll be fine."

I gingerly take the garland and gently place it around Radharani.

"Great," Ghanshyam says.

"Thank you," I say again. I continue with dressing. My hands seem to move on their own accord, tying Krishna's turban, placing Radharani's crown, tying up sashes and veils. Ghanashyam and I clean up everything and when I look at the clock to blow the conch shell, it's 8:30 - smack on time. I am in shock.

I blow the conch. Open the curtains.

When I offer the small arati to Radha Murlidhar, I observe how They're dressed from an artistic stance. Although I see so many areas that could be improved, for some reason They simply look perfect. I surrender to how the imperfection is Their perfection.

Back in the pujari room, Ghanashyam remarks to me, "That was a close call with that garland,"

"My God, I know," I reply.

"You were totally in anxiety," He laughs. "Even I began to get in anxiety."

"Amazing." I say. "You know, I've been experiencing so much worry lately about my life, it's almost ghostly. Just constantly plagued with anxiety about where I'm going to live, what I'm going to do. But this... this was worry for Krishna. Strangely enough, I found it almost almost liberating. Like, whew, I can breathe now. I feel clean. Does that make sense?"

"Yes," Ghanashyam replies. "Actually, a pujari is in the parental mood, to take care of Krishna and to worry for Him. Our worry for Him can actually be purifying,"

Ever since that morning of dressing Radha Murlidhar and worrying about God, the worry about my own life seems to have dissolved away. Trust remains.

Seems like Krishna did surgery on my worry.






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While glorifying Damodara why do we say Radha-Damodara and not Yashoda-Damodara?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

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Relevant Reference

In the Bhavisya Purana, Uttara Khanda, it is said:

sanketavasare cyute pranayatah samsaj jaya radhaya
prarabhya bhrukuti hiranya rasana damna nibaddhodaram
kartikyam janani krtotsava vare prastavana purvakam
catani prathayantam atma pulakam dhyayema damodaram

"One day on the full moon night of Kartik, Krsna arrives too late at the place where He was supposed to met Radha. Angry Radha frowns Her eyebrows and binds Him with a girdle with golden ropes. Then Krsna cleverly tells Her that He was late because He attended His mother's autumn festival. At this, Radha was pleased and unbound Him. Let us meditate on this ecstatically horripilating Damodara (He whose belly was bound by Radhika's golden ropes)."

(This is the explanation of the name Damodara in Madhura rasa upasana).

When adharma continues to exist in the world, what does it mean to say that the Lord’s mission is complete?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Towards the end of the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and the Chaitanya Charitamrita, the devatas or the Lord's associates inform the Lord that his mission is now complete. But when adharma continues to exist in the world, what does it mean to say that the Lord’s mission is complete?

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