Mahabharata – The Story Begins 2 0f 2
→ NY Times & Bhagavad Gita Sanga/ Sankirtana Das


My new book Mahabharata: The Eternal Quest reads like you're watching a movie and begins with short scenes in rapid succession to introduce many of the characters, to foreshadow events and to gradually set up the main storyline. This continues throughout the first and second chapters. The first seven or so pages conclude with this second installment. 

Check out the reviews and project at

www.Mahabharata-Project.com




Chapter 1  

The Vow


“Your sons and their forces are ready,” Sanjaya told the blind king. “As ready as they’ll ever be.”  
King Dhritarastra listened with both expectancy and regret, hovering in a world of his own, molded of past and future. If only he had listened to Vidura, it would not have come to this.  He feared for his sons, the Kauravas.  What would happen to them now? If he could, he would make Duryodhan give back all the land he had taken from the Pandavas. But of all his sons, Duryodhan had always been beyond his control. Surely, Providence would now have its way.
Sanjaya, the king’s aid and confidant, sat in the royal palace at Hastinapura by his side.  Though Sanjaya’s gaze was drawn within, he looked far beyond the city’s streets and walls. With Vyasa’s gift of mystic vision, he beheld the valley of Kurukshetra over a hundred miles away. There, as the two armies prepared for battle, Sanjaya could observe every aspect and scan every detail. He could hear any conversation and even know someone’s thoughts.
“This is quite unusual,” Sanjaya continued, and he paused in disbelief.
Dhritarastra impatiently stamped his jeweled cane for attention.  “What is it?” He insisted on knowing.
 “Yudhisthira has stepped off his chariot. He proceeds across the valley on foot and unarmed toward your sons.”
“Unarmed?  Does he mean to seek a truce or to surrender?”  Dhritarastra inquired. His mind hoped against hope. Could there still be time for reconciliation, for peace?
The morning air was crisp. Yudhisthira, the eldest of the Pandavas, walked toward the expanse of Kaurava warriors and their allies. The army Yudhisthira beheld far outnumbered his own.  In the distant ranks, amid his sworn enemies, he spied Bhismadev’s splendid chariot, decorated with many weapons. He headed straight for it. Bhismadev was the respected Grandsire of the dynasty, the eldest and wisest. He was also Yudhisthira’s ever well-wisher and like a father to him. Even now Bhismadev observed the solitary figure with pride. Yudhisthira took each step with such ease and grace. Bhismadev knew the last thing Yudhisthira wanted was this fight. 
Bhismadev was surrounded by men impatient for battle, for blood and glory, for the sweet taste of victory.  Duryodhan, Dushasana, Karna, Sakuni, and Ashwattama. They had waited years for this moment.  The horses drawing their chariots whinnied in anticipation. The nobles snickered upon seeing Yudhisthira approach. Maybe this would be easier than they thought. Had Yudhisthira lost his nerve when he saw the sight of their intimidating forces? After all, he had retreated to the forest to spend thirteen years in exile without a word of complaint.
 Bhismadev’s mind drifted away from the moment at hand and settled into the past. How had he let it come to this, a civil war that would rip apart this exalted Kuru dynasty? It was the one thing he sought all his life to avoid. His mind wandered back to his youth, and to his father, King Santanu.



*  *  *  *  *

Santanu followed the maiden from the river to the far end of the village. She was of slender waist and golden skin, but above all, a remarkable fragrance emanated from her being.  Santanu could not take his eyes off her. Actually, he could have closed his eyes and followed her just by her enchanting scent.  He would do anything to have her as his wife. She looked back at the king riding upon his silver-encrusted chariot. She welcomed his unmoving gaze. This was the man and the world she would have. She smiled at Santanu and entered the house of her father, the chief of the fishermen. 

*  *  *  *  *

King Santanu returned from his trip markedly sullen. No matter how much he tried, he could not hide his mood from his son. He was pensive for days afterwards. Time and again, Bhismadev tried to find out what weighed upon his father’s mind. But Santanu only looked down and remained silent to all of his inquiries. Santanu loved his son. Bhismadev was the only surviving child born of Santanu and the goddess Ganga – the Ganges River personified. In his childhood, Bhismadev received his education and training from the Celestials, and especially from the sage Vasistha, in the heavenly regions from where Ganga had come. After his multifaceted education, Ganga brought the boy back to Earth to reside with his father. All the citizens knew this boy as Gangadatta – Son of Ganga – and they considered him the most blessed and fortunate person to walk the earth.
The king was unabashedly proud of Bhismadev and he continued to groom the youth with utmost care to become the future lord of the Kuru dynasty.  In turn, Bhismadev loved his father, and as a faithful son, he would do anything and go to any length to ensure his father’s happiness. 
Bhismadev privately questioned the king’s chariot driver about his recent excursions. When he informed the youth the king had lingered at the village of the fishermen, Bhismadev hastily proceeded there.

*  *  *  *  *

“Yes, your father came here seeking the hand of my daughter, Satyavati, in marriage,” explained the fisherman curtly. He eyed the young man suspiciously. Had he come to make trouble for him and the village?
After a moment of strained silence, Bhismadev inquired further. “And what happened?”
“I told your father, the king, my terms for marriage.” The fisherman paused again to gauge the youth’s response and continued. “He can marry my daughter with the condition that her children must ascend to the throne and inherit the kingdom.”
Bhismadev had not expected something like this, but now he understood the reason for his father’s despondency. He considered the proposal and what it meant to the well-being of his father.
“If that’s all you’re worried about,” he said rather nonchalantly, “I promise you here and now, and I will swear it before anyone you wish to bring forth as witnesses, that I relinquish all rights to the royal throne.”
 “This is indeed a generous offer,” said the fisherman,  “but it is not enough.”
“Not enough!” Bhismadev’s voice trembled with anger.
The fisherman continued cautiously. “Please. Let me explain. You’re a handsome and courageous young man. In due course, you’ll marry a woman worthy of you. In the future, you’ll have children, and when they grow up, your children will become envious of my daughter’s children. Your children will certainly feel they have been cheated out of a throne that is rightfully theirs. Their enmity would rip apart the dynasty and lead to a war that would only threaten to destroy this great kingdom.”
Understanding the human condition even in his youth, Bhismadev conceded, “It’s a point well made. Therefore, for the sake of my father’s happiness, and to preserve peace in the future, I make a vow to never marry and to never have children. I make a vow of lifelong celibacy.”
When Bhismadev spoke these words, a thunderous applause was heard from the heavens and flower petals fell from the sky. The Celestials were amazed one of their own would make such a vow.
When Bhismadev returned home with his father’s bride, Santanu was overwhelmed with happiness. The king was so grateful toward his son, he summoned all the power at his command to give Bhismadev a supreme benediction: he could choose the moment of his death. 

Sri Sri Radha Madan Mohan at New Panihati Dham, Iskcon Atlanta, GA, United States, October 2013 (189 photos)
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We have several programs focused on glorifying God through singing, dancing, worship of the lord(arati), discussing philosophy, and finally having vegetarian prasadam (sanctified food/food offered to the Lord) together. We believe in developing loving relationships, guiding, encouraging, and inspiring each other in spiritual practices and spreading the message of God. We sincerely invite you to join us in any of our programs, especially our Sunday program. If you have any questions, please call us at 404-377-8680. or email at info(at)atlantaharekrishnas.com. Please don't forget to register with us to receive email announcements about special events at our temple. Read more ›

God is Here
→ Seed of Devotion

Looking at the photos below, I'm sitting in my chair in front of my computer and I can hear my heart pound. My mind is wiped of all thoughts and my world has become a quiet lake. 

Everything's going to be all right. God is here. 

I pray that one day Their Lordships Gaura Nitai, Radha Shyamasundar, and Krishna Balaram will allow me to come before Them and be Their servant. 

(photo credits Damodar Rati Dasa)







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Mahabharata – The Story Begins – 1 of 2
→ NY Times & Bhagavad Gita Sanga/ Sankirtana Das


My new book Mahabharata: The Eternal Quest reads like you're watching a movie and begins with short scenes in rapid succession to introduce many of the characters, to foreshadow events and to gradually set up the main storyline. This continues throughout the first and second chapters. Here are the first seven or so pages below and in second installment. 

Check out the reviews and project at

www.Mahabharata-Project.com


Prologues

One/ Endangered


Bhumi, the Earth goddess, soared heavenward, beyond the Moon and the Sun and through the starry Milky Way, up and up, all the way to Brahmaloka, the planet of Lord Brahma, the topmost Celestial. Her steps quickened as she ascended the grand, crystal stairway and entered his ethereal, multi-domed palace with its magnificent, stained-glass windows. As she knelt before the four-headed one, the grief she carried in her heart gave way and tears flowed from her eyes.

“O Brahma, born of a lotus from Vishnu’s navel, you bear all things in this world. Please hear me. The Earth, like a small craft precariously adrift at sea, has become burdened by the military might of wicked men. It seems the Asuras, the demoniac forces, wish to seize control of my world. In the guise of royalty, and driven by insatiable greed, they ravage the Earth. No one can live in peace. The people, the animals, the birds and the land suffer terrible injustices. I implore you. Something must be done!”

Alarmed by her distress, yet sustained by inner calm, Brahma rose and reached out his hand. “Come with me, my child.” Together they at once set out for Svetadvipa, Lord Vishnu’s abode in this material universe. On their journey they were joined by Lord Shiva and the various gods of universal affairs: the thousand-eyed Indra, god of rain and king of Celestials; the wind-god Vayu ; Agni, the fire-god; Surya, the sun-god; the water-god Varuna, and many other Celestials. Arriving at Svetadvipa, they patiently waited on the shores of its milk ocean. Frothy waves lapped the shoreline laden with emeralds, diamonds, rubies and gems. The Celestials appealed to Vishnu, the God of gods. The crimson sky resounded with their prayers. But no response came from the Lord. Their prayers were met only by the sound of the waves crashing on that pristine beach. Their hearts were troubled by His silence. Why did not the all-compassionate Vishnu respond? At that moment, the Celestials experienced the anxiety and sufferings of those on Earth, and they understood Bhumi’s plight and were humbled.

Vishnu channeled His message into the heart of Brahma who in turn revealed it to the gods. “The Lord of lords will descend to the Earth, into the realm of man, to alleviate the anguish created by the Asura kings and to counteract their military might. Many of His close friends and servants will also descend to assist Him, and He wishes you Celestials should assist them.”


Two/ The Stolen Cow



She had to have it.
The kamadhenu cow held extraordinary powers. A cow of plenty, one that could fulfill all wishes. Whoever drank her milk would remain youthful for thousands of years. The cow, however, belonged to Vasistha, a sage who resided among the Celestials.
“Please get her for me,” she begged her husband.
“You should not desire that which belongs to another,” he chided her.
“It’s not for me, my love. It’s for a friend who is in need of the cow’s powers. My dear husband, please.” She touched his cheek. “It will not at all be difficult for you and your brothers. You are all great heroes. And Vasistha’s hermitage is nearby. Please, Dyu. For me.”


Dyu was one of the eight Vasus – the Shining Ones, protectors of Indra’s celestial court. Dyu called the Vasus together and they quickly arrived at the hermitage of Vasistha, deep in the forest. They were cautious, and not wanting a confrontation with the powerful, mystic sage, made sure to take the cow in his absence.


Vasistha returned shortly after they left. He knew something was amiss and quickly searched the nearby meadows where the kamadhenu usually roamed. The cow was gone. To locate her, he entered samadhi, a deep meditation, and engaged the energies of the sun, clouds, trees, and the earth itself. Sitting in stillness, he projected his astral body in search of the cow and her abductors.


The skies darkened and fierce winds began to blow. The Vasus hurried along the path with their prize. They had gone some distance when a towering figure of the sage loomed before them, blocking their way.
“You dare take my kamadhenu! What insolence! I shall curse you all!”
Lightning streaked across the sky as the earth shook. The once brave Vasus fell to their knees. “Please, spare us!” they cried. Thunder boomed above the trees. Branches and leaves fell all around them.


“None of you are fit to reside in the heavens. As punishment for your reckless act, you shall take birth on the Earth for one lifetime.”


“A lifetime on Earth!” The Vasus were aghast. “No, please don’t do this to us. Be merciful. Anything else.”


Vasistha paused to reconsider. “The curse has passed my lips and cannot be revoked. You must be born on Earth. But, if you can find a way to shorten your lives, you may return to the celestial realms quickly. But not Dyu. Dyu, you are the instigator of the group, and for your misdeed you will spend a long life on Earth. So be it."



Three/ Krishna Tells a Story



All was quiet. The night sky blanketed the valley. The stars sparkled, vying for attention.
Krishna pondered, “Can truth ever undermine Dharma? Or can a lie ever be preferable to the truth in upholding Dharma?”
Yudhisthira responded with a question. “But is not a lie under any circumstances still a lie?”
“My friend, morality might not be as easy to understand as you think. I’ll tell you a story:


“In the forest there lived a sage by the name of Kausika who took great pride in always telling the truth. He was known far and wide for this unwavering quality. One morning, when he sat outside his hut, three men went rushing past and bound into the thick woods. Shortly, a murderous gang came in search of the three men. Knowing he would never tell a lie, they asked the sage, “Which way did they go?” Kausika told them exactly where the men went. The gang took off in pursuit. They caught the three men and robbed and killed them.


“Kausika thought by telling the truth he had protected Dharma, but it led to the deaths of three travelers. In truth, he was very foolish and unable to discern the subtleties of Dharma. Dharma may point the way for moral behavior, but that doesn’t mean we should suspend our judgment when danger arises. At times, as in this story, truth may harm Dharma and falsehood may uphold Dharma. The wise men say Dharma protects us and sustains us. But we must also use our intelligence to understand the best course of action and protect Dharma.”


The blessing is upon us!
→ KKS Blog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, August 2013, Abentheur, Germany, Hamsaduta Seminar Part 1)

kks_cpt_dec 2012Sri Lalita speaking to a swan (from the Hamsaduta), “May all obstacles be cast aside. May your path be easy.  Placing happiness and mercy in your heart, rise at once. The running and playing gopa boys will gaze at you with the white of their eyes”

Now comes the incentive – the blessings. Again we are the swan – don’t forget. “May all obstacles be cast aside. May your path be easy. Placing happiness and mercy in your heart, rise at once.” So these are the blessings that are upon us. Just as Lalita - as a superior, as a spiritual master in a sense – is blessing the messenger, the swan, this is the blessing of the spiritual master.

“May all obstacles be cast aside.”  The blessing is there, upon us!  And we are depressed. We are thinking [imitates a disciple making excuses], “I’ll never make it. I have to struggle so much in my spiritual life. You don’t know what I’m going through actually. I mean, I’m going through unique problems. No really! Honestly speaking.  I understand everyone has problems but I AM GOING THROUGH PROBLEMS THAT ARE ABSOLUTELY UNIQUE AND EXTREMELY COMPLICATED and actually such a hindrance, such an obstacle. I mean, it is practically impossible for me.”

simhacalam_2008_04But the blessing is already there, “May all obstacles be cast aside.” Cast aside! Cast them aside! [appealing to everyone] May your path be easy. Your path is easy if you think about it! Everything is taken care of. Why this unnecessary fear?  [Imitates a devotee in distress] “Who will take care of me? Oh! What will happen to me? Where will I be? It’s not working out! I’m not getting what I wanted! Oh no! Now where will I be? My dream has not come true! What am I getting now! Now, I’m living in a reality which is not what I always dreamt that it should be. Now what will I be?”

It will be fine – just take it as it is. Stop trying to live according to your own plan. Just accept Krsna’s plan.  It is better than ours… BETTER!  “Oh but my plan is very good!”

Oh no, leave that plan. May your path be easy. The blessing is already there. It will get easier and easier. It will get very easy. Oh YES! Very blissful. [imitates a devotee making excuses] “Yeah, yeah, its easy to say for you.  You are Krsna conscious and I am not.” But why not?

Don’t worry. I said it on Janmastami and I’ll say it again today. Krsna penetrates! I used that verse were we established that Krsna will conquer. Krsna will conquer. You will be victorious. He will enter into our hearts and even the little bit of reluctance that we have gradually will be broken down, by Krsna’s blissful presence.  What can you do? He is just too blissful.

 

 

That Actually Qualifies Us
→ Japa Group

"Just as the Supreme Personality Of Godhead, Krsna, can take us back to Godhead - similarly His name also can take us back to Godhead. His name, His love-it fills our heart with the love for the Lord and that actually qualifies us to go back to the spiritual sky."

Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja
South Africa - March 30th 2013

Spiritual master is not just a person but also a truth
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Spiritual master is not that a particular man is spiritual master.
Spiritual master is a truth. So what is that truth? The truth is
samsara-davanala-lidha-loka-tranaya karunya-ghanaghanatvam. The whole world
is in the blaze of material pangs, threefold miseries. And a person who is
authorized to deliver people from that material pangs, he is called
spiritual master.

Sri Vyasa-puja -- Hamburg, September 5, 1969

02.45 – Possessor, possess thyself!
→ The Spiritual Scientist

“I want more.” This urge often consumes us, largely due to our culture’s glamorization of possessions and possessors.

Unfortunately, no matter how hard we work to get more, not one of our possessions will stay with us permanently.

Thankfully, we can direct the urge for possessions towards something that can be eternally ours – we ourselves, our eternal souls. The Bhagavad-gita (02.45) enjoins us to become atmavan: possessor of one’s soul. Phrased in today’s idiom, this call is: “I want myself.”

We may wonder: “When I am the soul, how can I be the possessor of the soul? The possessor and the possession have to be different, don’t they?”

Yes, they do. The verse uses atmavan in the sense of conscious awareness, not conceptual oneness. This is evident by looking at the word’s context – atmavan comes as the last word, the concluding call, after the verse has exhorted us to shed material consciousness.  It asks us to not be bogged down by considerations of material provision-protection (yoga-kshema) or by worldly dualities (dvandva) or even by parts of scripture that highlight such considerations, for they are meant for the spiritually uninformed.

Why do we need to shed material consciousness?

Because it makes us spiritually unconscious. It makes us unaware of the treasure that is ours due to our eternal devotional connection with Krishna, our supremely wealthy parent. Just as a billionaire’s child obsessed with a movie starring a pauper feels poverty-stricken due to emotionally identifying with the pauper, so do we souls obsessed with material things feel that so many things are missing in our life.

What we are actually missing is the fulfilling enrichment inherent in loving service to Krishna. When we learn to possess ourselves, that is, to live in the awareness of our true identity as Krishna’s beloved children, that enrichment becomes ours eternally.

***

02.45 - The Vedas deal mainly with the subject of the three modes of material nature. O Arjuna, become transcendental to these three modes. Be free from all dualities and from all anxieties for gain and safety, and be established in the self.

 

 

Freedom from Envy—The Vaikuntha Mood, September 28, Dallas
Giriraj Swami

09.28.13.0109.28.13.02——————————-
Giriraj Swami and Giridhari Swami read and spoke on Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.13.60 during a home program in Dallas.

“The temple is supposed to be Vaikuntha, but it is not automatic. We have to have the Vaikuntha mood. Srila Prabhupada described the Vaikuntha mood in different ways at different times. When I joined the temple in Boston I heard that Srila Prabhupada had said that the whole temple is effected by each devotee’s spiritual position: if one devotee is doing well, the whole temple feels it; and if one devotee is having difficulty, the whole temple feels it. And he said that if a devotee is having difficulty and you think, ‘Oh, that devotee is in maya, let me avoid him’ — that is the mundane attitude. And if you think, ‘That devotee is having difficulty, let me help him’ — that is the Vaikuntha attitude. But as Srila Prabhupada wrote in the purport, ‘This mentality cannot appear all of a sudden, but it will gradually develop with Krishna consciousness; by sadhana, one can come to this platform.’ This is a very important point.” — Giriraj Swami

Home Program Talk

Is the world a playground or a battleground?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Summary: The world is first and foremost a service-ground, an arena for loving service to God and to all his children. Through such service, which can include both play and battle, we attain the highest fulfillment.

Answer:

The notion that the world is a playground is appealing, but it collides head-on with the harsh realities that we encounter frequently in real life. The regular obstacles and the occasional reversals that life sends our way remind us rudely that life is no picnic, that this world is no playground. Yet the playground metaphor retains a quaint appeal for many.

On the other hand, the notion of the world as a battleground agrees more with life’s experienced realities – we have to encounter and counter so many problems throughout our life. But the battleground metaphor militates against our heart’s aspiration for love – and the peace and the joy that love brings.

Gita wisdom explains that we are not just physical creatures; at our core, we are spiritual beings. Spiritually, we are meant for a life of love with God and with all living beings in his one universal family. In that family, with God at the center, we all reciprocate love with each other through service. Our life in this world is intended to serve as a preparation for reclaiming that life – a preparation that centers on internalizing an attitude of loving service. The more we learn to serve God and all living beings in relation to him, the more we regain the joyfulness that is natural to us as souls.

However, we have a lower nature that wants to exploit others, not serve them. We have to fight against this nature to stay true to our higher spiritual nature. That’s how while striving for service, the world becomes a battleground, wherein we battle against our lower nature and others’ lower nature and the complications resulting from those natures.

As the highest spiritual reality, Gita wisdom also offers us an endearing revelation of God as Krishna, as the Supreme Person who delights eternally in the play of love known as lila. He conceals his divinity to relish playful pastimes with his devotees and he invites us to join in his eternal love-play.

It is in that arena of pure love that our longing for the world as a playground is completely and eternally fulfilled. But before we can enter that sweet level of existence, we need to do battle in our inner world for internalizing the mood of service. When we learn to serve God intelligently and responsibly, we do justice to our talents in his service and contribute to others’ complete well-being – and progressively attain life’s ultimate fulfillment.

 

 

 

 

Devotees in Moscow to be given by the government another piece of land in the South of Moscow – but not offer received yet
→ Dandavats.com

Meanwhile, a new building in a different part of Leningradsky Prospekt has been rented and is being renovated for the Deities to move into by mid-October. The pujari (priest) department and the Deities’ kitchen, along with a temple room for daily programs, will also be included at this new location. Another building will be rented for Sunday programs. Read more ›

Aren’t we blaming the victim when we say that women’s revealing dresses are the cause of crimes against them?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

From Kamalaksi Rupini dd BhS

Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada

Hare Krsna, prabhu.
I must say I don't agree with what you wrote.
We have plenty of examples of women who were raped and were not dressing anything indecent. We also have plenty of examples of kids being raped or even very old women, who were definitely not dressed in such a way to "provoke" man.
That is the same kind of argument that makes muslim women to cover themselves from head to toe and also the same kind of argument that makes them sometimes be forced to be at home. Although it is an ok argument from the perspective of mental exercise of thinking, it is not completely according to the truth, as I said, since even kids are raped, and also it does not address the real problem - that is men behaving like animals. Women are NOT responsible for men's lack of control or lack of intelligence, and they should not shape their behavior or life as if they were the culprit. That would be like legitimating what men are doing, even though it can be covered under a speech that "ok, women are not to be blamed but..." but actually it is blaming women when it said it is because of the way they dress they are inviting these kind of things.
Please, don't take it as an offense. I have a deep respect for you and I appreciate your articles a lot. But I must give my opinion on this matter.

Answer Podcast

The JAX Krishnas are having FUN blissfully chanting together in their Krishna Club Meeting (4 min video)
→ Dandavats.com

JAX Krishnas is a community of people in the Jacksonville, Florida area who love coming together to grow in spiritual life and have FUN. This community is for EVERYONE, is not sectarian, and provides a forum to announce all our upcoming events, classes, parties, and festivals, and a space to share our experiences and pictures with one another Read more ›

Tuesday, October 1st, 2013
→ The Walking Monk

When I Walk…

Toronto, Ontario

When I walk a trail such as the one near Brick Works I naturally feel good.  Part of it, my feeling, has a shadow.  There is admittedly some guilt (I’ll explain), and part of it, some resentment (also to be explained).

Firstly, and happily, I’m taken by the diversity of vegetation and the incredible fall colours that throws you into a child’s wonderland.  That is 90% of the composition of my feeling.  Another 5% leaves me feeling ignorant as I hardly can identify a Norway maple to be distinct from other maples.  “Woe is me,” I thought.  I don’t know the names of my friends.  The flip side of this ignorance is that here is an opportunity to learn.  The 5% of my emotions strike the chord of a resentment.  Why wasn’t I educated on the subject matter on these ever existing companions?  Was learning algebra more important than getting acquainted with these guys that offer beauty, fragrance, oxygen, food, fuel, warmth?  Time could have been better spent I think.

I guess I will tread the path of the seniors, delight in birding and plants and feeling the elements like never before.  I have for some time dabbled in the exploration of these marvelous creatures.  When I was young I never thought I’d get there, to that age I meant.  It leads me to believe that the biggest illusion in life is that when you’re young you’ll retain youthfulness forever.  Youthful energy and youthful mindset can be so foolhardy.

Perhaps the invincibility syndrome of youthfulness is what went on in the tiny mind of this 3 inch baby snake as he slithered across the path today.  A barefoot woman stood by the little guy and warned me of his vulnerable presence.  I stopped, looked at him, but momentarily as it felt like the woman wanted and needed her solo experience with him.  I thought to honour her wish and I carried on with the trail and  continuing to be caught in awe and wonder at what was all around me.

I should note that I was not the only one enwrapped in the autumnal loveliness.  There were dozens and dozens of people each moving on their own stride in cooperation with nature.

Before the night’s rest, I read a passage from our guru, Srila Prabhupada as he defined the word, ‘cooperation’.  In simple logic and terms he said in a talk in Seattle in 1968, “When you do something in cooperation with the Lord, that is called bhakti, devotion.”

10 KM

We Work Hard For The Money, So You Better Samadhi Us Right
→ The Enquirer

The commentaries on SB 2.7.31 by Viśvanātha and Prabhupāda are very interesting to compare. The verse itself is

nandaḿ ca mokṣyati bhayād varuṇasya pāśād
gopān bileṣu pihitān maya-sūnunā ca
ahny āpṛtaḿ niśi śayānam atiśrameṇa
lokaḿ vikuṇṭham upaneṣyati gokulaḿ sma

He freed Nanda, his father, from the fearful noose of Varuṇa; and freed the cowherd boys from the caves that Maya’s son locked them in. When all of Gokula lay down at night, so exhausted from working hard throughout the day, he showed them Vaikuṇṭha.

It’s interesting that this verse, which starts by saying how Krishna freed his father from ropes, comes right after the previous verse, which was about how Krishna’s mother couldn’t bind him with ropes. It is impossible to overestimate how beautifully cinematic and artistically exquisite Śrīmad Bhāgavatam is. We who are born without knowledge of Sanskrit and its cultural context are really disadvantaged by birth – we should frankly admit. Those who have direct access to Śrīmad Bhāgavatam are potentially the most fortunate beings in existence.

Anyway, the part I intended to post about…

 ahny āpṛtaḿ niśi śayānam atiśrameṇa

This is the part that says “during the day, working, at night, sleeping, so exhausted” [literal translation]. Viśvanātha’s commentary is that this refers directly to what happened after Nanda was arrested by Varuṇa. Krsna entered the waters, and the rest of Gokula spent the whole day looking everywhere in extreme distress for Krishna and his father. After they were completely exhausted, they collapsed at night – then Krishna and Nanda emerged again from Varuṇa’s realm and came of from the waters. Krishna encouraged everyone by showing them Gokula’s Vaikuṇṭha majesties.

Following the previous verse, this verse keeps the same theme – how the sweet, intimate affection of the Vrajavāsīs is so powerful that it overwhelms and subsums the awareness of Krishna’s majesty, which they do certainly possess (previous verse showed Yaśoda Mātā fully aware that all of existence was within her child, this verse shows all of Gokula fully aware that all of Vaikuṇṭha is within Vṛndāvana).

Prabhupāda’s translation and purport comes from a different angle, very interesting. He makes the point that the residents of Gokula were working hard day and night for Krishna – they were not practicing yoga or studying scriptures or even doing Bhakti-Sādhana. But because their activities were already at the highest level of Krishna consciousness (giving 200% of their energy constantly to pleasing Krishna), they attain the highest spiritual revelations.

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ISKCON members would certainly be tempted to misuse this purport to justify the “Work now, samadhī later” abuse. Certainly it will appeal to the idea that, we just have to work hard for Srila Prabhupada there is no need to concentrate on bhajan, on sadhana. However, I have to point out my opinion that this is a ludicrous metaphor resulting from latent sahajiya outlooks. It is cheap (sahajiya) to equate ones own daily activities with the eternally liberated activities of the eternally liberated Vrajavāsīs. Our activities of managing affairs in ISKCON are heavily mixed with our own karmic propensities. Our activities of studying scripture are similarly heavily mixed with our own propensities to become wealthy in knowledge for the purpose of being promoted to positions of respect and command. We cannot say that our busy-ness is equal to the business of the Vraja Vasis. It is offensive. We need - urgently – to practice bhakti-sādhanas so that one day we can be fit to absorb the compassionate mercy of the Vrajavāsī nitya-siddhas. This must scrupulously be understood and no compromise should be allowed – in my opinion, for whatever it may be worth. 

Śrīla Prabhupada and Śrīla Viśvanātha say that the Vrajavāsīs worked all day trying to find Krishna. Let us follow that example.


Radha Rasesvara Temple
→ Ramai Swami

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Radha Rasesvara temple is located in a coconut tree and cocoa plant area in the hills outside Denpasar. The devotees were able to buy a good amount of land to build an asrama and temple. Since then more land has been acquired for a goshalla, vegetable garden, pond and shop.

Many grhasthas have also bought land to build their residences around the temple so they are close with their families ready to engage in service for Their Lordships. Land nearby has been secured and a school for primary school students will service devotee and local village children.. In the future the community will build a bigger temple at the back.
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Compassion and happiness
→ KKS Blog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 30 August 2013, Goloka Dhama, Germany, Hamsaduta Seminar Part 1)

radha syamasundarCompassion means that when we experience something ourselves then, we can do something for others who are going through what we are going through. I have thought about compassion as a topic and dealt with the topic. Every year, I have been going to Mamgachi in Mayapur, particularly to the place of Vasudev Datta, to meditate on his extraordinary compassion. Vasudev Datta was ready to take all the sinful reactions of the whole universe upon him. Every year when we went there, we were praying, meditating and speaking about Vasudev Datta.

Subsequently, I went to Bangladesh and I went to the birthplace of Vasudev Datta and I spoke in that particular place and meditated further on Vasudev Datta. Gradually, I began to think of how can one become compassionate if one is not experiencing something better? When one is experiencing that Krsna consciousness is blissful, only then can one be really compassionate. Otherwise, it is artificial. Otherwise, we are just trying to put it within the frame of mind. But when we are actually experiencing the happiness of Krsna consciousness, then compassion becomes really possible otherwise, it will be hard.

That happiness is not a mystery; that happiness is not something like, “When will it happen?” It is not that we are in Krsna consciousness but still not happy. That simply means that we are not following the path of Krsna. It means that we are not spending our time in absorbing ourselves in Krsna, his activities and then glorifying those activities to the world. If that is what we would be doing, then everything would just become perfect.

prabhupada-with-chaddarBut we have excuses. We say, “Yeah but I’m alone! I need companionship! I mean, if only I have companionship then I can do it but I’m alone!” What mundane companion can satisfy the heart? Since when has any mundane relationship ever satisfied the heart? Even the wives of demigods are not happy as described in Bhagavatam. They are enjoying on the banks of the heavenly Alakananda (river) and yet are still unfulfilled. If we are unfulfilled in our lives, we should not blame the external circumstances; we should blame our attachment to wanting the material circumstances to be according to the script that we have written.

We should rather just simply follow the path of Krsna, absorb ourselves in the activities of Krsna, just glorify Krsna and then everything becomes blissful. Then we will see whether we will be alone or not alone. The more one gets absorbed like that in Krsna consciousness, the more people will never leave one alone. See how many people are just looking at Srila Prabhupada for inspiration and turning to him constantly. Then, where is the question of loneliness? One who is with Krsna is never alone. I think this is one thing about Srila Prabhupada that sort of really stands out because he went all alone into those harsh conditions of New York but he was never alone. He was always very close to Krsna. So, that is the only way to actually be really happy.