Boat Festival in Malacca
→ ISKCON Malaysia

BY LAKSHMAN PODDAR

 

MALACCA - ISKCON Malacca at Malaysia celebrated the boat festival on 27th July 2013.

Significance of boat festival

The boat festival marks the symbolic event occurred between Radha and Krishna before 5000 years at Rajghat in River Yamuna. The Gopis often carried the milk products from Vrindavana and sold at Mathura to earn their living. The event was artfully portrayed in the Bhakti Ratnakara (sloka 1700-1712) when Raghav Pandita was describing the pastimes of the Lord to Srinivasa Acharya, Narottama Das Thakura and Shyamananda Prabhu during in Vraja-parikrama. Raghava Pandita says: See this place with beautiful spots, where Nanda Kumara (Krishna) always wanders. Let us discuss the glorious pastimes of the expansions of Lord such as Krishna, Balarama and Narasimhadeva. Reaching the banks of Yamuna, Srinivasa Acharya says, “Krishna started the boat festival from this Raj Ghat with the beautiful Radha and Her associates to cross the River carrying pots of milk products. See the amazingly beautiful face of Krishna. On the riverside remained Krishna on a worn out boat. Radha and Her associates urged to Krishna, “Please take us to the other side of River Yamuna.” Krishna rowed them down to some distance with great pleasure. Let us describe Krishna’s playful pastimes with them.”

When the old boat floated in violent waters, the Gopis said, “You are troubling we young girls. O Madhava, You reap the seed of all troubles and You alone can make us cross this River.” Krishna said, “All food you carry will be drowned. Please throw away all you carry in water including your unwanted clothing.” Even at this dreadful moment, Krishna was cutting jokes at the Gopis and clapped hands showing no worries. The Gopis said, “We desperately throw water from the sinking boat with our bare hands. Even if we escape from here, we will not surrender to You.”

Special Presentation: The Temple of The Vedic Planetarium
→ ISKCON Melbourne, AU

Next weekend His Grace Radha Jivan Das – International Director of Fundraising for the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium – will give a special presentation on this amazing project. The timings are Saturday August the 3rd and Sunday August the 4th from 5 till 6pm.

AUSmelbournesmall.jpg The Temple of the Vedic Planetarium (TOVP) is not another preaching center, but is actually Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s home.

The fulfillment of the desire of visionaries, saints and incarnations from Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu down to Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the TOVP is a unique and ambitious project to make the vast culture and philosophy of the timeless Vedic tradition accessible to everyone. It will be a shining beacon to all aspiring spiritualists who are searching for answers to the questions of life.

Please join us on Saturday or Sunday to hear all about it.

15.03 – As long as we desire to bring matter under our captivity, we remain in its captivity
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Our bad habits, our attachments to base material things, are often extremely difficult to give up. The resulting struggle may raise the question: “I am a soul who being conscious am superior to unconscious matter. How then can inferior matter bind me?”

Because our consciousness is captivated by inferior desires, answers Gita wisdom.

The Bhagavad-gita (13.22) indicates that we become entangled in matter due to the desire to enjoy material things (karanam guna-sangasya). This desire disconnects our consciousness from the spiritual reality to which we belong, thereby depriving us of the unending happiness we relish there in loving Krishna. We cannot live without happiness. When we lose our link to spiritual fulfillment, the urge for happiness propels our consciousness to control matter according to various culturally-induced fantasies with the hope of gaining happiness.

However, all material things are ephemeral, whereas our longing for happiness is perennial. That’s why the enjoyment from manipulating matter can never substitute for the fulfillment from reciprocating love with Krishna. Though we feel dissatisfied, we unfortunately misdiagnose its cause: “I haven’t been able to control matter well enough. Let me get the really good material things that I haven't yet got. Then I will enjoy.” This false hope makes us seek pleasure more fervently in the very matter that has taken us away from pleasure. Thus, the more we desire to bring matter under our captivity, the more we go into its captivity.

The way to freedom is through detachment, as the Gita (15.03: asanga) indicates. This detachment becomes easier to cultivate when we complement it by cultivating  attachment to Krishna, for that restores our access to devotional joyfulness.

When we practice devotional service diligently and let ourselves become captivated by Krishna’s beauty, then matter can no longer captivate us.

***

15.03 - The real form of this tree cannot be perceived in this world. No one can understand where it ends, where it begins, or where its foundation is. But with determination one must cut down this strongly rooted tree with the weapon of detachment.

Saturday, July 27th, 2013
→ The Walking Monk

Kale Conquers

Colborne, Ontario

Kale – a miracle food full of nutrients and enzymes, took second position after Krishna today. Our KCAT group had the pleasure of visiting Adrian Quinn and family in Colborne. He is an entrepreneur who has capitalized on this green vegetable as a marketable and spiritualized edible. He built up a factory and went real organic on this hearty veg. He grows it right there on his land, harvests it, and takes the product to the dehydrator after dipping it in a sauce of cashew and sunflower seeds, then consecrates it and finally packages it before it hits the shelves in the health food stores. He now has a growing number of employees from the local area to see that all is executed. He also loves talking about this family business and how the endeavour is a step towards making the world a better place one kale chip at a time.

I felt that this stop on our trip would provide an educational dimension to our group’s collective experience. Adrian, also known as Arjuna, took a risk at this new venture, and the dream flowered into reality. Like any project, in order for success to play into it, there must be a dream and then there must be a team. Adrian is a firm believer in God’s mercy. For him, that is the final factor and also the original factor in achieving a result of substance.

Thank you, Adrian, for taking us to the field and showing us your crop of wonder – Kale

4 KM

Sunday, July 28th, 2013
→ The Walking Monk

The Look At The Week

Ottawa/Montreal

We received our first serious rain this week, but the downpour didn’t really come until our last member of the group completed the course on the zip lining activity at Gatineau Park in Quebec. This activity was also scheduled as our last outdoor event before putting a cap on our trip.

We popped into the Ottawa ISKCON Centre for a meal and then kirtan before the 2 hour drive to Montreal, this was our destination to present our youth fest. I asked Philippe to orchestrate a rehearsal, a drum demo and then a kirtan while I gave a talk to the congregation on the simplicity of bhakti, devotion. I was so proud of the group’s presentation, it almost brought me to tears.

Here are some of the evaluations by the participants of KCAT (Krishna Canadian Adventure Tour) after completing a week of travel and devotion:

Emily (20):

“Living together in a van is a way to get to know somebody quickly.”

Attreya (13):

“I love the zip line place, also all the kirtan we had.”

Radhika (14):

“I learned how to be more patient.”

Philippe (22):

“Relished the association and every single fun-filled day.”

Ganga (14):

“We learned so much, like for example how to be together as a group. I really want to do it again.”

Aravinda (15):

“This tour was personal, thank you Kapil, thank you Maharaja.”

Devala (19):

“It kept my mind engaged. I think it would be nice to contribute in some way to the management of the tour.”

Hiten (12):

“After having this awesome time, it will not be my last one.”

Rsab (18):

“This trip helped me increase my japa (chanting on meditation beads) and gave me an exciting week of doing outdoor activities which I greatly enjoyed.”

Kapil (27, driver and organizer):

“Being in a smaller van it was easier to pack and drive. I noticed that everyone enjoyed all the activities and were able to bond amongst each other.”

10 KM






Inspirations from Chanting, July 27, Goleta, California
Giriraj Swami

07.27.13_01.Goleta07.27.13_02.Goleta

———————————————————————————————————
“One should practice bhakti-yoga with firm determination and faith and not be disturbed if there is a little delay in achieving the desired goal. In Srila Prabhupada’s commentary he quotes the verse:

utsahan niscayad dhairyat
tat-tat-karma-pravartanat
sanga-tyagat sato vritteh
shadbhir bhaktih prasidhyati

We have to be enthusiastic, and we have to be determined and patient. As we patiently chant the holy name — like we were doing tonight, it was wonderful. If you just let yourself be absorbed in the holy name, it is vey nice. We will get that higher taste. The higher taste comes slowly but surely. We just need to be patient. Patience is something that takes a little time to develop. And the determination — dridha-vrata — is only to chant the holy names of the Lord constantly.” — Rtadhvaja Swami

Rtadhvaja Swami
Giriraj Swami

Everything is mercy!
→ KKS Blog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 30 June 2013, Vrndavana, India, Srimad Bhagavatam 6.16.34)

MERCIFUL GOVINDAIn the tenth canto of the Srimad Bhagavatam, the word for mercy is prasad. Every time you read the word mercy, it means prasad. Of course, it is an advanced stage where everything becomes prasad. You have to be quite advanced to appreciate everything as prasad. We are still kind of selective.

So by the mercy of the Lord, gradually we appreciate that the mercy of the Lord is at the centre of everything, because the mercy is his love. His beauty is simply another aspect of his mercy, of his love and of his nature to capture. So behind it is all his love and mercy actually.

 

Conscious Revolution
→ Tattva - See inside out

Corporate powerhouses continue to grow, media giants maintain their muscle, and political alliances invariably dominate the landscape. Society is advancing at breakneck speed toward deeper-rooted worldliness, and it seems unstoppable. Our humble efforts to penetrate this complex network and implant a spiritual message can sometimes feel futile and ineffectual. Ancient prophecies and saintly commentators, however, beg to differ. They unequivocally state that the teachings of Bhagavad-gita will eventually revolutionise modern thinking and activate a paradigm shift in the world.

It’s a hard one to stomach. In all honesty, we don’t really seem to be having a significant impact on the world. Most view the Krishna movement in a kind-hearted way: happy and harmless folk who bring some colour to the street. They struggle, however, to appreciate the gravity and substance of the spiritual message. If this theological canon encapsulates the comprehensive truth of life, the universe and everything, why is it not prominently shining forth in the world? Why isn’t this movement affecting mass numbers of people in a profound way? Even though the teachings have been made available, why do most of the populace remain uninterested and apathetic?

Audience – maybe people are not ready. Immediate popularity is not a reliable measure of the relevance, importance and long-term effect of something. Just see what hits the headlines and you’ll catch my point.

Negligence – maybe the carriers of the message have neglected to present it in a pure and dynamic way. Every spiritualist is charged with the task of preserving their principles, while simultaneously adapting to the modern world around them. You have to be relevant.

Patience – maybe the spiritual revolution is brewing, but hasn’t yet reached the explosive point. The greatest religious traditions took decades and centuries before they were universally recognised and widely adopted.

Influence – maybe the institution is small, but the influence is widespread. Numerous philosophical tenets of the Bhagavad-gita have been embraced by the modern world: the futility of materialism, meditation, reincarnation, the law of karma, vegetarianism etc. These are the core beliefs of many people, who won’t necessarily affiliate themselves with a particular spiritual movement.

My conclusion: sincere spiritualists are surely making a huge difference. That said, there’s lots more work to be done.

21 Tons
→ travelingmonk.com

This afternoon we unloaded 21 tons of foodstuffs from several semi-trailer trucks for cooking at Woodstock. The transcendental breakdown was as follows: 2.2 tons of sugar, 6.5 tons of peas, 2 tons of semolina, 2.2 tons of butter, 1 ton of oil, 4.2 tons of rice,1.5 tons of frozen vegetables, 1 tons soya, 500 kilos [...]

Stormy Weather
→ travelingmonk.com

Forty-eight hours before Woodstock a huge storm front has descended on the region. With so much at stake we pray that Lord Nrsimhadeva will protect our humble efforts to share Krsna consciousness with hundreds of thousands of conditioned souls this coming week.

ECOV Board Meeting Minutes 7-14-2013
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

ECOV Logo

ECOV Board Meeting Minutes 7-14-2013

Mission Statement: ECOV (Earth, Cows, Opportunities & Vrindaban Villages) is dedicated to cow protection, sustainable agriculture, self-sufficiency and simple living — all centered around loving service to Sri Krishna, as envisioned by the ISKCON New Vrindaban Founder-Acharya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

Participating Board Members: Chaitanya Mangala, Krpamaya, Madhava Gosh, Navin Shyam, and Ranaka.

Participating Project Managers: Rafael

1. Project Manager’s Report

Deity Flower garden / Trees & berries

Projects are going smoothly from Rafael’s perspective. He is working on creating quick-compost piles. He also has an idea to start a permaculture bed in the Garden of Seven Gates as a new project (companion plants, cardboard pieces rather than plastic to prevent weed growth, etc.), for which he will request additional funding. (The project will likely involve planting taro and, upon suggestion from Gosh, asparagus.)

Rafael informed everyone that he will be out of New Vrindaban from October through April, so we will need to address this management gap.

G7G prototype cabin

The unit still needs insulation, a sink and flooring. A grand opening is scheduled for the fall. Krpamaya suggested we invite a local eco-friendly dignitary and Gosh suggested that Tapahpunja knows such folks and may be able to help in this regard.

2. Water bottles

The ECOV-produced stainless steel water bottles are available at the temple gift shop, the palace gift shop, and Blue Home gifts. Krishna’s Attic is willing to carry them, and we have yet to investigate if the lassi barn/new snack bar will carry them as well.

Krpamaya spoke with the various retailers, and they are willing to post small wall-mounted signs advertising the bottles. Padmavati, the designer of the bottle logos, is working on the poster.

Krpamaya will also place informational posters about the virtues of reusable bottles at the various filling stations.

The filling stations outside Govinda’s Restaurant and at Srila Prabhupada’s Palace are still planned but not in the immediate future.

3. Monitoring progress of approved projects

We went through the list of all approved projects, assigning a reporting frequency to each. For future meetings, Navin Shyam will review the list and place any projects that are due for a report on the agenda. The purpose of the updates is three-fold:

a) Keep the Board Members informed of what ECOV is involved with.

b) Trigger final project reports and financial audits for completed projects.

c) Trigger review and possible cancellation of projects not making reasonable progress.

Here are selected updates on projects that were discussed:

• Brickyard building: Only painting the exterior remains

• Promotion: We may have Laxmi Honest work a table at Sunday Feasts.

• Microloans: Chaits is working on a checklist for documents we would need to collect from applicants.

• Sustainability posters: Krpamaya is trying for a permanent display of these in the back lobby of the palace.

• Temple foundation garden beds: Gosh has taken charge of this project.

• Farm vehicle: A hitch still needs to be installed.

4. Second cabin at the Garden of the Seven Gates

Gosh proposed that we purchase a pre-fabricated Amish cabin for $5K for this season’s volunteers. After discussion, the motion was withdrawn and it was decided that a second cabin similar to the first could be built in time for next season. (Specific voting on this was moved to the next meeting.)

05.20 – The biggest battle in life is to keep the biggest battle the biggest battle
→ The Spiritual Scientist

 Life is like a battle. Each day we have to overcome obstacles to achieve our goals.

Among these daily battles, the biggest battle is in ensuring that we give our best energy to fighting our biggest battle. Otherwise, irritation occurring in small battles can make us bungle in big battles.

A reckless driver cuts across our path during our drive to the office and disrupts our rhythm. The problem is small, but the resulting foul mood can mess our key presentation during a critical office meeting. Knowing this danger, we fight an inner battle to evict the small problem from our head.

Our ability to win these many battles in our head significantly determines our ability to win our bigger battles in life.

This principle also applies to our spiritual life. We are souls who have been suffering for many lifetimes in material existence. Finally now we have the opportunity to attain Krishna if we just practice devotional service and battle against our lower desires determinedly. This is our biggest battle, for the stakes are the biggest – eternal happiness if we win and many lifetimes of misery if we don’t. Comparatively, even the biggest battles of our material life are small battles.

But unfortunately, we let our focus in this biggest battle be sabotaged by irritation over small battles. This happens especially during our meditation time when small issues squat over an outrageously huge space in our head. Evicting such upstart thoughts uncompromisingly and untiringly is our biggest battle. The Bhagavad-gita (05.20) assures that those who refuse to be unduly disturbed by worldly ups and downs attain spiritual intelligence and existence.

If we thus battle to keep the biggest battle the biggest battle, we will duly attain life’s biggest victory – everlasting life with Krishna.

***

A person who neither rejoices upon achieving something pleasant nor laments upon obtaining something unpleasant, who is self-intelligent, who is unbewildered, and who knows the science of God is already situated in transcendence.