Reflections on Srila Prabhupada
→ KKS Blog

srila-prabhupada-jaladuta-1We can appreciate how unique Prabhupada really is in the entire sampradaya. Lord Caitanya appears only once in a day of Brahma and after Lord Caitanya, who introduced Krsna Consciousness basically in the Indian subcontinent, the mission that remained was to take Krsna Consciousness all over the world. Prabhupada did that. He brought it from East to West! Prabhupada himself stated, ‘Now this Krsna consciousness cannot be stopped anymore.’ Just like a disease, once it has contaminated then it is too late, it cannot be undone, cannot be stopped anymore.
Prabhupada fulfilled that mission of taking Krsna consciousness from East to West which is done only once in an entire day of Lord Brahma. So we can understand that Prabhupada is a special intimate associate of Caitanya Mahaprabhu who was particularly chosen for this mission. Therefore, we can understand that the way Prabhupada introduced Krsna consciousness in the world is particularly the way that Lord Caitanya desired it.

Kadamba Kanana Swami, Vrindavan, India, 2003

 

When Srila Prabhupada first came to America, he didn’t have anything and somehow or other, this movement took off. Prabhupada said, ‘It’s a miracle!! How could this have happened? I’m coming to America with a message the Americans weren’t waiting for – no illicit sex, no gambling, no meat, no intoxication. It’s a miracle!’ He said, ‘Sometimes I wonder why this miracle happened to me? Why not to others? I have so many godbrothers who are very qualified, learned vaishnavas. So why did this thing happened to me? And the only thing I can think of is that I cent percent followed the order of my spiritual master.’

SRILA PRABHPADAPrabhupada was real, Prabhupada was genuine, Prabhupada loved Krsna, Prabhupada saw Krsna and because Prabhupada said God is blue, He is blue! It is as simple as that! Therefore Prabhupada is the living proof of Krsna Consciousness, that it all works. Prabhupada is not only our inspiration, not only the source of our faith but Prabhupada is also our anchor. Whenever we have a doubt, Prabhupada is the anchor, our saving grace as we are riding on the waves of our individual nature. He is the safe ground to which we always return. We trust him for the person he was, for his teachings and we know that there we will find our answers – we find the basis of our Krsna Consciousness. That is where we return, to the safe connection with Krsna.

We meet him in everything he left – we meet him in his devotees, we meet him in his books, we meet him in his instructions and so on. We can meet Prabhupada today but the essence of that meeting is that we understand that Prabhupada made Krsna Consciousness possible because Prabhupada was a human being! He was a human being! We are only just beginning to understand that! We never thought of that before! In the past, we thought, ‘You have to be Krsna conscious and you have to prove it by chanting your rounds, chanting extra rounds, by distributing a lot of books or by opening many temples, by sleeping less, by eating less, by performing austerity, by doing dry fasting…’ and in this way, you can show your Krsna consciousness! We never thought that being a human being had anything to do with it! But Prabhupada knew it all along. He was such a human being because his love for Krsna extended to all of us. Prabhupada was so kind, he was strict – not changing the standard – but yet ready to adjust for an individual, to sort of accommodate him, to sort of come along and fit in…

Kadamba Kanana Swami, Goloka Dhama, Abentheur, 2006

 

Book-2When we become a devotee of Krsna, we become the instrument of Krsna and we see that Krsna begins to work through us and through that we become empowered. One day Srila Prabhupada said, ‘My spiritual master made me into a diamond!’ A diamond is completely transparent; light goes through unobstructed in all directions. Thus a devotee becomes empowered to be an instrument of the Lord and then see what they can do. People say, ‘How can you do it?’ But Krsna gives the power, makes it possible; so one who dedicates his life to Krsna becomes empowered by Krsna.

Kadamba Kanana Swami, Durban, South Africa, 2010

 

 

 

Reflections on Srila Prabhupada
→ KKS Blog

srila-prabhupada-jaladuta-1We can appreciate how unique Prabhupada really is in the entire sampradaya. Lord Caitanya appears only once in a day of Brahma and after Lord Caitanya, who introduced Krsna Consciousness basically in the Indian subcontinent, the mission that remained was to take Krsna Consciousness all over the world. Prabhupada did that. He brought it from East to West! Prabhupada himself stated, ‘Now this Krsna consciousness cannot be stopped anymore.’ Just like a disease, once it has contaminated then it is too late, it cannot be undone, cannot be stopped anymore.
Prabhupada fulfilled that mission of taking Krsna consciousness from East to West which is done only once in an entire day of Lord Brahma. So we can understand that Prabhupada is a special intimate associate of Caitanya Mahaprabhu who was particularly chosen for this mission. Therefore, we can understand that the way Prabhupada introduced Krsna consciousness in the world is particularly the way that Lord Caitanya desired it.

Kadamba Kanana Swami, Vrindavan, India, 2003

 

When Srila Prabhupada first came to America, he didn’t have anything and somehow or other, this movement took off. Prabhupada said, ‘It’s a miracle!! How could this have happened? I’m coming to America with a message the Americans weren’t waiting for – no illicit sex, no gambling, no meat, no intoxication. It’s a miracle!’ He said, ‘Sometimes I wonder why this miracle happened to me? Why not to others? I have so many godbrothers who are very qualified, learned vaishnavas. So why did this thing happened to me? And the only thing I can think of is that I cent percent followed the order of my spiritual master.’

SRILA PRABHPADAPrabhupada was real, Prabhupada was genuine, Prabhupada loved Krsna, Prabhupada saw Krsna and because Prabhupada said God is blue, He is blue! It is as simple as that! Therefore Prabhupada is the living proof of Krsna Consciousness, that it all works. Prabhupada is not only our inspiration, not only the source of our faith but Prabhupada is also our anchor. Whenever we have a doubt, Prabhupada is the anchor, our saving grace as we are riding on the waves of our individual nature. He is the safe ground to which we always return. We trust him for the person he was, for his teachings and we know that there we will find our answers – we find the basis of our Krsna Consciousness. That is where we return, to the safe connection with Krsna.

We meet him in everything he left – we meet him in his devotees, we meet him in his books, we meet him in his instructions and so on. We can meet Prabhupada today but the essence of that meeting is that we understand that Prabhupada made Krsna Consciousness possible because Prabhupada was a human being! He was a human being! We are only just beginning to understand that! We never thought of that before! In the past, we thought, ‘You have to be Krsna conscious and you have to prove it by chanting your rounds, chanting extra rounds, by distributing a lot of books or by opening many temples, by sleeping less, by eating less, by performing austerity, by doing dry fasting…’ and in this way, you can show your Krsna consciousness! We never thought that being a human being had anything to do with it! But Prabhupada knew it all along. He was such a human being because his love for Krsna extended to all of us. Prabhupada was so kind, he was strict – not changing the standard – but yet ready to adjust for an individual, to sort of accommodate him, to sort of come along and fit in…

Kadamba Kanana Swami, Goloka Dhama, Abentheur, 2006

 

Book-2When we become a devotee of Krsna, we become the instrument of Krsna and we see that Krsna begins to work through us and through that we become empowered. One day Srila Prabhupada said, ‘My spiritual master made me into a diamond!’ A diamond is completely transparent; light goes through unobstructed in all directions. Thus a devotee becomes empowered to be an instrument of the Lord and then see what they can do. People say, ‘How can you do it?’ But Krsna gives the power, makes it possible; so one who dedicates his life to Krsna becomes empowered by Krsna.

Kadamba Kanana Swami, Durban, South Africa, 2010

 

 

 

Your Guide to Janmastami Celebrations TOMORROW!
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Blog!

Tomorrow, Wednesday, August 28, 2013, marks the biggest spiritual birthday bash in Toronto - Janmastami! Here is a quick guide to help you tomorrow.

Parking:


FREE parking has been arranged for Janmastami festival attendees. The parking lot is located on Pears Avenue, a 2-3 minute walk from the temple. Free parking is available from 5:00pm - 2:00am.

Shoes:
As you can imagine, we have over 1,000 people join us every year for this celebration and we are looking forward to a packed house! To ensure there is less traffic in the building and to keep all shoes in one place, we are trying a new initiative by having all shoes stored outside in our parking lot. Everyone's shoes will be bagged and stored and you will receive a ticket to retrieve your shoes at the end of your stay. As always, we ask for your cooperation as we try to maintain the shoes in an organized fashion.

Schedule **subject to change**:

6:00pm - 6:30pm: Arati
6:30pm - 7:00pm: Kirtan
7:00pm - 7:15pm: Welcome and Announcements
7:15pm - 8:00pm: Class
8:00pm - 8:30pm: Arati
8:30pm - 8:50pm: Dance Performance
8:50pm - 9:30pm: Krishna Consciousness Around the World - a Special Multimedia Presentation
9:30pm - 10:15pm: Maha Shanka Abhisheka
10:15pm - 11:00pm: Special Shadow Puppet Drama
11:00pm - 12:00am: Maha Abhisheka
12:00am - 12:30am: Midnight Arati!
12:30am - 1:30am: Vegetarian Feast

We hope you can join us for these auspicious celebrations!

Balarama Purnima, August 20, New Dvaraka, Los Angeles
Giriraj Swami

lord_balarama_by_yogeshvarGiriraj Swami read and spoke from Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.7.26 during the Sunday evening program in New Dvaraka.

“Bal Yogeshwar, Guru Maharaji, fell in love with his American secretary and married her, which very much upset his mother in India. Thereafter there was a full color picture on the cover of The Illustrated Weekly of India — a very famous magazine. The article described that Bal Yogeshwar’s mother had appointed him as Bhagavan, God, but that since he went ahead and married secretary without her permission, she removed him as God and placed her other son, Bal Bhagwan, as God. This sounds ludicrous, but sometimes fact is stranger than fiction — because people are so ignorant. We don’t know how fortunate we are to have this knowledge from Srila Prabhupada. We can understand very clearly visnu-tattva, jiva-tattva, who is God, who is a direct expansion of God, and who is a living entity. But ordinary people are bewildered. There are so many people who think. “I am God, you are God, everyone is God, we just have to realize it.”

Lord Balarama’s Appearance

Launching Gitadaily.com on Janamshtami
→ The Spiritual Scientist

We are happy to announce the launch of a new website www.gitadaily.com on the occasion of Janmashtami 2013.gitadaily.com

This site has over 650 articles that you can browse date-wise and verse-wise.

As the Gita-daily feature of a daily article is the only feature of its kind in the whole world, we felt that it merited a separate site of its own so as to enhance accessibility and outreach, hence the new site.

Along with this site, we are also planning to have a Gitadaily app for iphones and android phones. If any devotee has the expertise for making an app and would like to help, please contact us through the volunteer icon on the home page

 

The Spiritual Scientist coordinators

Sri Mayapur in the Airport
→ Mayapur.com

Next time you land  at Kolkata at the  Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Domestic Terminal, you will be greeted by a big banner of Sri Mayapur in the baggage section. An initiative of Mayapur Tourism, after a long  term of over three years discussions, repeated meetings, approaching different authorities and sending several designs for approval Airport [...]

The post Sri Mayapur in the Airport appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Meditations on Krsna
→ KKS Blog

227070_10150570004290375_215886190374_18217425_6516748_n“Janmastami is not just an ordinary day! We must celebrate Janmastami – it is our spiritual duty! It is actually a day when we can permanently deepen our relationship with Krsna!”

“One detail that is given is that at the time when Krsna appeared, Nanda Maharaj was giving charity. He opened up his  treasury and allowed everyone to go inside and take whatever they wanted. Now you can imagine if they would do that to us, right? ‘Bring the truck! Bring the train! Bring another truck! You said we could take everything we desired!‘ With a magnifying glass, we would pick up the last lost pearl left in the dust in the corner. But somehow or other, everyone went into the treasury of Nanda Maharaj, took whatever they desired and was fully satisfied yet still there was something left for Nanda Maharaj. Everyone was satisfied like this. So, we see that the residents there were all wonderful personalities, all wonderful devotees. In the whole environment where Krsna appeared, everything became so favourable, so wonderful. In this way, we need not be foolishly attached to the little bit of  pleasure that is here in this material world. The pleasure of the spiritual abode of Krsna is unlimitedly greater! There is no need to hesitate for a moment! Let’s run! Let’s run  towards the spiritual world, not drag our feet!”

“If we want to go fast, if we really want to go quickly to Krsna then we must fill the maximum amount of time, we must use the maximum amount of our energy simply for glorifying Krsna. That can be done in many ways – it can be done by energy, can be done by possessions, can be done by intelligence, can be done by wit – but  somehow or other, we must always glorify Krsna”

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Goloka Dhama, Abentheuer, Germany, August 2006)

eyes“Krsna is the all-attractive, all-good, all-kind Supreme Personality of Godhead; the friend of all living beings. He is the reservoir of  pleasure. There is no limit to Krsna’s kindness, no limit to Krsna’s mercy. Although he is atmaram, he is totally satisfied within himself and has no need for anything, still Krsna feels something lacking when a living being goes to the material world. Why is Krsna getting impatient? He is not getting impatient for himself. He is not getting impatient just because he can’t wait for us to return. He is getting impatient because he knows that we are unfulfilled even if we are not terribly suffering! There is no other destiny than to be unfulfilled, outside of the spiritual  world, outside of a relationship with Krsna. Therefore, when Krsna is applying a little bit of force to bring us back, that is for our own good because here there is no way, no way that we can be fulfilled.”

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Durban, South Africa, 2009)

 

 

Meditations on Krsna
→ KKS Blog

227070_10150570004290375_215886190374_18217425_6516748_n“Janmastami is not just an ordinary day! We must celebrate Janmastami – it is our spiritual duty! It is actually a day when we can permanently deepen our relationship with Krsna!”

“One detail that is given is that at the time when Krsna appeared, Nanda Maharaj was giving charity. He opened up his  treasury and allowed everyone to go inside and take whatever they wanted. Now you can imagine if they would do that to us, right? ‘Bring the truck! Bring the train! Bring another truck! You said we could take everything we desired!‘ With a magnifying glass, we would pick up the last lost pearl left in the dust in the corner. But somehow or other, everyone went into the treasury of Nanda Maharaj, took whatever they desired and was fully satisfied yet still there was something left for Nanda Maharaj. Everyone was satisfied like this. So, we see that the residents there were all wonderful personalities, all wonderful devotees. In the whole environment where Krsna appeared, everything became so favourable, so wonderful. In this way, we need not be foolishly attached to the little bit of  pleasure that is here in this material world. The pleasure of the spiritual abode of Krsna is unlimitedly greater! There is no need to hesitate for a moment! Let’s run! Let’s run  towards the spiritual world, not drag our feet!”

“If we want to go fast, if we really want to go quickly to Krsna then we must fill the maximum amount of time, we must use the maximum amount of our energy simply for glorifying Krsna. That can be done in many ways – it can be done by energy, can be done by possessions, can be done by intelligence, can be done by wit – but  somehow or other, we must always glorify Krsna”

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Goloka Dhama, Abentheuer, Germany, August 2006)

eyes“Krsna is the all-attractive, all-good, all-kind Supreme Personality of Godhead; the friend of all living beings. He is the reservoir of  pleasure. There is no limit to Krsna’s kindness, no limit to Krsna’s mercy. Although he is atmaram, he is totally satisfied within himself and has no need for anything, still Krsna feels something lacking when a living being goes to the material world. Why is Krsna getting impatient? He is not getting impatient for himself. He is not getting impatient just because he can’t wait for us to return. He is getting impatient because he knows that we are unfulfilled even if we are not terribly suffering! There is no other destiny than to be unfulfilled, outside of the spiritual  world, outside of a relationship with Krsna. Therefore, when Krsna is applying a little bit of force to bring us back, that is for our own good because here there is no way, no way that we can be fulfilled.”

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Durban, South Africa, 2009)

 

 

Join us for the Grand Celebrations of Krsna Janamastami at ISKCON Brampton‏ this evening
→ ISKCON BRAMPTON

Sri Krishna Janmastami 2013 Celebrations


SRI KRISHNA JANMASTAMI

Join us with your family and friends at ISKCON Brampton on Wednesday August 28th for the SRI KRISHNA JANMASTAMI Celebrations.

As stated in Bhagavad-gita, the Lord says that "His appearance, birth, and activities, are all transcendental, and one who understands them factually becomes immediately eligible to be transferred to the spiritual world."– Chapter 3: Birth of Lord Krishna, Krishna Book by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

Lord Krishna Himself in Bhagavad gita, Chapter 4 text 8 describes the reason of His appearance as follows:
paritranay sadhunam
vinsaya ca duskrtam
darma-samsthapanrthaya
sambhavami yuge yuge

"To deliver the pious and annihilate the miscreants, as well as to reestablish the principles of religion, I Myself appear millennium after millennium."

The sublime meaning of Sri Krishna's birthday is His arrival for a reunion festival of loving exchanges with His eternal ecstatic servants; Janmastami is therefore an advent of the deliverer.

Fasting: Devotees are encouraged to observe a complete nirjala (without water) fast till midnight as an austerity on this remarkable day to get purified. Snacks will be provided at the temple for those that break their fast earlier.

MORNING PROGRAM INCLUDES:
5:00 am     Mangal aarti
5:30 am     Sri Nrsingadeva Prayer
5:35 am     Tulasi aarti
5:45 am     Congregational Japa[one round]
6:00 am     Srimad Bhagavatam Class
6:45 am     Guru Puja

EVENING PROGRAM INCLUDES:
7.00pm                       Guru Puja
7.25pm                       Gaura aarti
7.50pm                       Sri Nrsingadeva Prayer
7.55pm                       Welcome Announcements
8.00pm                       Glories of Sri Krishna by His Grace Vaisnava Prabhu
8.45pm                       ‘Adharam Madhuram’ by Hladini Group
9:00pm                       PRESENTATION BY SUNDAY SCHOOL
9.30pm                       SRI KRISHNA MAHA ABHISHEK [Kalash will be offered to the Lord]
                                       Kirtan by Hladini Group
10.30pm                     Krishna Conscious Games
11.00pm                     Countdown kirtan
12.00pm                     MAHA AARTI & MIDNIGHT MAHA KIRTAN

JANMASHTAMI MAHA FEAST will be served throughout the program after 9pm.
Ladoo Gopal Palna offering as from 8:00pm - 11:00pm

SPONSORSHIPS AND DONATIONS:
“If anything is donated to a devotee of Lord Vishnu in the name of Lord Vishnu, the charity is said to be pure and the only solution for liberation." [Hari Bhakti Vilasa,11.64,Skanda Purana]

JANMASTAMI MAHA FEAST             $251
JANMASTAMI DEITIES SHRINGAR    $351

Due to limited amount of Abhishekam kalasha that were sold out last year, we request you to contact Mother Krsna Smaran this weekend to reserve kalasha.

For more information on how you can serve on festivals, please contact Prema Gaurangi Devi Dasi (premagaurangi.jps@hotmail.com)


Srila Prabhupada's Appearance Day

Join us for Srila Prabhupada's appearance day celebration at ISKCON Brampton on Thursday August 29th @ 7:00pm. We are pleased to have the association of His Grace Subhavilasa Prabhu (a disciple of Srila Prabhupada) for this occasion.

PROGRAM INCLUDES:
7:00 pm        Guru Aarti
7:15 pm        Gaura Aarti
7:40 pm        Nrsingadev Prayer
7:45 pm        Welcome announcements
7:55 pm        Srila Prabhupada Abhishek & Bhoga offerings
8:10 pm        Memories of Srila Prabhupada by His Grace Subhavilas Prabhu (a disciple of Srila Prabhupada)
8:40 pm        Vyasa puja readings (tributes) to His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada
8:45 pm        Pushpanjali
8:50 pm        Guru Arati
9:10 pm        Sayana Aarti
9:30 pm        Srila Prabhupada Maha Feast

SPONSORSHIPS AND DONATIONS:
Srila Prabhupada Mahafeast           $251
Pushpa Abhisheka                           $51
Please contact Krsna smaran devi dasi (kavitabalram@yahoo.com) for more info.

ALL GLORIES TO HIS DIVINE GRACE A.C BHAKTIVEDANTA SWAMI SRILA PRABHUPADA!

16.04 – Obsession with fame deprives us of prema
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Most people get a rush of exhilaration when they go to a new place and find recognition and admiration for them in the eyes of others. And some people make this fame as their supreme source of enjoyment, their primary purpose of life.
The Bhagavad-gita (16.04 – darpo abhimash) indicates that such obsession with fame characterizes the ungodly. And the next verse (16.05) states that such ungodly mentality drags people away from Krishna and liberation, and into illusion and bondage.
We are social beings and naturally need relationships. So there’s nothing wrong with seeking reciprocations wherever we go. But we don’t have to make ourselves the center of those reciprocations. Gita wisdom offers us a far more satisfying center – Krishna. Let’s understand why this divine center is preferable.
When we seek pleasure in our own glories, we sentence ourselves to perpetual insecurity. Because we don’t have too many praiseworthy qualities and abilities; because we can’t always translate whatever qualities and abilities we do have into laudable actions; and because we can’t ensure that others will notice and appreciate whatever we do achieve. Most detrimentally, our obsession with ourselves blinds us to others’ good qualities and even to the glories of Krishna. When we don’t even notice Krishna’s glories, we obviously can’t relish them and so we can’t develop prema, pure spiritual love for Krishna.
The process of devotional service helps us shift our center of attention from ourselves to Krishna. When we seek to delight in Krishna’s glories, we become forever free from insecurity and filled with gaiety.  That’s because Krishna’s glories are unlimited and eternal – they never get exhausted. Once we get a taste for glorifying Krishna, then we never run out of material for relishing.
Why then should we let obsession with fame deprive us of prema?
**
16.04 - Pride, arrogance, conceit, anger, harshness and ignorance – these qualities belong to those of demoniac nature, O son of Pritha.

The city of the body is actually an ocean of misery
→ The Spiritual Scientist

As long as he [the living entity] is in the city of the body, he appears to be the master of it, but actually he is neither its proprietor nor controller of its actions and reactions. He is simply in the midst of the material ocean, struggling for existence. The waves of the ocean are tossing him, and he has no control over them. His best solution is to get out of the water by transcendental Kṛṣṇa consciousness. That alone will save him from all turmoil.

Bhagavad Gita As It Is 5.14 purport

 

 

a life of learning
→ everyday gita

Verse 4.17: The intricacies of action are very hard to understand. Therefore one should know properly what action is, what forbidden action is, and what inaction is.

In Chapter 2 we discussed at length what karma (action), vikarama (forbidden action) and akarma (inaction) are. For anyone who would like a refresher, you can check it out here. Today, however, I'd like to talk about the real life application of these concepts.

Before getting to that, I'd like to share a beautiful quote from one of my favorite bhakti yoga mentors since it relates perfectly to this topic of application.

"It's very important to practice spirituality for practical application of spiritual knowledge."

Let's meditate on that for a moment, shall we? What does it actually mean? It means that we may hear lots of beautiful concepts and ideas but unless we actually try to implement that knowledge in our daily lives, it won't actually translate to wisdom. That's because wisdom is "the art of converting an experience into learning."

If we don't strive to apply what we've heard, then chances are we'll never really learn.

That's what our lives can become if we choose to live a life of learning. Since we are constantly performing actions, whether consciously or unconsciously, we get the perfect opportunity at every moment to tune into our motivations. Why are we doing something? Is it for our own satisfaction? Is it to make ourselves feel better? Is it really helping others? By posing such questions, we are forced to evaluate what is driving our actions. And trust me, if we actually attempt to do this even a little bit, it's amazing how introspective we'll become of our own thoughts and motivations.

Of course, we'll find that many times we'll skip out on checking into our motivations and you know what? It's ok. After all, for some of us this may be a slightly foreign concept to first reflect and then act. And like any habit, it takes practice and time. Even if we are starting to reflect after the fact, that's a step in the positive direction.

If and when we do reflect afterwards, it won't be uncommon to look back and perhaps cringe. Yes...that too is part of the process. It's may be uncomfortable to recognize what motivates our behaviour and distorts our consciousness. But that too is part of the learning process.

If we are unable to see the obstacles that prevent us from acting in positive and selfless ways, then we won't learn how to overcome them.

Life is all about the journey and in it there is the potential to learn so many lessons. Karma is one of the ways these lessons are dolled out. The Gita gives us practical knowledge as to why we face our current situations (i.e. results of our past actions). Equally important, the Gita teaches us how our reactions to these circumstances will impact our future. So...are you ready to live a life of learning?

Sunday, August 25th, 2013
→ The Walking Monk

Sleep Got Interrupted

Oungre, Saskatchewan

Sleep got interrupted by some noise. Some creature was trying to poke its way into our tent at the Oungre campsite. I finally figured out what was trying to badger its way in. From the lamppost outside, I could make out its silhouette, it was the darndest cute little frog. His head was up and his legs spread out as he jumped his way up to explore our synthetic domicile. He would leap, attempt to clutch on, but he would either slide or just fall back. He tried various sides of our tent. I was just lying there less annoyed than amused.

Once it was time to rise, 4 AM, it was time to zip open that tent, zip over for a shower and zip on off to the road. The world of magic began once again. I was using my meditative beads to chant my daily mantras. It was a soft murmur of “Hare Krishna… “

From a distance shortly after sunrise, I could see a pack of coyotes running as in teamwork. Apparently local farmers sometimes lose their calves to these visitors. In any event it was exhilarating to see these wild dogs in some kind of action moving swiftly on their feet beyond the wheat field.

Daruka pulled over and had a cassette playing of Melanie, the popular folk singer of the late sixties, early seventies. The theme of this song seemed pertinent.

I Don’t Eat Animals

I was just thinking about the way it’s supposed to be

I’ll eat the plants and the fruits from the trees

And I’ll live on vegetables and I’ll grow on seeds

But I don’t eat animals and they don’t eat me

Oh no, I don’t eat animals ‘cuz I love them you see

I don’t eat animals, I want nothing dead in me

I don’t eat white flour, white sugar makes you rot

Though white could be beautiful, but mostly it’s not

A little bit of whole meal, some raisins and cheese

I’ll eat the plants and the fruits from the trees

But I don’t eat animals and they don’t eat me

Oh I don’t eat animals and they don’t eat me

Oh no, I’ll live on life, I want nothing dead in me

You know, I’ll become life and my life will become me

You know, I’ll live on life and my life will live me

It’s a great song and I remember it from over 4 decades ago. Thank you, Melanie, I also don’t eat animals.

Now the last portion of the day had Daruka, Billy and I attend ISKCON’s centre in Regina. I spoke from 9.11 of the Bhagavad Gita. The message was that divinity is everywhere.

28 KM

Chanting Especially Promotes This
→ Japa Group

"The chanting and hearing is essence. Even when dealing with a practical problem, Srila Prabhupada was seeing it and soon speaking of it in absolute terms. Chanting especially promotes this: leave everything aside and chant the holy name. Then we can take up even our most demanding preaching duties in this world with vigor and endurance."

From Japa Reform Notebook
by Satsvarupa dasa Goswami

Offering to My Eternal Spiritual Father
→ Devamrita Swami's Facebook notes

Dear Srila Prabhupada,

Please accept my prostrated obeisances in the dust of your lotus feet.

"It's all your mercy" is common Vaishnava parlance, in the ISKCON world and beyond. This catch-all response can be anything—from routine religious jargon, to heartfelt elegance, to the deepest realisation of one's utter spiritual dependency.

Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura writes in his song to Gurudeva, "When I examine myself, I find nothing of value. Therefore your mercy is essential to me. If you are not merciful, I shall simply weep and weep, and I shall not maintain my life."

I often wondered about how he and, of course, you actually feel this declaration so extraordinarily, as your entire being.

As the years of my insignificant life roll by, I increasingly realise that any perceived faults are all mine, and any credit is all yours. Is this one short life enough to fully grasp at least half the extent of your mercy? What to speak of your disciples, even grand disciples, and their followers testify to your munificence in their life.

During your days with us in the seventies, you once commented that physical association with the guru was for neophytes. I thought at that time,"Well, all glories to the sublime theology of vani-sanga, but so that the physical association with your divine presence will always be mine, let me always remain a neophyte."

Of course, better we hold to what you write in a purport (Cc. Madhya 18.99): “Unless one is enlightened by the knowledge given by the spiritual master, he cannot see things as they are, even though he remains with the spiritual master.”

In 1977, upon your departing the ordinary vision of this world, I was convinced I had failed to attain you. Concluding that any chance for a close relationship with you had left along with your physical presence, I resigned myself to helping the next generation of devotees not to miss out as I had. Vigorously urging your fledgling grand disciples to value the physical presence of their guru with utmost care, I would instruct them to seek every opportunity to have it.

After your departure, the constantly overpowering strains, agonies, and dangers of preaching behind the former Iron Curtain consumed my life—no time to continue lamenting about your disappearance. But during such bleak years there, when the atheistic communists, sure of their permanence, ruled with iron fists of terror their sealed-off kingdoms, your vani association caught this young foolish fugitive-devotee by surprise.

In testimony to your kindness upon even a insignificant jiva, I submit this poem written way back in the eighties, during my Iron Curtain years, for the glorification of your 2013 Vyasa-puja.



East Europe Bhajana


Part One (1977)


Sailing with devotees on the ISKCON-Los Angeles sea

hoping His Divine Grace, the captain,

would personally lead me


With good faith I endeavored

every day

Sure that his pure glance

would soon cast my way


Then he left

though I was still immature

My hopes for his divine sanga

crashed to the floor


Too young to have been with him

Too old to forget him

Certainly this was a very precarious situation


Alas, come what may . . .

the mission must push on

Maybe in fifty lifetimes . . .

I'll again see his form


Part Two (1978-79)


Sailing alone on a most dangerous sea

with no hope that Srila Prabhupada

would come and rescue me


My ship is very tiny

yet the ego-mast is tall

I'm completely insignificant

and my service is so small


Naturally Srila Prabhupada ignored such a fool

I wasn’t worthy of the chance to be his tool


Part Three (1980)


Sailing alone on a most dangerous sea

certain that Srila Prabhupada 

will never find me


Smash!


Down comes the door to my

sealed-off heart

"You can't come in here," I protest

"It's too late to start!"


"Surrender to your spiritual master,"

you majestically declare,

"About your rationalizations,

I definitely don't care"


Part Four (1982)


Sailing alone on a most dangerous sea

Sometimes does Srila Prabhupada stand

right beside me?


Becoming a little eager to serve him

according to his direction

Why does Srila Prabhupada shower

such care and affection?


Without his instructions

I'm a useless fool

Maybe one day I can actually

become his tool


O Srila Prabhupada!

I write of your mercy out of 

great astonishment

Please forgive me, your aspiring servant, for my offenses




Since those excruciating days, let us hope that, by your grace, I have made some advancement. Now, more than a quarter century later, this microscopic servitor simply wonders what your real devotees experience—what kind of nectar you shower upon them.

In Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi-lila Chapter 5, Srila Krishnadas Kaviraja Goswami confesses that the attributes of Lord Nityananda, who acted as his guru, impelled him to become a madman writing of Lord Nityananda’s mercy.

Though nothing compared to Kaviraja Goswami, yet according to the measure of our own realizations, why don’t we publicize the merciful presence of Srila Prabhupada in every ISKCON devotee’s life, through his vani-sanga, especially via his books.

The Goswami explains that generally it is not proper to reveal an account as spiritually esoteric as his, “for it should be kept as confidential as the Vedas, yet I shall speak of it to make His mercy known to all.”

Similarly, whether highly advanced or neophyte, let us all broadcast the eternal relevance of Srila Prabhupada’s mercy for all generations of ISKCON devotees.

Clarifying his motivations, Kaviraja Goswami explains: “O Lord Nityänanda, I write of Your mercy out of great exultation. Please forgive me for my offenses.”

He concludes: “Who in this world but Nityänanda could show His mercy to such an abominable person as me?”

Seeking to follow these perfect parampara footsteps, in my imperfect capacity, I end: Who in this world but you, Srila Prabhupada, could show his mercy and kindness to such a guilty transgressor as me?”

Offering to My Eternal Spiritual Father
→ Devamrita Swami's Facebook notes

Dear Srila Prabhupada,

Please accept my prostrated obeisances in the dust of your lotus feet.

"It's all your mercy" is common Vaishnava parlance, in the ISKCON world and beyond. This catch-all response can be anything—from routine religious jargon, to heartfelt elegance, to the deepest realisation of one's utter spiritual dependency.

Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura writes in his song to Gurudeva, "When I examine myself, I find nothing of value. Therefore your mercy is essential to me. If you are not merciful, I shall simply weep and weep, and I shall not maintain my life."

I often wondered about how he and, of course, you actually feel this declaration so extraordinarily, as your entire being.

As the years of my insignificant life roll by, I increasingly realise that any perceived faults are all mine, and any credit is all yours. Is this one short life enough to fully grasp at least half the extent of your mercy? What to speak of your disciples, even grand disciples, and their followers testify to your munificence in their life.

During your days with us in the seventies, you once commented that physical association with the guru was for neophytes. I thought at that time,"Well, all glories to the sublime theology of vani-sanga, but so that the physical association with your divine presence will always be mine, let me always remain a neophyte."

Of course, better we hold to what you write in a purport (Cc. Madhya 18.99): “Unless one is enlightened by the knowledge given by the spiritual master, he cannot see things as they are, even though he remains with the spiritual master.”

In 1977, upon your departing the ordinary vision of this world, I was convinced I had failed to attain you. Concluding that any chance for a close relationship with you had left along with your physical presence, I resigned myself to helping the next generation of devotees not to miss out as I had. Vigorously urging your fledgling grand disciples to value the physical presence of their guru with utmost care, I would instruct them to seek every opportunity to have it.

After your departure, the constantly overpowering strains, agonies, and dangers of preaching behind the former Iron Curtain consumed my life—no time to continue lamenting about your disappearance. But during such bleak years there, when the atheistic communists, sure of their permanence, ruled with iron fists of terror their sealed-off kingdoms, your vani association caught this young foolish fugitive-devotee by surprise.

In testimony to your kindness upon even a insignificant jiva, I submit this poem written way back in the eighties, during my Iron Curtain years, for the glorification of your 2013 Vyasa-puja.



East Europe Bhajana


Part One (1977)


Sailing with devotees on the ISKCON-Los Angeles sea

hoping His Divine Grace, the captain,

would personally lead me


With good faith I endeavored

every day

Sure that his pure glance

would soon cast my way


Then he left

though I was still immature

My hopes for his divine sanga

crashed to the floor


Too young to have been with him

Too old to forget him

Certainly this was a very precarious situation


Alas, come what may . . .

the mission must push on

Maybe in fifty lifetimes . . .

I'll again see his form


Part Two (1978-79)


Sailing alone on a most dangerous sea

with no hope that Srila Prabhupada

would come and rescue me


My ship is very tiny

yet the ego-mast is tall

I'm completely insignificant

and my service is so small


Naturally Srila Prabhupada ignored such a fool

I wasn’t worthy of the chance to be his tool


Part Three (1980)


Sailing alone on a most dangerous sea

certain that Srila Prabhupada 

will never find me


Smash!


Down comes the door to my

sealed-off heart

"You can't come in here," I protest

"It's too late to start!"


"Surrender to your spiritual master,"

you majestically declare,

"About your rationalizations,

I definitely don't care"


Part Four (1982)


Sailing alone on a most dangerous sea

Sometimes does Srila Prabhupada stand

right beside me?


Becoming a little eager to serve him

according to his direction

Why does Srila Prabhupada shower

such care and affection?


Without his instructions

I'm a useless fool

Maybe one day I can actually

become his tool


O Srila Prabhupada!

I write of your mercy out of 

great astonishment

Please forgive me, your aspiring servant, for my offenses




Since those excruciating days, let us hope that, by your grace, I have made some advancement. Now, more than a quarter century later, this microscopic servitor simply wonders what your real devotees experience—what kind of nectar you shower upon them.

In Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi-lila Chapter 5, Srila Krishnadas Kaviraja Goswami confesses that the attributes of Lord Nityananda, who acted as his guru, impelled him to become a madman writing of Lord Nityananda’s mercy.

Though nothing compared to Kaviraja Goswami, yet according to the measure of our own realizations, why don’t we publicize the merciful presence of Srila Prabhupada in every ISKCON devotee’s life, through his vani-sanga, especially via his books.

The Goswami explains that generally it is not proper to reveal an account as spiritually esoteric as his, “for it should be kept as confidential as the Vedas, yet I shall speak of it to make His mercy known to all.”

Similarly, whether highly advanced or neophyte, let us all broadcast the eternal relevance of Srila Prabhupada’s mercy for all generations of ISKCON devotees.

Clarifying his motivations, Kaviraja Goswami explains: “O Lord Nityänanda, I write of Your mercy out of great exultation. Please forgive me for my offenses.”

He concludes: “Who in this world but Nityänanda could show His mercy to such an abominable person as me?”

Seeking to follow these perfect parampara footsteps, in my imperfect capacity, I end: Who in this world but you, Srila Prabhupada, could show his mercy and kindness to such a guilty transgressor as me?”

Travel Journal#9.15: Polish Woodstock, Harinamas in Germany and Bratislava
→ Travel Adventures of a Krishna Monk

Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 9, No. 15
By Krishna-kripa das
(August 2013, part one)
Polish Woodstock, Harinamas in Germany and Bratislava
(Sent from Newcastle upon Tyne on August 26, 2013)

Where I Went and What I Did

The devotees of the Sri Harinama Mandir traveling party dropped me at the Krakow train station, and I took an overnight train, crowded with young people, to Kostrzyn for my thirteenth time at the Polish Woodstock. The Vaishnava youth European bus tour joined the many regulars who come each year to share Krishna music, food, dance, knowledge, and more, with many tens of thousands of people there at the Polish Woodstock. New kirtana leaders are always coming, this year, Amala Harinam Darling and Jahnavi Harrison, in particular, and they both did a great job. Jayatam Jaya Sila Prabhu had printed thousands of Polish mantra cards with contact information for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness in Poland which I distributed many of. Some of my friends chanted to the crowds waiting at the Kostrzyn train station the day after the Woodstock, and we got a good response as usual. I took another amazingly crowded train to Berlin, and shared a car with people going toward Kassel, to join Sadbhuja Prabhu and his van party, distributing books and doing harinama in different German cities, which culminated in the Ancient Trance festival in Taucha, near Leipzig. Then I shared a group ticket on the train to Berlin, to go on harinama with the devotees there, before taking an overnight bus to Slovakia’s capital of Bratislava to give the Sunday feast lecture. The next three days I remained there, doing three hours of harinama each day with a party lead by Gaura Keshava Prabhu, who was inspired by chanting three months in Union Square with Rama Raya Prabhu’s party, to start a daily harinama party in Bratislava. Next I went to Czech Republic for the Trutnov Open Air Music Festival, also known as the Czech Woodstock, for the fifth time.

As I was in places with no morning lectures such as the Polish Woodstock, or where I gave morning lectures such as Germany and Bratislava, I have very few notes on lectures, but lots of absolutely wonderful quotes from my personal reading of Srila Prabhupada’s books. In addition to those, there is a brief Prabhupada remembrance by Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami, a note from a class by Bhakti Sastri teacher, Adi Purusa Prabhu, and a reflection by myself on spiritual dress.

Itinerary

August 26–29: Newcastle upon Tyne and nearby towns
August 30: Liverpool
August 31: Bolton
September 1–2: Dublin
September 3: Dublin, Philadelphia, Orlando
September 4–6: Gainesville
September 6–10: Tallahassee
September 11–12: Jacksonville
September 13: Gainesville
September 14: Jacksonville Beach Ratha-yatra
September 15–26: Gainesville [except one day in Tampa]
September 27–30: Columbus, Ohio
October 1–November 25: Union Square harinama, New York City
November 26–February 19, 2014: Gainesville
[except with 5 days / month in Tallahassee, one day per month in Tampa]
February 25–April 20, 2014: Mayapur

The Train to the Polish Woodstock

I heard that PKP, the Polish train company, had scheduled many extra trains to come to the Polish Woodstock, and to return home, but I had never ridden one. Nor do I think I will ever ride one again!


Judging from the number of people waiting at the Krakow train station, I could understand the train would be crowded.


There are always people who are not afraid to dress differently at such events as Woodstock, like the girl below with the violet hair and feathered cap.


The train was first announced to be 25 minutes late, and then 40 minutes late, 60 minutes late, and lastly 80 minutes late.


It finally left Krakow 100 minutes late, and arrived in Kostrzyn 120 minutes late!

I have been on trains with people who stay up late, but not that late. In fact, there was no time when all the people were asleep and none of the people were drinking, smoking, and talking loudly.

I talked to a few interesting people, like a boy who wanted to go to India, and a another boy who sat next to me and meditated.

While I was waiting in between the cars of the trains, in a queue for the toilet, several young people chanted a few mantras with me.


Had I been willing to spend 30 euros each way from the UK, I could have brought my harmonium, and got more people into chanting.

At one point, I realized it would not be able to get any more real sleep, so I put my headphones on and played a Madhava kirtana at its full volume. Then I was smiling and moving to the music, and I was pretty blissful despite my lack of sleep and all the craziness around me. Some people looked at me and smiled, and I took the headphones from my own head, and one by one, put them on the heads of the four people who were watching me, so they could hear, and they would smile. One girl sat diagonally across from me, and I put the headphones on her. She said she liked the music, and I invited her to our Krishna village, saying that the singer on the recording would be performing in person there.

Polish Woodstock

The Polish Woodstock is a free rock concert organized by philanthropist Jurek Oswiak, who appeciates Indradyumna Swami’s work in Poland, and allows him space to a free Krishna festival with kirtana, prasadam, dance, drama, yoga, questions and answers tents, and much, much more. Thus many, many tens of thousands of people mostly from Poland, get a very positive experience of Krishna consciousness.

Joyful to see thousands of people experiencing Krishna kirtana, I have been coming to the Polish Woodstock for thirteen years.

The harinamathe first day attracted more people to sing and dance with us, and to follow us back to our camp than ever before, and it was beautiful to see.




My role on the harinamas and the Ratha-yatras was to distribute invitations to our Krishna’s Village of Peace.


At one point, it began raining, and the devotees and onlookers continued to chant and dancing, and Indradyumna Swami continued to photograph them. As I was getting wet, I was looking at our main tent, which was largely vacant, and wondering how many Hare Krishnas does it take to figure out we would be better off in the tent. I decided to suggest to Indradyumna Swami that we might chant in the tent, and he made a beeline for the tent, and everyone followed him, surprising the people who were taking prasadam there, and we chanted and danced in the tent ecstatically for some time.



At the Woodstock, during our lunch, Govinda Prabhu always share verses that we have learned over the year. I taught him the only about how everything becomes easy if one remembers Lord Caitanya, and he taught me the beautiful one about Lord Caitanya that appears at the end of this blog.

Some people who saw me distributing mantra cards at the Mantra Yoga tent remembered me from the train to Kostrzyn, and others from seeing me last year. One man remembers
me from Zary in 2002 or 2003, and comes by to say hello each year. One man excited showed me the picture he took of me on his mobile phone last year, and insisted on taking another picture this year.

I met a girl named Frances from Berlin who was spiritually inquisitive. It was as if she wanted to believe in God but had had too many years of atheistic association to make it easily possible. I encouraged her to explore our tradition, and to try the practice to see if she found any benefit in it.

The program in our main stage begins with chanting, and when I am free, I go there and dance, and in that way try to inspire others. One girl came up, wanting to learn my dance step. After following me a little while, I suggested that Jahnavi Harrison take over as her dance instructor, which she kindly did.

Caturatma Prabhu did questions and answers a lot as usual, here translated by Mandakini dd.


He also would dance like mad in the Ratha-yatra kirtana.


Many, many people enjoyed dancing in the Ratha-yatra.








These include the brahmacari, Jon, below, who is a friend from Gainesville.


We had great singers in the kirtana tent, which was named Mantra Yoga. These included B. B. Govinda Swami, Indradyumna Swami, Bada Haridas Prabhu, Madhava Prabhu, Amala Harinama, Jahnavi Harrison, Acyuta Gopi, and her brother, Ananta.

Here is a video by MayapurTV of the first kirtana by B. B. Govinda Swami (http://youtu.be/465BK4a3ohE):

Here is a video of Jahnavi Harrision from the Woodstock I found on YouTube (http://youtu.be/nk4s6UIXcM0):

The last two days inMantra Yoga, Madhava Prabhu sang for three and a half hours and then B. B. Govinda Goswami sang for an hour and a half or two hours. It was awesome to see the number of people happily participating by chanting and dancing. I distributed many mantra cards. Somehow it seemed we had more people at the end when Madhava Prabhu would sing first and B. B. Govinda Swami later, and that is how we did it the last two nights.

Here is a video by Mauritius Yatra from the last kirtana of B. B. Govinda (http://youtu.be/1yBFniSvriU):

During Madhava Prabhu’s kirtana one trio became so inspired that they really took up his instruction to chant with all their hearts. The girl read the mantra from a card I gave her.


The girl and two boys would chant during the lead, during the response, and during the instrumental interludes. They did not stop! They chanted loudly chanting with blissful smiles on their faces for over half an hour, and you sensed that Krishna must have been reciprocating with their enthusiasm.


I met a German girl from Bonn, and I wrote down for her the web page for the local temple in the adjacent city of Cologne as she expressed some interest.

A middle-aged German couple from Berlin asked me about Krishna consciousness, the husband translating what I said for his wife.

I met a girl from Poznan who came everyday to the kirtana for hours. I gave her the contact for the devotee in Poznan who occasionally arranges programs there.

Izabela, who I originally met on our festival tour in Kolobrzeg years ago, but whose family lives in Kostrzyn, came to our camp, bringing friends for prasadam as she does every year. She studied in Wroclaw, then graduated and moved there, and I gave her the contact information for our temple there. Later she and a boy came back to the kirtana tent, and chanted and danced like anything. I do not remember her dancing like that ever before!


One girl with a bandaged foot told me lived in a place where we had no temple or nama-hatta program, but she was beginning her studies in Warsaw at the university. I had no Warsaw temple invitations, so I gave her my card, saying I would sent her the contact information for the temple. She surprised me by writing me the very morning after the Woodstock festival was finished. The vast majority of people I give my cards to do not write.

One man with one leg who was on crutches was so inspired by Bada Haridas Prabhu’s kirtana that he danced as best as one could in that condition. It was awesome to see.


In Mantra Yoga tent people sometimes happily dance in a chain,


sometimes in a circle,


and sometimes forming a bridge, and passing beneath it.


Older people would dance.


And younger people would dance.


I was surprised to see entire Polish families come more than once to our Mantra Yoga tent and dance with the devotees.

Some people would try to follow the dancing of the devotee ladies.



On the last day, as the evening progressed, I saw greater interest in the mantra cards, decidedly more so than in previous years. I would give the new mantra cards, with the mantra and a brief description, to people as they came out of our kirtana tent, thinking that the joy they experienced dancing with us might generate some interest in the mantra. Others, standing outside the tent, would see me handing out the cards, and they would approach me asking for one. In several cases, they asked for two, three, four, or even five, for their friends! Often when I gave someone a card they would smile or fold their hands in gratitude. I found it difficult to remember who I gave the cards to, and sometimes I noticed I thought I remembered the people but I was wrong. A few cards were left on the ground, but I think much less than one percent.

Harinama at the Kostrzyn Train Station

We planned to chant at the train station the day after the Woodstock from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., but even though we ended our program by 2 a.m. the night before, much earlier than usual, devotees slept in so late we ended up going out from 1:10 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. instead. We would have stayed out longer, but I had a train to catch at 3:11 p.m., and I wanted to honor the post-Woodstock feast before leaving. As it was, I reached the train two minutes before it left. We started out with just four devotees on the harinama, Syama Rasa Prabu on the accordion, Vishnu Puri Prabhu on the mrdanga, and Mathura-pati Prabhu on the karatalas, and me, dancing and distributing mantra cards. It was so ecstatic to just be out chanting again, sharing Lord Caitanya gift of unlimited good fortune through the medium of his holy names. There were people who expressed their joy in seeing us by smiling, moving with the music, taking photos and accepting mantra cards. One man with a bandaged foot chanted with us on two occasions, reading the mantra from the card I gave him. He also danced the best he could in that condition and got cards for his two associates.


Two girls shook small boxes of candy in each hand in time with the music. One boy tried singing the mantra along with us.


Another time several girls danced as we passed them.


A couple of guys, luggage in hand, sang and followed us. We were joined by four Indian-looking devotees who encountered our party while looking for a taxi to the green school and who stayed for half an hour or so. The wife of Subuddhi Prabhu, who does art on the tour, was happy to join us and danced for a similar length of time, while her husband purchased rail tickets. When we returned to the school that was our base the devotees were serving out the feast, and those waiting in line were happy to encounter the kirtana party. A guy joined with another mrdanga, two guys played kalatalas, and three young ladies danced with enthusiasm.


Harinama in Germany

I chanted a couple days in Erfurt, in the center of Germany, with Sadbhuja Prabhu (playing harmonium below) and his van party.


Once some kids who were bathing in playground delighted in dancing with us.


Thereafter we went to Taucha, northeast of Leipzig, for the annual Ancient Trance festival, where they set up a yurt and chant and tell Krishna stories late into the night during the three-day event. Apparently Sadbhuja Prabhu has known the organizers from even before he became a devotees. Pradyumna Prabhu from Leipzig, also does vegetarian catering at the ancient trance event, and his food was tasty, especially a soup I had seconds on. Last year another group did the catering, but the organizers wanted Pradyumna back this year because he had done a better job. I liked the ancient trance event and was sorry I had to go to Berlin to catch a bus to Bratislava.

The Berlin police foolishly told the devotees they could do their Ratha-yatra on the same day as they had previously allowed another group do to a large festival. Therefore, although the devotees had printed and distributed 4,000 flyers for the Ratha-yatra, they had to cancel the event, and replace it with a harinama.


The harinama only lasted an hour and a half, and which was attended by about twelve devotees. Still it was nice to go on the harinama, although it was brief.



Some guy danced to our music.


And a lady danced with us as well.


Harinama in Bratislava

While enroute from Berlin to Bratislava, I was grateful that I could proofread my guru’s journal using the free WiFi for adjacent buses at the Berlin terminal and using the WiFi at the Prague bus station, where we had an hour layover.

Jivananda Prabhu kindly picked me up from Bratislava bus station, although the bus was scheduled to arrive at 2:30 a.m. Such a sacrifice for him! I did not wish to come at that time, but my desires to go to the Berlin Ratha-yatra [which was later canceled], to speak at the Bratislava Sunday feast, to save money, and to have to time recover from the journey left only that one option.

When I saw Gaura Keshava Prabhu on Rama Raya’s harnama party in New York City in April, I had no idea that he would become so inspired that he would start a similar program in Bratislava when he returned three months later, and that I would join him there for three days in the summer. The Lord works in mysterious ways.

Although Adi Purusa Prabhu was teaching a Bhakti Sastri class attended by 30 devotees in the temple at the same time, we still had at least 6 people for most of our 3-hour harinamathe first day in Bratislava, and at one point we had 9 people! That is pretty fired up!

The red-haired girls had met the devotees previously at a festival.


Some people played the instruments,



and some danced with us, and some did both.


A group who was having a vegan dinner listened and ate some vegan halava we made just for them.


The second day, we chanted downtown.


A girl played the tambourine with us.


Adi Purusa Prabhu himself came out after his class, setting a good example.

The final night, we chanted by a statue.



Devotees came after the Bhakti Sastri class, and we had 14 devotees and three onlookers who joined our party.

Imagine if devotees from all the major cities of the world came to New York City, became inspired by Rama Raya Prabhu’s harinama, and returned to their own cities and started daily harinamas for three or four hours. That would give Lord Caitanya’s mission a big boost!

Thanks to nama-hatta.pl for their pictures of me at the Polish Woodstock, thanks to a German bhakta for pictures of me at Efurt, and thanks to Gaura Keshava Prabhu for his pictures of the harinamas in Bratislava. I have additional pictures I took which I did not include in this blog. If you want to see them, click on this link, or paste the URL into your web browser:

Insights

Srila Prabhupada:

from Srimad-Bhagavatam6.11.24:

“O my Lord, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, will I again be; able to be a servant of Your eternal servants who find shelter only at Your lotus feet? O Lord of my life, may I again become their servant so that my mind may always think of Your transcendental attributes, my words always glorify those attributes, and my body always engage in the loving service of Your Lordship?

“Purport:
“This verse gives the sum and substance of devotional life. One must first become a servant of the servant of the servant of the Lord (dasanudasa). Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu advised, and He also showed by His own example, that a living entity should always desire to be a servant of the servant of the servant of Krishna, the maintainer of the gopis(gopi-bhartuḥ pada-kamalayor dasa-dasanudasaḥ). This means that one must accept a spiritual master who comes in the disciplic succession and is a servant of the servant of the Lord. Under his direction, one must then engage one’s three properties, namely his body, mind and words. The body should be engaged in physical activity under the order of the master, the mind should think of Krishna incessantly, and one’s words should be engaged in preaching the glories of the Lord. If one is thus engaged in the loving service of the Lord, one’s life is successful.”
from Srimad-Bhagavatam6.12.7, purport:
“Vritrasura encouraged Indra, saying, ‘Don’t be morose because of my victory. There is no need to stop fighting. Instead, you should go on with your duty. When Krishna desires, you will certainly be victorious.’ This verse is very instructive for sincere workers in the Krishna consciousness movement. We should not be jubilant in victory or morose in defeat. We should make a sincere effort to implement the will of Krishna, or Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and we should not be concerned with victory and defeat. Our only duty is to work sincerely, so that our activities may be recognized by Krishna.”

from Srimad-Bhagavatam6.12.22, purport:

“A pure devotee is never attracted to any exalted position within this material world. He simply wants to associate with the Supreme Personality of Godhead like the inhabitants of Vrindavana—Srimati Radharani, the gopis, Krishna’s father and mother (Nanda Maharaja and Yasoda), Krishna’s friends and Krishna’s servants. He wants to associate with Krishna’s atmosphere of Vrindavana’s beauty. These are the highest ambitions of a devotee of Krishna.”

“Any material happiness is like water in a ditch, whereas the spiritual happiness eternally enjoyed in the spiritual world is like an ocean of nectar in which a devotee wants to swim.”

from The Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 48:

“It is to be understood that any person who is constantly engaged in chanting the holy names of the Lord—Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare—has attained a transcendental affection for Krishna, and as such, in any condition of life, he remains satisfied simply by remembering the Lord’s name in full affection and ecstatic love.”

from Srimad-Bhagavatam6.15.2, purport:

“This world is temporary, but because of our previous karma we come here and accept bodies, creating temporary relationships in terms of society, friendship, love, nationality and community, which are all finished at death. These temporary relationships did not exist in the past, nor will they exist in the future. Therefore at the present moment the so-called relationships are illusions.”

The Nectar of Instruction preface:

“In all spiritual affairs, one’s first duty is to control his mind and senses. Unless one controls his mind and senses, one cannot make any advancement in spiritual life. Everyone within this material world is engrossed in the modes of passion and ignorance. One must promote himself to the platform of goodness, sattva-guna, by following the instructions of Rupa Gosvami, and then everything concerning how to make further progress will be revealed.”

from Letter of 2 August 1972:

“I sometimes remember that when I spoke in Portland, there were many Christians there, and they were very much favorable whenever we mentioned that we also are lovers of Christ. So you may preach in that way. We are not canvassing people to convert or criticize; we are canvassing that they should simply use their time for loving God by engaging in His devotional service, whether they are Christian, Catholic, Jew, or whatever. We are after God, that’s all. We are servants of God.

“So preach like that, very simply, and hold sankirtana all over the city, and distribute prasadam profusely, especially to the youth, then everything will be successful.”

from 73/08/26 London, lecture on Bhagavad-gita 2.21–22:

“But if you engage yourself in the service of Krishna, you’ll find new and new encouragement. That is spiritual. If you find it hackneyed, then you must know that you are not yet serving spiritually, you are serving materially. Formality, stereotype. But if you feel new and new energy, then you know that you are serving spiritually. This is the test. Your enthusiasm will increase, not decrease.

“So the test is within our hand. If during mangala-arati we feel laziness, that means I’m not yet spiritually advanced. And if one feels enthused, ‘Now it is time for mangala-arati,let me stand up, let me do this,’ then it is spiritual. Anyone can test.”

from Sri Caitanya-caritamrita,Madhya 7.82 verse and purport:

“Upon seeing the chanting and dancing of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Lord Nityananda predicted that later there would be dancing and chanting in every village.

“Purport:

“This prediction of Sri Nityananda Prabhu’s is applicable not only in India but also all over the world. That is now happening by His grace. The members of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness are now traveling from one village to another in the Western countries and are even carrying the Deity with them. These devotees distribute
various literatures all over the world. We hope that these devotees who are preaching the message of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu will very seriously follow strictly in His footsteps. If they follow the rules and regulations and chant sixteen rounds daily, their endeavor to preach the cult of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu will certainly be successful.

The Nectar of Instruction, verse1, purport:

“As for the urges of the tongue, we all experience that the tongue wants to eat palatable dishes. Generally we should not allow the tongue to eat according to its choice, but should control the tongue by supplying prasada. The devotee’s attitude is that he will eat only when Krishna gives him prasada. That is the way to control the urge of the tongue.”

from Sri Caitanya-caritamrita,Madhya 7.101, purport:

“In order to become an empowered preacher, one must be favored by Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu or His devotee, the spiritual master. One must also request everyone to chant the maha-mantra. In this way, such a person can convert others to Vaishnavism, showing them how to become pure devotees of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.”

from Sri Caitanya-caritamrita,Madhya 7.129, purport:

“This is an opportunity for everyone. If one simply follows the instructions of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, under the guidance of His representative, and chants the Hare Krishna mantra, teaching everyone as far as possible the same principle, the contamination of the materialistic way of life will not even touch him. It does not matter whether one lives in a holy place like Vrindavana, Navadvipa or Jagannatha Puri or in the midst of European cities, where the materialistic way of life is very prominent. If a devotee follows the instructions of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, he lives in the company of the Lord. Wherever he lives, he converts that place into Vrindavana and Navadvipa. This means that materialism cannot touch him. This is the secret of success for one advancing in Krishna consciousness.”

from Sri Caitanya-caritamrita,Madhya 7.130, purport:

“At whosever house Sri Caitanya accepted His alms by takingprasadam, He would convert the dwellers to His sankirtanamovement and advise them just as He advised the brahmananamed Kurma.

“Purport:

“The cult of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is explained here very nicely. One who surrenders to Him and is ready to follow Him with heart and soul does not need to change his location. Nor is it necessary for one to change his status. One may remain a householder, a medical practitioner, an engineer or whatever. It doesn’t matter. One only has to follow the instruction of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, chant the Hare Krishna maha-mantra and instruct relatives and friends in the teachings of the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam. One has to learn humility and meekness at home, following the instructions of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and in that way one’s life will be spiritually successful.”

from Sri Caitanya-caritamrita,Madhya 7.132:

“While on His tour, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu would spend the night at a temple or on the roadside.While on His tour, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu would spend the night at a temple or on the roadside.”

comment by Krishna-kripa das: Spending the night at a temple or on the roadside me of traveling with Parasurama Prabhu. Then it was mostly on the roadside.

from Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.15.3:

“O King, as small particles of sand sometimes come together and are sometimes separated due to the force of the waves, the living entities who have accepted material bodies sometimes come together and are sometimes separated by the force of time.”

from Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.15.5, purport:

“A dream does not exist before one falls asleep, nor does it continue after one awakens. The period for dreaming exists only between these two, and therefore it is false in the sense that it is impermanent. Similarly, the entire material creation, including our own creation and those of others, is impermanent. We do not lament for the situation in a dream before the dream takes place or after it is over, and so during the dream, or during a dreamlike situation, one should not accept it as factual and lament about it. This is real knowledge.”

from Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.15.6, purport:

“The present chaotic conditions of the world are due to the ignorance of leaders who forget that they have been appointed to act by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Because they have been appointed by the Lord, their duty is to consult the Lord and act accordingly. The book for consultation is Bhagavad-gita, in which the Supreme Lord gives directions. Therefore those who are engaged in creation, maintenance and annihilation should consult the Supreme Person, who has appointed them, and should act accordingly. Then everyone will be satisfied, and there will be no disturbances.”

from Srimad-Bhagavatam6.15.21–23:

“O King, owner of the state of Surasena, one’s wife, his house, the opulence of his kingdom, and his various other opulences and objects of sense perception are all the same in that they are temporary. One’s kingdom, military power, treasury, servants, ministers, friends and relatives are all causes of fear, illusion, lamentation and distress. They are like a gandharva-nagara,a nonexistent palace that one imagines to exist in the forest. Because they are impermanent, they are no better than illusions, dreams and mental concoctions.”

The disciples of Srila Prabhupada:

from Srimad-Bhagavatam11.7.39:

“A learned sage should take his satisfaction in the simple maintenance of his existence and should not seek satisfaction through gratifying the material senses. In other words, one should care for the material body in such a way that one’s higher knowledge is not destroyed and so that one’s speech and mind are not deviated from self-realization.”

Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami:

from his journal, Viraha Bhavan,“Poem for July 30”:

“Once I wrote to Prabhupada that
I had little Jagannathas, and he
wrote back that Jagannatha is neither big or small.”

Adi Purusa Prabhu:

Visvanatha Cakravarti says Chapter 7 of Bhagavad-gita describes six types of the devotees, the four mentioned in verse 7.16, the jnana-misra bhakta [whose devotion is mixed with desire for knowledge], and the pure devotee. All attain Vaikuntha, but it is a question of time. Those desiring sense gratification delay their success. Motive determines the speed we attain perfection.

Krishna-kripa das:

an observation:

“The superiors of Radharani do not like Krishna or His cowherd friends to associate with Her; therefore these friends sometimes clothe themselves in female dress so they can give Radharani a message from Krishna.” The above statement from The Nectar of Devotionis evidence that men and women dress differently in the spiritual world. This is contrary to a recent trend in the material world of women dressing as men do.

-----

sruyatam sruyatam nityam
giyatam giyatam muda
cintyatam cintyatam bhaktas
caitanya-caritamritam

“O devotees, may the transcendental life and characteristics of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu always be chanted and meditated upon with great happiness.” (Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Antya-lila 12.1)




Saturday, August 24th, 2013
→ The Walking Monk

I’m Just West…

Torquay, Saskatchewan

I’m just west of Estevan, near a massive dam. Highway 18. The moon is above and in front of me. The sun sneaks up from behind. What clouds say, “You’ll be less intense today, we are here to veil you.”

The highway is lined with, from what I can make out, miniature sun flowers , actually Echinacea, and then there’s amaranth plants that ancient civilizations used as food substances. I’m glad to have their company. Muskrats are here, or what’s left of them after being run over. Caterpillars make their migration across. They have a better chance on the westerly portion of Highway 18, there’s less human traffic now.

A salamander sloths his way across. He’s absolutely adorable. With a tip of my umbrella I touch his belly. He swings his tail and actually swerves and makes a sound. I tried again to offer the softest touch, he reacted the same again and gave off a kind of a squeal. I didn’t know salamanders make noise.

I thought I would try my five finger Vibram footwear. It seems to work. The highway here is uneven, and pavement here is bumpier with a rough gravel surface. The feet like it, they like the grip.

Speaking about grip, let’s have a look at getting a hold on life. I meet a lot of young guys everyday, they are good to me, they are supportive, they seem happy and hard at work. One fellow gave me a container of cut watermelon just as I was getting so dehydrated. With some, we have some great chats about all the money they are making and about family and girlfriends and all. I make a point of them getting a grip on the term dharma, and what that means as far as responsibilities go. One fellow that I talked to was boasting, “I’ll just pick up a girl now that my ex is out of the picture.” I said, “You know women aren’t so cheap that you can just pick one up. They are valued just like you are valued.” It’s great speaking like a father to them. They really like monks.

In Torquay, the only village on today’s route, we met some great folks, especially a few bikers. I was curious to know what it’s like being on a Harley Davidson, “Check it out, Swami!” For fun, I sat there on the machine and had a good laugh. It seemed that the whole residential street was out there with us, meaning Daruka, Billy the parrot and myself. Everyone was looking at it and deciding whether the motorcycle was me or not. Ultimately consensus tells that I’m better with feet and the trail, and not putting pedal to the metal.

36 KM