Planet ISKCON

There is a solution to every problem, if you see the problem as an opportunity.

There is a solution to every problem, if you see the problem as an opportunity.

INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS Founder-Ācārya: His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda Lecture By His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami On “Cooperation” Malaga, Spain, 25 June 2013 Initially kīrtan for 10:55 minutes His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami: nāma oṁ viṣṇu-pādāya Kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya bhū-tale śrīmate bhaktivedānta-svāmin iti nāmine namas te sārasvate deve gaura- vāṇī-pracāriṇe nirviśeṣa-śunyavādi-pāścātya-deśa-tāriṇe Hare Kṛṣṇa. So […]

Verse 3.33: Even a man of knowledge acts according to his own nature, for everyone follows the nature he has acquired from the three modes. What can repression accomplish?

Why bother fooling yourself? It's a question I've asked myself a lot. We all have our nature and working with our tendencies and proclivities is so much easier than always trying to fight against them.

Yoga is all about personalism. There's none of this "Oh...I wish I was someone else!" Sure, we might aspire to follow in the footsteps of others so we too can also gain realization, knowledge and skills - but that's it. There's no merging or becoming someone else!

After all...where's the fun in that? If everyone was exactly the same, it would be so boring...

In fact, this reminds me of a story that one of my role models, Radhanath Swami, once narrated and which I would like to share with you here. If you've never read his story of how he came to bhakti yoga, I highly recommend it. He's written a book called The Journey Home.

Once, he was giving a talk on bhakti yoga to bunch of students at a University. At the end of the talk he opened it up for questions and one student stood up and obnoxiously said, "That's all well and good you speak of bhakti yoga. But if all of us were renounced monks like yourself then how would this world run?" Smirking, he sat back down to the applause of his fellow classmates. Radhanath Swami asked this boy, "What are you studying to become?" The boy stated he was to be an accountant. Always witty, full of good humour and no malice, the Swami replied "Well....what would happen if the world was full of accountants like yourself?" To this, the audience roared with laughter. Radhanath Swami concluded by saying that everyone is needed whether they be monks, accountants, businessmen etc...

The point of the story is this - we are all individuals. The soul, although a part and parcel of the Supreme, is also separate. Just like a drop of water has the properties and consistency of the ocean, similarly we too possess divine characteristics, but in a limited amount.

As one bhakti yogi put it:

Bhakti yoga is about discovering your personality as lover of God.

I can't tell you how relieved I felt upon hearing that. Although we may face challenges and strive for personal improvement, it's not at the cost of losing our personality.

There's no one like you in this world...it's true. In fact, it's confirmed here. There's no need to repress our nature; instead we transform it so that we can do the most good with it.

So the next time you find yourself comparing yourself to others, just remember: we are all like diamonds in the rough. We just need some polishing and bhakti yoga is the process by which we can discover who we really are and shine.

Verse 3.33: Even a man of knowledge acts according to his own nature, for everyone follows the nature he has acquired from the three modes. What can repression accomplish?

Why bother fooling yourself? It's a question I've asked myself a lot. We all have our nature and working with our tendencies and proclivities is so much easier than always trying to fight against them.

Yoga is all about personalism. There's none of this "Oh...I wish I was someone else!" Sure, we might aspire to follow in the footsteps of others so we too can also gain realization, knowledge and skills - but that's it. There's no merging or becoming someone else!

After all...where's the fun in that? If everyone was exactly the same, it would be so boring...

In fact, this reminds me of a story that one of my role models, Radhanath Swami, once narrated and which I would like to share with you here. If you've never read his story of how he came to bhakti yoga, I highly recommend it. He's written a book called The Journey Home.

Once, he was giving a talk on bhakti yoga to bunch of students at a University. At the end of the talk he opened it up for questions and one student stood up and obnoxiously said, "That's all well and good you speak of bhakti yoga. But if all of us were renounced monks like yourself then how would this world run?" Smirking, he sat back down to the applause of his fellow classmates. Radhanath Swami asked this boy, "What are you studying to become?" The boy stated he was to be an accountant. Always witty, full of good humour and no malice, the Swami replied "Well....what would happen if the world was full of accountants like yourself?" To this, the audience roared with laughter. Radhanath Swami concluded by saying that everyone is needed whether they be monks, accountants, businessmen etc...

The point of the story is this - we are all individuals. The soul, although a part and parcel of the Supreme, is also separate. Just like a drop of water has the properties and consistency of the ocean, similarly we too possess divine characteristics, but in a limited amount.

As one bhakti yogi put it:

Bhakti yoga is about discovering your personality as lover of God.

I can't tell you how relieved I felt upon hearing that. Although we may face challenges and strive for personal improvement, it's not at the cost of losing our personality.

There's no one like you in this world...it's true. In fact, it's confirmed here. There's no need to repress our nature; instead we transform it so that we can do the most good with it.

So the next time you find yourself comparing yourself to others, just remember: we are all like diamonds in the rough. We just need some polishing and bhakti yoga is the process by which we can discover who we really are and shine.

Why if Bhagavatam says that there is no need for any other scripture other than itself, do we need to read books like Bhagavad-gita and Nectar of Devotion?

"The Hari's Unlock Cosmic Henge Hub"
The Epic ALL NIGHT CHANTING PARTY!
http://youtu.be/cToOs-ArgGE


The Hari's Unlock Cosmic Henge Hub | Stonehenge 2013
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News Headlines after the event: Hare Krishna's unlock secret cosmic hub at Stonehenge! All night Chanting Party! Angels Appear at the henge! Soul Power at th... Continue reading →

Indradyumna Swami BBGovinda Swami Bada Hari Prabhu

From Bhajan Kutir #483
by Satsvarupa dasa Goswami

Stonehenge 2013
Hare Krishna Rathayatra Festival
http://youtu.be/ZGgp5vfimrQ


Hare Krishna Rathayatra Festival at Stonehenge 2013
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Boy was I in for a surprise! My first time to the Holy Henge and it was something else! I've long last had such an amazing chanting experience with fired up ... Continue reading →

Giriraj Swami and Indradymna Swami awarded first and second initiation to devotees prior to the Panihati festival at the Laguna Beach temple on Friday. During the ceremony, Giriraj Swami initiated Srila Tamal Krishna Goswami’s brother and sister-in-law, Bhakta Carl and Bhaktin Stella Herzig, as well as Saroj Wadehra. Now  Saroj will be known as Tulasi Manjari dasi, Stella as Shraddhanjali dasi, and Carl as Kalachandji das.

“We have a particular relationship with our diksa-guru, and that must be maintained and respected. But we also have other relationships with spiritual aunts and uncles and older brothers and sisters, and all our spiritual family members cooperate for that same purpose — to help the individual become purified and advanced in Krishna consciousness, engaged in the mission of Srila Prabhupada and the Pancha Tattva.”— Giriraj Swami

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Initiation talk by Indradymna Swami
Initiation talk by Giriraj Swami

Moving story of Sindhutai Sapkal – Radhanath Swami @ Narayan Mandir June 4th 2013

Here's the Croydon Rathayatra festival from 16th June 2013!
http://youtu.be/3p3xJIg0CZ8


Croydon Rathayatra | Hare Krishna Chariot Festival 2013
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Chant: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare and your life will be sublime! PS: Croydon Typo! sorry to ... Continue reading →

Today in the Japa Room we heard from Bhurijan prabhu who talks about the habits of the mind and how to overcome distraction.
Email subscribers please click here to watch the video.

Slightly Naïve

Manitou, Manitoba

She was slightly naïve, but definitely gigglish, and not sure what to ask. “Do you eat?” is what she blurted out embarrassingly.

Most people out here have rarely seen a monk, let alone meet someone on a passionate walk across the country and for a fourth time. It really made a difference that the Morden Times featured us on the front page of their weekly. We were supposed to have been well down the road by now since the interview with Andrew Pruden last week. Consequently the delay of Daruka’s moving worked in our favour. The newspaper just came out today when I was trekking on Highway 3. Suddenly everyone in the Pembina district was informed.

That’s why I’m out here, to clarify my being and purpose for being in this area. Not everyone has to follow the rank and file conventions. You can say it is possible to be a non conformist to ‘the system’. I said to the young teen with the inquisitive question, “Yes, I eat and very well on a veggie diet with a lifestyle of self discipline. It means simple living and high thinking. It addresses taking care of the soul as well as the body. Both she and her boyfriend next to her were all smiles. And for that last stroll I could hear the honking of horns and for the more subdued approach, a wave of the hand that demonstrated approval.

Both Daruka and I are in bliss about the response from what we perceived could be a conservative area – Winkler, Morden and Manitou. One last mention, where in the world do you find a place on Earth which is named after the Great Spirit, or God? That’s what is meant by Manitoba – Manitou.

38 KM

Verse 3.3: But those who, out of envy, disregard these teachings and do not follow them are to be considered bereft of all knowledge, befooled, and ruined in their endeavors for perfection.

In our last post we discussed how can envy can actually help us get a better idea as to our aspirations, interests and dreams. That is, we focused on the positive.

And that's what bhakti yoga is all about. It's about elevating not only our consciousness, but our very existence to the spiritual platform.

Sometimes the question arises however, "If bhakti is all about the positive, then why does the Gita (as well as all other bhakti texts) seem to focus on "negative" qualities and tendencies we may face within ourselves?"

And that, my dear readers, is an excellent question. As many of you may have experienced, the bhakti texts are holistic in nature. It is for that reason alone that they describe eternality and temporality hand in hand (i.e. the body and the soul) as well as all other aspects that relate to the material and the spiritual.

If bhakti is meant to elevate us, then we need to understand why we would want to be elevated and the present level we may be on. That's why the Gita speaks of three important topics. In sanskrit they are known as sambandha, abhidheya and prayojana. In English these words translate to - relationship, the activities performed to re-establish that relationship and the finally, the goal.

Yoga is all about our ultimate connection (i.e. relationship) to the Supreme. So in this way the Gita is outlining not only a path to get to the goal, but giving us the understanding as to why we should even try out the path.

In trying to establish our relationship with anyone, what to speak of the Supreme, there are many obstacles we may face. One of those challenges is envy. In today's verse we get to understand how envy can really hurt a relationship. That is:

Out of envy, we may reject not only a person but the valuable teachings the person may have to offer.

That's how destructive it can be. Krsna, the Supreme, is offering valuable advice as to how we can become happy. As a perfect guide and well-wisher, He's also giving us a "heads up" as to how envy can prevent us from implementing His loving advice.

Ok...so then how can one rid oneself of envy? The bhakti texts give a simple solution:

Serve the person you are envious of.

I said simple, not necessarily easy! This solution may seem counter-intuitive to many of us. I don't know about you, but my first inclination is to avoid those I am envious of! However, it's important to remember that that type of thinking is self-serving in the short-term. Bhakti is, after all, about "rising to the occasion".

Although it may be tough, by actually serving those persons we are envious of, we get numerous benefits.

1) As we mentioned in the last post, often we are envious of someone because we are attracted to what they are doing. This offers one an opportunity to learn from the individual.

2) We get a "reality check". Often we may looking at someone or something through rose-coloured glasses thinking that everything was just handed to them on a silver plate. WRONG. 99% of the time, this individual has worked hard and sacrificed to get where they are today.

3) We are effectively ignoring our false ego. By trying to serve the individual, we are tuning into our eternal position of service.

So the next time you feel a surge of envy, understand that it is not you (the soul) who is feeling envious and take the opportunity to serve.

Verse 3.3: But those who, out of envy, disregard these teachings and do not follow them are to be considered bereft of all knowledge, befooled, and ruined in their endeavors for perfection.

In our last post we discussed how can envy can actually help us get a better idea as to our aspirations, interests and dreams. That is, we focused on the positive.

And that's what bhakti yoga is all about. It's about elevating not only our consciousness, but our very existence to the spiritual platform.

Sometimes the question arises however, "If bhakti is all about the positive, then why does the Gita (as well as all other bhakti texts) seem to focus on "negative" qualities and tendencies we may face within ourselves?"

And that, my dear readers, is an excellent question. As many of you may have experienced, the bhakti texts are holistic in nature. It is for that reason alone that they describe eternality and temporality hand in hand (i.e. the body and the soul) as well as all other aspects that relate to the material and the spiritual.

If bhakti is meant to elevate us, then we need to understand why we would want to be elevated and the present level we may be on. That's why the Gita speaks of three important topics. In sanskrit they are known as sambandha, abhidheya and prayojana. In English these words translate to - relationship, the activities performed to re-establish that relationship and the finally, the goal.

Yoga is all about our ultimate connection (i.e. relationship) to the Supreme. So in this way the Gita is outlining not only a path to get to the goal, but giving us the understanding as to why we should even try out the path.

In trying to establish our relationship with anyone, what to speak of the Supreme, there are many obstacles we may face. One of those challenges is envy. In today's verse we get to understand how envy can really hurt a relationship. That is:

Out of envy, we may reject not only a person but the valuable teachings the person may have to offer.

That's how destructive it can be. Krsna, the Supreme, is offering valuable advice as to how we can become happy. As a perfect guide and well-wisher, He's also giving us a "heads up" as to how envy can prevent us from implementing His loving advice.

Ok...so then how can one rid oneself of envy? The bhakti texts give a simple solution:

Serve the person you are envious of.

I said simple, not necessarily easy! This solution may seem counter-intuitive to many of us. I don't know about you, but my first inclination is to avoid those I am envious of! However, it's important to remember that that type of thinking is self-serving in the short-term. Bhakti is, after all, about "rising to the occasion".

Although it may be tough, by actually serving those persons we are envious of, we get numerous benefits.

1) As we mentioned in the last post, often we are envious of someone because we are attracted to what they are doing. This offers one an opportunity to learn from the individual.

2) We get a "reality check". Often we may looking at someone or something through rose-coloured glasses thinking that everything was just handed to them on a silver plate. WRONG. 99% of the time, this individual has worked hard and sacrificed to get where they are today.

3) We are effectively ignoring our false ego. By trying to serve the individual, we are tuning into our eternal position of service.

So the next time you feel a surge of envy, understand that it is not you (the soul) who is feeling envious and take the opportunity to serve.

Filed under: Cows and Environment

"It is especially mentioned here, nāma-sańkīrtanā ca: one should chant the holy names of the Lord — Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare — either individually or with others. Lord Caitanya has given special stress to chanting of these holy names of the Lord as the basic principle of spiritual advancement."

Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 3.29.18

Ratha Yatra Berlin 2013 – Gaura Arati Kirtan with Sripad BV Vana Maharaja

Closer

Winnipeg, Manitoba

I had my eye on a green space off of Portage Avenue where I blazed a trail. Daruka confirmed this would be a good place. It’s called Vimy Ridge Park, this place would do for a kirtan, a chanting session tonight.

After an early jaunt beginning at 2 AM, I wanted to prolong my long stay in Winnipeg with a little party. The best party is sankirtan, outreach chanting, only we will do it on the grass. It was last minute, yet Daruka, Vrinda and I pulled together a spontaneous get together in the evening where casual walkers browse and use valuable time.

We laid out some imitation grass mats imported from Sri Lanka, placed our harmonium mrdanga drum, karatals (and cymbals) and a bowl of fruit on top before plopping ourselves. The ceremony began, people took notice, some stopped for the sound, some to see the exotic instruments and us, and some were charmed by Billy, our Amazon parrot. Our message is, “We are doing kirtan. It’s an ancient system for calming the mind. It has roots in India. Join us if you like.” And some people would because it’s all attractive. Either Vrinda or I take the lead on singing. She ambles her fingers on the harmonium’s keyboard. Daruka keeps the simple ‘ching ching ching’ sound on karatals, and I maintain tempo on drum. We are not professionals, but devotionals, and that’s what really counts in the end.

You have people walk away with fruit, a smile, a friend made and a tad closer to what’s Divine.

28 KM

“For one who has accepted the boat of the lotus feet of the Lord, who is the shelter of the cosmic manifestation and is famous as Mukunda, or the giver of mukti, the ocean of the material world is like the water contained in a calf’s footprint. param padam, or the place where there are no material miseries, or Vaikuntha, is his goal, not the place where there is danger in every step of life.”

Srimad Bhagavatam (10.14.58)

“…If we are called by God to holiness of life, and if holiness is beyond our natural power to achieve (which it certainly is) then it follows that God himself must give us the light, the strength, and the courage to fulfill the task he requires of us. He will certainly give us the grace we need.”

Thomas Merton, Life and Holiness (New York: Image, 1963) p.16

Filed under: Thomas Merton

As Kaunteya das is growing I am thinking about that statement that no one should became guru, teacher or parent unless he is able to free his subordinate from birth and death. Can somebody who is a kanistha adhikari do that?

The disease process.

Over the years you see many different types of suffering from short disease to long term progressive diseases, but one thing remains true it consumes not only the sufferer but also their family. The conversations revolve around the disease and problems associated so consumed that they become less aware of the suffering of others.

As a devotee and a nurse I often ponder and reflect on this thought, especially when we look at the disease of material suffering, consumed and covered by maya we become blinded by our condition, it consumes us becomes our identity and our conversation points.

As with all disease it comes in many different forms but the end is inevitable, suffering and frustration lashing out at others for the misfortunes felt.

Listening as always to the suffering and frustrations of those suffering they long for a life they never had, a loss of faculty that restricts or stops them enjoying; resentment of what others have I should have this? Many blame God, or use it as a way of denying Gods existence “See if God exists then I would not suffer like this!”

The realization was that I had only one person to blame for suffering here in the material world, ME

I chose to enjoy material nature but not understanding material nature I abuse, this abuse means I suffer, my suffering is unique to me; but like many who are in the disease process the identification focuses solely on this; it becomes normal a part of me in every way. It becomes normalized this is my life.

The cure is their, but unlike material medication that gives a temporary relief, the disease can come back or a new one takes it place; the spiritual cure ends all suffering forever.

It means we have to become completely absorbed in the cure process; embrace it fully no matter what difficulty we may experience. Sadly like many who start treatment we just give up, loose hope loose belief in the cure.

The more I have chanted the more clearly I can see the suffering of others in relation to material identification covered entirely by maya; some have some knowledge but few have full knowledge; study of the Gita, Srimad Bhagavatam gives us that knowledge but do we surrender and act on it?

Like those who’s disease is liked to diet, lifestyle, intoxications and are asked to change for many it is hard, a temporary change but reverting back once we have relieved some suffering; it returns for a change is needed.

To become free from the disease of material suffering we need to surrender and follow the process not just till we get some temporary relief but till we are back in the spiritual world returning home to be with Sri Krishna.

We need to remain determined, focused and take the support of those who are fully surrendered to the process of spiritual rather than material advancement; are you up to the challenge?

Or are you simply absorbed in your material suffering that you view it a normal?

Rathayatra 2013 London