Answer Podcast

From Jacob

Answer Podcast

From Labhesh P

Does it prove that Draupadi was partial towards Arjuna, as a controversial novel claims?

Answer Podcast

Answer Podcast

Answer Podcast

Yesterday was a very sad day for the Russian Yatra. Moscow authorities evicted ISKCON from the land they had been allocated several years ago for a temporary temple, while devotees applied for permission to build a permanent centre just outside the city. Permission for that centre has also been denied, so for the time being [...]

Sacinandana Swami: Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu requested them all to return home and begin chanting the holy name congregationally. He also requested them to worship Krishna, chant His holy name and discuss His holy pastimes Read more ›

http://flic.kr/s/aHsjJAYyyN

Kecskemét Animation Film Festival is an animated film festival held biennially in Kecskemét, Hungary. Although the bulk of the festival is oriented toward efforts in Hungarian animation, the associated KAFF-sponsored Festival of European Animated Feature Films and TV Specials (Hungarian: Európai Animációs Játékfilm Fesztivál) has opened the festival to international works as well Read more ›

Let’s walk through our own ordeal by fire to take his gift.

The post September 23rd, 2013 – Darshan appeared first on Mayapur.com.

The ISKCON Temple under the International Society for Krishna Consciousness is a famous temple situated at Ashoka Enclave in Faridabad. The temple is more popularly known as Sri Sri Radha Govind Temple and is one of the many ISKCON temples in India. Like most of the other ISKCON temples, this shrine is also dedicated to Lord Krishna and his beloved Radha. Read more ›

Indradyumna Swami: Yesterday was a very sad day for the Russian Yatra. Moscow authorities evicted ISKCON from the land they had been allocated several years ago for a temporary temple, while devotees applied for permission to build a permanent centre just outside the city. Permission for that centre has also been denied, so for the time being there is no temple in Moscow. Read more ›

Niranjana Swami — Kirtan on Janmastami, Almaty — August 28, 2013

I began by explaining that the mahāmantra is infinite, and so there are infinite varieties of meanings, explanations, and beautiful details within it. What I am explaining here is simply a comprehension of the mantra that I personally can somewhat grasp and recommend, as a result of the grace absorbed in the course of practicing devotional service for a little while under the unparalleled guidance of Śrīla Prabhupāda and his dedicated followers.

Three Words

There are sixteen words in the mantra:

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare

Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma
Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare

But if you look closely for a minute you’ll see that there are really only three unique words:

1. Krishna
2. Rāma
3. Hare

Understanding the mahāmantra begins by understanding these three words.

Krishna means enthralling, attractive, alluring and similar adjectives. The word “Krishna” means the person whom no other person can surpass in being charming, mesmerizing, and attractive.

Rāma means, delightful, pleasing, blissful, ecstatic and so on. The word “Rāma” denote the person whom no other person can surpass in pleasure, delight, ecstasy, and enjoyment.

My recommendation is to comprehend that both of these names refer to the same person (svayaṁ bhagavan śrī vrajendra-nandana śyāmasundara), although those with different devotional perspective may naturally feel otherwise, and I would respect their different outlook.

The word Hare refers to the energy (śakti) that has the power to bring us into contact with all-attractive, all-blissful Śyāmasundara. “Hare” is the power that makes it possible for Śyāmasundara to exhibit, experience, and expand his all-attractive, all-delightful inherent nature. And thus, “Hare” is the entity who makes it possible for you and I to participate in that ever-expanding exploration of beautiful pleasure.

Hare is the “glue” between your soul and Krishna.

When we approach Krishna to please him from a sweet, romantic point of view, we experience “Hare” to be Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. Thus one can look at the altar, at the deities of Rādhā-Krishna, and see the words “Hare Krishna” and “Hare Rāma.” This is the paramount outlook, objectively speaking. Subjectively also, I recommend this outlook, but it is up to your heart to express its own devotional perspective. From other perspectives one can experience “Hare” to be other personifications of hlādinī-śakti. Even within the romantic perspective, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī has so many infinite expansions – all of which exist within the transcendental vibration “Hare.”

Two Halves of the Mantra

The biggest pattern in the mahā-mantra divides it into two halves. The first half, “hare kṛṣṇa, hare kṛṣṇa, kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa, hare hare,” focuses on Krishna – the all-attractive. The second half, “hare rāma, hare rāma, rāma rāma, hare hare,” focuses on Rāma – the all-enjoying.

Why this order?

That is the Way of Love.

First there must be attraction, and then there can be enjoyment. A mundane example: first a girl must attract the desires of a boy, and after this is accomplished it is possible for there to be enjoyable romantic exchanges. The first half of a relationship is “Krishna” – attraction. The second half, after attraction is effective, is pleasure, “Rāma.”

So, the mantra is arranged in this order that we may express our emotions to Śyāmasundar something like this, “Oh Śyāma, please attract me to you! (Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare) And once you have me, please enjoy me to your heart’s content! (Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare).”

Never forget that all this – the attraction and enjoyment – does not take place independently of “Hare,” Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. Therefore the whole expression is directed towards her, and becomes, “Dear Śrī Rādhā, please make me attractive to Krishna (Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare), so that I might please him (Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare).” Furthermore, and of paramount importance, the whole context of being attractive and pleasing to Krishna takes place within the shelter and direction of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, not independent of Her.

This explanation is offered as a more detailed purport on Śrīla Prabhupāda’s basic instruction to chant with the mood, “O Lord, O energy of the Lord, please engage me in your service.”

Repetitions

Three words are repeated so many times that the mantra ends up with sixteen words. Why so much repetition?

It is to evoke more emotion in the chanter. When we call out a name two or more times in a row, it expresses great feeling. A lover may say the name of her beloved, but it is really special if she is not satisfied to say it just once, if she repeats it immediately: “My darling, O my darling.” Similarly when a mother feels very emotional about her child she will repeat the child’s name, often accompanied with a sigh. The song “Maria” from West Side Story is a fine example of this in ordinary literature.

So, out of a rise of emotion in the heart, we don’t just say “Hare Krishna / Hare Rāma” – we repeat: “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna / Hare Rāma Hare Rāma.” The first time expresses meaning, the second time expresses feeling.

Union and Separation

What remains to be explained now is the second half within each half of the mantra:

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare

Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma
Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare

These portions of the mantra exist to introduce the dimension of “union and separation.” This is another important principle in the Way of Love. If there is only union – if two lovers can always very easily see each other all the time – their unity will gradually become cheaper (being so easy) and the unity they enjoy will lose some of its excitement and sparkle. On the other hand if two lovers can never see each other and are always separated it also reduces the beauty of the relationship – they will eventually begin to forget about one another, or develop emotional calluses to cope with the pain of separation. So the Way of Love dictates that union and separation must balance each other – then the relationship can be eternally dynamic and enchanting.

“Hare Krishna” expresses the union of Rādhā (Hare) and Śyāmasundara (Krishna). So does “Hare Rāma.” In both phrases, the two words naming Rādhā and Krishna are right next to each other, united. But the second line of each half of the mantra separates the divine couple. “Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare” they are not paired with one another, they are separate – and again repeated out of emotion.

This separation is not “cruel” – it is a service to their relationship, enhancing the value of their unity. They are not kept apart forever, because the very next line brings them back together.

Union: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna
Separation: Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare

Union: Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma
Separation: Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare

Thus those who have deeply realized the inner purports of this mantra describe it as “not only a yugala mantra (a mantra of the divine couple united), but a vipralambha-māyī yugala mantra (a mantra of the divine couple permeated with the dynamics of union and separation).” As such it is a mantra capable of unlocking the highest perceptions of ecstatic prema.

Always Chant

Effective chanting of a mantra requires contemplation of the meaning of the mantra. This is why Śrīla Prabhupāda endeavored to explain, theoretically and practically, the meaning of the mahā-mantra - and this is why our ācāryas like Bhaktivinode Ṭhākur recommend “mantra-artha-cinta” (contemplating the mantra’s meaning while chanting it). The meaning of the mantra should, by repetition, become so second nature that it is evoked naturally simply by hearing the mantra – it is not an artificial imposition on the mind, it arises naturally from the inherent content within the divine words themselves.

If even one soul amongst all the readers of this humble article begins to chant more purely, lovingly, and attentively as a result of reading it – then I will surely have pleased Śrī Guru and Gauranga, which is non-different than pleasing Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. I one can please Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī there is nothing else let to want. I pray that at least one of you will grant me this blessing and improve your relationship with Krishna’s delightful names. May there be no other result from this sharing of what is uncommonly intimate and secret.

"...one must certainly be eager to render service to the Lord. This is the test. When one engages enthusiastically in the Lord's service, it is to be understood that he is reaping the results of chanting the names of Krsna and Hari."

Śrī Caitanya Caritāmrta Madhya 16.188 purport

Holy Name Meditation Podcast

By analyzing all these different energies of Krishna, one can ascertain that for Krishna there is no distinction between matter and spirit, or, in other words, He is both matter and spirit. In the advanced stage of Krishna consciousness, one therefore makes no such distinctions. He sees only Krishna in everything.

Since Krishna is both matter and spirit, the gigantic universal form comprising all material manifestations is also Krishna, and His pastimes in Vrndavana as two-handed Syamasundara, playing on a flute, are those of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Bhagavad Gita As It Is 9.19 purport

Hare Krishna Dear Devotees,

Please accept my humble obesiances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada

Please see below link which contains alot of kirtans I recorded at Villa Vrindavana during this year’s P.S. trip, so has the likes of HH BB Govinda Swami, HG Gaur Gopal das as well as Janhavi Mataji

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B6sLNKIcRdBVQmtmZm5iTHFMTU0/edit?usp=sharing

Please note the kirtans are all in .wav format so you can edit / convert as per your liking.

Please accept my apologies for taking so long to upload.

your servant,
dipak

EDITORIAL NOTE;

If like me you are a little bit of a numpty when it comes to technology here is the response to my question after clicking onto the link;

Hare Krishna prabhu

The .wave files are in a folder you need to download the folder which is a .rar folder, the folder is 3.6gb in size

After you download that folder right click on it and extract the files from it

I compressed the folder to save space otherwise it would have been bigger then 3.6gb in size

I hope that helps

If not please let me know

Ys
Dipak

I’ve also mastered the free to download file converter audacity it’s simple to use so you can format to the more friendly mp3 format

Inside stories frequently make big news. The sleazier the story, the bigger the news.

The drive for leaking such stories comes not just from money; big bucks can be made. It also comes from tendency – the universal lower human tendency to gossip, especially about things that shows someone considered good in bad light.

Those who know such things about us and keep them confidential are our true wellwishers; they care for us more than the world and the splash they can create in it by exposing us.

Krishna is the greatest among such wellwishers. He is situated right inside our heart, as the Bhagavad-gita (13.23) indicates. He is strategically in the best position to know not only everything we do but also everything we think. And sadly, much of what we do and much more of what we think is less than complimentary. Krishna knows this ultimate inside story about us – and he keeps it inside. Because he loves us, he wants to bring out the best within us, not the worst. That’s why he waits patiently lifetime after lifetime for us to let him help us. When we link with him in devotion, he deploys his omnipotence cleanse our heart of all the dirty stuff. Then he helps draw out the divine stuff – the essence of who we are as souls, as his beloved parts.

How God helps us to become godly is the supremely positive inside story – the toughest thing to do, the thing impossible for us to do by ourselves, the thing that makes us new persons inside-out, new persons who contribute towards shaping a better world.

That’s one inside story the world needs to know. It’s a story that Krishna is ready to help each one of us script and share.

***

13.23 - Yet in this body there is another, a transcendental enjoyer, who is the Lord, the supreme proprietor, who exists as the overseer and permitter, and who is known as the Supersoul.

 

Inside stories frequently make big news. The sleazier the story, the bigger the news.

The drive for leaking such stories comes not just from money; big bucks can be made. It also comes from tendency – the universal lower human tendency to gossip, especially about things that shows someone considered good in bad light.

Those who know such things about us and keep them confidential are our true wellwishers; they care for us more than the world and the splash they can create in it by exposing us.

Krishna is the greatest among such wellwishers. He is situated right inside our heart, as the Bhagavad-gita (13.23) indicates. He is strategically in the best position to know not only everything we do but also everything we think. And sadly, much of what we do and much more of what we think is less than complimentary. Krishna knows this ultimate inside story about us – and he keeps it inside. Because he loves us, he wants to bring out the best within us, not the worst. That’s why he waits patiently lifetime after lifetime for us to let him help us. When we link with him in devotion, he deploys his omnipotence cleanse our heart of all the dirty stuff. Then he helps draw out the divine stuff – the essence of who we are as souls, as his beloved parts.

How God helps us to become godly is the supremely positive inside story – the toughest thing to do, the thing impossible for us to do by ourselves, the thing that makes us new persons inside-out, new persons who contribute towards shaping a better world.

That’s one inside story the world needs to know. It’s a story that Krishna is ready to help each one of us script and share.

***

13.23 - Yet in this body there is another, a transcendental enjoyer, who is the Lord, the supreme proprietor, who exists as the overseer and permitter, and who is known as the Supersoul.

Giriraj Swami spoke on Visvarupa-mahotsava, the day which Lord Chaitanya’s older brother Visvarupa accepted sannyasa and the date on which Srila Prabhupada also accepted the renounced order of life. Giriraj Swami was joined by Giridhari Swami, Kesava Bharati Dasa Goswami, and Rtadhvaja Swami.

“Srila Prabhupada saw that his Guru Maharaja was forcing him to take sannyasa through the agency of his godbrother. We should learn from this example that Krishna and Srila Prabhupada—the spiritual master—can speak to us in many ways. They can speak to us even through a godbrother or godsister. If we are sincere enough we will accept their good advice, even if, as Srila Prabhupada said, they must ‘administer the medicine forcibly.’ And that is the Vaisnavas’ mercy. Although we are unwilling to accept the medicine—although we are blind to the wonderful future that awaits us if we give up our material position and surrender fully to Krishna and the desire of the guru—the Vaisnavas force us, out of their mercy.”

Giriraj Swami
Keshava Bharati Maharaja

SB 11.23: The Song of the Avantī Brāhmaṇa | Bhaktivedanta Vedabase Online

The indomitable Jahnavi Harrison lead us in chant with Krishna He recently in Oxford. As Autumn wove its mellow atmosphere outside, Jahnavi embroidered sacred sound on our heart inside.

The indomitable Jahnavi Harrison lead us in chant with Krishna He recently in Oxford. As Autumn wove its mellow atmosphere outside, Jahnavi embroidered sacred sound on our heart inside.

The indomitable Jahnavi Harrison lead us in chant with Krishna He recently in Oxford. As Autumn wove its mellow atmosphere outside, Jahnavi embroidered sacred sound on our heart inside.

For the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada this page contains the following results for the month of August 2013 Read more ›

Fortunately no devotee has been harmed but there is a very high tension in the whole Kenya. Your prayers are requested! Read more ›

Movin’ On

Bow Island, Alberta

Surya, the sun, made a presence again.  Clouds moved on.  I moved on, Highway 3, westward.  A jovial Dutch farmer pulled over and had a chat with me.  I informed him of the Nedarlantds blood in me.  He was happy to know.

A couple with a New York license plate changed directions when they saw my robes.  Turns out they are Sai Baba devotees.  We exchanged our ‘Namaste’s and our ‘Haribol’s, which are Vedic verbal greetings.  They offered me yogurts, fruits and a granola bar.  Bless them.

At Seven Persons’ School, over 200 students came to the town’s community hall to hear about a Hare Krishna monk’s adventure across the country, what it means to do so with companion Daruka, and what it means to have a talking and squawking bird with you all the time.  The most profound question for me came after the presentation from a young girl.

“What do you do (in the open roads) when you need to go to the bathroom?”

Answer, “You really have to control your eating habits, otherwise, keep walking until you find a bush.  It could take hours though before you find one.”

By evening time, Daruka had taken me to the Dairy Queen where he had made contact with some young Indian chaps with the surname Patel.  They were so excited when he handed them a hard bound Gita in their own language, Gurjurati.  The other young Caucasian workers there took a curious moment to look at the exotic script and pictures.

Speaking of sweet encounters, reporters can offer that too.   Jamie from the Weekly Commentator paper from Bow Island agreed to meet us at the town park.  She was educating us on local history and social matters as much as we were informing her on the goodness of a combined walk and chant program.

So from the town Seven Persons to the town Bow Island where the pinto bean grows in abundance, I covered a distance of…

30 KM

Soggy Saffron Noodle

Seven Persons, Alberta

The one really nice thing about sporadic temperamental torrential rainfall is that it doesn’t go on forever.  Somewhere along the way it ceases – hopefully.  As the hours rolled on, fighting to keep my umbrella from snatchy wet winds, you do wonder if conditions will let up.  It was an interesting 6 hours exposure.  I’m grateful to have experienced my wet dynamics training from the Ireland venture, just like I had a coaching for dry and dusty trekking in Israel.

Overall I was feeling less self pity than perhaps 10 years ago when going through this type of hurdle.  I believe I’m evolving slowly.

My route was from Dunmore on Township Road 120 West to then link up to Highway 3 towards the city of Lethbridge.  Skies indicated that every which way was taking on a deluge.  By the time I completed today’s stretch of walking I was like a soggy saffron noodle waiting in a telephone booth for Daruka to fetch me. I came out of it all mentally stronger than before, it was a blessing really.

I could tell that the interviewed recording with Steve on CJCY Rock radio station the day before came on the air during my treading through the water.  You could tell by the style of honking from the motorists.  Usually they’re either short beeps on the horn or a long extended happy one, which indicates ‘we are with you, we back what you’re doing’.

According to Daruka who listened to the broadcast, the entire interview was aired with Steve who remarked at the end, “But I wonder if the monk would walk in this weather?” meaning in the rainstorm.  Daruka phoned in and let Steve know that I was dropped off at 4:30 am and indeed I was walking in the rain.  Steve then went back on air and told his listeners that he had an update on the Walking Monk who was definitely out there on the highway in the rain.

Thanks, Steve, for making the public aware.

Once I had the chance to dry off and put on dry clothes, Daruka and I headed for the town, Maple Creek.  There we chatted with a rep from the local paper The Maple Creek times for an interview with Marcia Love.  Proceeding on we made it to Sasha’s second outlet for yoga.  It’s a new space, an old credit union bank newly renovated.  The vault is still there and we took full advantage of that space which has favourable acoustical quality.  The group from town came and had a beautiful experience with candles to light this dark space.  We chanted Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya.  I believe Sasha was convinced that the name of the vault room will be the Om Home.  Formally much cash was kept in the vault amongst other valuables perhaps.  It looks like money was bumped for mantra.

In the main area of the old bank I relayed more of “Tales From Trails”.  We also went directions towards Vedic or yogic philosophy, customs and rituals. A question was raised about sensuality and what role it plays in traditional Vedic society.

Explanation given:  Generally sexual activity is intimate, private, personal, even sacred as per Krishna’s message in 7.11 of the Gita, “I am sex that is not contrary to dharma.”  In other words there are guidelines and there are controls.  Public display of kama (conjugal interest) is regulated.

I want to thank Brenda Feuerstein who knows Sanskrit and has been a great networker for us in the areas of Saskatchewan and Alberta.  She is a great devotee and is doing her share to raise humanity to a higher consciousness.

26 KM