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Imagine three hundred devotees dancing and chanting loudly in unison under a star-lit sky; beautiful deities of Sri Sri Gaura Nitai, on Their decorated cart, leading the way; along the pavement of the winding village roads, people standing in front of their homes, holding plates of fruit and incense to offer to The Lord... Continue reading "World Holy Name Week in Mauritius (82 photos)
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Accept Reversals Gratefully Without Getting Disturbed by HH Radhanath Swami …!!!

From Visvambhara P

I have a question with regard to something you say in the article "What raises motion to action is motivation": “When we choose to act based on a spiritual motivation, material laws cease to apply”

In PQPA, when Bob Cohen asks Srila Prabhupada, that you (SP) are a pure devotee, so even if you have to drink poison, this will not affect you? Srila Prabhupada replied that as long as we are in the material world, we have to abide by the laws of material nature, as we are affected by them. I’m parapharasing this point.

How do we reconcile these apparently different viewpoints?

Answer Podcast

From Dheeraj

In this quote

“If, however, you are unable to work in this consciousness of Me, then try to act giving up all results of your work and try to be self-situated.”

What it means “giving up all results of your work”, how can we give up the results…By donation, or by doing service to Krishna? the more we get involved in material activities the more we get attached to the result.

Answer Podcast

From Sudheer P

Many people will say 'follow your heart', 'You have to pursue your own passions what your inner voice says'. I want to know what is that inner voice or passion of the heart. Are those words are given by the soul or just feelings by the modes of material nature. or can those statements can be true in any sense. please tell some few words regarding this.

Answer Podcast

Day time is not a problem for the most part - it is easy to do so many activities and engage. However, when Sexual urge strikes when we lie down in the Bed - what activities can we take shelter? Most of the days, due to being tired we immediately go to Bed but some nights the Draconian mind does not let go. We are too tired to get up and do something. The only activity left is to Chant while lying down which sometimes works and sometimes does not.

Do you have any pointers in this regards?

Answer Podcast

Answer Podcast

Two buildings may look equally firm, yet when a devastating storm comes, one crumbles, while the other stands strong.

Why the difference?

Because their foundations were not equally strong.

The same principle holds true for our spiritual life. Two seekers may appear equally steady, yet when the storms of anti-devotional temptation come, some of us give up our devotional practices, whereas others stay firm.

Why the difference?

Because not all seekers have equally strong foundations.

What is our foundation in spiritual life?

It’s our inner connection with Krishna and our conviction to continue that connection, come what may. The connection gives us an experience of higher, devotional happiness and the conviction enables us to persevere in our devotional practices even when that happiness sometimes seems inaccessible due to the mind’s ever-chanting moods. The Bhagavad-gita (06.25) urges us to use our intelligence sustained with conviction (buddhya-dhriti grihitaya) to keep ourselves fixed on the inner spiritual reality. This conviction comes by regular scriptural study sharpened by diligent application. When we are thus convinced, we can take a strong stand internally against the mind’s propositions of worldly pleasure: “Nothing doing; I am a soul meant for far better things than such fleeting unfulfilling pleasures. Krishna will offer me everlasting ever-fulfilling happiness if I just stay faithful to him.”

This strong inner stand empowers us to stand strong externally, no matter how alluring the temptation or how extenuating the circumstance. Temptations can afflict us only through the mind. When we say no to the mind, we render the temptations powerless and harmless because we cut off their channel of attack, thereby creating a safe inner haven for ourselves. A haven that enables us to practice devotional service steadily till we are transferred to the ultimate heaven, Krishna’s eternal world of love.

***

06.25 - Gradually, step by step, one should become situated in trance by means of intelligence sustained by full conviction, and thus the mind should be fixed on the self alone and should think of nothing else.

Holy Name Meditation Podcast

Q&A’s Bhakti Vikas Swami, Prahladananda Swami, Manidhara Prabhu 2010-08-06 (Book Distribution)

Topics covered: Krishna every word? Only 5 topics of Gita & Guru, Sadhu, & Sastra? Focus the mind and intelligence on Krishna? How important is book distribution? Parents get ekadasi karma? Blamer goes to hell? Book Distribution main act?

It is Krsna who will save the world, and he will do so through those who are instruments in His hands.

The 24 Hour Kartik Kirtan will be here this Sat. Oct. 19, 2013!

Join us either on our New Vrindaban webcam or in person.

Here are some of the kirtaniyas scheduled (list not final):

Hare Krsna.

Nimai Gadhvi- epic slow two beat @ Leicester Kirtan Festival ‘13

Here are the verses from the beginning of the second section of Bhakti Rasāmṛta, from my old 1998 notes:.I begin with text 3 because 1 and 2 are maṅgalācarana.

3-4

asya pañca lahary yaḥ syur vibhāvākhyā ‘grimā matā |
dvitīyā tv anubhāvākhyā tṛtīyā sāttvikābhidā || 3 ||

vyabhicāry abhidhā turyā sthāyi-saṁjñā ca pañcamī |
athāsyāḥ keśava-rater lakṣitāyā nigadyate |
sāmagrī-paripoṣeṇa paramā rasa rūpatā || 4 ||

asya – in this (Southern Ocean); pañca – five; lahari – waves; yaḥ – she; syuḥ – should be; vibhāva-akhyā – called “vibhāva” (“stimuli”); agrimā – the first; matā – in my opinion; dvitīyā – the second; tu – but; anubhava-akhyā – called “anubhāva” (“expressions”); tṛtīyā – the third; sāttvika-abhidā – called “sāttvika” (“reflexive expressions”).

vyabhicārī abhidhā – called “vyabhicārī” (“counter-expressions”); turyā – the fourth; sthāyi-saṁjñā – well known as “sthāyī-bhāva” (“foundational emotion”); ca – and; pañcamī – the fifth; atha-asyāḥ – now, here; keśava-rateḥ – of affection for Keśava; lakṣitāyā – the characteristics; nigadyate – I will describe; sāmagrī – completely, entirely; paripoṣeṇa – totally nourishing; paramā – paramount; rasa – bhakti rasa; rūpatā – the form or nature of.

In this Southern Ocean are five waves. In my opinion, the first should be called “Stimuli” (Vibhāva), but the second should be called “Expressions” (Anubhāva), and the third called “Reflexive Expressions” (Sāttvika-bhāva). The fourth should be called “Counter-Expressions” (Vyabhicārī-bhāva), and the fifth is well known as “Foundational Emotion” (Sthāyi-bhāva).

Now, I will describe how affection for Keśava can be completely and fully nourished to become paramount bhakti rasa.

5

vibhāvair anubhāvaiś ca sāttvikair vyabhicāribhiḥ |
svādyatvaṁ hṛdi bhaktānām ānitā śravaṇādibhiḥ |
eṣā kṛṣṇa-ratiḥ sthāyī bhāvo bhakti-raso-bhavet || 5 ||

vibhāvaiḥ – Vibhāva (“stimuli”); ca – and; anubhāvaiḥ – Anubhāva (“expressions”); ca – and; sāttvikaiḥ – Sāttvika-bhāva (“reflexive expressions”); vyabhicāribhiḥ – Vyabhicārī-bhāva (“counter-expressions”); svādyatvam – tasted; hṛdi – in the heart; bhaktānām – of the bhaktas, devotees; ānitā – taken, brought near; śravaṇādibhiḥ – hearing, etc.; eṣā – this; kṛṣṇa-ratiḥ – affection for Krishna; sthāyī bhāvaḥ – Sthāyi-bhāva (“foundational emotion”); bhakti-rasaḥ – Bhakti Rasa; bhavet – if/becomes.

If activities like hearing about Krishna bring stimuli (Vibhāva), expressions (Anubhava), reflexive expressions (Sāttvika-bhāva), and counter-expressions (Vyabhicārī-bhāva) into contact with one’s affection for Krishna, then one’s foundational emotion (Sthāyi-bhāva) becomes Bhakti Rasa, and is tasted in the heart of the devotees.

Bhakti Rasa, the transcendental experience of rapture in love of Godhead, has five components. The most basic component is the foundational emotion, “Sthāyi-bhāva,” which is the specific type of unique affection one has for Krishna. This basic emotional relationship with Krishna can be heightened into a rapturous experience (“Bhakti Rasa”) under certain circumstances. First it must be stimulated (“Vibhāva”). Hearing about Krishna, and similar activities, usually introduces the elements that create this stimulation. Once stimulated, one’s emotions for Krishna need to be experienced by being expressed through the senses (“Anubhāva”). For the experience to reach the state of divine rapture (“Bhakti Rasa”), the emotion must also be expressed reflexively, in ways such as shivering, becoming stunned, crying, perspiring, etc. (“Sāttvika-bhāva”). Finally, counter-expressions (“Vyabhicārī-bhāva”) such as attempting to conceal one’s feelings heighten the experience further.

When one’s foundational emotion of attraction to Krishna is thus stimulated and expressed, it can be tasted within the heart as the divine state of bliss known as Bhakti Rasa.

6

prāktanyādhunikī cāsti yasya sad-bhakti-vāsanā |
eṣa bhakti-rasāsvādastāsyaivā hṛdi jāyate || 6 ||

prāktani – previously learned; ādhunikī – contemporarily; ca – and; asti – is; yasya – one who; sad-bhakti-vāsanā – enveloped in eternal devotion; eṣa – this; bhakti-rasāsvādastā – the nature of tasting Bhakti Rasa; asya – in this; evā – certainly; hṛdi – in the heart; jāyate – is born.

The ability to taste Bhakti Rasa certainly develops in the heart of one who is enveloped in eternal devotion as a result of previous and contemporary studies.

Śloka 5 briefly explained what Bhakti Rasa is. Now, Ślokas 6-11 present the topic of who is qualified to experience it.

7-10

bhakti-nirdhūta-doṣāṇāṁ prasannojjvala-cetasām |
śrī-bhāgavata-raktānāṁ rasikāsaṅga-raṅgiṇām || 7 ||

jīvanī-bhūta-govinda-pāda-bhakti-sukha-śriyām |
premāntaraṅga-bhūtāni kṛtyāny evānutiṣṭhatām || 8 ||

bhaktānāṁ hṛdi rājantī saṁskāra-yugalojjvalā |
ratir ānanda-rūpaiva nīyamānā tu rasyatām || 9 ||

kṛṣṇādibhir vibhāvādyair gatair anubhavādhvani |
prauḍhānandaś camatkāra-kāṣṭhām āpadyate parām || 10 ||

bhakti ­– Bhakti; nirdhūta-doṣāṇām – purified of faults; prasanna–ujjvala-cetasām – happy, bright mind; śrī-bhāgavata-raktānām – with taste for things related to Bhagavan, like Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, and devotees of Bhagavan; rasika-āsaṅga-raṅgiṇām – who take pleasure in associating with those who taste Bhakti Rasa.

jīvanī-bhūta – who has become the very life of; govinda-pāda – the feet of Govinda; bhakti-sukha – the happiness of Bhakti; śriyām – opulence; prema-antaraṅga-bhūtāni – which has become the internal aspect of Prema; kṛtyāni – activities; eva – certainly; anutiṣṭhatām – those who express that station.

bhaktānām – devotees; hṛdi – in the heart; rājantī – existing; saṁskāra-yugala – together with the impressions of previous experiences; ujjvalā – brilliant; ratiḥ – affection; ānanda-rūpa – the form of bliss; eva – certainly; nīyamānā – being brought; tu – but; rasyatām – to the stage of Rasa.

kṛṣṇa-adibhiḥ – by Krishna, etc.; vibhāva-adyaiḥ – by Stimuli (“Vibhāva”), etc.; gataiḥ – attained; anubhava-ādhvani – expressing itself tangibly (“audibly”), prauḍha-ānandaḥ – mature bliss; camatkāra-kāṣṭhām – the platform of wonder; āpadyate – arrives at; parām – paramount.

Those who are purified of faults, happy and bright-minded, who are inclined to Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, who enjoy associating with those who taste Bhakti Rasa, for whom the feet of Govinda is their very life, who are opulent with the happiness of Bhakti, and whose activities express the internal realization of Prema – When Bhakti exists in the hearts of such devotees, together with the brilliant impressions of previous experiences, then affection for Krishna is brought to the blissful stage of Rasa when excited by Stimuli, etc. (such as Krishna, etc.). When it expresses itself tangibly, it arrives at the paramount platform of wonder and mature bliss.