Why This Devotee of God Doesn’t Think To Be Atheist Is To Be A Demon
→ Life Comes From Life


There are two kinds of people in this world. Devotees and demons.
I think this is absolutely true.
But let’s parse this out a bit.
First of all, what is the source of my seemingly eccentric and dogmatic statement?
In the sixteenth chapter of the Bhagavad-Gita, Krishna speaks of two kinds of natures that exist in this world and in our being: the divine and the demoniac. After listing a number of qualities that are of the divine nature, such as charity, aversion to faultfinding, purification of one’s existence, cultivation of spiritual knowledge, and freedom from envy and from the passion for honor, Krishna lists six qualities-pride, arrogance, conceit, anger, harshness and ignorance-which mark the demoniac nature. In the remainder of the chapter, Krishna unpacks further how the demoniac nature unfurls in our reality.
In the ninth verse of the chapter, Krishna says:
Following such conclusions, the demoniac, who are lost to themselves and who have no intelligence, engage in unbeneficial, horrible works meant to destroy the world.
In his commentary on this verse, renowned Vedic scholar/teacher A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada writes:
The demoniac are engaged in activities that will lead the world to destruction. The Lord states here that they are less intelligent. The materialists, who have no concept of God, think that they are advancing. But according to Bhagavad-gītā, they are unintelligent and devoid of all sense. They try to enjoy this material world to the utmost limit and therefore always engage in inventing something for sense gratification. Such materialistic inventions are considered to be advancement of human civilization, but the result is that people grow more and more violent and more and more cruel, cruel to animals and cruel to other human beings. They have no idea how to behave toward one another.
As a follower of the Gita, there is a straightforward-ness in Swami Prabhupada’s presentation which I find refreshing, important, and essential. It cuts to the rotted root of injustice, oppression, and hatred which exists in our world. It points to a deeper conception of why this injustice exists, in that without a conception of a divine reality, or a divine ethic, we all-too-fallible humans will all-too-often inevitably fall prey to the demoniac nature which surrounds us, and within us.
At the risk of appearing as a heretic (even more so than I appear to be already) to some more orthodox/literalist followers of the Gita, I want to critically examine what Krishna and Swami Prabhupada are saying in tandem in this chapter of the Gita. A surface interpretation of the dichotomy of the divine and demoniac here may provide a certain sense of clarity, but often what seems absolutely clear can lead to absolute expressions of theology and morality which can alienate and marginalize. This seeming clarity can also be at odds with people’s actual and visceral experience in the world, so I want to make a humble attempt to go a little bit deeper.
In thinking of my own experience doing Interfaith work in New York City, I have always made a sincere effort to be as open-minded and open-hearted as I can, with the appropriate respect and understanding of the natural boundaries that exist between different faith traditions. This mood has allowed me to develop wonderful relationships with Russian Orthodox priests, Reform Jewish rabbis, Wiccan priests, and just about everything else in-between. Being able to build, and walk across, bridges between faiths is one of the most important aspects of my spiritual journey. Real Interfaith work is a vehicle for creating the kind of deep and active compassion that is the most needed quality in this world at the present moment.
Yet as I went deeper into this work, I began to wonder what are the mechanics, as it were, of extending this joyful sense of communion towards those who identify as atheist/agnostic. More distinctly, I challenged myself to be as open-minded and open-hearted, with the same understanding of boundaries, with those I may encounter in my work and service who may not believe in God or a divine reality beyond the material reality we all inhabit together. This was a particular challenge for me, as I mentioned above, because to many within my tradition the terms atheist and demon go hand-in-hand. As usual, my innate sense of curiosity, or to put it more plainly, my independent streak, my desire to understand the truth beyond what may be “obvious” or “comfortable”, compelled me to question the basic assumption at hand: Does being atheistic mean one is inherently demoniac as described by Krishna in the Gita?
My opportunities to interact with serious and intelligent atheist thinkers were few and far between, so I was grateful to be invited to the 2012 World Faith Gala at the NYU Center for Spiritual Life this past December, with Chris Stedman as the featured speaker for the evening. Stedman is a unique figure in the world of Interfaith, as many of you already know. He is one of the founders of our esteemed community of thinkers here at State of Formation along with the Journal of Inter-Religious Dialogue. He is the Assistant Humanist Chaplain at Harvard University and a prolific writer, including blogging gigs at the Huffington Post and the On Faith blog at the Washington Post. Last year, Stedman published his first book Faitheist: How An Atheist Found Common Ground With The Religious, detailing his journey from being a “born-again” Christian through the acceptance of his alternative sexuality and eventual turn towards identifying as an atheist, along with his concurrent work and experience organizing for justice with communities of faith, even as he became someone for whom faith as most religious know it no longer necessarily applied.
As I listened to Chris that evening, and had the chance to meet him, the thoughts I had been having about my desire to understand the humanity and reality of the atheistic perspective became more intense. First of all, the work that Chris is doing is indeed of an enlightened nature. He is someone who understand the values of wisdom, empathy, and compassion. These are indeed spiritual values, but to understand them as spiritual values in the context of the work and convictions of someone like Chris Stedman means that one has to take a much broader, inclusive, open, and truer understanding of what it means to be spiritual. Hearing Chris speak, meeting him, and reading his words, it struck me that one cannot automatically assume that someone who is an atheist is inherently demoniac. Chris Stedman, who he is and what he does, is proof enough to me that what Krishna is saying in the Gita has to be understood with discretion, intelligence, and compassion. It has to be understood beyond the surface.
As our human civilization faces a massive existential crisis in understanding that our consumerist way of life is no longer, and never was, a sustainable way for us to interact with the web of ecology that surrounds us, what is needed most is the kind of dynamic communication that builds a sense of community across not only the boundaries of different faith traditions, but across all unnecessary boundaries between people who sincerely want to create justice on this planet today, tomorrow, and going forward. There is a tremendous courage that is needed to cross through these boundaries, and the realm of Interfaith is a place where this cutting edge exists.  In Faitheist, Stedman writes:
I believe that change will come from within-that by participating in Interfaith work, the nonreligious will broaden the meaning of such efforts and that the language used to describe them will change accordingly…I cannot begin to recount all of the times Interfaith work has opened up a space for robust conversations on problematic religious practices and beliefs. In fact, it has been a hallmark of my experience working in the Interfaith environment. Furthermore, it has allowed me to engage religious people about atheist identity and eradicate significant misconceptions about what atheism is and what it isn’t
I regularly hear from atheists who are leading the charge for Interfaith cooperation on their campuses and in their communities, and their experiences echo mine. They too have found that Interfaith is expanding to incorporate them and that, when done well, Interfaith engagement doesn’t require that people check their convictions at the door; it invites people to try and understand and humanize the other.
This understanding, and this shared grasp of what it means to be human in this world, at this time, is immeasurable more powerful and effective in organizing, working for, and living by the principles of divinity than by any surface labeling of who is divine and who is demoniac.
Let us look again to what Swami Prabhupada said above, to truly understand what is demoniac. The demoniac nature is that which exploits the material nature simply for the selfish exploitation of the senses, an exploitation that invariable leads to violence and cruelty. It does not take a great leap to understand, through the examples of our shared history and also our contemporary experience, that those who may claim to have an obvious “concept of God” can easily become wrapped up in the demoniac qualities. This is not a black-and-white equation. There are “devotees of God” who act demonically. There are “demons” who act divinely. If we stay on the surface of this dichotomy, without diving deeply, without the kind of courageous thought and activism that someone like Chris Stedman is offering, we will add nothing to the equation but the kind of irrational hatred that scars our very existence.
As I said before, the Gita is straightforward, and everything I have said above is not to discount that there are people who are obviously divine and obviously demoniac, and that those categories can fall alongside certain accepted parameters of faith/lack of faith. But instead of condemning every atheistic/agnostic person to be inherently demoniac, I challenge anyone who is challenged by this to think a little deeper, to broaden their experience working with and knowing the non-religious, to try to understand that the religious and the non-religious have a lot to learn from each other, and to read Faitheist. The true arts of compassion and communication require much more than intellectual and theological complacency. They require a courage based in a divine sense of love that belongs to all beings regardless of what they identify as.

Why This Devotee of God Doesn’t Think To Be Atheist Is To Be A Demon
→ Life Comes From Life


There are two kinds of people in this world. Devotees and demons.
I think this is absolutely true.
But let’s parse this out a bit.
First of all, what is the source of my seemingly eccentric and dogmatic statement?
In the sixteenth chapter of the Bhagavad-Gita, Krishna speaks of two kinds of natures that exist in this world and in our being: the divine and the demoniac. After listing a number of qualities that are of the divine nature, such as charity, aversion to faultfinding, purification of one’s existence, cultivation of spiritual knowledge, and freedom from envy and from the passion for honor, Krishna lists six qualities-pride, arrogance, conceit, anger, harshness and ignorance-which mark the demoniac nature. In the remainder of the chapter, Krishna unpacks further how the demoniac nature unfurls in our reality.
In the ninth verse of the chapter, Krishna says:
Following such conclusions, the demoniac, who are lost to themselves and who have no intelligence, engage in unbeneficial, horrible works meant to destroy the world.
In his commentary on this verse, renowned Vedic scholar/teacher A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada writes:
The demoniac are engaged in activities that will lead the world to destruction. The Lord states here that they are less intelligent. The materialists, who have no concept of God, think that they are advancing. But according to Bhagavad-gītā, they are unintelligent and devoid of all sense. They try to enjoy this material world to the utmost limit and therefore always engage in inventing something for sense gratification. Such materialistic inventions are considered to be advancement of human civilization, but the result is that people grow more and more violent and more and more cruel, cruel to animals and cruel to other human beings. They have no idea how to behave toward one another.
As a follower of the Gita, there is a straightforward-ness in Swami Prabhupada’s presentation which I find refreshing, important, and essential. It cuts to the rotted root of injustice, oppression, and hatred which exists in our world. It points to a deeper conception of why this injustice exists, in that without a conception of a divine reality, or a divine ethic, we all-too-fallible humans will all-too-often inevitably fall prey to the demoniac nature which surrounds us, and within us.
At the risk of appearing as a heretic (even more so than I appear to be already) to some more orthodox/literalist followers of the Gita, I want to critically examine what Krishna and Swami Prabhupada are saying in tandem in this chapter of the Gita. A surface interpretation of the dichotomy of the divine and demoniac here may provide a certain sense of clarity, but often what seems absolutely clear can lead to absolute expressions of theology and morality which can alienate and marginalize. This seeming clarity can also be at odds with people’s actual and visceral experience in the world, so I want to make a humble attempt to go a little bit deeper.
In thinking of my own experience doing Interfaith work in New York City, I have always made a sincere effort to be as open-minded and open-hearted as I can, with the appropriate respect and understanding of the natural boundaries that exist between different faith traditions. This mood has allowed me to develop wonderful relationships with Russian Orthodox priests, Reform Jewish rabbis, Wiccan priests, and just about everything else in-between. Being able to build, and walk across, bridges between faiths is one of the most important aspects of my spiritual journey. Real Interfaith work is a vehicle for creating the kind of deep and active compassion that is the most needed quality in this world at the present moment.
Yet as I went deeper into this work, I began to wonder what are the mechanics, as it were, of extending this joyful sense of communion towards those who identify as atheist/agnostic. More distinctly, I challenged myself to be as open-minded and open-hearted, with the same understanding of boundaries, with those I may encounter in my work and service who may not believe in God or a divine reality beyond the material reality we all inhabit together. This was a particular challenge for me, as I mentioned above, because to many within my tradition the terms atheist and demon go hand-in-hand. As usual, my innate sense of curiosity, or to put it more plainly, my independent streak, my desire to understand the truth beyond what may be “obvious” or “comfortable”, compelled me to question the basic assumption at hand: Does being atheistic mean one is inherently demoniac as described by Krishna in the Gita?
My opportunities to interact with serious and intelligent atheist thinkers were few and far between, so I was grateful to be invited to the 2012 World Faith Gala at the NYU Center for Spiritual Life this past December, with Chris Stedman as the featured speaker for the evening. Stedman is a unique figure in the world of Interfaith, as many of you already know. He is one of the founders of our esteemed community of thinkers here at State of Formation along with the Journal of Inter-Religious Dialogue. He is the Assistant Humanist Chaplain at Harvard University and a prolific writer, including blogging gigs at the Huffington Post and the On Faith blog at the Washington Post. Last year, Stedman published his first book Faitheist: How An Atheist Found Common Ground With The Religious, detailing his journey from being a “born-again” Christian through the acceptance of his alternative sexuality and eventual turn towards identifying as an atheist, along with his concurrent work and experience organizing for justice with communities of faith, even as he became someone for whom faith as most religious know it no longer necessarily applied.
As I listened to Chris that evening, and had the chance to meet him, the thoughts I had been having about my desire to understand the humanity and reality of the atheistic perspective became more intense. First of all, the work that Chris is doing is indeed of an enlightened nature. He is someone who understand the values of wisdom, empathy, and compassion. These are indeed spiritual values, but to understand them as spiritual values in the context of the work and convictions of someone like Chris Stedman means that one has to take a much broader, inclusive, open, and truer understanding of what it means to be spiritual. Hearing Chris speak, meeting him, and reading his words, it struck me that one cannot automatically assume that someone who is an atheist is inherently demoniac. Chris Stedman, who he is and what he does, is proof enough to me that what Krishna is saying in the Gita has to be understood with discretion, intelligence, and compassion. It has to be understood beyond the surface.
As our human civilization faces a massive existential crisis in understanding that our consumerist way of life is no longer, and never was, a sustainable way for us to interact with the web of ecology that surrounds us, what is needed most is the kind of dynamic communication that builds a sense of community across not only the boundaries of different faith traditions, but across all unnecessary boundaries between people who sincerely want to create justice on this planet today, tomorrow, and going forward. There is a tremendous courage that is needed to cross through these boundaries, and the realm of Interfaith is a place where this cutting edge exists.  In Faitheist, Stedman writes:
I believe that change will come from within-that by participating in Interfaith work, the nonreligious will broaden the meaning of such efforts and that the language used to describe them will change accordingly…I cannot begin to recount all of the times Interfaith work has opened up a space for robust conversations on problematic religious practices and beliefs. In fact, it has been a hallmark of my experience working in the Interfaith environment. Furthermore, it has allowed me to engage religious people about atheist identity and eradicate significant misconceptions about what atheism is and what it isn’t
I regularly hear from atheists who are leading the charge for Interfaith cooperation on their campuses and in their communities, and their experiences echo mine. They too have found that Interfaith is expanding to incorporate them and that, when done well, Interfaith engagement doesn’t require that people check their convictions at the door; it invites people to try and understand and humanize the other.
This understanding, and this shared grasp of what it means to be human in this world, at this time, is immeasurable more powerful and effective in organizing, working for, and living by the principles of divinity than by any surface labeling of who is divine and who is demoniac.
Let us look again to what Swami Prabhupada said above, to truly understand what is demoniac. The demoniac nature is that which exploits the material nature simply for the selfish exploitation of the senses, an exploitation that invariable leads to violence and cruelty. It does not take a great leap to understand, through the examples of our shared history and also our contemporary experience, that those who may claim to have an obvious “concept of God” can easily become wrapped up in the demoniac qualities. This is not a black-and-white equation. There are “devotees of God” who act demonically. There are “demons” who act divinely. If we stay on the surface of this dichotomy, without diving deeply, without the kind of courageous thought and activism that someone like Chris Stedman is offering, we will add nothing to the equation but the kind of irrational hatred that scars our very existence.
As I said before, the Gita is straightforward, and everything I have said above is not to discount that there are people who are obviously divine and obviously demoniac, and that those categories can fall alongside certain accepted parameters of faith/lack of faith. But instead of condemning every atheistic/agnostic person to be inherently demoniac, I challenge anyone who is challenged by this to think a little deeper, to broaden their experience working with and knowing the non-religious, to try to understand that the religious and the non-religious have a lot to learn from each other, and to read Faitheist. The true arts of compassion and communication require much more than intellectual and theological complacency. They require a courage based in a divine sense of love that belongs to all beings regardless of what they identify as.

Visiting Devotees
→ Welcome to the official site of ISKCON Perth

Dear Devotees & Friends

We would like to invite you all to come and hear from the following visiting devotees

 Hanumatpresaka Maharaj :

Mahraj will be visiting Perth from Thursday 18 till Tuesday 22 and his program is as follows

Evening Program (EP) – Light of the Bhagavata (Text 15) – “Sri Rama the Transcendental Lord”

Fr(19) – EP – Light of the Bhagavata (Text 44 + SUPER 35-minute movie) – “Rama-rajya – The Ideal Government for Today”

Sa(20) – 5PM – “The Advent of Sri Sita Rama”.

Su (21) – MP – Nectar of Instruction.

Mo(22) – EP – Jayapataka Swami Festival

www.jayarama.us/lob17.tif
www.jayarama.us/lob28.tif

>Home

www.jayarama.us

Note: EP:  Evening Program at 7.30 PM., MP: Morning Program at 7.30 AM

Mahraj is very expert with this seminar on Light of Bhagavat – Cultivating Human Spirit.  Please come and hear from him and take advantage of his assocaiation.

 

H G Jayasila prabhu & H G Vimala mataji

Will be arriving on Saturday 20 and will be here till Wednesday 24

Will be presenting a seminar on Nurturing Krishna’s Children

Dates: Sunday 21 at 5.30 PM and Tuesday 23 at 7.30 AM.

Please come and hear from these senior & experienced devotees.

 

Thank you

Sita Rama Lakshmana Das

Sri Rama Navami – The appearance day of Lord Sri Rama
→ Welcome to the official site of ISKCON Perth

Dear Devotees & Friends,

We would like to invite you all for the Sri Rama Navami festival on Saturday 20 April starting at 4.30 PM

Program:

4.30 PM: Bhajans

5.00 PM: Tulasi Aarati

5.15 PM: Sril Rama Lila by H H Hanumatpresaka Maharaj.

6.15 PM: Cultural Program by the children of Sunday School

6.45 PM: Announcements and offering gifts to Lord Sri Sita Rama

7.00 PM: Arati ceremony

7.15 PM Honoring the feast prasadam

 

If you like to help sponsoring the festival and the feast prasadam please cotact Shyama Sarana prabhu on 0439 969 002 or myself

 

Thank you

 

Sita Rama Lakshmana Das

Where Did the Reflections Go?
→ A Convenient Truth

My ambitious project to record a daily meditation/reflection on a photo of my Guru Maharaja ultimately crashed and burned. I realized after the Day 9 through 14 post that writing about six photos in one day was defeating the purpose of a "daily" meditation. And then it happened again where I was so backed up with work and life that I didn't have time to write anything for like six or seven days. I thought, "Well, I could do another 'round up' type of post and just do a big chunk of writing", but then I started to feel it becoming a chore and that's precisely what I didn't want it to become. I wanted it to be spontaneous and heartfelt. Instead it was becoming tedious, mechanical and just another task to complete. This isn't the right way to enter a meditation on transcendence.

So I gave in (or perhaps gave up) the notion of reflecting on a photo every single day. Sometimes I get so frustrated living a life that is so distracting towards my real welfare and benefit. My mind is so often absorbed in things that ultimately are meaningless; fickle little romps with sense gratification and maya. The material energy keeps pulling my mind and senses outward, pulling my face and my vision towards the illusory and temporary. It keep me distracted from looking inward and from pursuing the ultimate goal of life. "Over here! Over here! Look at me! Look at this! You need this! You want this! Here is happiness! Try this! Do this!" Maya is like a little kid who is starved for attention. She doesn't want us to look away from her. Doesn't want us to forget about her.

Sometimes, by the grace of Sri Guru, I look away from her face and stop listening to her cries for attention. When I do I see my death. I see the temporary nature of this current life I'm living and of this body I'm in. It's this sort of "holy shit" moment where you stop and realize, "I'm going to die and none of this superfluous stuff matters." In that state of mind an eagerness to travel inward and to connect with Sri Krishna in the heart manifests. We begin to crave the true, lasting reality, the Absolute Truth. We want to swim and live in that inner world, going deeper and deeper to our true nature and our relationship with the beings in that world.

And then in an instant Maya pulls us back out into the external world and floods our minds with material thoughts, "Oh, I need to pay this bill, wash the dishes, get stuff ready for work in the morning, get my car checked, go here, go there, do this, do that." And just that quickly the inner world fades and seems like a dream or a figment of our imaginations. Then we go back to putting all of our energy (mental, emotional and physical) into the temporary concerns of this world and of pursuing sense gratification. It's a crazy game and it's scary how easily we fall into it. Maya is so powerful. There's no way we can overcome it by our own endeavors. This is why in kali-yuga everything is based on mercy.

Oh Gurudeva, by your mercy alone do I even momentarily look away from the face of Maya. Thank you for this little drop of mercy to remind me of my true necessity.

Where Did the Reflections Go?
→ A Convenient Truth

My ambitious project to record a daily meditation/reflection on a photo of my Guru Maharaja ultimately crashed and burned. I realized after the Day 9 through 14 post that writing about six photos in one day was defeating the purpose of a "daily" meditation. And then it happened again where I was so backed up with work and life that I didn't have time to write anything for like six or seven days. I thought, "Well, I could do another 'round up' type of post and just do a big chunk of writing", but then I started to feel it becoming a chore and that's precisely what I didn't want it to become. I wanted it to be spontaneous and heartfelt. Instead it was becoming tedious, mechanical and just another task to complete. This isn't the right way to enter a meditation on transcendence.

So I gave in (or perhaps gave up) the notion of reflecting on a photo every single day. Sometimes I get so frustrated living a life that is so distracting towards my real welfare and benefit. My mind is so often absorbed in things that ultimately are meaningless; fickle little romps with sense gratification and maya. The material energy keeps pulling my mind and senses outward, pulling my face and my vision towards the illusory and temporary. It keep me distracted from looking inward and from pursuing the ultimate goal of life. "Over here! Over here! Look at me! Look at this! You need this! You want this! Here is happiness! Try this! Do this!" Maya is like a little kid who is starved for attention. She doesn't want us to look away from her. Doesn't want us to forget about her.

Sometimes, by the grace of Sri Guru, I look away from her face and stop listening to her cries for attention. When I do I see my death. I see the temporary nature of this current life I'm living and of this body I'm in. It's this sort of "holy shit" moment where you stop and realize, "I'm going to die and none of this superfluous stuff matters." In that state of mind an eagerness to travel inward and to connect with Sri Krishna in the heart manifests. We begin to crave the true, lasting reality, the Absolute Truth. We want to swim and live in that inner world, going deeper and deeper to our true nature and our relationship with the beings in that world.

And then in an instant Maya pulls us back out into the external world and floods our minds with material thoughts, "Oh, I need to pay this bill, wash the dishes, get stuff ready for work in the morning, get my car checked, go here, go there, do this, do that." And just that quickly the inner world fades and seems like a dream or a figment of our imaginations. Then we go back to putting all of our energy (mental, emotional and physical) into the temporary concerns of this world and of pursuing sense gratification. It's a crazy game and it's scary how easily we fall into it. Maya is so powerful. There's no way we can overcome it by our own endeavors. This is why in kali-yuga everything is based on mercy.

Oh Gurudeva, by your mercy alone do I even momentarily look away from the face of Maya. Thank you for this little drop of mercy to remind me of my true necessity.

Mood of a Vaishnava
→ Servant of the Servant

This is something I aspire, desire - the gold standard of a Vaishnava - but woefully falling short. I beg unto all assembled Vaishnavas over the internet to bless me to follow in the footsteps of what Maharaj is saying;

Usually we are envious of our superiors, fight with our rivals or equals and lord it over our juniors. But the devotees of Lord Caitanya are so happy when we get His mercy - “O! Prabhu! You made it! You became so advanced! It's so wonderful! Please bless me I can become advanced like you!” This is a non-envious mood of the humble Vaisnava....We should never use this movement to get fame and name or show how great we are, show our talents off and get appreciation,our real test is when we are humble when we are corrected,we know we are humble when we don't think that we are all knower and all perfect,we are humble when we see our own faults and try to change them and see good in others and appreciate them,this movement is The Lord's mercy on us,we must humbly try to serve and serve and serve and please the devotees,then we can get The Lord's favor,else there is no hope, only suffering awaits those who use this process for their sense gratification ,who are engaged in gramya Katha (mundane talks) and Khuti nati (hypocrisy) or fault finding.We must be very clean in our heart.

- H.H.Mahanidhi Swami

Hare Krishna

Mood of a Vaishnava
→ Servant of the Servant

This is something I aspire, desire - the gold standard of a Vaishnava - but woefully falling short. I beg unto all assembled Vaishnavas over the internet to bless me to follow in the footsteps of what Maharaj is saying;

Usually we are envious of our superiors, fight with our rivals or equals and lord it over our juniors. But the devotees of Lord Caitanya are so happy when we get His mercy - “O! Prabhu! You made it! You became so advanced! It's so wonderful! Please bless me I can become advanced like you!” This is a non-envious mood of the humble Vaisnava....We should never use this movement to get fame and name or show how great we are, show our talents off and get appreciation,our real test is when we are humble when we are corrected,we know we are humble when we don't think that we are all knower and all perfect,we are humble when we see our own faults and try to change them and see good in others and appreciate them,this movement is The Lord's mercy on us,we must humbly try to serve and serve and serve and please the devotees,then we can get The Lord's favor,else there is no hope, only suffering awaits those who use this process for their sense gratification ,who are engaged in gramya Katha (mundane talks) and Khuti nati (hypocrisy) or fault finding.We must be very clean in our heart.

- H.H.Mahanidhi Swami

Hare Krishna

Travel Journal#9.4: North Florida
→ Travel Adventures of a Krishna Monk


Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 9, No. 4
By Krishna-kripa das
(February 2013, part two)
North Florida
(Sent from Jacksonville, Florida, on April 11, 2013)

Where I Went and What I Did

The second half of February I spent mostly in Gainesville, organizing the chanting at Krishna Lunch. I also went on a brief visit to Tallahassee, promoting our Krishna Lunch and temple programs there, and to Jacksonville, chanting on campus and promoting our Krishna Club programs there. I share inspiring incidents from these trips. I had an unusual Nityananda’s appearance day, which I briefly describe.

I have quotes from the writings of my siksa and diksa gurus, Srila Prabhupada and Satsvarupa das Goswami, and notes on recorded lectures by Niranjana and Radhanath Swamis. I also have notes on another wonderful lecture by visiting Prabhupada disciple, Amala Bhakta Prabhu, and notes from lectures of many local speakers.

Chanting in Tallahassee

At one point, six of us chanted together at Tallahassee’s Lake Ella one Saturday. Krishna is kind to give me friends to chant with in so many cities. One friend had left Tallahassee for Gainesville, but another had left Gainesville for Tallahassee. One lady came by our chanting party, wondering where our Tallahassee temple was, and other people were happy to get sweets and to hear of our vegan/vegetarian food options in the city.

On Monday and Tuesday, I chanted at Florida State University, and the first person I talked to was interested in meditation and came to our Tuesday Bhagavad-gita class. Both days I met someone who had become vegetarian very recently, so I was able to interest them in our lunch program and cooking classes. I was pleased each day to have nice conversations with several students and to distribute many prasadam sweets.

Chanting at the University of North Florida

On Wednesday we chanted for four and three-quarters hours on the green at the University of North Florida, and at one point nine people were on the blanket chanting with us. One girl who was a friend of someone in Krishna Club sat down with us and fell in love with the drum, playing a nonstandard beat that fit the music. She also chanted Hare Krishna for the first time, even as she played the drum. She is a Resident Advisor for a dorm and invited us to do a program there sometime.

Also on Wednesday, one young gentleman, originally from Kenya, who frequents the UNF Library sat on the bench, enjoying the kirtana. Amrita invited him to our program, and he came two weeks in a row, taking Coming Back, and talking with the devotees about spiritual topics and giving donations each time. Later he visited our temple in Alachua several times before relocating to south Florida for a job opportunity.

A couple girls sitting on a bench at UNF liked listening to our chanting for half an hour. When one of them saw our weekly program was called “Soul Medicine,” she smiled, saying she liked the name because when she sat down she had a neck and back ache but it went away with the singing. When we took a break, she thought with alarm, “Why did they stop?”
Later we taught a beat on the drum to the president of our Bhakti Yoga club who was playing mrdanga for the first time and we taught a Christian girl we talked with earlier in the week how to play the karatalas,also for the first time. Miraculously, in just a few minutes they were both able to play in time as we played harmonium. That was a rarity. I had never seen such a wonder in my thirty years as a devotee that new people would pick up the instruments so fast!
Lord Caitanya is so kind inspire the people with such appreciation and abilities, and to engage us all in His service.

The next Wednesday I was out of town, but Amrita Keli said the chanting on the green was fabulous. One student danced for an hour and a half, not realizing how fast the time was passing. It is wonderful see Americans naturally attracted to Krishna consciousness, especially in the present day.

Lord Nityananda’s Appearance Day

The devotees who were to drive me home to Gainesville were sick, and so I ended up celebrating Lord Nityananda’s appearance day in Jacksonville. The devotees who organize the programs at University of North Florida impressed me on Lord Nityananda’s appearance by spending two hours in the morning reading Caitanya-caritamrita and Nityananda Caritamrita, and talking about Lord Nityananda. Then in the afternoon, other Alachua and Jacksonville friends impressed me by their enthusiasm to do congregational chanting of the holy name at the Jacksonville stadium before the crowds attending the Monster Truck Jam, instead of attending the festival in Alachua. Lord Nityananda appeared to deliver the most fallen, and I could not help but think that people who take pleasure in watching monster trucks smash into each other fit into that category. One friend told me that last time he went to such an event he was nine-years-old. It was a tough crowd to distribute pamphlets to. You had to watch and make sure the people did not throw them out when you were not looking. On the bright side, in front of the devotees’ chanting party, one man danced joyfully with his young daughter. Later she and a friend joined with some of the devotee ladies and danced for quite sometime with them. It was definitely an unusual day, but I think that in the ultimate issue Lord Nityananda Prabhu was pleased by all our attempts to glorify Him and to share His mercy, and that made it worth it.

Insights

Srila Prabhupada:

from Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.24.8, purport:

Not caring what will happen in the next birth, gross materialists are simply busy enjoying during the present short span of life. A Vaisnava is always anxious to give all such bewildered materialists the real happiness of spiritual bliss.

from Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.24.19, purport:

When one becomes a pure devotee in love, he may also be blessed with a good material position by the will of the Supreme Lord. However, one should not mistakenly think that the material opulence of a devotee is the result of his devotional service. The real result of devotional service is the awakening of pure love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, which continues under all circumstances.

from Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.13.3–4, purport:

When the intrigue of the Battle of Kuruksetrawas going on, she [Gandhari] was not in favor of fighting with the Pandavas; rather, she blamed Dhrtarastra, her husband, for such a fratricidal war. She desired that the state be divided into two parts, for the sons of Pandu and her own.

from Caitanya-caritamrita(Antya 3.178):
Haridas Thakura, however, said that the desired result of chanting the holy name of the Lord is not that one is liberated from material bondage or freed from the reactions of sinful life. The actual result of chanting the holy name of the Lord is that one awakens his dormant Krishna consciousness, his loving service to the Lord.
from notes by Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami on a Prabhupada lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam3.25.23 given on November 23, 1974, in Mumbai:
“When the sravanam-kirtanamis about Krishna, then there is no suffering or unhappiness. Other hearing and talking will not reduce suffering. Devotional service is so nice that even in the material world, the devotee will not suffer material miseries. Because his mind is absorbed in thought of Krishna, he does not suffer.”
from The Nectar of Devotion:
When a devotee is never tired of executing devotional service and is always engaged in Krishna conscious activities, constantly relishing the transcendental mellows in relationship with Krishna, he is called perfect.. . . Anyone who becomes exhilarated by hearing of the pastimes of Lord Krishna when He was present on this earth with His associates is to be understood as nitya-siddha, eternally perfect.

from a lecture:
Lord Caitanya taught there is a goal beyond liberation, love of Godhead.
Krishna says anything other than surrender to the lotus feet of Krishna is not real dharma.
One cannot say, “I do not accept the laws given by the state. I will make my own laws.” So in the same way, we cannot make our own dharma. Dharma is given by God.
Krishna is not speaking just to the Hindus. He is speaking to everyone as the father of all living beings.
This Krishna consciousness movement is very important because people are not understanding they are spiritual souls and not their bodies.
Our love has become spread out to our nation, our relatives, our friends, but it must become concentrated on Krishna.
Previously it was considered abominable to become a drunkard. Now it has become a fashion.
Our only request is that you take up this chanting of Hare Krishna.
People should take this Krishna consciousness movement very seriously.
Lord Caitanya’s movement is meant for both the common men and the educated. The common men can simply chant Hare Krishna, and the educated can study our vast literature.
Vasudeva wanted a son like Krishna, but Krishna is without an equal, and so He Himself appeared as the son of Vasudeva.
The mahatmais not under the control of the material energy but under the protection of the spiritual energy. His symptom is that he has no other activity besides the service of the Lord.
The whole Vedic civilization is to engage people in pious activities because by engaging in pious activities they will one day come to the point of bhajana.
There are many Bhagavans, but Krishna is the original.
We are telling people, “You are the son of Krishna, a most important personality. Why not go to your home? Why are you rotting in this material world?” People have to understand they are rotting in this material world.
from Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.4–5:
Atheists try to conceal the hand of God, which is present in every creation, but they cannot explain how all these creations could come into existence without a competent intelligence and almighty power behind them. Simply to imagine or speculate is a waste of time. In Bhagavad-gita (10.8), the Lord says, aham sarvasya prabhavo: “I am the origin of everything.” Mattah sarvam pravartate: “whatever exists in the creation emanates from Me.” Iti matva bhajante mam budha bhava-samanvitah: "When one fully understands that I create everything by My omnipotence, one becomes firmly situated in devotional service and fully surrenders at My lotus feet."
Niranjana Swami:

The result that a devotee aspires for is that Krishna may be pleased by his efforts in devotional service.

Krishna is only pleased by unflinching, unalloyed devotional service.

Most of our obstacles are within our heart and can be cleansed by Krishna who becomes pleased by the devotees’ service of hearing and remembering Him.

Srila Prabhupada explains that anxiety is a feature of this world, and you can choose either to have material anxiety or to have spiritual anxiety.

If we are consciousness of our subservient position in relationship to the Lord, then we will be without [material] anxiety in this world.

A good result will ultimately manifest if we accept our position as a servant of Krishna.

Krishna is the supreme plan maker. I have my plans and Krishna has His plans, and Krishna always has the final decision.

Srila Prabhupada writes in his journal in February 1966 after a recording session with some friends, “Haridas Thakura has said that anyone who hears these holy names, even animals and beasts, can be attracted. Today I have personally witnessed the statement of Haridas Thakura. The Americans have been become attracted by the chanting. This is all Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s mercy. It is not my credit.”

Krishna as our best friend can take care of our needs, but we need to remember Him. He can make a much better arrangement to remove our obstacles than we can ourselves because of his perfect knowledge.

Srila Prabhupada used a story of the train conductor asking for his son’s ticket, and his son being bewildered until he took shelter of his father to show how when we take shelter of Krishna all anxiety goes away.

Radhanatha Swami:

from a lecture on Lord Nityananda:

The conception that something is lovable exists is because of Krishna.

Service is so great that the Lord also desires to engage in service to show that pure unalloyed service is the ultimate experience.

Laksmana entered the forest for 14 years, simply to serve Lord Rama. It is said He remained awake for the entire time so as not to miss a chance to serve the Lord.

A real spiritual master teaches how to surrender to Krishna.

Ekacakra was experiencing a drought until Lord Nityananda Prabhu appeared, and then it rained pleasingly and all vegetation flourished.

The only play Nityananda Prabhu would engage in was to enact dramas of the pastimes of the Lord.

To execute His mission of assisting Lord Caitanya in His mission, Lord Nityananda would have to leave home. But He had such loving parents, how was it possible? Thus by the Lord’s arrangement, a sannyasi came who begged Hadai Pandit for his son in charity to be his assistant. Every parent in Ekacakra wanted to offer their son as a replacement as they loved Nitai so, but the sannyasi had disappeared.

When Nityananda on His tour saw the Shaivites and the Vaishnavas fighting, He who is the source of both Shiva and Vishnu laughed.

When He encountered Madhavendra Puri, He exclaimed, “I have traveled so far and seen so many pilgrimage places, but I have not yet seen such ecstatic love for Krishna as you have.”

Laksmipati Tirtha worshiped Balarama who appeared in a dream and told him to initiate a brahmana who would soon appear.

Lord Nityananda lived in Vrndavana, playing with cowherd boys and cows, and waiting for Nimai Pandit to inaugurate His sankirtana movement.

Lord Nityananda did not preach until He got the order from Lord Caitanya. This supreme humility has its origin in God Himself. He did not want to consider Himself the doer of His activities.

Srila Prabhupada told a reporter, “My only qualification is I am simply repeating the words of my spiritual master.” When asked if he was a pure devotee or if he was perfect,he explained, “I may or may not be a pure devotee or be perfect, but my words are perfect because I am repeating my guru’s words.”

Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami:
from Yellow Submarine, #213:
“A quiet afternoon,
the hours go by slowly.
This is preaching too,
hearing gentle sounds
and trying to speak from the heart,
if you can find your heart.
Staying by the Lord
in a safe place,
the yellow submarine. From here
you can see eternity if you become
quiet enough and listen.
He’s just by your side,
and you can relax.
He’s coming through the ether,
and your pulse is beating softly.
“Why don’t you go out?
I can hardly walk.
I’m content to sit and
hear His voice coming
to me in music muted.
It’s another day to be
with Krishna and write
your realizations for
your friends, your virtual friends.”
from Viraha Bhavan, February 24, 2013:
Japais easy but
to do it seriously is difficult.
I was successful in keeping out
other thoughts except utteringharinama.I tried to
do it with attention and
devotion.
Amala Bhakta Prabhu:

When people have a unified aim, it is easier for them to work cooperatively.

Devotional service is its own reward because it brings the mercy of the Lord, and for one who has the mercy of the Lord, what is there left to attain?

We build up our bodies by working out and become so proud of our abilities, thinking we are invincible, but then a microscopic organism comes by and knocks us out for two weeks. Despite our pride, we have to admit that the person who made the virus is superior to us.

Everyone wants to live forever. They may say they do not want to live forever, but whenever there is some problem with the body, they are always going to the doctor. Why? Because they want to live forever. Why do we want to live forever? Because as souls we really do live forever.

We suffer from stress because our attachment to our body, but by spiritual practice that can be reduced.

It is very difficult [as a lecturer] to compete with prasadam [spiritual food].

Once the Bhagavatam speaker told one of the listeners who remained awake during the class to awaken the person next to him. The listener replied, “You put him to sleep. You can wake him up.”

If you are fully self-realized, you will get guidance from the Supreme Lord within how to help your dependents make advancement. In fact, if you become self-realized, you can truly benefit everyone.

Even God Himself appears as an ordinary person most of the time, except for a few occasions when He exhibits His superhuman opulence.

Charity, patience, and humility are virtues that can help us in self-realization.

We cannot dictate to Krishna when He will let us understand something.

We should see the Bhagavad-gitawith reverence.

The biggest sin is to forget the Lord.

Best is if we chant as if we are crying out for Krishna’s assistance.

To feel the closeness, nearness, and presence of Krishna is the best thing, and when you get that you want to share it others, your family, your friends, and the people in general.

Srila Prabhupada’s words were floating on his divine energy.

If we start thinking I am better than him and I am better than him, then we became a materialist again.

If we have a residence in the USA and another in Italy, and yet another residence somewhere else, we become very proud of our good fortune, but Krishna has a residence in every atom.

Kalakantha Prabhu:

at Dr. Dina Bandhu Prabhu’s marriage:

In marriage, like anything, if we approach it in the mood of enjoying, we will fall flat on our face, but if we approach it in the mood of service, we will be successful.

If we put Krishna in the center and make our house a temple that will take the edge off any conflicts we may have.

Prasannatma Prabhu:

The love we have for our family, our nation, our dog, is incomplete and temporary. It is all finished in a moment and that moment is death. Sometimes the relationships end before death, there is divorce, or we transfer from one school to another, ending our friendships with people from the previous school.

Different goswamisgive different explanations of the maha-mantrawhich are all true.

Lord Caitanya did not ask us to love Himself, but to develop love for the Divine Couple, Radha-Krishna. First we meditate on Lord Gaura, and then we meditate on Radha-Krishna.

We follow Rupa Goswami and Raghunatha Goswami. We do not want to follow Madhvacarya, Ramanujacarya, Nimbarkacarya. We respect them all, but we are determined to follow Rupa Raghunatha.

Imagine Krishna cannot get something. Krishna is the supreme controller, and yet there was something He could not get, the experience of Radharani’s love for Himself. Thus He came as Lord Caitanya to experience this.

Gandhari never saw her 100 sons because of her voluntarily blindfolding herself so as not to excel her blind husband. What an austerity for a mother to perform! She was so determined.

When you do austerity you get much power. When you do not do austerity, you do not have much power.

The first word that was heard in this universe was “tapa” (austerity).

In France, when the government imposes some restriction, people go on strike, and chant “No austerity! No austerity!”

In America, people are eating anything at any time, boiled peanuts, chocolate candy, chips, etc.

In material life, people eat a little for breakfast, a little for lunch, and have a big dinner, while the devotee takes just a little at night so he can get up early and perform spiritual activities.

Ranjit Prabhu:

Constant engagement (satata-yuktanam) isnot possible without loving ecstasy (priti-purvakam).

I recommend rereading Srimad-Bhagavatam. It is very rewarding. You will encounter a lot of things that you forgot along the way.

Krishna has newer and newer beauties that are beyond our understanding and experience.

Krishna was not attracted by the incomparable beauty and feminine charms of His queens but by their pure devotional service to Him.

Sometimes very sincere Christians would approach me to save me. Sometimes I would joke with them saying, “There are two kinds of people. Those who know and those who do not know. For those who know, no explanation is necessary, and for those who do not know, no explanation is possible.” It would sometimes frustrate them as they did not have an answer to it. To some extent that statement is true, but it also inaccurate because the desire of the pure devotee is so powerful that those who do not know can be enlightened.

Devotees would present different philosophies, and Srila Prabhupada would analyze them from the viewpoint of Krishna consciousness. Later some devotees realized that original presentations of the philosophies were incorrect, and asked if he would be willing to do it again, and he valued that project so much that it did it again. The second formulation is in Quest for Enlightenment.

Leibniz said that every thing has purpose in the universe and the purpose of the entire universe is to know the creator of the universe. Srila Prabhupada very much liked that philosophy.

Jung lamented that philosophy was no longer a way of life. He felt the rites of many religions had became unintelligible in the modern world.

Subuddhi Krishna Prabhu:

In Bangalore, one guest loved the kitri so much he asked for the recipe which I obtained for him from the cooks. When he made it himself, he complained it did not taste the same. I asked if he offered it to Krishna, but he had not. I gave him the mantras to offer it, and he tried again. It was better but not good enough. I asked if he just offered it so he could eat it, or if he had really offered it with devotion. He realized he had not done it with devotion, so he tried again, this time successfully. Thus we can see practically there is a difference between prasadam [food offered to Krishna with devotion] and ordinary food.

Prema Manjari dd:

Just as in a dream something completely illogical can happen at any moment, in our conditioned life, although our situation appears very stable, the reality is that something completely illogical can happen at any moment.

When the fiery demon started approaching Ambarisa Maharaja in order to kill him, Ambarisa Maharaja did not appeal to the Lord for protection. He merely continued thinking of the Lord as usual.

It is difficult to be surrendered to the Lord at every moment until one has developed one’s love for Him.

Madhava Prabhu (from Alachua):

We are giving up bad habits and developing new ones, so sometimes we act in a bad way and sometimes in a good way. Krishna does not take that too seriously if we are engaged in His service in devotion.

Srila Prabhupada describes what he means by an accidental falldown. If you were a smoker, and you accidentally associate with other smokers and you light up a cigarette, and later you feel bad, thinking “what have I done?” then it is forgiven. But if you think now I am a devotee, I can smoke like anything and it will all be forgiven, that is cheating.

comment by Tulasirani dd: Mother Laksmimoni would explain that if a sinful act is premeditated then it is not an accident.

Tulasirani dd:

There are austerities in devotional service like chanting, which are joyful, and others, like getting up for mangala-arati,where you have to grit your teeth. If you just do the austerities where you have to grit your teeth and not the joyful ones, then you will lose your taste for devotional service, so there has to be a balance.

It is not possible to absorb your mind for eternity in a stagnant object, but Krishna’s qualities are always increasing and captivating the mind more and more.

They do not have cell phones in the spiritual world. Krishna plays different tunes on his flute to call different groups of friends.

The gopis were envious of Krishna’s flute, for the flute constantly had Krishna’s association while they only did sometimes.

We want to become an instrument like a flute that Krishna can play and attract people back to the spiritual world.

Govardhana Hill adjusts the temperature of the rocks on its slopes to facilitate the pastimes of Krishna according to the season.

When you are humble it changes people’s hearts.

Vaishnava das Prabhu:

I see in the five years I have practiced I have improved. The mind is less of a disturbance.

Sometimes we try to act better just to look good to others, but that is not actually required, for in reality, just by engaging in devotional service we will attain all good qualities.

In Chapter Twelve of Bhagavad-gita many good qualities of a great devotee, such as tolerance in the face of dualities are described, and in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, there are examples like Maharaja Pariksit and Maharaja Ambarisa, who were not disturbed by extreme difficulty.

Gopala Prabhu:

Krishna wanted to show that worship of Indra is not necessary but that worship should be directed to Krishna or Vishnu. Thus he advised his father not to perform sacrifice for Indra but instead to worship Govardhana Hill which sustained them. As Krishna is not different from Govardhana Hill, he was actually engaging them in Vishnu worship.

Although Krishna killed the many demons who would daily come and harass His associates in Vrindavana, He merely humiliated Indra, who inundated Vrindavana with torrential rain, by lifting Govardhana Hill, because Indra was a devotee at heart.

There are three ways material desires are “fulfilled”:
  1. You do not get it.
  2. It is not what you thought it would be.
  3. It is what you wanted, or even better, but it does not last.

Dr. Dina Bandhu Prabhu:

If we are not fixed on the Supreme, our minds will pursue sense enjoyment.

On the spiritual path, we must be moving forward, otherwise we will end up moving backward.

If we cultivate a relationship with Krishna through yoga, our relationships with other people will automatically improve.

Srila Prabhupada says that if we take one step to Krishna, He will take ten steps to us, but we cannot understand how Krishna will take ten steps toward us until we take that one step toward Him.

It is not if Krishna will reciprocate but when.

Lindsey: Regarding my trip to the Alachua temple for the weekend, I found everything I needed was supplied. I just had to desire to go there.

Amrita Keli devi dasi: We chanted several hours on New Year's Eve in Alachua, then slept five hours, and drove to JAX and chanted two or three hours at the football game, and then we drove to St. Augustine, and chanted several hours in the afternoon. When I returned to Jacksonville my body was wiped out, but I was so happy because of all the chanting which was more than I ever do. I can see Krishna really reciprocates when we go a little beyond what we think is our limit.

Joseph: We always think we do not have time for a spiritual practice, but we find when we make time for a spiritual practice, we still have enough time to do the other things we need to do.

It is a phenomenon that the more people who have the same delusion the more difficult it is to classify it as a delusion. The delusion of maya that we are the body and not the soul is such a widespread delusion.

If you are wearing handcuffs, you have to approach the person who has put them on you in order to get free. Our bondage to the material world is like that. We have to please the Lord to get free.

To understand the message of Krishna we have to hear it through Arjuna’s ears. In other words, we have to accept it as Arjuna did.

comment by Lovelesh: I encountered some web sites discussing popular translations of Bhagavad-gitaand I found that often Bhagavad-gitaAs It Is is number one.

If someone claims to be representing a religious tradition, he should have a good understanding of the soul, for that is one of the ABCs.

comment by Kimani: I was looking for a mantra and found the Hare Krishna mantra in a book. I found it helpful in cleansing my heart and removing obstacles in my life. It brought me happiness that was not available in my life before.

Hanan Prabhu:

The ability to tolerate provoking situations is the quality of the greatest.

The saying “push my buttons” is interesting to me as a non-English speaker. It seems to imply we are like machines like computers that can be controlled by pushing buttons.

Karma is what happens to you, and free will is how you react.

Researchers says we have 32,000 thoughts going through our minds each day. Krishna advises how to deal with them: “Aperson who is not disturbed by the incessant flow of desires — that enter like rivers into the ocean, which is ever being filled but is always still — can alone achieve peace, and not the man who strives to satisfy such desires.”(Bg. 2.70)

Srila Prabhupada advises that we should not become angry at the agent of our karma. One example that illustrates the foolishness of becoming angry at the agent of karma is this: Suppose the postman comes and gives you a letter from Bank of America that states you owe the bank $20,000, and you become angry and take a stick and start beating the postman.

Kunti suffered greatly, perhaps more than anyone else in the Bhagavatam, so she is qualified to talk about it. After suffering many calamities caused by Duryodhana, during the Battle of Kurukshetra, she had to witness one son (Arjuna) killing another son (Karna), which is a terrible thing for a mother to see.

In the Israel army they have a person who has lost a son himself inform a family that their child has died, for such a person can empathize with their situation.

If we tell Krishna, “Tomorrow,” in response to his invitation to surrender. He will say, “Ok. Tomorrow, then.”

------

vande sri-krishna-caitanya-
nityanandau sahoditau
gaudodaye puspavantau
citrau san-dau tamo-nudau

I offer my respectful obeisances unto Sri Krishna Caitanya and Lord Nityananda, who are like the sun and moon. They have arisen simultaneously on the horizon of Gauḍa to dissipate the darkness of ignorance and thus wonderfully bestow benediction upon all. (Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi 1.2)

Travel Journal#9.4: North Florida
→ Travel Adventures of a Krishna Monk


Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 9, No. 4
By Krishna-kripa das
(February 2013, part two)
North Florida
(Sent from Jacksonville, Florida, on April 11, 2013)

Where I Went and What I Did

The second half of February I spent mostly in Gainesville, organizing the chanting at Krishna Lunch. I also went on a brief visit to Tallahassee, promoting our Krishna Lunch and temple programs there, and to Jacksonville, chanting on campus and promoting our Krishna Club programs there. I share inspiring incidents from these trips. I had an unusual Nityananda’s appearance day, which I briefly describe.

I have quotes from the writings of my siksa and diksa gurus, Srila Prabhupada and Satsvarupa das Goswami, and notes on recorded lectures by Niranjana and Radhanath Swamis. I also have notes on another wonderful lecture by visiting Prabhupada disciple, Amala Bhakta Prabhu, and notes from lectures of many local speakers.

Chanting in Tallahassee

At one point, six of us chanted together at Tallahassee’s Lake Ella one Saturday. Krishna is kind to give me friends to chant with in so many cities. One friend had left Tallahassee for Gainesville, but another had left Gainesville for Tallahassee. One lady came by our chanting party, wondering where our Tallahassee temple was, and other people were happy to get sweets and to hear of our vegan/vegetarian food options in the city.

On Monday and Tuesday, I chanted at Florida State University, and the first person I talked to was interested in meditation and came to our Tuesday Bhagavad-gita class. Both days I met someone who had become vegetarian very recently, so I was able to interest them in our lunch program and cooking classes. I was pleased each day to have nice conversations with several students and to distribute many prasadam sweets.

Chanting at the University of North Florida

On Wednesday we chanted for four and three-quarters hours on the green at the University of North Florida, and at one point nine people were on the blanket chanting with us. One girl who was a friend of someone in Krishna Club sat down with us and fell in love with the drum, playing a nonstandard beat that fit the music. She also chanted Hare Krishna for the first time, even as she played the drum. She is a Resident Advisor for a dorm and invited us to do a program there sometime.

Also on Wednesday, one young gentleman, originally from Kenya, who frequents the UNF Library sat on the bench, enjoying the kirtana. Amrita invited him to our program, and he came two weeks in a row, taking Coming Back, and talking with the devotees about spiritual topics and giving donations each time. Later he visited our temple in Alachua several times before relocating to south Florida for a job opportunity.

A couple girls sitting on a bench at UNF liked listening to our chanting for half an hour. When one of them saw our weekly program was called “Soul Medicine,” she smiled, saying she liked the name because when she sat down she had a neck and back ache but it went away with the singing. When we took a break, she thought with alarm, “Why did they stop?”
Later we taught a beat on the drum to the president of our Bhakti Yoga club who was playing mrdanga for the first time and we taught a Christian girl we talked with earlier in the week how to play the karatalas,also for the first time. Miraculously, in just a few minutes they were both able to play in time as we played harmonium. That was a rarity. I had never seen such a wonder in my thirty years as a devotee that new people would pick up the instruments so fast!
Lord Caitanya is so kind inspire the people with such appreciation and abilities, and to engage us all in His service.

The next Wednesday I was out of town, but Amrita Keli said the chanting on the green was fabulous. One student danced for an hour and a half, not realizing how fast the time was passing. It is wonderful see Americans naturally attracted to Krishna consciousness, especially in the present day.

Lord Nityananda’s Appearance Day

The devotees who were to drive me home to Gainesville were sick, and so I ended up celebrating Lord Nityananda’s appearance day in Jacksonville. The devotees who organize the programs at University of North Florida impressed me on Lord Nityananda’s appearance by spending two hours in the morning reading Caitanya-caritamrita and Nityananda Caritamrita, and talking about Lord Nityananda. Then in the afternoon, other Alachua and Jacksonville friends impressed me by their enthusiasm to do congregational chanting of the holy name at the Jacksonville stadium before the crowds attending the Monster Truck Jam, instead of attending the festival in Alachua. Lord Nityananda appeared to deliver the most fallen, and I could not help but think that people who take pleasure in watching monster trucks smash into each other fit into that category. One friend told me that last time he went to such an event he was nine-years-old. It was a tough crowd to distribute pamphlets to. You had to watch and make sure the people did not throw them out when you were not looking. On the bright side, in front of the devotees’ chanting party, one man danced joyfully with his young daughter. Later she and a friend joined with some of the devotee ladies and danced for quite sometime with them. It was definitely an unusual day, but I think that in the ultimate issue Lord Nityananda Prabhu was pleased by all our attempts to glorify Him and to share His mercy, and that made it worth it.

Insights

Srila Prabhupada:

from Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.24.8, purport:

Not caring what will happen in the next birth, gross materialists are simply busy enjoying during the present short span of life. A Vaisnava is always anxious to give all such bewildered materialists the real happiness of spiritual bliss.

from Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.24.19, purport:

When one becomes a pure devotee in love, he may also be blessed with a good material position by the will of the Supreme Lord. However, one should not mistakenly think that the material opulence of a devotee is the result of his devotional service. The real result of devotional service is the awakening of pure love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, which continues under all circumstances.

from Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.13.3–4, purport:

When the intrigue of the Battle of Kuruksetrawas going on, she [Gandhari] was not in favor of fighting with the Pandavas; rather, she blamed Dhrtarastra, her husband, for such a fratricidal war. She desired that the state be divided into two parts, for the sons of Pandu and her own.

from Caitanya-caritamrita(Antya 3.178):
Haridas Thakura, however, said that the desired result of chanting the holy name of the Lord is not that one is liberated from material bondage or freed from the reactions of sinful life. The actual result of chanting the holy name of the Lord is that one awakens his dormant Krishna consciousness, his loving service to the Lord.
from notes by Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami on a Prabhupada lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam3.25.23 given on November 23, 1974, in Mumbai:
“When the sravanam-kirtanamis about Krishna, then there is no suffering or unhappiness. Other hearing and talking will not reduce suffering. Devotional service is so nice that even in the material world, the devotee will not suffer material miseries. Because his mind is absorbed in thought of Krishna, he does not suffer.”
from The Nectar of Devotion:
When a devotee is never tired of executing devotional service and is always engaged in Krishna conscious activities, constantly relishing the transcendental mellows in relationship with Krishna, he is called perfect.. . . Anyone who becomes exhilarated by hearing of the pastimes of Lord Krishna when He was present on this earth with His associates is to be understood as nitya-siddha, eternally perfect.

from a lecture:
Lord Caitanya taught there is a goal beyond liberation, love of Godhead.
Krishna says anything other than surrender to the lotus feet of Krishna is not real dharma.
One cannot say, “I do not accept the laws given by the state. I will make my own laws.” So in the same way, we cannot make our own dharma. Dharma is given by God.
Krishna is not speaking just to the Hindus. He is speaking to everyone as the father of all living beings.
This Krishna consciousness movement is very important because people are not understanding they are spiritual souls and not their bodies.
Our love has become spread out to our nation, our relatives, our friends, but it must become concentrated on Krishna.
Previously it was considered abominable to become a drunkard. Now it has become a fashion.
Our only request is that you take up this chanting of Hare Krishna.
People should take this Krishna consciousness movement very seriously.
Lord Caitanya’s movement is meant for both the common men and the educated. The common men can simply chant Hare Krishna, and the educated can study our vast literature.
Vasudeva wanted a son like Krishna, but Krishna is without an equal, and so He Himself appeared as the son of Vasudeva.
The mahatmais not under the control of the material energy but under the protection of the spiritual energy. His symptom is that he has no other activity besides the service of the Lord.
The whole Vedic civilization is to engage people in pious activities because by engaging in pious activities they will one day come to the point of bhajana.
There are many Bhagavans, but Krishna is the original.
We are telling people, “You are the son of Krishna, a most important personality. Why not go to your home? Why are you rotting in this material world?” People have to understand they are rotting in this material world.
from Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.4–5:
Atheists try to conceal the hand of God, which is present in every creation, but they cannot explain how all these creations could come into existence without a competent intelligence and almighty power behind them. Simply to imagine or speculate is a waste of time. In Bhagavad-gita (10.8), the Lord says, aham sarvasya prabhavo: “I am the origin of everything.” Mattah sarvam pravartate: “whatever exists in the creation emanates from Me.” Iti matva bhajante mam budha bhava-samanvitah: "When one fully understands that I create everything by My omnipotence, one becomes firmly situated in devotional service and fully surrenders at My lotus feet."
Niranjana Swami:

The result that a devotee aspires for is that Krishna may be pleased by his efforts in devotional service.

Krishna is only pleased by unflinching, unalloyed devotional service.

Most of our obstacles are within our heart and can be cleansed by Krishna who becomes pleased by the devotees’ service of hearing and remembering Him.

Srila Prabhupada explains that anxiety is a feature of this world, and you can choose either to have material anxiety or to have spiritual anxiety.

If we are consciousness of our subservient position in relationship to the Lord, then we will be without [material] anxiety in this world.

A good result will ultimately manifest if we accept our position as a servant of Krishna.

Krishna is the supreme plan maker. I have my plans and Krishna has His plans, and Krishna always has the final decision.

Srila Prabhupada writes in his journal in February 1966 after a recording session with some friends, “Haridas Thakura has said that anyone who hears these holy names, even animals and beasts, can be attracted. Today I have personally witnessed the statement of Haridas Thakura. The Americans have been become attracted by the chanting. This is all Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s mercy. It is not my credit.”

Krishna as our best friend can take care of our needs, but we need to remember Him. He can make a much better arrangement to remove our obstacles than we can ourselves because of his perfect knowledge.

Srila Prabhupada used a story of the train conductor asking for his son’s ticket, and his son being bewildered until he took shelter of his father to show how when we take shelter of Krishna all anxiety goes away.

Radhanatha Swami:

from a lecture on Lord Nityananda:

The conception that something is lovable exists is because of Krishna.

Service is so great that the Lord also desires to engage in service to show that pure unalloyed service is the ultimate experience.

Laksmana entered the forest for 14 years, simply to serve Lord Rama. It is said He remained awake for the entire time so as not to miss a chance to serve the Lord.

A real spiritual master teaches how to surrender to Krishna.

Ekacakra was experiencing a drought until Lord Nityananda Prabhu appeared, and then it rained pleasingly and all vegetation flourished.

The only play Nityananda Prabhu would engage in was to enact dramas of the pastimes of the Lord.

To execute His mission of assisting Lord Caitanya in His mission, Lord Nityananda would have to leave home. But He had such loving parents, how was it possible? Thus by the Lord’s arrangement, a sannyasi came who begged Hadai Pandit for his son in charity to be his assistant. Every parent in Ekacakra wanted to offer their son as a replacement as they loved Nitai so, but the sannyasi had disappeared.

When Nityananda on His tour saw the Shaivites and the Vaishnavas fighting, He who is the source of both Shiva and Vishnu laughed.

When He encountered Madhavendra Puri, He exclaimed, “I have traveled so far and seen so many pilgrimage places, but I have not yet seen such ecstatic love for Krishna as you have.”

Laksmipati Tirtha worshiped Balarama who appeared in a dream and told him to initiate a brahmana who would soon appear.

Lord Nityananda lived in Vrndavana, playing with cowherd boys and cows, and waiting for Nimai Pandit to inaugurate His sankirtana movement.

Lord Nityananda did not preach until He got the order from Lord Caitanya. This supreme humility has its origin in God Himself. He did not want to consider Himself the doer of His activities.

Srila Prabhupada told a reporter, “My only qualification is I am simply repeating the words of my spiritual master.” When asked if he was a pure devotee or if he was perfect,he explained, “I may or may not be a pure devotee or be perfect, but my words are perfect because I am repeating my guru’s words.”

Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami:
from Yellow Submarine, #213:
“A quiet afternoon,
the hours go by slowly.
This is preaching too,
hearing gentle sounds
and trying to speak from the heart,
if you can find your heart.
Staying by the Lord
in a safe place,
the yellow submarine. From here
you can see eternity if you become
quiet enough and listen.
He’s just by your side,
and you can relax.
He’s coming through the ether,
and your pulse is beating softly.
“Why don’t you go out?
I can hardly walk.
I’m content to sit and
hear His voice coming
to me in music muted.
It’s another day to be
with Krishna and write
your realizations for
your friends, your virtual friends.”
from Viraha Bhavan, February 24, 2013:
Japais easy but
to do it seriously is difficult.
I was successful in keeping out
other thoughts except utteringharinama.I tried to
do it with attention and
devotion.
Amala Bhakta Prabhu:

When people have a unified aim, it is easier for them to work cooperatively.

Devotional service is its own reward because it brings the mercy of the Lord, and for one who has the mercy of the Lord, what is there left to attain?

We build up our bodies by working out and become so proud of our abilities, thinking we are invincible, but then a microscopic organism comes by and knocks us out for two weeks. Despite our pride, we have to admit that the person who made the virus is superior to us.

Everyone wants to live forever. They may say they do not want to live forever, but whenever there is some problem with the body, they are always going to the doctor. Why? Because they want to live forever. Why do we want to live forever? Because as souls we really do live forever.

We suffer from stress because our attachment to our body, but by spiritual practice that can be reduced.

It is very difficult [as a lecturer] to compete with prasadam [spiritual food].

Once the Bhagavatam speaker told one of the listeners who remained awake during the class to awaken the person next to him. The listener replied, “You put him to sleep. You can wake him up.”

If you are fully self-realized, you will get guidance from the Supreme Lord within how to help your dependents make advancement. In fact, if you become self-realized, you can truly benefit everyone.

Even God Himself appears as an ordinary person most of the time, except for a few occasions when He exhibits His superhuman opulence.

Charity, patience, and humility are virtues that can help us in self-realization.

We cannot dictate to Krishna when He will let us understand something.

We should see the Bhagavad-gitawith reverence.

The biggest sin is to forget the Lord.

Best is if we chant as if we are crying out for Krishna’s assistance.

To feel the closeness, nearness, and presence of Krishna is the best thing, and when you get that you want to share it others, your family, your friends, and the people in general.

Srila Prabhupada’s words were floating on his divine energy.

If we start thinking I am better than him and I am better than him, then we became a materialist again.

If we have a residence in the USA and another in Italy, and yet another residence somewhere else, we become very proud of our good fortune, but Krishna has a residence in every atom.

Kalakantha Prabhu:

at Dr. Dina Bandhu Prabhu’s marriage:

In marriage, like anything, if we approach it in the mood of enjoying, we will fall flat on our face, but if we approach it in the mood of service, we will be successful.

If we put Krishna in the center and make our house a temple that will take the edge off any conflicts we may have.

Prasannatma Prabhu:

The love we have for our family, our nation, our dog, is incomplete and temporary. It is all finished in a moment and that moment is death. Sometimes the relationships end before death, there is divorce, or we transfer from one school to another, ending our friendships with people from the previous school.

Different goswamisgive different explanations of the maha-mantrawhich are all true.

Lord Caitanya did not ask us to love Himself, but to develop love for the Divine Couple, Radha-Krishna. First we meditate on Lord Gaura, and then we meditate on Radha-Krishna.

We follow Rupa Goswami and Raghunatha Goswami. We do not want to follow Madhvacarya, Ramanujacarya, Nimbarkacarya. We respect them all, but we are determined to follow Rupa Raghunatha.

Imagine Krishna cannot get something. Krishna is the supreme controller, and yet there was something He could not get, the experience of Radharani’s love for Himself. Thus He came as Lord Caitanya to experience this.

Gandhari never saw her 100 sons because of her voluntarily blindfolding herself so as not to excel her blind husband. What an austerity for a mother to perform! She was so determined.

When you do austerity you get much power. When you do not do austerity, you do not have much power.

The first word that was heard in this universe was “tapa” (austerity).

In France, when the government imposes some restriction, people go on strike, and chant “No austerity! No austerity!”

In America, people are eating anything at any time, boiled peanuts, chocolate candy, chips, etc.

In material life, people eat a little for breakfast, a little for lunch, and have a big dinner, while the devotee takes just a little at night so he can get up early and perform spiritual activities.

Ranjit Prabhu:

Constant engagement (satata-yuktanam) isnot possible without loving ecstasy (priti-purvakam).

I recommend rereading Srimad-Bhagavatam. It is very rewarding. You will encounter a lot of things that you forgot along the way.

Krishna has newer and newer beauties that are beyond our understanding and experience.

Krishna was not attracted by the incomparable beauty and feminine charms of His queens but by their pure devotional service to Him.

Sometimes very sincere Christians would approach me to save me. Sometimes I would joke with them saying, “There are two kinds of people. Those who know and those who do not know. For those who know, no explanation is necessary, and for those who do not know, no explanation is possible.” It would sometimes frustrate them as they did not have an answer to it. To some extent that statement is true, but it also inaccurate because the desire of the pure devotee is so powerful that those who do not know can be enlightened.

Devotees would present different philosophies, and Srila Prabhupada would analyze them from the viewpoint of Krishna consciousness. Later some devotees realized that original presentations of the philosophies were incorrect, and asked if he would be willing to do it again, and he valued that project so much that it did it again. The second formulation is in Quest for Enlightenment.

Leibniz said that every thing has purpose in the universe and the purpose of the entire universe is to know the creator of the universe. Srila Prabhupada very much liked that philosophy.

Jung lamented that philosophy was no longer a way of life. He felt the rites of many religions had became unintelligible in the modern world.

Subuddhi Krishna Prabhu:

In Bangalore, one guest loved the kitri so much he asked for the recipe which I obtained for him from the cooks. When he made it himself, he complained it did not taste the same. I asked if he offered it to Krishna, but he had not. I gave him the mantras to offer it, and he tried again. It was better but not good enough. I asked if he just offered it so he could eat it, or if he had really offered it with devotion. He realized he had not done it with devotion, so he tried again, this time successfully. Thus we can see practically there is a difference between prasadam [food offered to Krishna with devotion] and ordinary food.

Prema Manjari dd:

Just as in a dream something completely illogical can happen at any moment, in our conditioned life, although our situation appears very stable, the reality is that something completely illogical can happen at any moment.

When the fiery demon started approaching Ambarisa Maharaja in order to kill him, Ambarisa Maharaja did not appeal to the Lord for protection. He merely continued thinking of the Lord as usual.

It is difficult to be surrendered to the Lord at every moment until one has developed one’s love for Him.

Madhava Prabhu (from Alachua):

We are giving up bad habits and developing new ones, so sometimes we act in a bad way and sometimes in a good way. Krishna does not take that too seriously if we are engaged in His service in devotion.

Srila Prabhupada describes what he means by an accidental falldown. If you were a smoker, and you accidentally associate with other smokers and you light up a cigarette, and later you feel bad, thinking “what have I done?” then it is forgiven. But if you think now I am a devotee, I can smoke like anything and it will all be forgiven, that is cheating.

comment by Tulasirani dd: Mother Laksmimoni would explain that if a sinful act is premeditated then it is not an accident.

Tulasirani dd:

There are austerities in devotional service like chanting, which are joyful, and others, like getting up for mangala-arati,where you have to grit your teeth. If you just do the austerities where you have to grit your teeth and not the joyful ones, then you will lose your taste for devotional service, so there has to be a balance.

It is not possible to absorb your mind for eternity in a stagnant object, but Krishna’s qualities are always increasing and captivating the mind more and more.

They do not have cell phones in the spiritual world. Krishna plays different tunes on his flute to call different groups of friends.

The gopis were envious of Krishna’s flute, for the flute constantly had Krishna’s association while they only did sometimes.

We want to become an instrument like a flute that Krishna can play and attract people back to the spiritual world.

Govardhana Hill adjusts the temperature of the rocks on its slopes to facilitate the pastimes of Krishna according to the season.

When you are humble it changes people’s hearts.

Vaishnava das Prabhu:

I see in the five years I have practiced I have improved. The mind is less of a disturbance.

Sometimes we try to act better just to look good to others, but that is not actually required, for in reality, just by engaging in devotional service we will attain all good qualities.

In Chapter Twelve of Bhagavad-gita many good qualities of a great devotee, such as tolerance in the face of dualities are described, and in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, there are examples like Maharaja Pariksit and Maharaja Ambarisa, who were not disturbed by extreme difficulty.

Gopala Prabhu:

Krishna wanted to show that worship of Indra is not necessary but that worship should be directed to Krishna or Vishnu. Thus he advised his father not to perform sacrifice for Indra but instead to worship Govardhana Hill which sustained them. As Krishna is not different from Govardhana Hill, he was actually engaging them in Vishnu worship.

Although Krishna killed the many demons who would daily come and harass His associates in Vrindavana, He merely humiliated Indra, who inundated Vrindavana with torrential rain, by lifting Govardhana Hill, because Indra was a devotee at heart.

There are three ways material desires are “fulfilled”:
  1. You do not get it.
  2. It is not what you thought it would be.
  3. It is what you wanted, or even better, but it does not last.

Dr. Dina Bandhu Prabhu:

If we are not fixed on the Supreme, our minds will pursue sense enjoyment.

On the spiritual path, we must be moving forward, otherwise we will end up moving backward.

If we cultivate a relationship with Krishna through yoga, our relationships with other people will automatically improve.

Srila Prabhupada says that if we take one step to Krishna, He will take ten steps to us, but we cannot understand how Krishna will take ten steps toward us until we take that one step toward Him.

It is not if Krishna will reciprocate but when.

Lindsey: Regarding my trip to the Alachua temple for the weekend, I found everything I needed was supplied. I just had to desire to go there.

Amrita Keli devi dasi: We chanted several hours on New Year's Eve in Alachua, then slept five hours, and drove to JAX and chanted two or three hours at the football game, and then we drove to St. Augustine, and chanted several hours in the afternoon. When I returned to Jacksonville my body was wiped out, but I was so happy because of all the chanting which was more than I ever do. I can see Krishna really reciprocates when we go a little beyond what we think is our limit.

Joseph: We always think we do not have time for a spiritual practice, but we find when we make time for a spiritual practice, we still have enough time to do the other things we need to do.

It is a phenomenon that the more people who have the same delusion the more difficult it is to classify it as a delusion. The delusion of maya that we are the body and not the soul is such a widespread delusion.

If you are wearing handcuffs, you have to approach the person who has put them on you in order to get free. Our bondage to the material world is like that. We have to please the Lord to get free.

To understand the message of Krishna we have to hear it through Arjuna’s ears. In other words, we have to accept it as Arjuna did.

comment by Lovelesh: I encountered some web sites discussing popular translations of Bhagavad-gitaand I found that often Bhagavad-gitaAs It Is is number one.

If someone claims to be representing a religious tradition, he should have a good understanding of the soul, for that is one of the ABCs.

comment by Kimani: I was looking for a mantra and found the Hare Krishna mantra in a book. I found it helpful in cleansing my heart and removing obstacles in my life. It brought me happiness that was not available in my life before.

Hanan Prabhu:

The ability to tolerate provoking situations is the quality of the greatest.

The saying “push my buttons” is interesting to me as a non-English speaker. It seems to imply we are like machines like computers that can be controlled by pushing buttons.

Karma is what happens to you, and free will is how you react.

Researchers says we have 32,000 thoughts going through our minds each day. Krishna advises how to deal with them: “Aperson who is not disturbed by the incessant flow of desires — that enter like rivers into the ocean, which is ever being filled but is always still — can alone achieve peace, and not the man who strives to satisfy such desires.”(Bg. 2.70)

Srila Prabhupada advises that we should not become angry at the agent of our karma. One example that illustrates the foolishness of becoming angry at the agent of karma is this: Suppose the postman comes and gives you a letter from Bank of America that states you owe the bank $20,000, and you become angry and take a stick and start beating the postman.

Kunti suffered greatly, perhaps more than anyone else in the Bhagavatam, so she is qualified to talk about it. After suffering many calamities caused by Duryodhana, during the Battle of Kurukshetra, she had to witness one son (Arjuna) killing another son (Karna), which is a terrible thing for a mother to see.

In the Israel army they have a person who has lost a son himself inform a family that their child has died, for such a person can empathize with their situation.

If we tell Krishna, “Tomorrow,” in response to his invitation to surrender. He will say, “Ok. Tomorrow, then.”

------

vande sri-krishna-caitanya-
nityanandau sahoditau
gaudodaye puspavantau
citrau san-dau tamo-nudau

I offer my respectful obeisances unto Sri Krishna Caitanya and Lord Nityananda, who are like the sun and moon. They have arisen simultaneously on the horizon of Gauḍa to dissipate the darkness of ignorance and thus wonderfully bestow benediction upon all. (Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi 1.2)

ECOV: A CALL TO SERVICE IN NEW VRINDABAN
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ECOV: A CALL TO SERVICE IN NEW VRINDABAN

Originally posted by Chaitanya Mangala on Brijabasi Spirit 03 April 2013

At the start of 2013 ECOV began asking devotees to share their ideas for projects they’d like to make happen in New Vrindaban. We are repeating this request and reminding everyone that ECOV is open to funding projects in and around New Vrindaban that have a clear community benefit and are consistent with our mission (see below).

Since putting the word out in January, we are pleased to report that we are currently supporting the following programs:

1. Nityodita is leading a team that will soon be producing cream, yogurt, butter, ghee and other milk products for the Deities’ daily offerings using only milk from New Vrindaban cows.

2. Rafael Canuto is busy planting seedlings for the Deity Garden with a goal of providing all of the Temple’s flower needs throughout the 2013 summer growing season.

3. Tapahpunja and his crew are installing three green houses to expand the Garden of Seven Gates agricultural production capabilities by starting the growing season earlier in the spring and extending it later into autumn.

4. Jaya Krsna (Junior) is incorporating environmentally friendly upgrades into renovations at the Guest Lodge, including using low volatile organic compound paint, energy saving CFL bulbs & non-toxic floor underlayment.

5. Madhava Gosh is overseeing the planting of 100 fruit trees, 50 walnuts trees, 110 berries, 20 grape vines and a variety of perennial vegetables; additionally, seven individuals were provided trees to plant at their homes; all of which will add to the overall community food production capacity.

We highlight these examples for two reasons:

First, we want to thank the people mentioned above for stepping forward and developing projects that continue to bring New Vrindaban another step closer to the self-sufficient, Krishna centered village that Srila Prabhupada envisioned.

Second, we want to give readers a flavor of the types of projects we are looking to be involved in, with a goal that after reading these descriptions more devotees will be inspired to step forward, share their ideas and take an active role in expanding these wonderful service possibilities.

By sincerely following Srila Prabhupada’s instructions – and working together cooperatively – we have experienced how we can collectively accomplish more, and in doing so help to increase the pleasure of Their Lordships, Sri Sri Radha Vrindaban Chandra.

In Closing: ECOV is currently accepting and reviewing project proposals. If this is relevant to you, please contact any of the members (listed below) and we will be happy to get you a grant application, answer any questions you may have and see if there is an opportunity for us to serve together.

Mission Statement: ECOV (Earth, Cows, Opportunities & 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.

Board Members: Anuttama, Chaitanya Mangala, Kripamaya, Madhava Gosh, Navin Shyam & Ranaka.

Advisers: Jaya Krsna (Senior) and Varshana Swami.


Quiet
→ Seed of Devotion

Quiet. I have found quiet. The sound of my fingers hitting the keys sound like the clicking of palm tree leaves in the breeze. Fans whir above my head in soft murmurs. The afternoon air is velvet on my skin. I'm surrounded by blue, chalky walls, and when I glance up from this screen I see a black chalkboard covered in algebra equations.

Be present. Write what you know. All week long, I have been coaching and drilling and testing my middle school English students to be present, use their senses, just write write write. Let expression emerge by movement of the pen.

So right now, I'm letting expression emerge by movement of my fingers. I just concluded my second week of teaching, ever. For two weeks I have been amazed, humiliated, surprised, exasperated, and utterly absorbed. Although I am surrounded by whirls of activities and noise and meetings and lessons, I have rarely ever felt so quiet in my life.

Quiet.

Just quiet.

I am doing my duty. With that comes this quiet inside. Even in my depths of discouragement in teaching, I always conclude: where else would I be? What else would I be doing?

My teaching needs a lot of improvement. A lot. Yet Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita: "Better to do one's own duty poorly than another's duty well."

I had found quiet in this computer lab, and now boys have filled the room, their voices reverberating off the walls in discussion of fight scene choreography. Laughter rises. There - a boy just rang the bell that hangs on the tree outside - bong bong bong bong. The boys filter out of the room, chatting.

Class begins soon.

Once again I can hear the clicking of my fingers moving across this keyboard, like palm tree leaves moving in the breeze. All is quiet.   
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Quiet
→ Seed of Devotion

Quiet. I have found quiet. The sound of my fingers hitting the keys sound like the clicking of palm tree leaves in the breeze. Fans whir above my head in soft murmurs. The afternoon air is velvet on my skin. I'm surrounded by blue, chalky walls, and when I glance up from this screen I see a black chalkboard covered in algebra equations.

Be present. Write what you know. All week long, I have been coaching and drilling and testing my middle school English students to be present, use their senses, just write write write. Let expression emerge by movement of the pen.

So right now, I'm letting expression emerge by movement of my fingers. I just concluded my second week of teaching, ever. For two weeks I have been amazed, humiliated, surprised, exasperated, and utterly absorbed. Although I am surrounded by whirls of activities and noise and meetings and lessons, I have rarely ever felt so quiet in my life.

Quiet.

Just quiet.

I am doing my duty. With that comes this quiet inside. Even in my depths of discouragement in teaching, I always conclude: where else would I be? What else would I be doing?

My teaching needs a lot of improvement. A lot. Yet Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita: "Better to do one's own duty poorly than another's duty well."

I had found quiet in this computer lab, and now boys have filled the room, their voices reverberating off the walls in discussion of fight scene choreography. Laughter rises. There - a boy just rang the bell that hangs on the tree outside - bong bong bong bong. The boys filter out of the room, chatting.

Class begins soon.

Once again I can hear the clicking of my fingers moving across this keyboard, like palm tree leaves moving in the breeze. All is quiet.   
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Join us for opportunity to get the association of His Holiness Bhaktimarga Swami this Sunday
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yo mām evam asammūdho
jānāti purusottamam
sa sarva-vid bhajati māḿ
sarva-bhāvena bhārata
Bhagavad-gita 15.19

Whoever knows Me as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, without doubting, is the knower of everything. He therefore engages himself in full devotional service to Me, O son of Bharata.
Sunday Feast, April 14th @ 11:00am with His Holiness Bhaktimarga Swami

We are pleased to invite you to get the association of His Holiness Bhaktimarga Swami at ISKCON Brampton.

His Holiness joined the HARE KRSNA movement in 1973 and was initiated by His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, Founder Acharya of ISKCON. He then took sanyasa in 1984.

HH Bhaktimarga Swami has dedicated his entire life for the spiritual reawakening of all living entities in Canada & Worldwide. As an offering to his guru, Srila Prabhupada, he has walked across Canada, a distance of 8,500 kms one way, 3 times (1996, 2003, 2007) and has brought   Krsna Consciousness to many people’s life.

With a background in fine arts, His Holiness also developed a passion for the performing arts. Even in the course of his duties as a monk, he expands his portfolio and manages to take an active role in theatrical productions from epics of ancient Indian origin. Casting, scripting, and directing morality theatre takes him annually to venues from North America to India and Africa. 

The program consists of arati, kirtan (devotional chanting), philosophical discussion and prasadam.  Please come, get inspired and inspire others through your desire to share Krsna Consciousness!

Program Schedule:
11:00 am - 11:30 am Guru Puja
11:30 am - 12:00 pm Arati & Kirtan
12:00 pm – 12:05 pm Narasingadev Prayers
12:10 pm - 1:00 pm  Vedic Discourse by His Holiness Bhaktimarga Swami
1:05 pm - 1:20 pm Tulasi Puja
1:20 pm - 2:00 pm Prasadam (Vegetarian feast)


Upcoming Events:

Rama Navami - Appearance of Lord Rama April 19th 

Please mark your calender for this upcoming event. ISKCON Brampton would celebrate this festival with an evening program starting 7:00pm. More details will be sent in the near future.

RAMA NAVAMI is dedicated to the memory of LORD SRI RAMA, who is remembered for HIS prosperous and righteous reign. RAMA NAVAMI IS THEREFORE A SPIRITUAL REMINDER OF THE NOBLE IDEALS FOR WHICH LORD RAMACHANDRA STOOD.

All glories to Lord RAMA, who is the consort of mother SITA, master of Sri Hanuman and the Lord of the three worlds, who appeared at HIS own will in order to establish righteousness, destroy the wicked and protect HIS devotees.

Devotees celebrate this day by fasting till sunset, singing and chanting HIS holy names, pastimes and glories. JAI SRI RAMA!

Ramanavami sponsorships:

Ramanavami maha feast....251$
Florals and garlands..........108$
Altar decorations..............108$

Please contact Acharya Thakur Prabhu or Mother Prema Gaurangi for more information.

Fastings:

Fasting for Kamada Ekadashi
Fasting from grains & pulses
Sunday, Apr 22nd
Breakfast Monday, Apr 23rd (6:23 - 10:58)
Click here to download ekadashi story

Chant &
Be Happy

Hare Krsna
Hare Krsna
Krsna Krsna
Hare Hare
Hare Rama
Hare Rama
Rama Rama
Hare Hare 

Opportunity to serve

There is always an opportunity to serve:
Sponsorships:
Flower offering $31
Sunday Arati $51
Sunday Feast $151
Festival Feast $251
Deities Outfit $351


Copyright © 2013 ISKCON Brampton, All rights reserved.

Our address:
Unit 19, 20 & 21, 1030 Kamato Road
Mississauga, ON L4W 4B6
Website: www.iskconbrampton.ca
Blog: www.iskconbrampton.blogspot.com
-->

Join us for opportunity to get the association of His Holiness Bhaktimarga Swami this Sunday
→ ISKCON BRAMPTON'S BLOG

<!-- Facebook sharing information tags Join us for opportunity to get the association of His Holiness Bhaktimarga Swami this Sunday


Join us for a blissful experience at ISKCON Brampton
Is this email not displaying correctly?
View it in your browser.




yo mām evam asammūdho
jānāti purusottamam
sa sarva-vid bhajati māḿ
sarva-bhāvena bhārata
Bhagavad-gita 15.19

Whoever knows Me as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, without doubting, is the knower of everything. He therefore engages himself in full devotional service to Me, O son of Bharata.
Sunday Feast, April 14th @ 11:00am with His Holiness Bhaktimarga Swami

We are pleased to invite you to get the association of His Holiness Bhaktimarga Swami at ISKCON Brampton.

His Holiness joined the HARE KRSNA movement in 1973 and was initiated by His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, Founder Acharya of ISKCON. He then took sanyasa in 1984.

HH Bhaktimarga Swami has dedicated his entire life for the spiritual reawakening of all living entities in Canada & Worldwide. As an offering to his guru, Srila Prabhupada, he has walked across Canada, a distance of 8,500 kms one way, 3 times (1996, 2003, 2007) and has brought   Krsna Consciousness to many people’s life.

With a background in fine arts, His Holiness also developed a passion for the performing arts. Even in the course of his duties as a monk, he expands his portfolio and manages to take an active role in theatrical productions from epics of ancient Indian origin. Casting, scripting, and directing morality theatre takes him annually to venues from North America to India and Africa. 

The program consists of arati, kirtan (devotional chanting), philosophical discussion and prasadam.  Please come, get inspired and inspire others through your desire to share Krsna Consciousness!

Program Schedule:
11:00 am - 11:30 am Guru Puja
11:30 am - 12:00 pm Arati & Kirtan
12:00 pm – 12:05 pm Narasingadev Prayers
12:10 pm - 1:00 pm  Vedic Discourse by His Holiness Bhaktimarga Swami
1:05 pm - 1:20 pm Tulasi Puja
1:20 pm - 2:00 pm Prasadam (Vegetarian feast)


Upcoming Events:

Rama Navami - Appearance of Lord Rama April 19th 

Please mark your calender for this upcoming event. ISKCON Brampton would celebrate this festival with an evening program starting 7:00pm. More details will be sent in the near future.

RAMA NAVAMI is dedicated to the memory of LORD SRI RAMA, who is remembered for HIS prosperous and righteous reign. RAMA NAVAMI IS THEREFORE A SPIRITUAL REMINDER OF THE NOBLE IDEALS FOR WHICH LORD RAMACHANDRA STOOD.

All glories to Lord RAMA, who is the consort of mother SITA, master of Sri Hanuman and the Lord of the three worlds, who appeared at HIS own will in order to establish righteousness, destroy the wicked and protect HIS devotees.

Devotees celebrate this day by fasting till sunset, singing and chanting HIS holy names, pastimes and glories. JAI SRI RAMA!

Ramanavami sponsorships:

Ramanavami maha feast....251$
Florals and garlands..........108$
Altar decorations..............108$

Please contact Acharya Thakur Prabhu or Mother Prema Gaurangi for more information.

Fastings:

Fasting for Kamada Ekadashi
Fasting from grains & pulses
Sunday, Apr 22nd
Breakfast Monday, Apr 23rd (6:23 - 10:58)
Click here to download ekadashi story

Chant &
Be Happy

Hare Krsna
Hare Krsna
Krsna Krsna
Hare Hare
Hare Rama
Hare Rama
Rama Rama
Hare Hare 

Opportunity to serve

There is always an opportunity to serve:
Sponsorships:
Flower offering $31
Sunday Arati $51
Sunday Feast $151
Festival Feast $251
Deities Outfit $351


Copyright © 2013 ISKCON Brampton, All rights reserved.

Our address:
Unit 19, 20 & 21, 1030 Kamato Road
Mississauga, ON L4W 4B6
Website: www.iskconbrampton.ca
Blog: www.iskconbrampton.blogspot.com
-->

Vidvad Rudhi
→ Servant of the Servant

Vidvad rudhi means conventional meaning of a word or act from the perspective of an enlightened soul. So if you find people fighting over religion that is because they interpret their scripture in a sectarian and narrow way. Such narrow interpretations are from unenlightened people or called ajnana rudhi.

Unenlightened people with sentimental faith most often than not engage in sectarian discrimination. A true lover of God and genuinely enlightened soul does not make such distinction. There are also unenlightened people with sentimental faith who dilute the sacred scriptures and project their own selfish interpretations. To put it differently, you have unenlightened people who are either fanatic about their God or people who dilute the existence of a personal God to make it universally appealing.

Truly enlightened souls, rather,  speak categorically about God, God's will and our duty towards God without dilution or tone of fanaticism. They preach about God in such a way that it is universally applicable to all nationalities, class, and religion and at the same time maintain the integrity of a personal Supreme Being. Such a soul who can speak the essence of all great scriptures is truly enlightened and messenger of God.

"Perhaps you have marked it in my preaching work that I love Lord Jesus Christ as good as Krishna; because He rendered the greatest service to Krishna according to time circumstances and society in which He appeared  Similarly Hajrat Mohammed and Lord Buddha also rendered greatest service to the human society according to circumstances"

- Srila Prabhupada - Letter to Kirtananda April 7 1967

Hare Krishna

Vidvad Rudhi
→ Servant of the Servant

Vidvad rudhi means conventional meaning of a word or act from the perspective of an enlightened soul. So if you find people fighting over religion that is because they interpret their scripture in a sectarian and narrow way. Such narrow interpretations are from unenlightened people or called ajnana rudhi.

Unenlightened people with sentimental faith most often than not engage in sectarian discrimination. A true lover of God and genuinely enlightened soul does not make such distinction. There are also unenlightened people with sentimental faith who dilute the sacred scriptures and project their own selfish interpretations. To put it differently, you have unenlightened people who are either fanatic about their God or people who dilute the existence of a personal God to make it universally appealing.

Truly enlightened souls, rather,  speak categorically about God, God's will and our duty towards God without dilution or tone of fanaticism. They preach about God in such a way that it is universally applicable to all nationalities, class, and religion and at the same time maintain the integrity of a personal Supreme Being. Such a soul who can speak the essence of all great scriptures is truly enlightened and messenger of God.

"Perhaps you have marked it in my preaching work that I love Lord Jesus Christ as good as Krishna; because He rendered the greatest service to Krishna according to time circumstances and society in which He appeared  Similarly Hajrat Mohammed and Lord Buddha also rendered greatest service to the human society according to circumstances"

- Srila Prabhupada - Letter to Kirtananda April 7 1967

Hare Krishna

Non duplicitous glorification of Krishna
→ Servant of the Servant

Krishna conscious preaching is not about telling others what to do. Of course if someone wants personal guidance, that is another thing. But generally speaking, preaching mostly entails glorifying Krishna. When the listener hears the non duplicitous glorification of Krishna, automatically the listener will cultivate a sense of desire, and yearning to know more  eventually leading to faith in Krishna. This faith will eventually make the listener Krishna conscious and also give up bad material habits.

Once Srila Prabhupada wrote a letter to a college preacher (do not remember the exact reference), he said preach in such a way that the students will realize on their own what to do and what not to do. Prabhupada also said to the college preacher that even if they accept one aspect of the philosophy which is "we are not bodies but spirit souls" will be deemed success from a preaching perspective.

So we can take a cue from the above letter (which I paraphrased) that today every one is like a college student in the sense every one is very informed through the internet and the computer. Naturally every one is skeptical in the beginning just as students are trained to do in college. So if we get an opportunity to speak about Krishna, using Prabhupada logic, we can speak in such a way that the listener will realize his material conditioning and want to become Krishna conscious.

Although I have not closely associated with temple devotees of Chowpatty, I believe H.H.Radhanath Maharaj uses his realization, speaking abilities simply to glorify Krishna in his lectures and this genuine glorification has created the huge congregation in Mumbai. In my opinion & experience thus far, Indians are tough to preach to and if Maharaj can convince them of Krishna, then surely it is by his narrations of unalloyed glory of the Supreme Absolute Truth Krishna.

Hare Krishna

Non duplicitous glorification of Krishna
→ Servant of the Servant

Krishna conscious preaching is not about telling others what to do. Of course if someone wants personal guidance, that is another thing. But generally speaking, preaching mostly entails glorifying Krishna. When the listener hears the non duplicitous glorification of Krishna, automatically the listener will cultivate a sense of desire, and yearning to know more  eventually leading to faith in Krishna. This faith will eventually make the listener Krishna conscious and also give up bad material habits.

Once Srila Prabhupada wrote a letter to a college preacher (do not remember the exact reference), he said preach in such a way that the students will realize on their own what to do and what not to do. Prabhupada also said to the college preacher that even if they accept one aspect of the philosophy which is "we are not bodies but spirit souls" will be deemed success from a preaching perspective.

So we can take a cue from the above letter (which I paraphrased) that today every one is like a college student in the sense every one is very informed through the internet and the computer. Naturally every one is skeptical in the beginning just as students are trained to do in college. So if we get an opportunity to speak about Krishna, using Prabhupada logic, we can speak in such a way that the listener will realize his material conditioning and want to become Krishna conscious.

Although I have not closely associated with temple devotees of Chowpatty, I believe H.H.Radhanath Maharaj uses his realization, speaking abilities simply to glorify Krishna in his lectures and this genuine glorification has created the huge congregation in Mumbai. In my opinion & experience thus far, Indians are tough to preach to and if Maharaj can convince them of Krishna, then surely it is by his narrations of unalloyed glory of the Supreme Absolute Truth Krishna.

Hare Krishna

Art of Happiness
→ The Loft Yoga Lounge Auckland

THIS SUNDAY 28th April, as part of the Month of Happiness at the Loft (see post below), is the final presentation by Bhadrasena, on the Art of Happiness. Blending current Psychology and Sociology with the ancient wisdom of the Yoga texts, this presentation will deliver not just theory knowledge of tools and techniques for increasing [...]

The post Art of Happiness appeared first on The Loft Yoga Lounge Auckland.

Special Seminar – Founder Acharya – Srila Prabhupada
→ Welcome to the official site of ISKCON Perth

H G Suresvara Prabhu is visiting Perth at the moment and he will be presenting a special seminar on Srila Prabhupada, Our Founder Acharya. Below is a summary of his presentation.

Please come and attend the special seminar and deepen your understanding about Srila Prabhupada.

Your servant

Sita Rama Lakshmana Das

—————————————————————————————————————————

On behalf of the Mayapur Institute and ISKCON’s Governing Body Committee, I
would like to invite all the devotees in Perth to the seminar, “Srila
Prabhupada, Our Founder-Acarya.”

From Saturday, April 6th through Wednesday, April 10th, at 7:30 morning and
evening in the temple, we will be presenting ten sessions that flow like
this:
*
*
*Sambandha: Deepening our Relationship with Srila Prabhupada*
Lesson 1: The Guru Principle
Lesson 2: The Founder-Acarya
Lesson 3: Srila Prabhupada, Our Founder-Acarya

*Abhidheya: Deepening our Commitment to his Mission*
Lesson 4: His Mission’s Roots
Lesson 5: His ISKCON Branch
Lesson 6: His Varnasrama Challenge
Lesson 7: Finding our Mission in his Mission

*Prayojana: Deepening our Love for Srila Prabhupada*
Lesson 8: To Love is to Cooperate
Lesson 9: Fictional Prabhupadas
Lesson 10: Your Srila Prabhupada

Multimedia and interactive, each lesson builds on the last, so attending
all the lessons will provide you the best experience. At the same time,
each lesson can stand alone, so come as much as you can. With Prabhupada at
the center, the seminar is truly “edutaining.”

Thank you for listening, Prabhus. Hope to see you at the seminar. All
glories to Srila Prabhuapda!

Your servant,
Suresvara dasa
Presenter

Sunday Feast Sunday 07 April
→ Welcome to the official site of ISKCON Perth

Dear Devotees & Friends,

We would like to invite you all for the sunday feast programme on Sunday, 07 April 2013.

PROGRAMME

5:00 PM Kirtans

5.20 PM Tulasi Arati

5:30 PM Seminar  by  His Mission’s Roots by H G sureswara prabhu *
(Part of Special Seminar – Founder Acharya – Srila Prabhupada)

7:00 PM Arati

7:30 PM Prasadam

IF YOU LIKE TO SPONSOR A FEAST OR HELP IN ANY WAY PLEASE Contact  Shyama Sarana Das ( 0439 969 002) or Sita Rama Lakshmana das ( 0422 045 525)

Attend such a wonderful feast and receive the Lord’s mercy, full spiritual benefits of Kirtan, Aarti and Spiritual Discourse.

Hare Krishna

Sita Rama Lakshmana Das

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE SEMINAR STARTS AT 5.30 PM. Do not miss!!

*H G Suresvara Prabhu

His Grace Suresvar prabhu joined Srila Prabhupada’s movement in 1970,
serving as a preacher and book distributor across the U.S. He lives in
Mayapur and Hawaii. He is currently teaching with MIHET in Sridham Mayapur.
He is a contributor to Back to Godhead Magazine.

http://mayapurinstitute.org/en/about/teachers/hg-suresvara-dasa

Obituary: Yogeshcandra dasa
→ Sri Sri Radha Govinda Mandir, Hare Krishna Temple. ISKCON Brooklyn New York

Yogeshcandra dasYogeshcandra dasa was born in Santo Domingo on August 23, 1968.

He was born with a handicap, Spina Bifida (Latin: “split spine”).  Most children that are born with this condition only survive 13 days.  Krishna had other plans for him and he survived.  When he was around 5 years old he developed a very gradual gangrene of his legs.  By the time the gangrene was detected it was too late and both legs needed to be amputated.

For four years he refused to go to school or leave the house.

When he was 9 years old he started to think about his future: “What was going to happen to me when my parents are no longer around?”  So he decided to go to school.  He completed his high school and went on to college.

During his high school years he started practicing sports. At first he was playing volleyball, but he wanted to practice a sport where he would win or lose by his own merits.  He started to run in marathons, first in Santo Domingo and later in the NYC marathon from 2000- 2006.

He also practiced yoga, and came across Srila Prabhupada’s books, where he read that he was not the body.  This knowledge gave him great happiness and an entire new perspective on life!

After receiving preliminary training in Krishna consciousness from Prabhupada dasa, now HH BPV Damodara Maharaja, in 2008 Bhakta Jose Joaquin became inspired to seek shelter and receive Harinama initiation from HH Romapada Swami.

Lately Yogeshcandra dasa, under the guidance of HG Ramabhadra Prabhu, was working towards meeting the requirements for 2nd Initiation.

In November of 2012 Yogeshcandra dasa was planning to go to India on pilgrimage, attending a Yatra in Mayapur with HH Romapada Swami; unfortunately the flight was cancelled because of hurricane Sandy.

Shortly after that Yogeshcandra dasa developed a lesion on his leg that would not heal, and later it was also found that he had cancer.

After a series of intense medical procedures within the hospital in NYC, Yogeshcandra dasa left his body at 4:49am on April 4th, 2013.  The doctors were keeping him sedated because of the pain. Yogeshcandra dasa had his bead bag on his hand as he had requested.

“In this endeavor there is no loss or diminution.” Bg. 2.40

We all pray to Srila Prabhupada and Lord Krishna that Yogeshcandra dasa finds himself in a better situation in his ongoing eternal service to Krishna.

Funeral service will be taking place this Sunday April 7, 2013 from 3-9pm at Ortiz R G Funeral Home located at:

4425 Broadway
New York New York 10040
United States (btw 189st. & 190st.)
A service for the devotees will be held between 2pm and 3pm.
Thank you for the support during this very tough times from his family.

El Servicio velatorio tomara lugar este Domingo 7 de Abril, en la funeraria Ortiz apartir de las 3pm hasta las 9pm.

4425 Broadway
New York New York 10040
United States (entre la calle 189 y 190) gracias por su apoyo durante este momento tan dificil de parte de su familia!!

Top Gear
→ Tattva - See inside out

Three months into 2013 and my new year’s resolution remains intact – 30 minutes of exercise every day. Coupled with a slight improvement in diet, I definitely feel much better. Krishna explains that “he who is regulated in his habits of eating, sleeping, recreation and work can mitigate all material pains by practicing the yoga system” (Bhagavad-gita 6.17). A vibrant spiritual life should go hand-in-hand with physical and emotional wellbeing. Feelings of good health, vigour and vitality can help spur on our spiritual endeavours. Coming from someone who previously paid little attention to such matters, I’m happy to say I’ve been won over! Although the body is simply a machine, it pays off to keep it road-worthy.

I have, however, noted an interesting phenomenon in physical training. As the body becomes fitter, the same amount of physical exertion no longer creates growth. Over time, you have to intensify and step up your exercise to keep developing. Even weight trainers will tell you that muscles are developed by squeezing out an extra few push ups, sit ups or weight lifts beyond what you can comfortably do. Building our spiritual muscles is no different. As the years go by, we have to “up the gear” and offer more selfless service, extend ourselves in greater ways, develop our humility and tolerance to a more profound level, and strengthen our determination and enthusiasm. Spiritual life is dynamic; if we aren’t pushing forward, we can easily slip back into laziness, complacency and bad habits.

In worldly spheres, as people grow in age they tend to slow down and do less. Work now, retire later. The youthful years are considered the most fruitful. In spiritual spheres, however, the older years may well be considered the “business end”. As time ticks on, our urgency should increase, our spiritual realisations should mature, and our enthusiasm should grow. Ignore the old cliché about middle-aged dogs and new tricks! Swami Prabhupada was the ideal example. When CNN documented 10 wildly successful people who started their careers after 50 years-old, they included him in that elite list:

The founder of the Hare Krishna movement was 69 years old before he started the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. In his native India, Prabhupada had been a chemist and a Sanskrit scholar in Calcutta, but in 1965 he came to New York City with just fifty bucks, a pair of cymbals, and a desire to spread the teachings of Lord Krishna. Prabhupada got off to a modest start by sitting on a sidewalk in the East Village and chanting, but by the time of his death in 1977 his legions of followers were rumoured to be thousands strong. (Ethan Trex, May 2010, CNN News)

Top Gear
→ Tattva - See inside out

Three months into 2013 and my new year’s resolution remains intact – 30 minutes of exercise every day. Coupled with a slight improvement in diet, I definitely feel much better. Krishna explains that “he who is regulated in his habits of eating, sleeping, recreation and work can mitigate all material pains by practicing the yoga system” (Bhagavad-gita 6.17). A vibrant spiritual life should go hand-in-hand with physical and emotional wellbeing. Feelings of good health, vigour and vitality can help spur on our spiritual endeavours. Coming from someone who previously paid little attention to such matters, I’m happy to say I’ve been won over! Although the body is simply a machine, it pays off to keep it road-worthy.

I have, however, noted an interesting phenomenon in physical training. As the body becomes fitter, the same amount of physical exertion no longer creates growth. Over time, you have to intensify and step up your exercise to keep developing. Even weight trainers will tell you that muscles are developed by squeezing out an extra few push ups, sit ups or weight lifts beyond what you can comfortably do. Building our spiritual muscles is no different. As the years go by, we have to “up the gear” and offer more selfless service, extend ourselves in greater ways, develop our humility and tolerance to a more profound level, and strengthen our determination and enthusiasm. Spiritual life is dynamic; if we aren’t pushing forward, we can easily slip back into laziness, complacency and bad habits.

In worldly spheres, as people grow in age they tend to slow down and do less. Work now, retire later. The youthful years are considered the most fruitful. In spiritual spheres, however, the older years may well be considered the “business end”. As time ticks on, our urgency should increase, our spiritual realisations should mature, and our enthusiasm should grow. Ignore the old cliché about middle-aged dogs and new tricks! Swami Prabhupada was the ideal example. When CNN documented 10 wildly successful people who started their careers after 50 years-old, they included him in that elite list:

The founder of the Hare Krishna movement was 69 years old before he started the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. In his native India, Prabhupada had been a chemist and a Sanskrit scholar in Calcutta, but in 1965 he came to New York City with just fifty bucks, a pair of cymbals, and a desire to spread the teachings of Lord Krishna. Prabhupada got off to a modest start by sitting on a sidewalk in the East Village and chanting, but by the time of his death in 1977 his legions of followers were rumoured to be thousands strong. (Ethan Trex, May 2010, CNN News)

I am in a dream
→ Servant of the Servant

Hanuman: In your books you say that the world is like a dream.

Prabhupada: Yes, it is dream.

Hanuman: How is it a dream?

Prabhupada: Dream…well, it has no value. It is gone. And again, this night, when you'll sleep, you'll forget all these things. You'll dream. You don't remember during night, when you are dreaming, that "I have got my house, I have got my wife I have..." You all forget. So it is dream.

Hanuman: But I have the impression that "This (day) is true, and my (night) dream is not true." What is the dif...?

Prabhupada: No, no. Everything is untrue. How it is true? If it is true, why you forget at night? Why you forget? If it is true. Do you remember at night?

Hanuman: No, I don't remember.

Prabhupada: Then? How it is true? As you don't remember the dreams which you saw last night..., That, therefore we say "dream." Similarly this thing, because you forget at night, this is also dream.

Hanuman: But I have...

Prabhupada: This is day-dream, that is night-dream. That's all.

Bahulasva: When you dream at night, then you think that is real.

Prabhupada: Yes. That is real. You cry... It is dream, but you are crying, "There is tiger, tiger, tiger!" Where is tiger? But you are seeing it is fact, tiger. "I am being killed by a tiger." But where is tiger. [break] ...in dream you are embracing some beautiful girl. Where is that beautiful girl? Therefore it is called maya-sukhaya. The same thing, that at night you are dreaming you are embracing nice beautiful girl, as there is no such thing, similarly, in the daytime also, whatever advancement you are making, this is also like that. Maya-sukhaya. We are happy, we are dreaming, "This process will make me happy. This process will make me happy." But the whole process is dream only. You are taking this day-dream as reality because the duration is long. At night, when you dream, the duration is for half an hour. And this is for twelve hours, or more than that. That is the difference. It is a twelve hours' dream, and that is half an hour dream. But actually, both of them are dream. And because it is twelve hours' dream, you are taking it as, accepting it as real. That is called illusion.

Bahulasva: Illusion.

Prabhupada: Yes. We are making distinction between animal and ourself, but we're forgetting, we are forgetting, the animal also will die and I will also die. So where is my advancement? Will you remain? You'll also die. So where is your advancement upon animals? That is stated in sastra: ahara-nidra-bhaya-maithunam ca samanam etat pasubhir naranam. Business -- eating, sleeping, sex-life and defending -- this is also animal's business. And you are also doing the same. How you are distinct from animal? You'll die. The animal will die. But if you say, "I'll die after one hundred years, and this ant will die after one hour," that does not mean that you are in reality. It is a question of time. Just like this huge universe. It will be all be destroyed. As your body will be destroyed, this will be destroyed, annihilation, dissolution. Nature's way, everything will be dissolved. So therefore it is dream. It is a long duration dream. That's all. Nothing else. But the advantage is that even in this dream you can realize the reality, God. That is the... So if you don't take advantage of this dream, then you are missing.

Prabhupada: Therefore Vedas says, uttisthata. "Get up, get up, get up!" Jagrta. "Become awakened." Prapya varam nibodhata. "Now you have got the opportunity. Utilize it." This is Vedic injunction. Uttisthata jagrta prapya varam nibodhata. This is Vedic in... Tamasi ma jyotir gama. These are Vedic injunctions. So we are preaching the same thing, that "Reality is here, Krsna. Don't remain in this darkness. Come to this consciousness." That is our preaching. Tamasi ma jyotir gama. [break] ...experienced the sunshine, bright day, and this gloomy day. So when you are in darkness, we must have to admit, "There is light." Because darkness means absence of light. So as we are in the darkness of this material existence, there must be something life of light. That is spiritual world. That is reality. [break] ...aham brahmasmi. "Oh, I don't belong to this darkness, darkness atmosphere. I belong to the light atmosphere." That is self-realization. Aham brahmasmi.

Prabhupada: When you are chanting Hare Krsna. That is reality. When Krsna is there, then Krsna is there with everything. Krsna cannot be alone.

Bahulasva: This is the real science, Srila Prabhupada.

Prabhupada: Yes. Vijnana. Yad vijnana-samanvitam. Jnanam parama-guhyam me yad vijnana-samanvitam. Is it not? Jnanam me... "My knowledge is very confidential and it is full of science." Jnanam parama-guhyam me yad vijnana-samanvitam. And in the Bhagavad-gita there is said, "Knowing this knowledge..." Yaj jnatva neha bhuyo 'nyaj jnatavyam avasisyate. In the Vedas it is said, kasmin tu bhagavo vijnate sarvam idam vijnatam bhavati. So this is the way. Try to understand Krsna and everything will be known. [break] ...guhyam pavitram paramam idam. Eh? Bhagavad-gita. Raja-vidya, the knowledge, the king of knowledge. [break]

Hanuman: Without your mercy, there's no way out of the dream of material life.

Prabhupada: Krsna's. Krsna's mercy. Yes. (pause) [break]

- Morning Walk -January 9, 1974, Los Angeles

If you do not believe the above conversation, please read the article in this link. Please pay special attention to the last line in the article.

Indeed, it is a dream!!

Hare Krishna

I am in a dream
→ Servant of the Servant

Hanuman: In your books you say that the world is like a dream.

Prabhupada: Yes, it is dream.

Hanuman: How is it a dream?

Prabhupada: Dream…well, it has no value. It is gone. And again, this night, when you'll sleep, you'll forget all these things. You'll dream. You don't remember during night, when you are dreaming, that "I have got my house, I have got my wife I have..." You all forget. So it is dream.

Hanuman: But I have the impression that "This (day) is true, and my (night) dream is not true." What is the dif...?

Prabhupada: No, no. Everything is untrue. How it is true? If it is true, why you forget at night? Why you forget? If it is true. Do you remember at night?

Hanuman: No, I don't remember.

Prabhupada: Then? How it is true? As you don't remember the dreams which you saw last night..., That, therefore we say "dream." Similarly this thing, because you forget at night, this is also dream.

Hanuman: But I have...

Prabhupada: This is day-dream, that is night-dream. That's all.

Bahulasva: When you dream at night, then you think that is real.

Prabhupada: Yes. That is real. You cry... It is dream, but you are crying, "There is tiger, tiger, tiger!" Where is tiger? But you are seeing it is fact, tiger. "I am being killed by a tiger." But where is tiger. [break] ...in dream you are embracing some beautiful girl. Where is that beautiful girl? Therefore it is called maya-sukhaya. The same thing, that at night you are dreaming you are embracing nice beautiful girl, as there is no such thing, similarly, in the daytime also, whatever advancement you are making, this is also like that. Maya-sukhaya. We are happy, we are dreaming, "This process will make me happy. This process will make me happy." But the whole process is dream only. You are taking this day-dream as reality because the duration is long. At night, when you dream, the duration is for half an hour. And this is for twelve hours, or more than that. That is the difference. It is a twelve hours' dream, and that is half an hour dream. But actually, both of them are dream. And because it is twelve hours' dream, you are taking it as, accepting it as real. That is called illusion.

Bahulasva: Illusion.

Prabhupada: Yes. We are making distinction between animal and ourself, but we're forgetting, we are forgetting, the animal also will die and I will also die. So where is my advancement? Will you remain? You'll also die. So where is your advancement upon animals? That is stated in sastra: ahara-nidra-bhaya-maithunam ca samanam etat pasubhir naranam. Business -- eating, sleeping, sex-life and defending -- this is also animal's business. And you are also doing the same. How you are distinct from animal? You'll die. The animal will die. But if you say, "I'll die after one hundred years, and this ant will die after one hour," that does not mean that you are in reality. It is a question of time. Just like this huge universe. It will be all be destroyed. As your body will be destroyed, this will be destroyed, annihilation, dissolution. Nature's way, everything will be dissolved. So therefore it is dream. It is a long duration dream. That's all. Nothing else. But the advantage is that even in this dream you can realize the reality, God. That is the... So if you don't take advantage of this dream, then you are missing.

Prabhupada: Therefore Vedas says, uttisthata. "Get up, get up, get up!" Jagrta. "Become awakened." Prapya varam nibodhata. "Now you have got the opportunity. Utilize it." This is Vedic injunction. Uttisthata jagrta prapya varam nibodhata. This is Vedic in... Tamasi ma jyotir gama. These are Vedic injunctions. So we are preaching the same thing, that "Reality is here, Krsna. Don't remain in this darkness. Come to this consciousness." That is our preaching. Tamasi ma jyotir gama. [break] ...experienced the sunshine, bright day, and this gloomy day. So when you are in darkness, we must have to admit, "There is light." Because darkness means absence of light. So as we are in the darkness of this material existence, there must be something life of light. That is spiritual world. That is reality. [break] ...aham brahmasmi. "Oh, I don't belong to this darkness, darkness atmosphere. I belong to the light atmosphere." That is self-realization. Aham brahmasmi.

Prabhupada: When you are chanting Hare Krsna. That is reality. When Krsna is there, then Krsna is there with everything. Krsna cannot be alone.

Bahulasva: This is the real science, Srila Prabhupada.

Prabhupada: Yes. Vijnana. Yad vijnana-samanvitam. Jnanam parama-guhyam me yad vijnana-samanvitam. Is it not? Jnanam me... "My knowledge is very confidential and it is full of science." Jnanam parama-guhyam me yad vijnana-samanvitam. And in the Bhagavad-gita there is said, "Knowing this knowledge..." Yaj jnatva neha bhuyo 'nyaj jnatavyam avasisyate. In the Vedas it is said, kasmin tu bhagavo vijnate sarvam idam vijnatam bhavati. So this is the way. Try to understand Krsna and everything will be known. [break] ...guhyam pavitram paramam idam. Eh? Bhagavad-gita. Raja-vidya, the knowledge, the king of knowledge. [break]

Hanuman: Without your mercy, there's no way out of the dream of material life.

Prabhupada: Krsna's. Krsna's mercy. Yes. (pause) [break]

- Morning Walk -January 9, 1974, Los Angeles

If you do not believe the above conversation, please read the article in this link. Please pay special attention to the last line in the article.

Indeed, it is a dream!!

Hare Krishna

A Month of Happiness
→ The Loft Yoga Lounge Auckland

This Month of April at the Loft, hosts a whole focus on Happiness. From thought provoking TUESDAY FILM NIGHTS, SUNDAY SOUL FEAST presentations, and Wednesday Art Of Happiness practical WORKSHOPS. There will be theory and practices to learn and take away with you, so you can live a more happy and fulfilling life. So, please plug [...]

The post A Month of Happiness appeared first on The Loft Yoga Lounge Auckland.

hellish life for more than 10 million lifetimes
→ Servant of the Servant


tomarā jīyāite nāra, — vadha-mātra sāra
naraka ha-ite tomāra nāhika nistāra
go-ańge yata loma, tata sahasra vatsara
go-vadhī raurava-madhye pace nirantara

Since you cannot bring killed cows back to life, you are responsible for killing them. Therefore you are going to hell; there is no way for your deliverance. Cow-killers are condemned to rot in hellish life for as many thousands of years as there are hairs on the body of the cow.

- Cc Adi Lila 17.165-166

The above statement was spoken by Lord Chaitanya to a Muslim ruler. This conversation took place some 500 years ago. If you doubt the authority of Lord Chaitanya, there are many references to Him in the Vedas as the Supreme Absolute Truth. So the above statement is the most authentic sruti (sound). It is to be considered "dharma" for all living beings including Indian, American, Paksitani, Jew, Christian, Hindu etc etc

However, in the current age, there is rampant slaughtering of cows. Just in the USA, per year, an estimated 35 million cows are slaughtered. This is a colossal proportion. In other words, per year, approximately one cow is killed for every 10 individual in the USA or approximately 90 to 100 pounds of beef is consumed by one person every year in the USA. So if an individual lives for say 100 years, then mathematically one individual in the USA will consume approximately 8 to 10 cows whole (a cow on average weighs 1000 pounds). Of course, this is just for the sake of calculation and such calculations cannot be applied in practice. But by the pounds of beef consumed and number of cattle killed, and total US population, one can estimate around 10 cows eaten whole by one person in 100 years in the US. So if a cow say has million hairs on his body, then one individual in the US will rot in hellish life for at least 10 million life times. This is very conservative estimate because surely there may be more than million hairs on a cow.

Anyways, when you are walking on the road and see a fellow American (or for that matter any cow eater), you can safely say this fellow will rot in hell for the next 10 million life times (at the least) based on the above sloka. That is like associating with criminals who are condemned to prison for life. If you think life imprisonment is harsh, imagine hellish life for more than 10 million life times. Citing such gloomy future for the condemned souls, Srila Prabhupada therefore based on the grounds of pure and unconditional compassion did what he did - crossed the ocean despite repeated heart attacks, lived in poverty for a year or so and still persisted on to spread the glory and mercy of Lord Chaitanya. Doing so, he saved many souls from hellish life.

Let us again use some creative math. Let's say Srila Prabhupada saved around 10,000 souls when he was physically present and all 10,000 were meant to rot in hell for more than 10 million lifetimes, then, by argument one can say Srila Prabhupada saved a cumulative of at least 1 trillion lifetimes of hellish life for all these souls combined. Now that's a huge number. But for our part, if we can save even one soul, then that adds to 10 million lifetimes of hellish life saved, still a huge number. So we have to continue to try to push on this movement for our own benefit (so we don't fall back into the lap of Maya) and also for the  benefit of others.

There is also one more point I think is important in that he created a genuine spiritual path and he made it visible for the entire world to see by establishing temples, distributing books and devotee association. So now the condemned souls cannot say there was no access to genuine spiritual literature. If people reject Krishna consciousness, that is ok, but at least they were given an option and in that sense devotees have done their job.

Chant Hare Krishna and spread the glory!

Hare Krishna

hellish life for more than 10 million lifetimes
→ Servant of the Servant


tomarā jīyāite nāra, — vadha-mātra sāra
naraka ha-ite tomāra nāhika nistāra
go-ańge yata loma, tata sahasra vatsara
go-vadhī raurava-madhye pace nirantara

Since you cannot bring killed cows back to life, you are responsible for killing them. Therefore you are going to hell; there is no way for your deliverance. Cow-killers are condemned to rot in hellish life for as many thousands of years as there are hairs on the body of the cow.

- Cc Adi Lila 17.165-166

The above statement was spoken by Lord Chaitanya to a Muslim ruler. This conversation took place some 500 years ago. If you doubt the authority of Lord Chaitanya, there are many references to Him in the Vedas as the Supreme Absolute Truth. So the above statement is the most authentic sruti (sound). It is to be considered "dharma" for all living beings including Indian, American, Paksitani, Jew, Christian, Hindu etc etc

However, in the current age, there is rampant slaughtering of cows. Just in the USA, per year, an estimated 35 million cows are slaughtered. This is a colossal proportion. In other words, per year, approximately one cow is killed for every 10 individual in the USA or approximately 90 to 100 pounds of beef is consumed by one person every year in the USA. So if an individual lives for say 100 years, then mathematically one individual in the USA will consume approximately 8 to 10 cows whole (a cow on average weighs 1000 pounds). Of course, this is just for the sake of calculation and such calculations cannot be applied in practice. But by the pounds of beef consumed and number of cattle killed, and total US population, one can estimate around 10 cows eaten whole by one person in 100 years in the US. So if a cow say has million hairs on his body, then one individual in the US will rot in hellish life for at least 10 million life times. This is very conservative estimate because surely there may be more than million hairs on a cow.

Anyways, when you are walking on the road and see a fellow American (or for that matter any cow eater), you can safely say this fellow will rot in hell for the next 10 million life times (at the least) based on the above sloka. That is like associating with criminals who are condemned to prison for life. If you think life imprisonment is harsh, imagine hellish life for more than 10 million life times. Citing such gloomy future for the condemned souls, Srila Prabhupada therefore based on the grounds of pure and unconditional compassion did what he did - crossed the ocean despite repeated heart attacks, lived in poverty for a year or so and still persisted on to spread the glory and mercy of Lord Chaitanya. Doing so, he saved many souls from hellish life.

Let us again use some creative math. Let's say Srila Prabhupada saved around 10,000 souls when he was physically present and all 10,000 were meant to rot in hell for more than 10 million lifetimes, then, by argument one can say Srila Prabhupada saved a cumulative of at least 1 trillion lifetimes of hellish life for all these souls combined. Now that's a huge number. But for our part, if we can save even one soul, then that adds to 10 million lifetimes of hellish life saved, still a huge number. So we have to continue to try to push on this movement for our own benefit (so we don't fall back into the lap of Maya) and also for the  benefit of others.

There is also one more point I think is important in that he created a genuine spiritual path and he made it visible for the entire world to see by establishing temples, distributing books and devotee association. So now the condemned souls cannot say there was no access to genuine spiritual literature. If people reject Krishna consciousness, that is ok, but at least they were given an option and in that sense devotees have done their job.

Chant Hare Krishna and spread the glory!

Hare Krishna

Hear from our guest speaker Her Grace Kamalini Devi Dasi this Sunday
→ ISKCON BRAMPTON'S BLOG

<!-- Facebook sharing information tags Hear from our guest speaker Her Grace Kamalini Devi Dasi this Sunday


Join us for a blissful experience at ISKCON Brampton
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anta-kāle ca mām eva
smaran muktvā kalevaram
yah prayāti sa mad-bhāvaḿ
yāti nāsty atra saḿśayah
Bhagavad-gita 8.5

And whoever, at the end of his life, quits his body, remembering Me alone, at once attains My nature. Of this there is no doubt.
Saturday, April 6th @ 6:00pm - Evening of Bhakti
  • Musical Mantra Meditation ~ Kirtan Yoga
  • Experience peace of mind and joy through the chanting of the ancient mantras by Dhira Prabhu, his musical band & Bhaktin Sabrina
  • Easy & enlightening meditation session
  • Please come and bring your friends & family

Sunday Feast, April 7th @ 11:00am

Once again we have the opportunity to get the association of Her Grace Kamalini Devi Dasi at ISKCON Brampton this Sunday. Mother Kamalini first came in contact with ISKCON in 1972 and moved into the Temple in Brooklyn, NY. She is a disciple of His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada and still engages in distributing his books. She has run a devotee preschool various times over the years.

She also assists her spouse, Apurva Prabhu in catering different events and teaching cooking classes. He has been invited to assist with the evolution of the Govinda's restaurant at the ISKCON Toronto Temple. They have both come from Hillsborough, North Carolina to spend a few months in the GTA. They have two grown children, who are have families of their own.

The program consists of arati, kirtan (devotional chanting), philosophical discussion and prasadam.  Please come, get inspired and inspire others through your desire to share Krsna Consciousness!

Program Schedule:
11:00 am - 11:30 am Guru Puja
11:30 am - 12:00 pm Arati & Kirtan
12:00 pm – 12:05 pm Narasingadev Prayers
12:10 pm - 1:00 pm  Vedic Discourse by Her Grace Kamalini Devi Dasi
1:05 pm - 1:20 pm Tulasi Puja
1:20 pm - 2:00 pm Prasadam (Vegetarian feast)


Upcoming Events:

Rama Navami - Appearance of Lord Rama April 19th 

Please mark your calender for this upcoming event. ISKCON Brampton would celebrate this festival with an evening program starting 7:00pm. More details will be sent in the near future.

RAMA NAVAMI is dedicated to the memory of LORD SRI RAMA, who is remembered for HIS prosperous and righteous reign. RAMA NAVAMI IS THEREFORE A SPIRITUAL REMINDER OF THE NOBLE IDEALS FOR WHICH LORD RAMACHANDRA STOOD.

All glories to Lord RAMA, who is the consort of mother SITA, master of Sri Hanuman and the Lord of the three worlds, who appeared at HIS own will in order to establish righteousness, destroy the wicked and protect HIS devotees.

Devotees celebrate this day by fasting till sunset, singing and chanting HIS holy names, pastimes and glories. JAI SRI RAMA!

There are lots of opportunities to serve on this special occasion. Please contact Acharya Thakur Prabhu or Mother Prema Gaurangi for more information.

Fastings:

Fasting for Papamocani Ekadashi
Fasting from grains & pulses
Saturday, Apr 6th
Breakfast Sunday, Apr th (6:48 - 11:09)
Click here to download ekadashi story

Chant &
Be Happy

Hare Krsna
Hare Krsna
Krsna Krsna
Hare Hare
Hare Rama
Hare Rama
Rama Rama
Hare Hare 

Opportunity to serve

There is always an opportunity to serve:
Sponsorships:
Flower offering $31
Sunday Arati $51
Sunday Feast $151
Festival Feast $251
Deities Outfit $351


Copyright © 2013 ISKCON Brampton, All rights reserved.

Our address:
Unit 19, 20 & 21, 1030 Kamato Road
Mississauga, ON L4W 4B6
Website: www.iskconbrampton.ca
Blog: www.iskconbrampton.blogspot.com
-->

Hear from our guest speaker Her Grace Kamalini Devi Dasi this Sunday
→ ISKCON BRAMPTON'S BLOG

<!-- Facebook sharing information tags Hear from our guest speaker Her Grace Kamalini Devi Dasi this Sunday


Join us for a blissful experience at ISKCON Brampton
Is this email not displaying correctly?
View it in your browser.




anta-kāle ca mām eva
smaran muktvā kalevaram
yah prayāti sa mad-bhāvaḿ
yāti nāsty atra saḿśayah
Bhagavad-gita 8.5

And whoever, at the end of his life, quits his body, remembering Me alone, at once attains My nature. Of this there is no doubt.
Saturday, April 6th @ 6:00pm - Evening of Bhakti
  • Musical Mantra Meditation ~ Kirtan Yoga
  • Experience peace of mind and joy through the chanting of the ancient mantras by Dhira Prabhu, his musical band & Bhaktin Sabrina
  • Easy & enlightening meditation session
  • Please come and bring your friends & family

Sunday Feast, April 7th @ 11:00am

Once again we have the opportunity to get the association of Her Grace Kamalini Devi Dasi at ISKCON Brampton this Sunday. Mother Kamalini first came in contact with ISKCON in 1972 and moved into the Temple in Brooklyn, NY. She is a disciple of His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada and still engages in distributing his books. She has run a devotee preschool various times over the years.

She also assists her spouse, Apurva Prabhu in catering different events and teaching cooking classes. He has been invited to assist with the evolution of the Govinda's restaurant at the ISKCON Toronto Temple. They have both come from Hillsborough, North Carolina to spend a few months in the GTA. They have two grown children, who are have families of their own.

The program consists of arati, kirtan (devotional chanting), philosophical discussion and prasadam.  Please come, get inspired and inspire others through your desire to share Krsna Consciousness!

Program Schedule:
11:00 am - 11:30 am Guru Puja
11:30 am - 12:00 pm Arati & Kirtan
12:00 pm – 12:05 pm Narasingadev Prayers
12:10 pm - 1:00 pm  Vedic Discourse by Her Grace Kamalini Devi Dasi
1:05 pm - 1:20 pm Tulasi Puja
1:20 pm - 2:00 pm Prasadam (Vegetarian feast)


Upcoming Events:

Rama Navami - Appearance of Lord Rama April 19th 

Please mark your calender for this upcoming event. ISKCON Brampton would celebrate this festival with an evening program starting 7:00pm. More details will be sent in the near future.

RAMA NAVAMI is dedicated to the memory of LORD SRI RAMA, who is remembered for HIS prosperous and righteous reign. RAMA NAVAMI IS THEREFORE A SPIRITUAL REMINDER OF THE NOBLE IDEALS FOR WHICH LORD RAMACHANDRA STOOD.

All glories to Lord RAMA, who is the consort of mother SITA, master of Sri Hanuman and the Lord of the three worlds, who appeared at HIS own will in order to establish righteousness, destroy the wicked and protect HIS devotees.

Devotees celebrate this day by fasting till sunset, singing and chanting HIS holy names, pastimes and glories. JAI SRI RAMA!

There are lots of opportunities to serve on this special occasion. Please contact Acharya Thakur Prabhu or Mother Prema Gaurangi for more information.

Fastings:

Fasting for Papamocani Ekadashi
Fasting from grains & pulses
Saturday, Apr 6th
Breakfast Sunday, Apr th (6:48 - 11:09)
Click here to download ekadashi story

Chant &
Be Happy

Hare Krsna
Hare Krsna
Krsna Krsna
Hare Hare
Hare Rama
Hare Rama
Rama Rama
Hare Hare 

Opportunity to serve

There is always an opportunity to serve:
Sponsorships:
Flower offering $31
Sunday Arati $51
Sunday Feast $151
Festival Feast $251
Deities Outfit $351


Copyright © 2013 ISKCON Brampton, All rights reserved.

Our address:
Unit 19, 20 & 21, 1030 Kamato Road
Mississauga, ON L4W 4B6
Website: www.iskconbrampton.ca
Blog: www.iskconbrampton.blogspot.com
-->

sexual behavior – test of culture
→ Servant of the Servant

A first class culture is one that is centered around God, according to the Bhagavad Gita. In such a culture, spiritual values such as austerity, cleanliness, mercy and truthfulness are practiced. As a result every living being is pleased. The concepts of exploitation, crime and poverty does not exist in such pristine culture. This was the case, once upon a time, in India (not anymore though!).

Today, there is rampant materialism across the globe where such spiritual values of austerity and truthfulness is a taboo. One can test the barometer of materialism by studying the sexual activity of young people within a culture. The reason I use sexual behavior as a test of materialism is because sex is considered the highest form of pleasure within the mundane world and sex among young adults is the most exhilarating as it is a new and often sought after experience by young adults. Therefore, today, promiscuity is openly glorified in all forms of entertainment and media and is a multi-billion dollar industry. By studying the sexual behavior of young adults, we can ascertain if a culture is primarily material or spiritual.

The United States is a leader in material culture. Here, everything material is glorified. Even religion and God is worshiped on the material plane. So it is not a surprise that sex and cross-gender mingling is very open, common and casual. In fact, not having a boyfriend or girlfriend means there is something wrong with the individual. Below are some stats on sexual behavior among young adults in the US. Again, this only reiterates my original point that a culture is considered deeply material when sex is openly glorified and practiced from very young age.

The data is taken from a survey conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics. It is arguably the best source of information on sexual activity, and contraceptive use. The investigators evaluated data from 3,242 females and 3,104 males born during the years 1984 to 1993, who responded to the survey in the years 2006 to 2010.

Girls
19% girls have had sex by age 15
32% by age 16
By age 20, an estimated 74% reported to having sexual intercourse

Boys
2% boys have had sex by age 12
5% by age 13
10% by age 14
22% by age 15
35% by age 16
74% by age 20

Contraceptive use
By age 15, 80% reported using contraception the same month they first had sex, as did 85% of 17- to 18-year-olds.


Overall, it is estimated that the median age for first-time sex in the U.S. over the past 50 years is 17 years. In other words, more than half of Americans have sex when they reach 17 years old. However, according to the Census, the median age of first time marriage ranges from 26 years to 28 years. Also, the average age couples become first time parents is around 27 years. So obviously premarital sex is promoted by main stream culture and part of healthy relationships. Obviously no surprises here, in my opinion, US is extremely material and the whole world is following its promiscuous ways. You can read the entire article here.

The spiritual standard of living according to Bhagavad Gita is that a boy and girl can have sex only under the umbrella of marriage and that too only for procreation. Any sex before marriage is considered against the codes of dharma and hampers one's spiritual evolution. So from a data perspective, it should ideally read, 0% had sex before marriage. Unfortunately, today, such opinions on sexual behavior is highly inappropriate, unpopular and inane. Therefore our culture is very much enveloped in materialism where spiritual values of austerity, cleanliness, mercy and truthfulness are rarely practiced. How then can all living beings live happily in peace without fighting...in my opinion, highly unlikely!

Hare Krishna

sexual behavior – test of culture
→ Servant of the Servant

A first class culture is one that is centered around God, according to the Bhagavad Gita. In such a culture, spiritual values such as austerity, cleanliness, mercy and truthfulness are practiced. As a result every living being is pleased. The concepts of exploitation, crime and poverty does not exist in such pristine culture. This was the case, once upon a time, in India (not anymore though!).

Today, there is rampant materialism across the globe where such spiritual values of austerity and truthfulness is a taboo. One can test the barometer of materialism by studying the sexual activity of young people within a culture. The reason I use sexual behavior as a test of materialism is because sex is considered the highest form of pleasure within the mundane world and sex among young adults is the most exhilarating as it is a new and often sought after experience by young adults. Therefore, today, promiscuity is openly glorified in all forms of entertainment and media and is a multi-billion dollar industry. By studying the sexual behavior of young adults, we can ascertain if a culture is primarily material or spiritual.

The United States is a leader in material culture. Here, everything material is glorified. Even religion and God is worshiped on the material plane. So it is not a surprise that sex and cross-gender mingling is very open, common and casual. In fact, not having a boyfriend or girlfriend means there is something wrong with the individual. Below are some stats on sexual behavior among young adults in the US. Again, this only reiterates my original point that a culture is considered deeply material when sex is openly glorified and practiced from very young age.

The data is taken from a survey conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics. It is arguably the best source of information on sexual activity, and contraceptive use. The investigators evaluated data from 3,242 females and 3,104 males born during the years 1984 to 1993, who responded to the survey in the years 2006 to 2010.

Girls
19% girls have had sex by age 15
32% by age 16
By age 20, an estimated 74% reported to having sexual intercourse

Boys
2% boys have had sex by age 12
5% by age 13
10% by age 14
22% by age 15
35% by age 16
74% by age 20

Contraceptive use
By age 15, 80% reported using contraception the same month they first had sex, as did 85% of 17- to 18-year-olds.


Overall, it is estimated that the median age for first-time sex in the U.S. over the past 50 years is 17 years. In other words, more than half of Americans have sex when they reach 17 years old. However, according to the Census, the median age of first time marriage ranges from 26 years to 28 years. Also, the average age couples become first time parents is around 27 years. So obviously premarital sex is promoted by main stream culture and part of healthy relationships. Obviously no surprises here, in my opinion, US is extremely material and the whole world is following its promiscuous ways. You can read the entire article here.

The spiritual standard of living according to Bhagavad Gita is that a boy and girl can have sex only under the umbrella of marriage and that too only for procreation. Any sex before marriage is considered against the codes of dharma and hampers one's spiritual evolution. So from a data perspective, it should ideally read, 0% had sex before marriage. Unfortunately, today, such opinions on sexual behavior is highly inappropriate, unpopular and inane. Therefore our culture is very much enveloped in materialism where spiritual values of austerity, cleanliness, mercy and truthfulness are rarely practiced. How then can all living beings live happily in peace without fighting...in my opinion, highly unlikely!

Hare Krishna

05 Urmila Devi Dasi – Learn to Read Books – Part One
→ Successful Vaisnavas – Personal Development for Hare Krishnas

In this episode we will hear part one of a two-part interview series with Urmila Devi Dasi, where she describes how she created an amazing series of 83 Krishna conscious books designed to help children learn to read. And how she did it in only 3 years! This is the first interview ever recorded for […]

The post 05 Urmila Devi Dasi – Learn to Read Books – Part One appeared first on Successful Vaisnavas - Personal Development for Hare Krishnas.

05 Urmila Devi Dasi – Learn to Read Books – Part One
→ Successful Vaisnavas

In this episode we will hear part one of a two-part interview series with Urmila Devi Dasi, where she describes how she created an amazing series of 83 Krishna conscious books designed to help children learn to read. And how she did it in only 3 years!

Urmila Devi Dasi

This is the first interview ever recorded for Successful Vaisnavas.
It is great to finally release it (even if it did take a whole year!)

Lessons to learn from this interview:

  • Giving up dependancy on external arrangements
  • How Krishna reciprocates when we fully depend on Him
  • Getting started even though we have no idea how things will work out
  • How to get into flow working for Krishna
  • The importance of deadlines

To learn more about Urmila Devi Dasi visit her website: http://urmila.me.uk

To find out more about her Learn to Read books visit: http://www.learntoreadenglish.co.uk/

 

Podcast Introduction Transcription SelectShow

Interview Transcription SelectShow

For the rest of the story and to learn more about Urmila Devi Dasi and how she published so many books…

 Click this link to read on:

06-Urmila Devi Dasi  – Learn to Read Part 2