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The 11th day of Krishna Paksha (Moon’s waning phase) in the month of Kartik (October – November) is celebrated as Rama Ekadasi, named after Lord Vishnu’s consort, Goddess Rama. The day is also known as Rambha Ekadasi or Kartik Krishna Ekadasi. It’s recommended to fast, chant extra rounds and stay up all night chanting and […]
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Rajendranandana Das (ACBSP) prepares to leave this world As some of you may know, HG Rajendranandana Prabhu (ACBSP) has stage four cancer. He is bedridden at home in the US with his wife Catura Devi Dasi and his son Aja. He had some lower back problem about two and a half months […]
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Lead singer Madi Das and producer Dave Stringer of the 2014 kirtan album Bhakti Without Borders have launched a crowdfunding campaign for a new “Country and Eastern” kirtan record. Bhakti Without Borders featured Madi in duets with 11 female artists from around the world, and 100% of its profits went to the Sandipani Muni School […]
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Radha Sivyer, a second-generation devotee and member of the Bhaktivedanta Manor community in the UK, is currently demonstrating his impressive woodworking skills as a contestant on Channel 4’s Handmade: Britain’s Best Woodworker. Also known as Radha Vinode Das, Radha was born and raised in Wales, and moved with his family to the Watford area near […]
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The 11th day of Krishna Paksha (Moon’s waning phase) in the month of Kartik (October – November) is celebrated as Rama Ekadasi, named after Lord Vishnu’s consort, Goddess Rama. The day is also known as Rambha Ekadasi or Kartik Krishna Ekadasi.
It’s recommended to fast, chant extra rounds and stay up all night chanting and hearing the Lord’s glories. It is also auspicious to donate to Vaishnavas and Lord Krishna’s service on Ekadasi, and we invite our readers to consider contributing on this Rama Ekadasi towards the campaigns below. You can also make a pledge payment towards your TOVP donation pledge.
Prabhupada 125 India Govt. Minted Coin
General Donation (General Donation for Indian residents)
Pledge Payments (Pledge Payments for Indian residents)
NOTE: Rama Ekadasi is observed on Sunday, October 31 in the US and Monday, November 1 in India and other parts of the world. Please refer to your local calendar through www.gopal.home.sk/gcal
Yudhisthira Maharaj said, “O Janardana, O protector of all beings, what is the name of the Ekadasi that comes during the dark fortnight (Krishna paksha) of the month of Karttika (October – November)? Please impart this sacred knowledge to me.
The Supreme Lord, Sri Krishna then spoke as follows, “O lion among kings, please listen as I narrate to you. The Ekadasi that occurs during the dark part of the month of Karttika is called Rama Ekadasi. It is most auspicious, for it at once eradicates the greatest sins and awards one the passage to the spiritual abode. I shall now narrate to you its history and glories.
“There once lived a famous king of the name Muchukunda, who was friendly to Lord Indra, the king of the heavenly planets, as well as with Yamaraj, Varuna, and Vibhishana, the pious brother of the demon Ravana. Muchukunda always spoke the truth and constantly rendered devotional service to Me. Because he ruled according to religious principles, there were no disturbances in his kingdom.
“Muchukunda’s daughter was named Chandrabhaga, after a sacred river, and the king gave her in marriage to Shobhana, the son of Chandrasena. One day, Shobhana visited his father-in-law’s palace on the auspicious Ekadasi day. This visit made Shobhana’s wife Chandrabhaga quite anxious, for she knew that her husband was physically very weak and unable to bear the austerity of a day-long fast. She said to him, `My father is very strict about following Ekadasi. On Dasami, the day before Ekadasi, he strikes a large kettledrum and announces, “Nobody should eat on Ekadasi, the sacred day of Sri Hari!
“When Shobhana heard the sound of the kettledrum, he said to his wife, `O beautiful one, what am I to do now? Please tell me how I can save my life and obey your father’s strictness and at the same time satisfy our guests!
“Chandrabhaga then spoke, `My dear husband, in my father’s house nobody – not even the elephants or horses, what to speak of consenting human beings – eats on Ekadasi. Indeed, none of the animals are given their ration of grains, leaves, or straw – or even water – on Ekadasi, the sacred day of Sri Hari. So how can you escape fasting? My beloved husband, if you must eat something, then you should leave here at once. Now, with firm conviction decide on what you have to do.’
“Prince Shobhana then said, `I have decided to fast on the sacred Ekadasi day. Whatever my fate is, it will surely come to pass.’ “Deciding thus, Shobhana attempted to fast on this Ekadasi, but he became unbearably disturbed with excessive hunger and thirst.
“Eventually the sun set in the west, and the arrival of the auspicious night made all the Vaishnavas very happy. O Yudhisthira, all the devotees enjoyed worshipping Me (Sri Hari) and remaining awake all through the night, but Prince Shobhana that night became absolutely disturbed.
“Indeed, when the Sun rose on the Dwadasi, that Prince Shobhana was dead. King Muchukunda observed his son-in-law’s funeral, ordering a large stack of wood be assembled for the fire, but he instructed his daughter Chandrabhaga not to join her husband on the funeral pyre.
“Thus Chandrabhaga, after performing all the purificatory processes and procedures for honoring her deceased husband, continued to live in her father’s house.” Lord Sri Krishna continued, “O best of the kings, Yudhisthira, even though Shobhana died because of observing Rama Ekadasi, the merit that he accrued enabled him, after his death, to become the ruler of a kingdom high on the peak of Mandarachala Mountain.
“This kingdom was like a city of the demigods; very lustrous, with unlimited jewels set in the walls of its buildings that gave off light. The pillars were made of rubies, and gold inlaid with diamonds shone everywhere. As King Shobhana sat upon a throne beneath a pure white canopy, servants fanned him with yak-tail whisks.
“A stunning crown rested upon his head, beautiful earrings adorned his ears, a necklace graced his throat, and bejeweled armlets and bracelets encircled his arms. He was served by Gandharvas (the best of heavenly singers) and Apsaras (celestial dancers). Verily, he resembled a second Indra.
“One day, a brahmin named Somasharma, who lived in Muchukunda’s kingdom, happened upon Shobhana’s kingdom while travelling to various places of pilgrimage. The brahmin saw Shobhana in all his resplendent glory and thought he might be the son-in-law of his own King Muchukunda. When Shobhana saw the brahmin approaching, he immediately rose up from his seat and welcomed him. After Shobhana had paid his respectful obeisances he asked the brahmin about his well-being and about the health and welfare of his (Shobhana’s) father-in-law, his wife and all the residents of the city. Somasharma then said, `O king, all the residents and subjects are well in your father-in-law’s kingdom, and Chandrabhaga and your other family members are also quite well. Peace and prosperity reign throughout the kingdom.
‘But there is one thing, I’m quite astonished to find you here! Please tell me about yourself. Nobody has ever seen such a beautiful city as this! Kindly tell me how you obtained it.’
“King Shobhana then began to tell his story, `Because I observed the Rama Ekadasi, I was given this splendid city to rule over. But for all of its grandeur, it is only temporary. I beg you to do something to correct this deficiency. You see, this is only an ephemeral city, a place of this material world. How may I make its beauties and glories permanent? Kindly reveal this to me by your instructions.
“The brahmin then asked, `Why is this kingdom unstable and how will it become stable? Please fully explain this to me, and I shall try to help you.’
“Shobhana then answered, `Because I fasted on the Rama Ekadasi without any faith, this kingdom is impermanent. Now hear how it can become permanent. Please return to Chandrabhaga, the beautiful daughter of king Muchukunda, and tell her what you have seen and understood about this place and about me.
‘Surely, if you, a pure hearted brahmin, tell her this, my city will soon become permanent. “Thus, the brahmin returned to his city and related the entire episode to Chandrabhaga, who was both surprised and overjoyed to hear this news of her husband. She said, `O brahmana, is this a dream you have seen, or is it actually a factual thing?’
“Somasharma the brahmin replied, `O Princess, I have seen your late husband face to face in that wonderful kingdom, which resembles a realm of the denizens of heavens’ playgrounds.
‘But your former husband has asked me to relate to you that he says that his kingdom is unstable and could vanish into thin air at any moment. Therefore, he hopes you can find a way to make it permanent.’
“Chandrabhaga then said, `O sage among the brahmins, please take me to that place where my husband resides at once, for I greatly desire to see him again! Surely, I shall make his kingdom permanent with the merit that I have acquired by fasting on every Ekadasi throughout my life. Please reunite us at once, again. It is said that one who reunites separated persons also obtains very great merit.’
“The humble brahmin Somasharma then led Chandrabhaga to Shobhana’s effulgent kingdom. Before reaching it, however, they stopped at the foot of Mount Mandarachala, at the sacred ashrama of Vamadeva. Upon hearing their story, Vamadeva chanted hymns from the Vedas and sprinkled holy water from his samanya arghya upon Chandrabhaga.
“By the influence of that great Rishi’s rites, the merit she had accrued by fasting for so many Ekadasis made her body transcendental. Ecstatic, her eyes beaming in wonder, Chandrabhaga continued on her journey.
“When Shobhana saw his wife approaching him high on Mount Mandarachala, he was overwhelmed with joy and called out to her in great happiness and jubilation.
“After she arrived, he seated her on his left side and she said to him, `O dearest Patiguru, please listen as I tell you something that will benefit you greatly. Since I was eight years old I have fasted regularly and with full faith on every Ekadasi. If I transfer to you all the merit I have accumulated, your kingdom will surely become permanent, and its prosperity will grow and grow until the coming of the great inundation!’
Lord Sri Krishna then continued to address Yudhisthira as follows, “O Yudhisthira, in this way Chandrabhaga, who was beautifully decorated with the finest ornaments and had an exquisitely transcendental body, at last enjoyed peace and happiness with her husband.
“By the potency of Rama Ekadasi, Shobhana found his kingdom on the peaks of Mount Mandarachala able to fulfill all his desires and bestow upon him everlasting happiness, like that achieved from the transcendental Kama-dhenu milk cow.
“O greatest of kings, I have thus narrated to you the glories of Rama Ekadasi that falls in the dark fortnight of the month of Kartika.
“Anyone who observes sacred Ekadasi during both the light and the dark fortnight of each month is undoubtedly freed from the reactions to the sin of killing a brahmin. One should not differentiate between the Ekadasis of the light and dark parts of the month.”
As we have seen, both can award pleasure in this world and liberate even the most sinful and fallen souls. Just as black cows and white cows give equally good quality milk, so the Ekadasis of the dark fortnight (Krishna paksha) and the light fortnight (shukla or Gaura paksha) award the same high degree of merit and eventually liberate one from the repeated cycle of birth and death.
Anyone who simply hears this narration of the glories of the sacred day of Rama Ekadasi is freed from all kinds of sin and attains the supreme abode of Lord Vishnu.
Thus ends the narration for the glories of the sacred Karttika-krishna Ekadasi, or Rama Ekadasi, from the Brahma-vaivarta Purana of Srila Krishna Dwaipayana Veda Vyasa.
This article has been used courtesy of ISKCON Desire Tree
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The Festival of Diwali, lights, has become India’s largest and most important annual holiday and is celebrated by over 1 billion people, mainly of the Hindu religion, and can last up to five days depending on the celebrants. It is observed by the lighting of dipas or lights usually made of ghee wicks, placed in various locations to invoke auspiciousness, as well as through giving in charity and other methods.
However, like many celebrations nowadays, the spiritual significance is often lost and the focus placed on mundane benefits and blessings alone. In fact, the real significance of Diwali is a spiritual one, and relates to the pastimes of Lord Rama and Lord Krishna. In northern India, they celebrate Lord Rama’s return to Ayodhya after he defeated Ravana by lighting rows of clay lamps. Southern India celebrates it as the day Lord Krishna defeated the demon Narakasura.
However, aside from the lilas of the Lord themselves, the deep meaning of those lilas celebrates the triumph of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil. Nothing could be a more significant purpose than that, especially for devotees of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the most munificent incarnation of Lord Krishna Who appeared in Sridhama Mayapur a little over 500 years ago to freely distribute love of Krishna, Krishna prema.
The Temple of the Vedic Planetarium (TOVP), ISKCON’s crest jewel project, is the full manifestation of this purpose of manifesting light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance and good over evil. And not only for a few days a year but 365 days a year, 24 hours a day! This Future Wonder of the World will display the full-blown knowledge of Vedic wisdom to the world, particularly the science of bhakti yoga or Krishna consciousness. From this single temple the glories of devotional service and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu will spread rapidly throughout the world on a massive scale previously unknown.
We humbly request all devotees to take advantage of this occasion during the auspicious month of Kartik, when spiritual activities have increased potency, to support the completion of the TOVP construction so the temple can open timely in 2024. Our newest fundraising campaign started the beginning of September with the release of the India Govt. minted Prabhupada 125th Anniversary Year coin. We are just reminding devotees that they can get one of these rare coins from the TOVP, which will remain as an heirloom in their family for generations to come.
Of course, during this auspicious month you can also sponsor any Seva Opportunity or make a Pledge Payment or General Donation.
The coin is available for $1,250 / ₹1,25 Lakhs / €1,250 / £1,250. A two-year installment payment plan is an option for long-term payments. That’s a payment of $50 / ₹3700 / €85 / £37 a month for two years.
Reserve your coin today as supplies are limited!
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Diwali is India’s most important festival of the year — a time to celebrate the triumph of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil.
Diwali, or Dipawali, is India’s biggest and most important holiday of the year. … In northern India, they celebrate the story of King Rama’s return to Ayodhya after he defeated Ravana by lighting rows of clay lamps. Southern India celebrates it as the day that Lord Krishna defeated the demon Narakasura.
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Sri Virachandra or Virabhadra Prabhu appeared on the ninth day of the dark fortnight of the month of Kartika. Krsna dasa Kaviraja Gosvami has given this description of Him in the C.C. Adi 11.8-12
Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura writes in his Anubhāṣya, “Vīrabhadra Gosāñi was the direct son of Śrīla Nityānanda Prabhu and a disciple of Jāhnavā-devī. His real mother was Vasudhā.
In the Gaura-gaṇoddeśa-dīpikā (67) He is mentioned as an incarnation of Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu. Therefore Vīrabhadra Gosāñi is nondifferent from Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
In a village of the name Jhāmaṭapura, in the district of Hugli, Vīrabhadra Gosāñi had a disciple named Yadunāthācārya, who had two daughters—a real daughter named Śrīmatī and a foster daughter named Nārāyaṇī. Both these daughters married, and they are mentioned in the Bhakti-ratnākara (Thirteenth Wave).
Vīrabhadra Gosāñi had three disciples who are celebrated as his sons—Gopījana-vallabha, Rāmakṛṣṇa and Rāmacandra.
I presented this paper at The Sanskrit Tradition in the Modern World conference at the
University of Newcastle, England, on May 19, 2000.
The interactions among science, Hinduism, and Christianity are as complex as those in the three-body problem of astrophysics. In practice, astrophysicists select a central body, say the Earth, with a second body, the Moon orbiting it, and then try to determine the perturbations induced in the motion of the Moon by the attraction of the third body, the Sun. There is no general solution for this problem. This means that independent of observations one cannot calculate very far in advance (or very far into the past) the exact position of the Moon relative to the other two bodies. The perturbations of the Moon’s orbit, induced by the attractions of the Earth and Sun, are incalculably complex, as are the movements of Hinduism in relation to the twin influences of science and Christianity. The reactions provoked by my book Forbidden Archeology, from scientists, scholars, and religionists, provide useful data for examination of a three-body problem in the study of Hinduism, Christianity, and science.
To read other essays by Michael A. Cremo go to: https://tovp.org/vedic-science/vedic-science-essays/
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Today Is Bahulastami also known as the appearance of Radha Kund In Sri Navadvipa Dham, Sri Radha Kunda has manifested Herself in two places: in the island of Rtudvipa and Antardvipa. In the Navadvipa Bhava Taranga, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura writes the mood and activities of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu as He came to Rtudvipa. ritudvipam tato gatva […]
The post Today Is Bahulastami The Appearance Of Radha Kund appeared first on Mayapur.com.
By Cintamani dhama dasi By late 1995, I was experiencing many problems in my life, and the cumulative effect was that my faith in Krishna was shaken. One day I sat in our kitchen considering the idea of leaving Krishna Consciousness, when an internal voice warned me that if I left, I would suffer greatly. The little voice urged me to study Srila Prabhupada’s books. Thankfully, I paid heed to this advice. When my children were asleep, I began systematically studying Bhagavad-Gita As It Is. Over the course of the next five or six years, this personal study developed into daily discussions with my husband. At first our discussions were argumentative and unpleasant, but by listening to Srila Prabhupada’s lectures, we heard instructions which helped us to improve how we interacted with each other in our discussions. Continue reading "Hidden Jewel in Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-Gita Purport
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Kartik is very auspicious for spiritual advancement. Another name for Kartik is Urja-vrata. Urja means power. The supreme power, the original power, is Srimati Radharani. So Urja-vrata, or Kartik-vrata, is for Srimati Radharani. Many important pastimes took place in the month of Kartik. On the full-moon night, Sri Krishna played upon His flute and enjoyed the rasa-lila, which is considered the best of His pastimes. Also during Kartik, Krishna saw that the residents of Vrindavan were preparing to worship Indradeva, and He convinced them not to worship Indra but to use the same paraphernalia to worship Govardhana Hill, the brahmans, and the cows. When Indra saw that his worship had been stopped, he became furious and wanted to take revenge against Krishna and the Vraja-vasis. He sent torrential rains and hail. And to give protection to the residents of Vrindavan, Krishna lifted Govardhana Hill and kept it on the little finger of His left hand for seven days. Thus Indra’s pride was shattered, and he came to beg forgiveness from Lord Krishna.
In the month of Kartik also, our beloved founder-acharya, His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, left this world and entered the eternal pastimes of Krishna.
One other event that took place during Kartik was Lord Krishna’s killing of the demon Arista, who had assumed the form of a bull. Thereafter, Lord Krishna manifested Syama-kunda and Radha-kunda. Because today is celebrated as the appearance day of Radha-kunda, we shall read a relevant verse from The Nectar of Instruction, an authorized English presentation by Srila Prabhupada of Srila Rupa Gosvami’s Sri Upadesamrta.
The Nectar of Instruction, Text Ten:
karmibhyah parito hareh priyataya vyaktim yayur jnaninas
tebhyo jnana-vimukta-bhakti-paramah premaika-nisthas tatah
tebhyas tah pasu-pala-pankaja-drsas tabhyo ’pi sa radhika
prestha tadvad iyam tadiya-sarasi tam nasrayet kah krti
karmibhyah—than all fruitive workers; paritah—in all respects; hareh—by the Supreme Personality of Godhead; priyataya—because of being favored; vyaktim yayur—it is said in the sastra; jnaninah—those advanced in knowledge; tebhyah—superior to them; jnana vimukta—liberated by knowledge; bhakti-paramah—those engaged in devotional service; prema-eka-nisthah—those who have attained pure love of God; tatah—superior to them; tebhyah—better than them; tah—they; pasu-pala-pankaja–drsah—the gopis who are always dependent on Krsna, the cowherd boy; tabhyah—above all of them; api—certainly; sa—She; radhika—Srimati Radharani; prestha—very dear; tadvat—similarly; iyam—this; tadiya-sarasi—Her lake, Sri Radha-kunda; tam—Radha-kunda; na—not; asrayet—would take shelter of; kah—who; krti—most fortunate.
TRANSLATION
In the sastra it is said that of all types of fruitive workers, he who is advanced in knowledge of the higher values of life is favored by the Supreme Lord Hari. Out of many such people who are advanced in knowledge [jnanis], one who is practically liberated by virtue of his knowledge may take to devotional service. He is superior to the others. However, one who has actually attained prema, pure love of Krsna, is superior to him. The gopis are exalted above all the advanced devotees because they are always totally dependent upon Sri Krsna, the transcendental cowherd boy. Among the gopis, Srimati Radharani is the most dear to Krsna. Her kunda [lake] is as profoundly dear to Lord Krsna as this most beloved of the gopis. Who, then, will not reside at Radha-kunda and, in a spiritual body surcharged with ecstatic devotional feelings [aprakrta-bhava], render loving service to the divine couple Sri Sri Radha-Govinda, who perform Their astakaliya-lila, Their eternal eight-fold daily pastimes. Indeed, those who execute devotional service on the banks of Radha-kunda are the most fortunate people in the universe.
PURPORT by Srila Prabhupada
At the present moment almost everyone is engaged in some kind of fruitive activity. Those who are desirous of gaining material profits by working are called karmis, or fruitive workers. All living entities within this material world have come under the spell of maya. This is described in the Visnu Purana (6.7.61):
visnu-saktih para prokta
ksetrajnakhya tatha para
avidya-karma-samjnanya
trtiya saktir isyate
Sages have divided the energies of the Supreme Personality of Godhead into three categories—namely, the spiritual energy, marginal energy, and material energy. The material energy is considered to be the third-class energy (trtiya saktih). Those living beings within the jurisdiction of the material energy sometimes engage themselves like dogs and hogs in working very hard simply for sense gratification. However, in this life, or, after executing pious activities, in the next life, some karmis become strongly attracted to performing various kinds of sacrifices mentioned in the Vedas. Thus on the strength of their pious merit, they are elevated to heavenly planets. Actually those who perform sacrifices strictly according to Vedic injunctions are elevated to the moon and planets above the moon. As mentioned in Bhagavad-gita (9.21), ksine punye martya-lokam visanti: After exhausting the results of their so-called pious activities, they again return to the earth, which is called martya-loka, the place of death. Although such persons may be elevated to the heavenly planets by their pious activities and although they may enjoy life there for many thousands of years, they nonetheless must return to this planet when the results of their pious activities are exhausted.
COMMENT by Giriraj Swami
The lowest category mentioned here is the karmi. The principle of the karmi is to work to get money for sense gratification. Ninety-nine percent of the people in the world are karmis, and they fall into two categories: those who are regulated according to Vedic principles and those who are not. Those who are not regulated are like animals—cats and dogs and hogs. They just want to eat, drink, and enjoy. They engage in all sorts of sinful activities, and as a result they are pushed down into hellish conditions. Those in the other category, the regulated, follow the Vedic injunctions in order to enjoy a higher standard of material happiness. By performance of pious activities, such as Vedic sacrifices, such persons can be elevated to the heavenly planets, where they enjoy the results of their pious deeds. But after their pious credits are exhausted, they again fall down to earth.
One time on a morning walk in the middle of New York City, Srila Prabhupada pointed to some blades of grass growing up between the cracks of the concrete pavement. “What is this?” he asked. “It’s grass, Srila Prabhupada,” a devotee replied. “Yes, I know it is grass,” Prabhupada said. “But how did it come up here between the cracks?” Nobody could answer. Then Srila Prabhupada explained that after the fruitive workers exhaust their pious credits on the higher planets, they fall down to earth. And how do the spirit souls get here from the higher planets? They come in the rain. The rain falls on the earth, between the cracks of the sidewalk, and the living entities who were enjoying life in the heavenly planets take birth as blades of grass or sprouts of grain on earth. This is because their pious credits have been exhausted.
From the point of view of one in Krishna consciousness, that happiness of sense gratification is not real happiness. But even if someone is on a lower level and thinks that material enjoyment is happiness, still he cannot enjoy for long. As soon as his pious credits are finished, he will have to suffer. Therefore, intelligent persons do not try to enjoy the material world.
PURPORT (continued)
This is the position of all karmis, including those who act piously and those who act impiously. On this planet we find many businessmen, politicians, and others who are simply interested in material happiness. They attempt to earn money by all means, not considering whether such means are pious or impious. Such people are called karmis, or gross materialists. Among the karmis are some vikarmis, people who act without the guidance of Vedic knowledge. Those who act on the basis of Vedic knowledge perform sacrifices for the satisfaction of Lord Visnu and to receive benedictions from Him. In this way they are elevated to higher planetary systems. Such karmis are superior to the vikarmis, for they are faithful to the directions of the Vedas and are certainly dear to Krsna. In Bhagavad-gita (4.11), Krsna says: ye yatha mam prapadyante tams tathaiva bhajamy aham. “In whatever way one surrenders unto Me, I reward him accordingly.”
COMMENT
In shastra Lord Krishna states that “the injunctions of the Vedas are My orders, and one who goes against the injunctions of the Vedas goes against Me.” So, one who follows the Vedic injunctions follows the orders of Krishna, and he tends to be dearer to Krishna than one who goes against them.
PURPORT (continued)
Krsna is so kind that He fulfills the desires of the karmis and jnanis, what to speak of the bhaktas. Although the karmis are sometimes elevated to higher planetary systems, as long as they remain attached to fruitive activities they must accept new material bodies after death.
COMMENT
In the Bhagavad-gita (8.16) Lord Krishna says, a-brahma-bhuvanal lokah punar avartino ’rjuna: from the highest planet in the material world, Brahmaloka, down to the lowest, all are places of misery wherein repeated birth and death take place. Even if one is elevated to a heavenly planet, he still has to die and take birth again. As stated in the Gita (2.27), “For one who has taken birth, death is certain. And for one who has died, birth is certain.” He remains caught in the repetition of birth and death.
PURPORT (continued)
If one acts piously, he can attain a new body among the demigods in the higher planetary systems, or he may attain some other position in which he can enjoy a higher standard of material happiness. On the other hand, those who are engaged in impious activities are degraded and take birth as animals, trees, and plants. Thus those fruitive actors who do not care for the Vedic directions (vikarmis) are not appreciated by learned saintly persons. . . .
One should therefore be eager to understand the science of the soul (atma-tattva). Unless one comes to the platform of atma-tattva, by which one understands that the soul and not the body is oneself, one remains on the platform of ignorance. Out of thousands and even millions of ignorant people who are wasting their time simply gratifying their senses, one may come to the platform of knowledge and understand higher values of life. Such a person is called a jnani.
COMMENT
Higher than the karmis are the jnanis. The karmis are bound to remain in the material world to enjoy and suffer the fruits of their work. They may enjoy for a while, but mainly they suffer. The jnanis are more intelligent because they see that fruitive work leads to suffering, but they don’t know about devotional service. They know only material activity, and that material activity brings material misery. So, to become free from material misery, they resolve to refrain from all activity. But the soul is active by nature. The soul cannot remain inactive for long. So, the jnani too must engage in activity, and, having no knowledge of spiritual activity, he will again engage in material activity and thus fall down. Therefore Srimad-Bhagavatam says that although jnanis imagine that they are liberated, actually they are not, because they neglect the service of the lotus feet of the Lord.
ye ’nye ’ravindaksa vimukta-maninas
tvayy asta-bhavad avisuddha-buddhayah
aruhya krcchrena param padam tatah
patanty adho ’nadrta-yusmad-anghrayah
“O lotus-eyed Lord, although nondevotees who accept severe austerities and penances to achieve the highest position may think themselves liberated, their intelligence is impure. They fall down from their position of imagined superiority because they have no regard for Your lotus feet.” (SB 10.2.32)
Because such impersonalists neglect the Lord’s service, they fall down. After renouncing material activities, they become restless; they want some activity. And because they are unaware of the spiritual activities of bhakti-yoga, devotional service, they fall into material activities and become karmis again. There are many examples of impersonal jnanis and yogis who go to the Himalayas to become one with Brahman, declaring, brahma satya jagan mithya: Brahman is truth, and the world is false. They leave the world to engage in impersonal meditation, but they cannot maintain it; they fall down. They come back to the world they have declared to be false, back to the cities, and engage in material welfare activities such as opening schools and hospitals, and sometimes they fall so low that they become involved in politics. So, patyanti adah: they fall down.
The impersonal philosophers don’t have real knowledge. If someone actually has knowledge, he surrenders to Krishna and engages in devotional service.
bahunam janmanam ante
jnanavan mam prapadyante
vasudevah sarvam iti
sa mahatma sudurlabhah
“After many births and deaths, he who is actually in knowledge surrenders unto Me, knowing Me to be the cause of all causes and all that is. Such a great soul is very rare.” (Gita 7.19) After being a jnani for many lifetimes, when the jnani actually becomes wise, he surrenders to Krishna and becomes a bhakta, a rare great soul.
The bhakta is superior to the karmi and the jnani. The bhakta begins with the process of sadhana-bhakti, but even the sadhaka is considered higher than the best of the karmis and jnanis. And when the sadhaka becomes more advanced, he attains krsna-prema. Among the devotees, he who has prema is the best. And among the devotees who have prema, the active servants are better than those who have neutral appreciation; the friends are higher than the servants; the fathers and mothers are higher than the friends; and the lovers, or the young gopis, are the best of all. And among the gopis, Srimati Radharani is the best—She is the best of all.
PURPORT (continued)
Of all these devotees, the gopis are recognized as superior because they do not know anything other than satisfying Krsna. Nor do the gopis expect any return from Krsna.
COMMENT
The gopis are the best because they have no personal desire for enjoyment. They want only Krishna’s happiness. Srila Prabhupada told the story of the time Krishna declared that He had a headache and that only the dust of the feet of His devotee could cure Him. He sent His messenger to so many devotees, but they all said, “If the dust of our feet goes on the Lord’s head, we will commit a great offense and have to go to hell.” So they all refused. The messenger became discouraged. He went back to Lord Krishna, and the Lord said, “You should go to the gopis of Vrindavan and ask them.” So he went, and immediately all the gopis gathered around him and inquired, “How is Krishna?” The messenger replied, “Krishna is not well. He has a headache.” The gopis immediately became disturbed. “Krishna has a headache! What can we do? What can we do?” The messenger said, “The only thing that will cure Krishna’s headache is the dust of the feet of His devotee.” “Oh, then take as much dust as you like, take it all!” “But if the dust from your feet goes on Krishna’s head, you will be committing a great offense and could go to hell,” the messenger said. And the gopis replied, “As long as Krishna’s headache is cured, we don’t care if we go to hell.”
This is the standard of the gopis’ love. They have no desire for personal happiness. They want only Krishna’s happiness, and if their unhappiness gives Krishna happiness, they consider their unhappiness to be the greatest happiness. We cannot experience such feelings in the material world. Only someone who has come to the stage of bhava- or prema-bhakti can know such selfless love. “Of all these devotees, the gopis are recognized as superior because they do not know anything other than satisfying Krishna.”
Srila Prabhupada often gave the example that Krishna would go into the pasturing grounds and the gopis would be at home, crying. Why were they crying? Because they were thinking that the paths of Vrindavan were filled with so many thorns and stones and that if the soft lotus feet of Krishna were pricked by some pebble or thorn, He would feel pain. And thinking of Krishna’s pain, they would cry.
“Nor do the gopis expect any return from Krsna.” Srila Prabhupada used to say that when Krishna returned from the pasturing grounds in the afternoon, the gopis would not approach Him and say, “Krishna, You have been working all day. What have You brought for me? Let me look into Your pocket and see if You brought something for me.” They were not like that.
PURPORT (continued)
Nor do the gopis expect any return from Krsna. Indeed, sometimes Krsna puts them into extreme suffering by separating Himself from them. Nonetheless, they cannot forget Krsna.
COMMENT
In the material world, we may think that we love someone, but after some time we may forget. Somebody will die, and we will cry for some days, but gradually we may forget. But the gopis never forget Krishna.
PURPORT (continued)
When Krsna left Vrndavana for Mathura, the gopis became most dejected and spent the rest of their lives simply crying in separation from Krsna. This means that in one sense they were never actually separated from Krsna. There is no difference between thinking of Krsna and associating with Him.
COMMENT
Krishna is absolute. Therefore Krishna’s name, Krishna’s form, Krishna’s qualities, and Krishna’s pastimes are all the same as Krishna. So when one remembers Krishna’s name, form, qualities, or pastimes, one is in Krishna’s association. In the extreme mood of separation from Krishna, the gopis actually experience Krishna’s presence. And they feel great ecstasy. The bodies of the gopis are ananda-cinmaya-rasa-pratibhavitabis (Bs 5.37). They’re made of ananda cinmaya-rasa, or mahabhava. Their constitution is ananda-maya, full of bliss. It cannot be anything but bliss—and not only bliss, but the highest ecstasy of mahabhava. Their feeling of separation appears externally to be misery, but actually it is not misery; it is ecstasy. Srila Sanatana Gosvami gives an analogy for extreme separation—that ice acts like fire. For example, dry ice is so cold that if you touch it, you get burned. It’s freezing cold, but it produces the opposite effect. The mood of the gopis’ separation is so extreme and intense that in separation they experience meeting Krishna, and they experience ecstasy in Krishna’s association.
PURPORT (continued)
There is no difference between thinking of Krsna and associating with Him. Rather, vipralambha-seva, thinking of Krsna in separation, as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu did, is far better than serving Krsna directly.
COMMENT
We should try to develop Krishna consciousness in the mood of separation. We are not liberated now, not now in Krishna’s pastimes. And if we imagine that we are meeting Krishna and serving Krishna and not factually realizing it, we can become sahajiyas. Srila Prabhupada didn’t want us to become sahajiyas. He wanted us to worship in the mood of separation, like Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and the Six Gosvamis.
PURPORT (concluded)
Thus of all the devotees who have developed unalloyed devotional love for Krsna, the gopis are most exalted, and out of all these exalted gopis, Srimati Radharani is the highest. No one can excel the devotional service of Srimati Radharani. Indeed, even Krsna cannot understand the attitude of Srimati Radharani; therefore He took Her position and appeared as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, just to understand Her transcendental feelings.
In this way Srila Rupa Gosvami gradually concludes that Srimati Radharani is the most exalted devotee of Krsna and that Her kunda is the most exalted place. . . .
yatha radha priya visnos
tasyah kundam priyam tatha
sarva-gopisu saivaika
visnor atyanta-vallabha
“Just as Srimati Radharani is dear to the Supreme Lord Krsna, so Her bathing place is equally dear to Krsna. Among all the gopis, She alone stands supreme as the Lord’s most beloved.”
Therefore everyone interested in Krsna consciousness should ultimately take shelter of Radha-kunda and execute devotional service there throughout one’s life. This is the conclusion of Rupa Gosvami in the tenth verse of Upadesamrta.
COMMENT
We’re not really qualified to discuss Radha-kunda, but because today is Radha-kunda’s appearance day, we may say something about the appearance of Sri Radha-kunda, which we can respect and appreciate from a distance.
As I mentioned earlier, Krishna killed the bull demon, the aristasura, and after killing him He approached the gopis for pastimes, but they refused. “You have killed a bull,” they said, “so You are contaminated. We do not want to associate with You.” Krishna asked, “What do I have to do to become purified from the sin?” The gopis replied, “You must take bath in all the sacred rivers in all the sacred places in all the three worlds.” Then Krishna thought, “Better I call all the holy places here.” He pushed His heel in the ground, and immediately all the personified holy places came before Him and started offering prayers and obeisances. Srimati Radharani said, “I don’t see any holy places.” So, Lord Krishna told the holy places personified to identify themselves, and they said, “I am Yamuna, I am Ganga, I am Sarasvati, I am Sindhu, I am Prayag, I am Puskhara,” and so on. And then, on Krishna’s indication, they became liquid and flowed into the kunda created by the impression of Krishna’s foot, and they filled up the kunda with water. Thus Krishna-kunda, or Syama-kunda, came into existence. Krishna took His bath and then announced to the gopis, “Now I am completely pure. I have taken bath in all the sacred places in all the three worlds. But you are not pure. You are contaminated, because although Aristasura was in the form of a bull, still he was a demon. You took the side of a demon, so you are contaminated. So you also have to take bath and become purified. Take bath in My kunda, and you will be free.”
Srimati Radharani said, “No, no. Your kunda is contaminated by the terrible sin of killing the bull. I am not going to take bath in Your kunda. I am going to make My own.”
Aristasura’s hooves had made a shallow ditch just west of Sri Krishna’s pond. So, the gopis began digging up lumps of soft mud with their hands, and very quickly they manifested a beautiful kunda. Srimati Radharani had said from the beginning, “I will make My kunda more beautiful than Krishna’s.” Now Krishna said, “Well, Your kunda is very beautiful, but it has one defect: it has no water in it. So why don’t You take some water from My kunda?” “No, no, no, no. Your water is contaminated by Your sin. We will bring our own water.”
There are thousands and millions of gopis. On Srimati Radharani’s indication, they filled pots with water, and passed the pots from one gopi to the next to the next in a long chain, all the way from Manasi-ganga to Radha-kunda. But Lord Krishna, seeing the labor of the gopis, was not happy, because He cannot bear to see even one drop of perspiration on the face of Srimati Radharani. He appealed to Her, “Please take water from My kunda.” But She refused—“No!” Then Lord Krishna called the representative of all the holy places, who began to offer prayers to Srimati Radharani: “Even Krishna likes to serve Your lotus feet, and He rejoices and feels most fortunate simply by satisfying the tips of the toes of Your lotus feet. So we also want to serve Your lotus feet. If You fulfill our desire, our lives will be successful.”
Srimati Radharani was pleased and, glancing at Krishna from the corners of Her eyes, She smiled and replied, “Please come.” And the holy waters in Syama-kunda broke through its boundary walls and quickly filled Radha-kunda. Then Sri Radha and the gopis took bath, and in the end, Krishna was so pleased that He told Her, “Your kunda will become even more famous than Mine. I will always come here to bathe and enjoy My water pastimes. Your kunda is as dear to Me as You are.” Srimati Radharani was pleased, and She said to Lord Krishna, “I will also come and take bath in Your pond, even if You kill hundreds and thousands of Aristasuras. Anyone who has devotion for Your lake and bathes or resides there will become very dear to Me.” Both Sri Radha and Krishna became so pleased after the formation of Syama-kunda and Radha-kunda that They inaugurated a great festival of the rasa dance.
I’ll mention just one more point from the verse. The Sanskrit in the verse concludes, prestha tadvad iyam tadiya-sarasi tam nasrayet kah krti: “What fortunate person will not take shelter of Radha-kunda?” This is what the Sanskrit says. But what does Srila Prabhupada say? “Who, then, will not reside at Radha-kunda and, in a spiritual body surcharged with ecstatic devotional feelings, render service to the divine couple who perform Their eternal eight-fold daily pastimes?” In other words, this is what it really means to take shelter of Radha-kunda—not to go there and live like a monkey. When a disciple once told Srila Prabhupada that he wanted to go and stay in Radha-kunda, Srila Prabhupada replied that there were already enough monkeys there; they didn’t need another.
Taking shelter of Radha-kunda doesn’t mean going there and living like a monkey, thinking of the demands of the body. Monkeys appear to be very renounced, because they don’t wear clothes, they eat only fruits and berries, and they live in the jungle in trees. But Srila Prabhupada said that each monkey has two dozen girlfriends. So, actually, they are not renounced. If someone goes to Radha-kunda without being able to take shelter of the holy name as described by Srila Prabhupada in the translation, he may become just like a monkey—outwardly appearing renounced but internally full of desires for sense gratification.
So, we go step by step. Srila Rupa Gosvami describes the exalted position of Srimati Radharani and Radha-kunda and asks, “What fortunate person will not take shelter of Radha-kunda?” But here we are at the end of Rupa Gosvami’s instructions. There are so many instructions earlier in the book, and to take shelter of Radha-kunda properly, we have to follow all the other instructions, from text one to text nine—not jump like monkeys to texts nine, ten, and eleven.
What is the first instruction? Vaco vegam manasah krodha-vegam/ jihva-vegam udaropastha-vegam—we have to control the urges. First is the urge to speak. We speak so much nonsense. Whenever we get the chance, we discuss politics, we discuss boy-girl affairs, or still worse, we criticize devotees. So, vaco vegam, and then manasa krodha-vegam: we have to control the mind. Anyway, I need not elaborate. We all can assess our present positions. And we should proceed step by step from the first verse up to the last ones, nine, ten, and eleven.
Still, by the mercy of Srimati Radharani, Srila Rupa Gosvami, and Srila Prabhupada, we have had the opportunity to remember Sri Radha-kunda and discuss the conclusions of Srila Rupa Gosvami given here in Sri Upadesamrta, so kindly explained by His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada.
Hare Krishna!
[A talk by Giriraj Swami on Radha-kunda’s appearance day, November 7, 1993, Bombay]
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 8 October 2021 New York City, United States of America, Zoom Disciple Meeting)
We all know our capacity. We have our limits in all directions. All these limits are expanded through empowerment which comes from mercy.
The article " Empowerment comes from mercy " was published on KKSBlog.
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 8 October 2021 New York City, United States of America, Zoom Disciple Meeting)
We all know our capacity. We have our limits in all directions. All these limits are expanded through empowerment which comes from mercy.
The article " Empowerment comes from mercy " was published on KKSBlog.
On the eighth day of the waning phase of the damodara month the appearance day of Radha Kunda is celebrated by the residents. Bathing in Radha Kunda is especially benefical on this day. By this one gains the favor of Radha, by which one gains the favor of Krsna. Radha Kunda appeared at midnight. People go to Radha Kunda and offer prasadam, garlands and pumkins (gords) into the water, then at midnight take bath in Radha Kunda and then bathe in Syama Kunda.
After killing a bull-demon named Aristasura, Krishna approached Radharani to engage in loving affairs. However, She rebuked Him, stating He was impure because of committing the sin of killing a bull, the symbol of religion. She suggested that to counteract this sin He should bathe in all the sacred rivers.
Krishna, being eager to engage in loving affairs with Srimati Radharani, immediately shoved His lotus foot into the ground, making a large hole, and called all the sacred rivers to enter into it. They appeared before Him and formed Syama-kunda (the bathing place of Syama–one who is the color of a dark rain cloud).
After bathing, Krishna stated that He had become pure by bathing in Syama-kunda, but that the gopis had become impure, having sided with a demon, even though he appeared in the form of a bull.
Radharani, along with some of Her gopi friends, broke their bangles and dug a hole with the broken pieces. But there was no water – so Krishna laughed. The gopis then formed a line to the Manasi Ganga and started to fill the hole with water that was passed from one gopi to another.
At that time, all the sacred rivers again arrived in person and requested permission to enter into Radharani’s kunda, which they did after receiving Radharani’s blessing.
HG Yadunath Prabhu - “George Harrison: The Philosophy Behind the Songs” ISKCON Ottawa
By Indradyumna SwamiHow to Make Devotees in the West. "Endangered Species: ISKCON Ashramites in the West,” nicely outlines the shortfalls of ISKCON’s past while providing valuable advice and direction for ISKCON’s future. The strong statements in this book will remind ISKCON leaders about the benefits of ashram training. In addition to being very much a part of the Vedic tradition, ashrams were integral to ISKCON’s initial worldwide growth. Krishna House proves that such ashram training is still applicable even today. Having seen the success of Krishna House firsthand, I wonder why other leaders have not followed its example. Nothing speaks louder than success. Continue reading "Endangered Species: ISKCON Ashramites in the West
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At the end of the day, having rounded up all His cows, Krsna plays a song on His flute while exalted demigods standing along the path worship His lotus feet and the cowherd boys accompanying Him chant His glories. His garland is powdered by the dust raised by the cows’ hooves, and His beauty, enhanced by His fatigue, creates an ecstatic festival for everyone’s eyes. Eager to fulfill His friends’ desires, Krsna is the moon arisen from the womb of mother Yasoda.
Wearing a peacock-feather ornament upon His head, blue karnikara flowers on His ears, a yellow garment as brilliant as gold, and the Vaijayanti garland, Lord Krsna exhibited His transcendental form as the greatest of dancers as He entered the forest of Vrndavana, beautifying it with the marks of His footprints. He filled the holes of His flute with the nectar of His lips, and the cowherd boys sang His glories.
Source: Bhaktivedanta College
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 6 July 2021, Goloka Dhama, Germany, Srimad Bhagavatam 6.1.18)
Purification is a realistic element of life. A lot people nowadays go into some therapy with an idea that they can overcome something within themselves. In the Vedic culture, purification is essential in life. It says that everyone needs to purify themselves. In principle, it is understood that every living being has a higher and lower nature. The higher nature is elevating us. It is bringing out noble qualities and it is bringing us to a point of being free from causing suffering to others. Acting for the upliftment of others, and thereby, uplifting ourselves. So we can see that everyone has these two sides within them. Therefore, there is a need for purification of the previous things that we have done due to our lower nature. And there is the need of purifying ourselves completely from the tendency to act according to our lower nature.
The article " Uplifting ourselves " was published on KKSBlog.
Today is the disappearance day of a great saint, Srila Narottama Das Thakur! Appearing as the son of a king, Shri Narottama Dasa Thakura (Shri Thakura Mahasaya) showed all the bodily symptoms of a mahapurusha (an exalted divine person). He had long arms, a deep navel, golden-complexion, beautiful eyes shaped like the lotus petals. In […]
The post The Disappearance Day of Srila Narottama Das Thakur appeared first on ISKCON News.
Radha Sivyer, a prominent member of the Bhaktivedanta Players drama group, is appearing regularly as a talented contestant on Channel 4’s Handmade: Britain’s Best Woodworker. Nine of the country’s most talented craftspeople are battling it out in Channel 4’s new competition, Handmade: Britain’s Best Woodworker. Hosted by former Great British Bake Off host Mel Giedroyc, and judged […]
The post Britain’s Best Woodworker appeared first on ISKCON News.
На прошлой неделе, в день ухода Шрилы Рагунатхи Бхатты Госвами, нас пригласили на его бхаджан-стхали здесь, во Вриндаване. Пять братьев-Госвами, которые там служат, милостиво позволили мне провести аротику :
– деревянным сандалиям Рагунатхи Бхатты Госвами,
– Шримад Бхагаватам, который он получил лично от Господа Чайтаньи,
– а также гирлянде из туласи, которую дал ему Махапрабху.
Эти трансцендентные предметы выставляют на обозрение только раз в год, в день, когда нас пригласили. Всем пришедшим преданным ИСККОН разрешили прикоснуться к сандалиям. Беспрецедентная беспричинная милость ко всем нам. Мы отмечали долгим экстатическим киртаном: и наши преданные, и Госвами пели и танцевали вместе несколько часов. Вот духовное общение на высочайшем уровне. Огромная благодарность семье Бхатты Госвами!
Last week on the Disappearance Day of Srila Ragunatha Bhatta Goswami, we were invited to his bhajan-sthali for the celebrations here in Vrindavan. The five Goswami brothers who serve there graciously allowed me to do arotika to the wooden shoes of Ragunatha Bhatta Goswami, the Srimad Bhagavatam he personally received from Lord Caitanya, as well as the tulasi garland Mahaprabhu gave him. These transcendental items are brought out on display only once a year, on the day we were welcomed. All the ISKCON devotees who came were allowed to touch the wooden shoes. It was unprecedented and causeless mercy upon us all. We celebrated with a long ecstatic kirtan in which our devotees and the Goswami’s chanted and danced for hours together. It was spiritual networking on the highest level. We are very grateful to the Bhatta Goswami family!
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Narottama Dasa Thakura was a lifelong brahmacari. He was born in a Kayastha caste family, the son of King Shri Krishnananda Datta, who ruled the area of Gopalpura in Rajashahi district of modern day Bangladesh, his capital being Khetri on the Padma River. Narottama’s mother was Narayani Devi, and he was born on the purnima in the month of Magha (January) 1520 AD.
From Narottama’s early childhood he was always attracted to Shri Chaitanya. When Narottama was born the astrologers came, cast a chart, and said that either this boy will become a great king or a mendicant preacher. He was also trained in Sanskrit which he mastered in a very short time, and for this was very much renowned for his eloquence in the use of Sanskrit grammar, poetry, prosody etc.
At the age of twelve Narottama dasa Thakura had a vision of Lord Nityananda in a dream. He told Narottama to take bath in the Padma River whereupon he would receive love of Godhead. Following the instructions of Lord Nityananda, Narottama bathed in the Padma and the Goddess of the river appeared and on the order of Lord Chaitanya, gave him pure love of Godhead, which the Lord had left there.
Narottama dasa Thakura would preach relentlessly, removing the misconceptions of the age, and would invoke his disciples to follow suit.
Narottama had many thousands of disciples, mostly in the areas of modern day Bangladesh. He departed under the tamarind tree at Prema Ghat by the side of the Ganges (Padma River) at Kheturi, where Lord Chaitanya had sat, and where the goddess of the river presented to Narottama pure love of Godhead, after composing the beautiful song, “Saparsada bhagavad viraha janita vilapa,” which begins “je anilo prema dhana koruna pracur heno prabhu kotha gela acarya thakura.
His life is described in Prema Vilasa. In Vrindavan Narottama was received by Rupa Goswami and Sanatana Goswami. After Narottama was initiated by Lokanatha Goswami who in turn instructed him to go and study from Jiva Goswami. He traveled to Bengal with other sadhus, like Srinivasa Acharya, to distribute devotional writings to the general public.
Fifty years after the disappearance of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Narottama organised annual festivals in Bengal, which served to keep the Gaudiya philosophy unified. The significant meeting took place in Kheturi where the Gaudiya Vaishnava Theology of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s sect was defined. The exact year of this event is unknown but some say that it was around 1572.
Yesterday, Saturday, October 23rd, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) members around the world along with the wider community came together to raise awareness and to demand protection and justice from the Bangladesh government for the religious minorities that are suffering atrocities and violence including attacks on temples, homes, property, and people. #globalkirtanprotest, Times […]
The post Global Kirtan Protest for Bangladesh – Recap appeared first on ISKCON News.
Yorkville, Toronto
Show Support
I am picking up my pace, since knee surgery on July 20, so I’m doing quite well three months later, though my distances are short. I’m happy to pull off 3 kilometres per day and could do more. I get busy, frankly, and a lot of that business lately entails helping orchestrate a major protest-chant across Canada. Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Halifax – 8 cities – are geared up for chanting in defiance of recent violence incurred by extremists in Bangladesh.
The approach will be a peaceful one, today, on the 23rd of October. Anyone who wishes to attend and show support is most welcome. With this endeavour, which is going on in the States as well as globally, participants are seeking justice that the perpetrators of death and violence be punished and that people of minority traditions be safe and protected.
To make a point, those who practice native customs of South East Asia follow Vedic or Hindu ways and are the original people. Their beliefs and peaceful practices need to be respected. Those of us who follow ISKCON are, in some cases, new to the ancient ways, but the world has recognized the integrity of purpose by members of ISKCON.
History tells that Hindus have experienced one of the greatest genocides in the world over the last one thousand years. The indigenous population of that part of the world has been under duress for centuries. The sad story of intolerance persists to this day. Please come out and support.
May the Source be with you!
2 km
Ramsden Park, Toronto
Fanaticism is a Tragedy
“Let us trust God and our better judgment to set us right hereafter. United we stand, divided we fall. Let us not split into factions which must destroy that union upon which our existence hangs,” said Patrick Henry at his last public speech in 1799.
Such also was the sentiment expressed by former Congresswoman, Tulsi Gabbard over the tragedy on Hindu/Vaishnava minorities in Bangladesh. In her words, “It broke my heart to see such hate and violence directed towards devotees of God in their temples in Bangladesh.” Her address questions the nature of the secular government boasted of in that country of 9% minorities. Furthermore, she points out a hypocritical tendency: “For these jihadists to believe it’s pleasing to God to burn and destroy temples, and the murti of such a saintly person as His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, this just shows how far away from God they really are.”
Gabbard’s message went clear across the cyber world with deep concern over human conduct by fanatics. Whether Muslim extremism or Hindu, or Christian and Buddhist, the “holier than thou” is so far removed from the gentle side of saintliness.
I was walking through the park and then sat out on a bench and viewed not only her broadcast but also perused my Instagram post of the ceremony I attended in Cleveland. It was glorious, and the views of that day are phenomenal (over 130, 000).
However, the remarks by some Hindu viewers are quite surprising, expressing the same kind of fanaticism; the likes of smarta-brahmans. Many viewers miss the point of bhakti and become stuck in puny details. Woe is me!
May the Source be with you!
Yorkville, Toronto
Violence is Ignorance
In the wake of a darkness regarding oppression of minorities in Bangladesh, I was compelled to write the following:
VIOLENCE IS NOT GOLDEN
Violence is not golden
But action with intelligence stolen
The insecurities that a person may feel
Arise from that which is not real
A mistaken notion that the body is me
When I am its engine, a soul identity
If someone has a belief of a different view
Does it mean then that they are askew?
No! Me and my group are not the center of all
That is the beginning of a major downfall
A failure in human thought and behaviour
Morphing into an obnoxious disfavour
The greatest flaw is misinterpretation
A gross misread fueling discrimination
So, before we pass any needless judgement
Reason should call for some adjustment
Ignorance is the vacuum of wisdom
A pull to an ugly fearsome asylum
It must be smashed by common sense
Dismantling a poor ineffective fence
We all stand to profit from peaceful aggression
And avoid then a flood of blood obsession
-Composed by Bhaktimarga Swami, The Walking Monk©
May the Source be with you!
3km
Ramsden Park, Toronto
Samples
Temperatures, weather-wise, are very much moderate today to the point that it drew a crowd of people and their pets. The dog park is very popular and on the street level a shop that caters to all dog needs recently took up a rental commitment. The place is called the Dogfather and it’s just around the corner.
Next to the dog park I planted myself at a picnic table only to meet with two devotees for a chat about relationships, but yes, most definitely about honey badgers and, most of all, GOD not DOG.
I had walked the area of Yorkville and in a lane of shops between Cumberland and Yorkville Ave. a young woman from a soap shop asked if I wanted to sample some soap from a spray container.
“Yes, sure, why not?” She did say “sample” and it was for free. Also, the product was invented in Amsterdam and, for some reason or another, operations were transferred to Toronto.
We went inside and we tried another spray sample with a choice of scents. I took the olive brand with, something else mixed with it, and it was sweet. A convenient sink was there to wash off excess soap. She also gave me a take-home of a colour-rich, licorice-stick-shaped soap.
The woman was so kind, caring and I thought I not only walked home (first to the park) with a sample of soap but also a sample of how to deal, in a cordial way, with a newcomer. She and her co-workers did excellent. I also gave them a take-home card with the mantraon one side. I learned from the past “Always carry a sample.”
May the Source be with you!
