I'm off to India again, this time with Corrado.Do I like India?Yes and no, like any place on this planet.I love spiritual India, her sacred places, retreats.Overall, people are nice.They go the extra yard/metre to win the favour of a swami.
You have to make the most of any place where you are.And India, with her dense population, noise, contaminants in the air, and traffic can be one big hurdle.I have come to the point where I try to overlook that side and view the faces of smiles and wonder, which pierce through all of the mayhem.
If India wanted to, it could clean up its act.Have you ever been to the airports in Delhi or Mumbai?They are state-of-the-art.They show what a bit of determination can do.
I love one story of determination as outlined in the Gita.The sparrow was all in a frenzy when a wave from the ocean swooped up and stole her nest of eggs from a tree branch.In retaliation, she was resolute in pecking away and drying up the ocean, which simply laughed at her.The great eagle bird, Garuda, saw the commotion and the determination of his little sparrow friend.He stood stout and strong against the ocean and threatened, "Ocean, bring back the eggs or I'll dry you up."The mighty ocean complied.
Yes, India, with all its optimistic energy, can change for the better, and match up to its powerful spiritual tradition.Come to think of it, I wish North America, Europe, and all other places who profess to be ‘developed’ could adopt more of the finer values in life.
I had a marvelous time at the Scarborough ISKCON Centre enjoying both the soup and the company.This should not be mistaken for a soup kitchen, (even though at meal time, a soup extraordinaire is, in fact, on the menu), but a centre of spiritual power, where people come together to hear about themselves through the message of the Gita
The folks here are reading and discussing the Gita's Chapter 11 which resembles, in some way, a freak of nature.Awesome images of multi-headed forms fill the sky, as a vision of warrior Arjuna, throws him into a realm of meekness.But humility cannot be a bad thing.
I remember on my third Canada walk witnessing the incredible visuals of the Northern Lights.I may not come close to seeing what Arjuna saw, but it is about the only reference I can personally make.Lights in greens and pinks danced across the sky, and was reflected on a lake's waters, as loons cried out their haunting sound.I was humbled.
In the evening, I was driven to Grace Church on Main Street in Milton.There, I was asked to tell of the wondrous story of our seventy-year-old guru, Prabhupada, when he came to the New World, and also to convey any personal exchanges I had with him.Personally, I never spoke to him, yet I heard him speak, saw him eat, walk, chant and live.
And while I really enjoy devotional activities out here in central Canada, an email came giving a glowing report of the first sangha(gathering) out west on Vancouver Island in the town of Ladysmith.Thank you Gordon, Gadadhar.
For a third consecutive day, our Govinda's Restaurant was put to good use.It catered two hundred guests at the YMCA on Thursday.Last evening, we held an appreciation dinner for our drama troops of the January 1st"The Gita” production.That was nice.And then today, I sat with members of the wedding party for Narayani and Kent, feasting like crazy after marrying them.Govinda's keeps busy.
Now, about the wedding, held in the temple room—it was simple and sweet.Narayani and her family hail from South Africa.I gave her diksha initiation some years ago.Kent, her bridegroom, has roots in China, and in 2018 he joined me on my first leg of my walk on the Bruce Trail in Niagara-on-the-Lake.Both he and she first met at the bank where they work.
As conductor and ‘solemnizer’ of the ceremony, I asked the couple, sitting there on royal-looking chairs, if they would like to make up their own vows.I asked Kent first.This put the both of them on the hot seat but they were loving it.
He said, "I'll mess it up."
"Okay, I'll make up the lines," I said."Pleases repeat after me, "I Kent...what is your last name?"
"Tse." (which sounds like ‘say’)
I repeated myself and added the last name."I Kent Tse..."which sounded like “can’t say.” That had everyone in a roar.
Anyway, they are nice people.I had Kent's parents next to me while driving.I wish our new couple well.Good human beings.It was suggested they have four children.
The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust's publication, The Science of Self Realization, is one of its most popular books, either in hard or soft copy, and it continues to be a good introduction to bhakti-yoga.In 1968, an article appeared in the Montreal Gazette.Our guru, Prabhupada, read with interest the topic on soul research, which appears in the SSR.He did respond to it.Here is an excerpt from that Gazette Headliner.
Heart Surgeon Wants to Know What a Soul Is
WINDSOR- A world-famous Canadian heart surgeon says he believes the body has a soul which departs at death and the theologians ought to try to find out more about it.
Dr. Wildfred G. Bigelow, head of the cardiovascular surgery unit at Toronto General Hospital said that "as a person who believes there is a soul, he thought the time had come "to take the mystery out of this and find out what it is..."
There are certain cases where you happen to be present at the moment when people pass from a living state to death and some mysterious changes take place.One of the most noticeable is the sudden lack of life or luster to the eyes.They become opaque and literally lifeless.
Said Bigelow, "in modern medicine when something was encountered that could not be explained, "the watchword is discover the answer, take it into the laboratory, take it somewhere where you can discover the truth."
“The central question,” said Bigelow, was "where is the soul and where does it come from?"
As mentioned, Prabhupada responded to the article with an elaboration based on Vedic wisdom.It was informative.
I still catch myself addressing people I meet with a "Happy New Year!”Soon, in two days only, the calendar flips a page to reveal another month, making New Year's totally irrelevant.But you're not going to get me to say, "Happy Valentines Day."It's just not the thing monks say to anyone.
To compensate for this great lack of etiquette, I can say to my fellow colleagues and community members, "Happy Nityananda's Day" or "Happy Shiva Ratri" in reference to saints in our lineage."Happy Gaura Purnima" is another one coming up.The glory goes on.
Now today, for further preparation of my India trip, I poked my head into the Army Surplus Store and snooped around.The owner of the place makes everyone smile with his salutations.It's never a "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Easter."He's been using a mantra, however, and that's what gets the snickers going."All merchandise has to go!"The additional one is, "We're going to be moving,"and he says it in a strong (unrecognizable to me) accent.The funny thing is he’s been greeting his clients with these lines for ten years, mentioned one friend.Another line which is supposed to invoke some empathy is: "It's a big job moving all the goods."
"Yeah, right!" respond the doubting minds.
You do have to hand it to him.He's determined to get cash and card.A steady flow of browsers and shoppers enter and exit.Everyone who comes in receives a greeting of that mundane sort and it's quite okay.
Anyway, I'm sold on one item.A duffel bag was my purchase for carrying some theatre props.All in my service to guru and God.
Corrado and I are preparing for the India trip, and before we do so, we are needing to pick up a few things.Yes, things like bows and arrows, and swords, and perhaps some other weaponry.Nothing too lethal, mind you.It's more like goods made of rubber and synthetics for a scene of conflict in our up-and-coming drama, "Grandsire."The Vedic texts that I draw my script from demonstrate colourful battle scenes.The story will be about Grandsire Bhisma.We will stage it, film it, and then take it around a bit.
Corrado and I hiked to McCaul and Queen Streets, to Malabar's Costume House where we picked up the best of their rubber swords.They look good on the stage from a distance.
The man behind the counter was curious."How long have you been with the order (as a monk)?"
"Since '73," I said.
"I have so much respect for you guys," he remarked.He also told us he would go to India one day.
"When you decide, I'll give you some tips as to where to go," I offered.I got the impression it may take some years before such a dream materializes.He's got a good heart and a good dream.
"I heard Delhi is not the place?"
"If you want cars and noise, it's the perfect place," I said reassuringly.
He read my card and on the backside it had the mahamantrawhich he scanned.
"So guys, what's a couple of monks doing with some rubber swords?"
I told him of my dramas, my walks and about our food."Check out Govinda's Restaurant.It'll kill the maya, the illusion within you.
Sensibility in devotional service (video)
Srila Prabhupada: Krishna is the root of everything. IF He is pleased, everyone will be pleased. If you pour water on the root, the water will be distributed all over the tree. This is the best service to humanity. Letter to Mr. Karsan, December 2, 1976.
Bhaktivedanta Manor’s Haveli Opening.
We are very happy to announce that the Sri Krishna Haveli, the largest project in the history of Bhaktivedanta Manor, is now ready.
This purpose-built haven will serve as a cultural center, education facility, and an events space to meet the needs of our wonderful community.
We will celebrate the opening of the facilities on Monday 9th March with a day of festivities together with Gaura Purnima as well as Holika Dahan (6pm).
The festivities will culminate with a Grand Fireworks Display at 6:30pm. (weather permitting)
TOVP: Pujari meeting before inauguration 2020-02-11 (Album of photos)
The pujari floor is (almost) ready for the inauguration ceremony, 13th of February. Huge facility for the worship of the Deities, but never enough when it regards the worship of the Supreme Lord
Prahlada Maharaja says, bharam udvahato vimudhan. Prahlada Maharaja, a great devotee, was offered a benediction by Nrsimhadeva: “My dear Prahlada, you have suffered so much for Me from your father’s side. He has chastised you in so many ways because you are My devotee. Now your father is killed. That is finished. Now you take whatever benediction you want from Me.” Prahlada Maharaja said, “My Lord, I have no problem, so why shall I ask You for anything? I have no problem.” Naivodvije para duratyaya-vaitaranyah: “Everyone has got problem in this material world. They’re trying to overcome the problem. But I have no problem.” Naivodvije para duratyaya-vaitaranyas tvad-virya-gayana-mahamrta-magna-cittah [SB 7.9.43]. “I have no problem because my mind is always absorbed in glorifying Your Lordship. Therefore, I have no problem.” Kirtan. You’ll feel immediately refreshed. However much burden you may feel, as soon as you perform krsna-kirtana, you’ll find yourself immediately refreshed. So one who has got taste for this kirtan, he has no problem. Prahlada Maharaja says, Tvad-virya-gayana-mahamrta-magna-cittah: “Because my heart is always merged into the ocean of Your glorification, I have no problem.” This is the devotee. Everyone goes to God to mitigate some problem, that “God, give us our daily bread.” That means bread is a problem. That is the general tendency. They go to temple, church, to mitigate some problem. And as soon as the problem is finished, they forget God—no more church, no more temple. You see? That is not devotion. Devotion is, “No problem. I am ready to serve You, my Lord.” That is life. No problem. We should not take to Krishna consciousness or sankirtana to solve some problem. No. That is not pure devotion. When you will feel that “There is no problem. I am chanting, glorifying. So I am becoming merged into the ocean of bliss,” that is perfect life. That is the symptom.
So, Prahlada Maharaja said, “I have no problem.” That is pure devotee. “But you seem to be very unhappy. Why?” “Yes, still, I am unhappy.” What is that? Soce tato vimukha-cetasa indriyartha-maya-sukhaya bharam udvahato vimudhan [SB 7.9.43]: “I am unhappy for these rascals. They have created a huge mode of civilization for temporary happiness.” Temporary happiness. That is not happiness. Maya-sukhaya. Maya, illusion.
—Srila Prabhupada, talk on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.16.23, January 19, 1974, Honolulu
I’ve lost my heart in Mayapur.. Again! (Album of photos). Gopi Gita: It’s so soothing to be able to just walk down the guesthouse stairs to see my favorite Deities in the whole world - ever merciful Sri Sri Panca Tattva and gorgeous heart-throbs Sri Sri Radha Madhava.
Mystery solved: why so many good Irish devotees!
Adikarta Das: He had been to Ireland. I told him the Gaelic word for Ireland is Eire from the word Arian. Maybe that’s why there are many good Irish devotees. Even George Harrison was from Irish roots. Lots of them went to Liverpool which is one of the closest ports to Ireland, during the great potatoes famine.
Radhadesh is looking forward to wonderful organic veggies in the summer! During the stormy weather we have some exciting news to share about our garden! Rik prabhu has been diligently working with the gardens, both flower and vegetable for many years now, on top of all the other things he does. So now Krsna has sent someone to really help push it forward in the form of a very nice devotee called Thibaut.
MotelGita: Thanks to the Asian American Hotel Owners Association for their continued support. For the 11th consecutive year, AAHOA has helped us with a booth for the upcoming Florida convention. It’s a platform that enables us to connect to thousands of hotel owners to place Bhagavad Gita in their hotel rooms.
Ratha Yatra Festival in Melbourne, Australia (Album of photos)
Bhakta Dasa: Ratha Yatra and Vedic Village 2020 was a huge success with thousands of people receiving the Lord’s mercy one way or another. On behalf of the Ratha Yatra management team, a BIG THANK YOU to all those sincere and hard-working devotees that contributed in so many ways.
I’ve understood the following points about KY and JnY. However, i am still not clear why Jnana Yoga is considered superior to Karma Yoga in hierarchy (Yoga ladder) when Karma Yoga and Jnana Yoga are actually complementary?
1. Karma Yoga (action in devotion) is superior to Jnana Yoga (renunciation of action due to adaption of knowledge) because KY is easier compared to JnY.
2. In the yoga ladder or hierarchy, JnY is superior and yet in practice KY is superior.
3. Karmas performed without transcendental knowledge are materialistic in nature. So it’s transcendental knowledge that imparts the spiritual qualities to Karmas.
4. Without the application of knowledge (TK, not dry philosophical knowledge), knowledge makes one Mithyacharana, as Krishna warns Arjuna.
Considering these points, it seems more appropriate to call them complementary yogas rather than one being superior in hierarchy and the other though superior in hierarchy, is inferior in practice.
Question: Are jnana and karma complementary instead of hierarchical?
Answer: Karma and jnana can broadly refer to action and intellectual analysis whereas karma yoga and jnana yoga are specific processes. Beyond these two, there is the path of bhakti yoga.
Karma yoga and jnana yoga, as yoga sadhanas, are not complimentary. They are mutually exclusive, and it is not that karma yogi’s practice is incomplete without jnana yoga or vice versa. Both are two distinct processes of yoga and if a person is practicing karma yoga then he cannot be practicing jnana yoga which requires renunciation of action. Their essential methodologies involve opposite courses of action because karma yoga involves action and jnana yoga involves inaction.
With respect to their intention, in the Fifth Chapter, Lord Krishna talks about their common goal. The analysis of Third and Fifth Chapter is same but in the Fifth Chapter, Krishna goes deeper into certain subjects. In Bhagavad-gita 5.4 and 5.5, Krishna says,
sankhya-yogau prthag balah pravadanti na panditah
ekam apy asthitah samyag ubhayor vindate phalam
“Only the ignorant speak of devotional service [karma-yoga] as being different from the analytical study of the material world [sankhya]. Those who are actually learned say that he who applies himself well to one of these paths achieves the results of both.”
yat sankhyaih prapyate sthanam tad yogair api gamyate
ekam sankhyam ca yogam ca yaḥ pasyati sa pasyati
“One who knows that the position reached by means of analytical study can also be attained by devotional service, and who therefore sees analytical study and devotional service to be on the same level, sees things as they are.”
Therefore, it is clear from the above two verses that those who think that the paths of sankhya and yoga are two different paths have a childish mentality and Krishna further states that actually if one who attains perfection in one process then one attains the destination that is intended from both the processes. Ultimately, both are meant to take us towards transcendence which is explained by Lord Krishna in Gita 5.2, sannyasaḥ karma-yogas ca niḥsreyasa-karav ubhau (The Personality of Godhead replied – The renunciation of work and work in devotion are both good for liberation).
The important point to recognise here is that when Krishna is saying both paths lead to the same ultimate destination; he is not combining the two processes. He is not saying that one is dependent on the other. Ultimately, in terms of their own sadhanas, both lead to transcendence.
The process of bhakti yoga integrates and synergises the strengths of both these processes by leaving out their weaknesses. What bhakti yoga does is, it adopts activity as a means to offer service, thus allowing to use our natural ability to act but in a detached way. Bhakti yoga accommodates activity which is a natural element of karma yoga. The advantage of jnana yoga is that it is not entangling because due to absence of fruitive activities, the practitioner does not get entangled. Bhakti yoga incorporates the contemplative and non-reactive aspect of jnana by its process of internal remembrance of Krishna. That means, within bhakti, the aspects of karma yoga and jnana yoga are subordinated and harmonised in a complimentary sense. Srila Prabhupada’s use of the word “devotional service” as the translation for bhakti indicates this particular point.
The process of karma and jnana are themselves not to be given up. It is stated in Bhakti Rasamrta Sindhu 01.01.11, anyabhilaṣita-sunyam jnana-karmady-anavṛtam (One should render transcendental loving service to the Supreme Lord Krishna favourably and without desire for material profit or gain through fruitive activities or philosophical speculation).
In the definition of bhakti, it is stated, jnana and karma are uncovered. This covering is of selfish desires. When the covering is removed, then jnana and karma become purified and harmonised towards the service of Krishna, in the process of bhakti.
To get a simplistic yet broad understanding of these three, consider our hands, our head and our heart where karma yoga co-relates with the hands, jnana yoga with the head and bhakti yoga with the heart. But bhakti does not co-relate only with the heart because the heart directs the head and the hands.
Similarly, bhakti incorporates and integrates everything. We have an intellectual rational side and we also have a practical action-oriented side. We would be incomplete without either. That is why, within our bhakti, if we just contemplate, it would be very difficult for us to sustain. Similarly, if we just run around doing things without thinking about the goal, Krishna, then that would reduce our bhakti to just karma. The synthesis of action and contemplation which is done in bhakti brings about the complementarity of karma and jnana.
A selection of helpful verses from Srila Prabhupada’s books. “In the Hari-bhakti-vilasa there is the following statement about self-surrender: ‘My dear Lord, a person who has surrendered himself unto You, who is in firm conviction that he is Yours, and who actually acts in that way by his body, mind and words, can actually relish transcendental bliss.’”
Harinam and food distribution in a poor African Township outside of Durban (Album of photos)
Indradyumna Swami: After two months of recuperating from my illness here in South Africa, I am ready to start traveling again. To test my wings I went with devotees on harinam and food distribution in a poor African Township outside of Durban. Once again I witnessed the astounding glories of the holy names and all the merciful nature of Krsna’s prasadam. Good to be “home” again.
Grand Sankirtan procession through the town of Vrindavan (Album of photos)
On the occasion of Sriman Nityananda Prabhu’s appearance day, we took part in a grand Sankirtan procession through the town of Vrindavan starting from Sringar Vat. That place is also known as Nityananda Vat as that was His residing place in Vrndavan. We joined with the other Vaishnavas and relished the bliss of the Holy Name.
A police officer from Durban becomes a devotee of Krishna.
Indradyumna Swami: The photo on the left is from several years ago. We were in Harinam on the Durban beachfront. This police officer on horse stopped me and asked what it was all about. We talked for quite some time as he became more and more inquisitive. Before parting, I gifted him a large size Bhagavad Gita.
Because of your outstanding, selfless, activism, at a young age you have been awarded the Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Children Award, a World Children Peace Prize, and an Indian Peace Prize. You have the potential to do unfathomable good for the planet in your lifetime. We believe your potential could be magnified by researching the wisdom found in the Vedic Scriptures. Continue reading "Open Letter to Licypriya Kangujam → Dandavats"
The Narada Bulletin is a monthly newsletter that comes from SSKBK with updates on various activities and news from the Land of Sri Sri Krishna Balaram, Sri Sri Radha Madhava and Sri Sri Gaura Nitai.
Srimad Bhagavatam is a literary masterpiece like no other. It is rich with sacred wisdom and is presented as an amalgamation of intriguing spiritual conversations. Thus, Srimad Bhagavatam reigns supreme in genres of spirituality, philosophy and devotion. While Sukadeva Gosvami is the foremost speaker of the Bhagavatam, Pariksit Maharaja is its foremost hearer. Their conversation, the Srimad Bhagavatam, was presented by Suta Gosvami to the sages headed by Saunaka, at a forest called Naimisaranya. As the sages asked questions about various spiritual subjects including philosophy of life, purpose of creation, nature of reality, God and His incarnations, humanity’s quest for happiness and so on, Suta Gosvami answered their inquiries based on what he had heard from his guru Sukadeva Gosvami. Continue reading "Dealings In Divine Discourses → Dandavats"
Question: Krishna told Arjuna to kill but Narada told Mrigari to not kill?
Answer: There are different kinds of dharmas. Mrigari would not kill the animals directly but would instead slit their throats and leave them half-alive, to die a painful death. Killing, in itself, is painful but half killing is much-much more painful and Mrigari was causing such unnecessary pain to the animals.
As far as dharma is concerned, we need to understand that the word dharma has different meanings in different contexts. Some duties are essential for the maintenance of society. For example – sometimes the military kills because that is required to keep aggressors under control which is essential for the maintenance of the society. Arjuna was a kshatriya who are the marshall guardian of the society, so for him, it was essential to kill the aggressors.
Duryodhana was such a brutal person that he tried to disrobe Draupadi publicly in the royal assembly. Even today when some sex crime is committed against women, it creates a big furore in the media. Usually when some animalistic person violates a woman, he will probably abduct her, drag her somewhere in private and do something with her. However, if somebody tries to molest and violate a woman in public, in front of everyone, that person is certainly brazen. What to speak if such horrible act is done in a police station or a court. That would mean that the person has no fear of law at all. Duryodhana was an example of such kind of a person. He never expressed any remorse for his act. If at all he had any regret, it was because he could not humiliate Draupadi.
If such a person is given unrestricted power over a kingdom, then one can imagine what kind of havoc he could have created. Although he ruled around thirteen years when the Pandavas were in exile, but he was always afraid that one day the Pandavas might come back. Therefore, he was at his best trying to win over the citizens. If there was no danger to the Pandavas then he would have been brutal to everyone. Hence, a person like Duryodhana had to be punished. The Pandavas tried everything possible to avoid war and when all other alternatives had failed, finally war was chosen.
Before the war, Krishna himself went to Duryodhana as a peace messenger on behalf of the Pandavas. The position of Krishna in the Mahabharata was the greatest and he was offered the first respects at the great rajasuya sacrifice, yet he went as a peace messenger to Duryodhana. It is like, if India and Pakistan have some tension and to mitigate those tensions, the Prime Minister of India goes to Pakistan as a peace envoy. The highest person going to the opposite camp like this shows how seriously he considered peace. However, imagine Pakistan tries to arrest the Indian Prime Minister. The whole of India would erupt in fury saying how dare they do this. Similarly, Krishna went as the peace messenger but Duryodhana tried to arrest Krishna. This showed that he had no remorse, no interest in reconciliation and hence, when all options failed then war was fought. In this case, the person was brutal and not reform able at all. Hence, there was no option but war because it was essential for society’s well-being.
In the case of Mrigari, it is very different. He was causing unnecessary pain but importantly, sometimes people might get caught in some situations that they are involved in doing something bad just to run their living. For example, I met an Indian in New Zealand who had started a hotel there and he was primarily selling non-vegetarian food but later became a devotee and decided to give up meat eating (even onion and garlic). Eventually he felt what should I do now. He thought of turning it into a vegetarian hotel but somehow that was a place where there were not many vegetarians. Gradually he decided to shift to a new place and start something new and eventually rented out his shop to somebody else. Sometimes circumstantially we are put in a profession where we are doing something wrong, but we cannot say that this is my duty and I will have to do it. Of course, we might not be able to give it up immediately since we have other responsibilities which we cannot neglect but we need to come out gradually. We cannot say that since we have been doing this as a source of livelihood, we will be immune from the consequences. We also need to see the ethical aspect of what we are doing as well.
Hence, in the case of Mrigari, he became a devotee by the mercy of Narada Muni and eventually people provided for him and that is how he was able to deal with the situation. So, the two situations are not at all analogous, they are very different.
Death toll in China rises to 563 as lockdown enters second week.
The death toll and number of infections continued to soar in China, officials said Thursday.
It has been two weeks since the authorities in Wuhan, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak, declared that the city would be locked down as they tried to contain the virus’s spread. The cordon that was first imposed around the city of 11 million quickly expanded to encircle roughly 50 million people in the province of Hubei. The lockdown is unprecedented in scale.
Health officials said that 563 people had died from the virus, up from nearly 500 people the day before, and that 28,018 cases had been confirmed. On Monday, the number of confirmed cases was put at 20,438, meaning the number increased more than 35 percent in just a few days.Many doctors believe that the number of deaths and infections are undercounted because hospitals and laboratories are under severe strain to test for the virus.Those uinfected either worked or frequently shopped in the Huanan seafood wholesale market in the centre of the Chinese city, which also sold live and newly slaughtered animals.
Lord Krishna gives the solution in Bhagavad Gita:
Chapter 17: The Divisions of Faith
TEXT 8-10ayuh-sattva-balarogya- sukha-priti-vivardhanah rasyah snigdhah sthira hrdya aharah sattvika-priyah katv-amla-lavanaty-usna- tiksna-ruksa-vidahinah ahara rajasasyesta duhkha-sokamaya-pradah yata-yamam gata-rasam puti paryusitam ca yat ucchistam api camedhyam bhojanam tamasa-priyam
SYNONYM: Sayuh—duration of life; sattva—existence; bala—strength; arogya—health; sukha—happiness; priti—and satisfaction; vivardhanah—increasing; rasyah—juicy; snigdhah—fatty; sthirah—enduring; hrdyah—pleasing to the heart; aharah—food; sattvika—to one in goodness; priyah—palatable.
TRANSLATION: Foods in the mode of goodness increase the duration of life, purify one’s existence and give strength, health, happiness and satisfaction. Such nourishing foods are sweet, juicy, fattening and palatable. Foods that are too bitter, too sour, salty, pungent, dry and hot, are liked by people in the modes of passion. Such foods cause pain, distress, and disease. Food cooked more than three hours before being eaten, which is tasteless, stale, putrid, decomposed and unclean, is food liked by people in the mode of ignorance. Purport:Therefore to make food antiseptic, eatable and palatable for all persons, one should offer food to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
My two cents: We could offer all our satvic food to Lord Krishna, eat delicious Prasad and leave the poor bats and animals alone.And start to realise that we are all eternal spirit souls, with a direct connect to Lord Krishna.
A new project, The Pilgrimage, is providing luxury spiritual retreats and online education for corporate clients, while also offering ISKCON devotees the chance to earn a living amongst Vaishnava peers.
For devotees and spiritual people looking for devotional music in a different genre than kirtan, but just as transformational, Russian husband-and-wife duo Nilambary’s debut album, the lush film-score-like “Eternal Prayers,” could be the answer.
No more bumpy & risky roads & pollution, enjoy the relaxing cruise, passing through villages & countryside beautiful scenery around, fresh air and a sattvik mood on the whole with kirtan and devotional videos on. It is a unique experience to travel in Ganga, capturing the mood of Mayapur all through your journey!
With traditional architecture- pillars and stone carvings, ISKCON Salem’s granite temple promises its name in history for centuries! For the past several years devotees have been working on the temple’s construction, which is coming out magnificently. A 108 ft tall towering shikar is being built, which would instill the grandness of this place of worship. The soaring shikar would be further decorated with 28 gopi carvings. Sri Sri Radha-Gokulananda and Lord Chaitanya are the presiding deities of the temple. Continue reading "ISKCON’s first full stone temple → Dandavats"
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 28 May 2019, Ljubljana, Slovenia, Srimad Bhagavatam 6.11.25)
There is an oasis in the middle of a desert, and in this oasis, there are many people living. It is an oasis of sense gratification in the middle of the desert of material existence. In this oasis, there are a lot of things to enjoy. There is camel milk and there are dates, and with these two, the people can make camel milk dates shake. The people can make camel milk dates barfi and all other kinds of camel milk dates preparations. There is a huge variety of preparations that are possible. But after a while, everyone is thinking, “Do we want a camel milk shake? Hmm, but with what? Oh, with dates? Nah, that is okay. We had that last week already…” So at some point, the people start to realise that it is always the same thing in the oasis of sense gratification; the same thing again and again. The other people ask if you want to come join them in the oasis, “Do you want to come? Come on! It will be fun!” But then you say that, “No, I just want to stay home.” The other people go, “What?! What is wrong with you?” And you tell them how you feel, “I don’t know. I am just bored of it.” So, that is the situation in this material world.
But one day, a stranger comes in the desert, enters the oasis, and he brings fruits. He brings mangoes of the best quality! The people go, “Wooo! This is good! We have never had this before! Where did you get this?” The stranger replies that it comes from a place far away, from a green land where everything is lush and beautiful, unlike this desert. He describes this place of how there are rivers there and waterfalls and other beautiful things. The people of the oasis do not believe the stranger. They go, “Oh come on now! There is no land like that. I mean, you are just making up stories now.” So most of the people do not believe the stranger. But some of the people have faith. These people are ready to join the stranger to go to the green land.
So eventually, these people start on a journey. They leave the oasis of sense gratification and go back into the desert. There, they experience the hot sun burning on their head and for some it got too much. Some of these people went crazy, some went back to the oasis of sense gratification and some just ran off into the desert never to be seen again. But for the ones who survive, they see a horizon of water. The see the oasis of goodness. They made it! So in this way, we must take to spiritual life, however we must cross the desert of austerity first. In the beginning in the oasis of sense gratification, we are enjoying material life, but now we are enjoying spiritual life.
We are enjoying this spiritual life very much, “Oh it is a very nice spiritual life. I enjoy it so much! Everything is so nice that we even give maha water to the plants. Even our cat is a vegetarian. Everything is nice in our happy little Krsna house. It is so sweet. We will just stay in this house forever because life is goody good! Now we are enjoying the mode of goodness. We can just stay here in this oasis forever!” But then the stranger says to the people that they cannot stay here forever, “We must go back out into the desert; to save all those people who got lost in the desert. We must go back for them! There will be more austerity, more hot sun, no water and what not. But this time, we must go back to not enjoy ourselves but to deliver the conditioned souls.” So in this way, we can see how our spiritual life evolves.
Therefore, the mode of goodness is not good enough because there is still that enjoying spirit. We must therefore strive to be completely on the transcendental platform, where we see ourselves as eternal spirit souls in an eternal relationship with the Supreme Lord; that is all we must care about! We must only want the transcendental opportunities because all other opportunities are really for sense gratification.
By Paramadayala Nityananda Dasa
By Gauranga Darshan Das
By Rama-mohana Dasa