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Some people say, “Everything that happens is God’s will.” They may think that such a statement conveys their unquestioning faith, but does it really? Or does it raise disturbing questions that detract from God’s goodness?
Madhuvan - Talavan Parikrama in Karttika (2018) (Album of photos)
Deena Bandhu Das: The second day of Parikrama, we joined th...
The hole in the heart.
Sacinandana Swami: When something upsets us, we can remind ourselves: “Yes, this is the material world, and this is bound to happen. When a stone drops into water, it will get wet. When a soul drops into the material world, it will experience miseries. That is just the way it is; there is no way around it.”
At that time you need some spiritual orientation. You see, most of us act on the social level and add a little Krishna consciousness. “Oh yes, I have my friends, colleagues, projects, and so on. To these, I add Krishna.” But when you experience a setback you need to turn it around the other way. Take full shelter of Krishna because you are dysfunctional at that moment – you are highly disturbed.
I know of no better way of consciously taking shelter of Krishna and entering opening the sacred space where I feel His presence than reciting the Saranagati-prayers of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura. You must do this, everyone! It will immediately act as a soothing balm for your misery, pain and insecurity: “Do I have a future? Does this make sense?” Pray to Krishna in the mood of a servant to a great soul like Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and you will see… Krishna has been waiting for you the whole time. He is there immediately.
Srila Prabhupada also gave another solution: sit before the deities, look at them and chant. This is what he told some of his disciples who were disenchanted and suffering. Therefore, my dear devotees, just sit there alone, don’t interact, don’t smile at everyone who enters, just let it be you and Krishna and chanting, and the Lord will receive you immediately. Please understand that the only relationship where you can expect no disturbance is your relationship with Krishna. Should I say it again? The only relationship without disturbance, without misunderstandings, where you will always be accepted, is with Krishna. Really! We all have a God-shaped hole in our heart because we have left Krishna. We have torn ourselves away from Him, so a hole has appeared in our heart. And now we try to move heaven and hell through this hole to find completion and to heal it but only when we put Krishna there, will it be closed. We are missing Him; and nothing and no one else.
Finishing work on the exterior of the temple continuous at full pace with marbling of the walls and Jaipur sandstone windows. Detailed decorative design work has also commenced in the Chatri Tower Wings. The waterproofing of the Utility Room is also almost complete, as are the Nrsimhadeva and Planetarium wings.
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“Krishna’s lifting of Govardhana Hill was the first time that the cowherd men and women all witnessed Krishna’s miraculous prowess. Previously, with the killing of Putana, Sakatasura, Trnavarta, Aghasura and Bakasura, the grownups didn’t believe that the little child Krishna had vanquished the demons. But they believed He was protected by Lord Vishnu. Krishna’s young cowherd boyfriends witnessed all the miracles, but the elders didn’t believe them, especially when the boys witnessed Krishna uprooting the twin Arjuna trees and delivering two demigods. The boys tried to convince the Vrajavasis of what had happened, but they were not believed. Govardhana, however, was different. The whole population of Vrndavana, with their cows, saw seven-year-old Krishna holding the hill on the pinkie of His left hand for seven days. They couldn’t deny that it was child Krishna holding up the hill.”
Read more: https://goo.gl/tnqkpg
Enthusiastic Rathayatra in Auckland, New Zealand (3 min video)
Srila Prabhupada: One who hears the transcendental sound vibrat...
Queen of the Night.
Sacinandana Swami: A bush with the most fragrant flowers grows next to the room I stay in. It smells like a whole perfume shop. It is called the “Queen of the Night” because its flowers bloom and smell their best at night. Last week I offered one of the blossoms to the Deities. The next morning I noticed a miracle: although the night had passed, the “Queen of the Night” was still fresh and fragrant. It smelled as if the bush wanted to continue offering its flowers in the service of the Deities.
Today is the disappearance day of Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji Maharaja. Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji was a great devotee—a maha-bhagavata. He was a disciple of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and was very renounced. He had lived for many years in Vrindavan, roaming the twelve forests, chanting the holy names of Krishna, eating by begging alms, and sleeping under trees. Later, after Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura discovered Lord Chaitanya’s birthplace in Mayapur, Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja, the siksa-guru of Bhaktivinoda Thakura and parama-guru of Gaurakisora dasa Babaji, instructed Gaurakisora to move to Navadvipa-dhama.
There Gaurakisora resided on the banks of the Ganges and practiced devotional service with intense devotion and renunciation. Because materialistic men would come and disturb him with their desires for mundane blessings (asirvada), the babaji began to stay by a municipal lavatory, where the filth and obnoxious smells would discourage unwanted visitors. There he would chant in peace—in ecstasy. He would beg alms and cook in discarded clay pots, or eat parched rice with green chilies, or just ingest Ganges mud. Sometimes he would collect the discarded cloth from the crematorium, wash it in Ganges water, and use it to cover himself. His only desire was to be absorbed in the mellow of the holy name—in Krishna consciousness.
Gaurakisora was a siksa disciple and intimate friend of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura. The Thakura arranged a bhajana-kutira for him on the same property as Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s house in Godruma-dvipa. When the time came for Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura to take diksa, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura advised him to approach Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji Maharaja. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura was the father of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati and his first instructor in the spiritual science, but the etiquette was that one would not take diksa from one’s biological father. So Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura sent him to Gaurakisora dasa Babaji Maharaja.
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura was highly literate. By the age of seven, he had memorized the entire Bhagavad-gita and could even explain its verses. He had a photographic memory, and in school he read all the books in the entire library. Just by reading them once, he could remember every word, and so the library purchased new books just for him. By the age of twenty-five, he had written numerous articles and published a book, Surya-siddhanta, for which he was awarded the title “Siddhanta Sarasvati.” So, he was highly educated and literate, whereas Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji Maharaja was hardly educated or literate at all.
The first time Siddhanta Sarasvati approached Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji Maharaja, the babaji refused to accept him. He didn’t directly say no, but he said, “I will ask Mahaprabhu.” When Siddhanta Sarasvati returned and told his father what had happened, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura encouraged him to persevere: “You must go back and beg him with all humility and earnestness to accept you.” So, he went back, and Gaurakisora dasa Babaji again refused, saying, “Oh, I forgot to ask Mahaprabhu. I am so sorry.” When Siddhanta Sarasvati returned home, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura was most upset. He knew that Gaurakisora dasa Babaji was a pure devotee, and he urged Siddhanta Sarasvati to persist; he again instructed his son to beg Gaurakisora for his mercy, and he added, “If you fail this time, don’t bother to come back home.”
So, Siddhanta Sarasvati left the house and went to the Ganges. He felt so hopeless, he thought he might as well just drown himself in the river. Just then, Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji Maharaja appeared; he knew what was in his future disciple’s heart. Siddhanta Sarasvati just threw himself at the lotus feet of Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji in abject humility and complete surrender. Finally, Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji accepted him. Siddhanta Sarasvati had shown that he was free from any tinge of false pride even though he was so learned and literate and his guru was uneducated.
Srila Prabhupada remarked that Gaurakisora dasa Babaji was illiterate and could not even sign his name, yet he became the spiritual master of Sarasvati Thakura, the best scholar of his time. And thus he proved the statement of the Vedas:
yasya deve para bhaktir
yatha-deve tatha gurau
tasyaite kathita hy arthah
prakasante mahatmanah
“Only unto those great souls who have implicit faith in both the Lord and the spiritual master are all the imports of Vedic knowledge automatically revealed.” (Svetasvatara Upanisad 6.23)
Although Gaurakisora dasa Babaji was hardly educated or literate, learned scholars and public servants would approach him with their questions on Srimad-Bhagavatam and other shastras, and, with his realized knowledge, he would answer their questions to their full satisfaction. Sometimes devotees would read various scriptures for him and he would comment on them from his deep spiritual realization.
Still, out of his great humility, Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji Maharaja refused to accept any disciples; Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura was the only exception.
Gaurakisora dasa Babaji enjoined Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati never to go to Calcutta, which he considered “a bastion of Kali-yuga.” So Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati remained in Mayapur. In 1905 he took a vow to chant the Hare Krishna mantra a billion times. Residing in a grass hut near the birthplace of Lord Chaitanya, he chanted the Hare Krishna mantra day and night. He cooked rice once a day in an earthen pot (or just parched the rice in the sun) and ate nothing more. He slept on the ground, and when the rainwater leaked through the grass ceiling, he sat beneath an umbrella, chanting. Locked in a small room, he chanted japa day and night, day after day, month after month, year after year. Finally, when he had completed his quota, he felt that he was ready to come out and preach. And to preach he went to Calcutta.
In a talk at the Ardha-kumbha-mela in Allahabad, Srila Prabhupada raised the point that Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji had instructed Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati never to go to Calcutta but that everyone knows he went to Calcutta. So, Srila Prabhupada questioned whether Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati had disobeyed the orders of his spiritual master. “No!” Srila Prabhupada declared. “He was never in Calcutta; he was always in Vaikuntha!”
So, we pray to Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji:
namo gaura-kisoraya
saksad-vairagya-murtaye
vipralambha-rasambodhe
padambhujaya te namah
He is saksad-vairagya-murtaye, the personification of renunciation (vairagya); and vipralambha-rasambodhe, always merged in the ocean of the mellow of separation from Krishna (vipralambha-rasa). Padambhujaya te namah: “I offer my respectful obeisances unto his lotus feet.”
That was the mood of Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji Maharaja: he was always merged in that nectarean ocean of devotion in separation, and he had no care for his body or for anything material—just hari-nama.
He wrote a beautiful song that is completely in the mood of Raghunatha dasa Gosvami. It is said that of the Six Gosvamis, Raghunatha dasa was the most attached to the service of Srimati Radharani—that he had the most intense desire to serve Srimati Radharani—and Gaurakisora dasa Babaji wrote a beautiful song in that mood. He begins with a refrain: kotai go premamayi, radhe radhe, radhe radhe—“Where is Radha, so full of love? Radhe, Radhe, Radhe, Radhe!” Then he proceeds to express the mood of Raghunatha dasa Gosvami in separation from Radharani, desiring and aspiring for Her service.
When Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji Maharaja left this world, there was some dispute over what would happen to his body. His samadhi would of course become an important place of pilgrimage, and some of the heads of the local Vaishnava centers saw this as an opportunity to raise money—for their mathas and even for their own sense gratification. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati ran to the site, but when he arrived, some of the local babajis objected: “He is not a sannyasi; how can he give samadhi to such an exalted and renounced personality?” But Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati responded forcefully: “I am the only disciple of Babaji Maharaja, and although I have not accepted sannyasa, I am a celibate brahmachari, not secretly addicted to abominable habits or involved with illicit activities. Who among you can say that in the last year he had no sex or illicit contact with a woman? Please step forward.” Everyone was silent. Then he challenged, “Who has refrained for the last six months?” Everyone was silent. Next, “For the last three months?” Again, silence. “For the last one month?” Silence. “The last three days?” Still silence. They had been exposed and humbled. Not one of the babajis was fit to even touch the transcendental form of Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji Maharaja, and one by one they walked away.
Even then there remained some question about how to handle the body, which was still lying on the ground. Out of his great humility, Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji Maharaja had instructed that when he departed, his body should be dragged through the streets of Navadvipa so that it would be bathed in the dust from the feet of the Vaishnavas who had walked the holy ground of the dhama. So, some of the townspeople proposed to take the body and drag it through the streets of Navadvipa. Such fools! Such rascals! But Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura stopped them. “Although we are fools and offenders,” he said, “still we can try to understand the true meaning of Babaji Maharaja’s humble request. After the departure of Thakura Haridasa, Lord Chaitanya Himself took the spiritually blissful body of the Thakura on His lap and danced. Following the divine example of Mahaprabhu, let us also bear Babaji Maharaja’s blissful body on our own heads.”
So, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati took charge of the body and placed it in samadhi on the western side of the Ganges, across from Mayapur. In time, the river’s course changed and its waters threatened the area of the samadhi. So Srila Bhaktisiddhanta brought the samadhi to Mayapur, to his matha. There he had created a replica of Vrindavan, with tamala trees and kadamba trees, with Syama-kunda and Radha-kunda, and with a small Govardhana Hill made of govardhana-silas. Most appropriately, he placed the new samadhi by the side of Radha-kunda, and that is where the transcendental remains of Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji still rest today. One can go there and pray to him and feel his presence and get his mercy.
Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji Maharaja is an ocean of mercy (all pure Vaishnavas are). I pray that he will help me to chant the holy name, to chant with taste. When I prayed to him earlier—and this may just be my speculation—I imagined that he said, “You must give up your offenses.” Then I was thinking, “What offenses?” And then I imagined that he answered, “You must chant with attention.”
Of course, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura does state that inattentive chanting is the root of all other offenses and that, conversely, attentive chanting will destroy all the other offenses. “But how do I do that?” I asked. And the answer came: “You must try. You just have to make the effort.” And I suppose that is always the process—that we make our honest effort and depend on the mercy of the acharyas and Krishna.
In my case, however, my chanting sometimes becomes such a routine that I do not even make the effort to hear every word or every mantra. I just do it. I just go through the motions. So, I guess that is my challenge, my special order—to chant with attention.
Devotees often raise the question of chanting with quality. When on a morning walk a disciple asked Srila Prabhupada, “How can we chant with quality?” Prabhupada replied, “The quality will come. For now, just chant as a matter of duty; chant your sixteen rounds. When the quality comes, there will be no force. You will have taste, and spontaneously you will desire, ‘Why sixteen rounds? Why not sixteen thousand rounds?’ Rupa Gosvami desired, ‘How shall I chant with one tongue and hear with two ears? Had I billions of tongues and trillions of ears, then I could relish chanting.’ ”
Srila Prabhupada said that quality means asakti, attachment, and that Chaitanya Mahaprabhu showed this quality: “Sunyayitam jagat sarvam govinda-virahena me: ‘Oh, I do not see Govinda. The whole world is vacant.’ Sunyayitam jagat sarvam govinda-virahena me. This is quality.” When one feels viraha-bhava, when one feels separation from Radha and Krishna, one is chanting with quality.
Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji is an ocean of mercy, and we pray for his grace.
Hare Krishna.
[A talk by Giriraj Swami on Gaurakisora dasa Babaji’s disappearance day, November 22, 2004, Dallas]
It rains in Vrndavana. The Vrndavana rains are purifying. Maharaja pops his head into the bus apologising for the weather and the delay, and announces a change of plans. Today we will go to Govardhana. Jai Giriraj!
The famous sandstone domes of Kusum Sarova come into vision. A bustle of pilgrims in the parikrama path intermingle with monkeys, cows, rickshaws and mobile sugar cane juice stalls but we leave the hustle for the highest platform: the porch outside the memorial temple built by the Jat kings from Bharatpur. They had defended Vrndavana from the mogul attack. “Devotees sacrificed their lives to protect devotees,” Maharaja said.
Our large group spills into the shade temple. The resident priest opens its doors to create more space but Maharaja stays on the porch where he can gaze out at the deep waters in the Vrndavana morning sun. He needs the vitamin D, is what he keeps saying. Instantaneously, there are gifts! Mahaprasadam from Udhhava’s temple and an impressive Radha Kunjabihari gift pack from the adjacent temple. A gentle breeze carries the mangalacaran as it echoes off the sandstone.
“So peaceful in the morning at Kusum Sarovar. Here, the gopis collect flowers and Srimati Radharani makes her vaijayanti garland that falls below Krsna’s knee with five types of flowers in a different arrangement each day.” The ever-fresh nature of Vrndavana.
With the change in the parikrama schedule, Maharaja has to shift his meditation which had been “all Nrsimha Nrsimha” to Govardhana. Finally it rests at a firm favourite of his: Uddhava.
Uddhava was Krsna’s cousin and close friend, so much so that he even looked like Krsna and they had their own code language. However, the main purpose of Uddhava’s existence was to be a messenger; first to the gopis and then later he would carry the message of the Uddhava Gita when Krsna left. Yet this purpose was not very clear in the beginning. Maharaja made a parallel with his own life and how he thought that he would spend his entire life serving in Vrndavana. “You can’t have it all mapped out in the beginning. Krsna’s plan unfolds…there will be surprises on the way.” Another messenger, I thought.
He retells the metaphor that compares our life to a house. We expect Krsna to come in and make some changes to make it better for us to live in but lately Krsna is tearing the whole house apart and rebuilding it so that he can live there.
His second meditation: Was Uddhava was an outsider in Vrndavana? And what are we doing in Vrndavana? Do we belong here amidst all this devotion? Yet it was Uddhava’s desire that took him to Vrndavana. Maharaja zones in on the point that it is only our lack of desire that makes spiritual life an austerity.
We stop at the Uddhava temple to take darshan of the blue hued Uddhava with the Bhagavatam in hand and then pause at the banks of the kund for breakfast with gentle splatters of rain, before setting off again.
We pause for a quick darshan of Sri Sri Radha Kunjabihari – very sweet silas of Radha and Krsna. This is where Krsna plaits Srimati Radharani’s hair and she holds up a mirror to see him. Crossing the road, we reach Narada-kund which houses a life-sized brass deity of Krsna sitting cross-legged and Srimati Radharani looking at him, with her arm on his.
Narada-kund is a large green expanse of water with sandy banks and tall trees that stoop to touch the sacred water. After dipping into Kusum Sarova and emerging in a gopi form to enter into the rasa lila, Narada resided here to write the Narada Bhakti Sutra. It is a book that Srila Prabhupada began translating and Satsvarupa Maharaja finished. Maharaja reads the words of Narada on the basic but essential definitions of bhakti.
“We cannot just mechanically chant our rounds and mechanically serve. At some point, we have to develop some appreciation for Krsna. I am not the most learned but I’m trying in this parikrama for us to develop a little bit of love of God, a little appreciation for Krsna.”
An important principle that Maharaja inculcates is that when we come to the holy places we should offer something because we cannot come to Vrndavana with the mood of just taking. Just as his mother often said, “Never leave the room empty handed.” (Carry some dishes out) Similarly we should not go to a temple empty handed.
Onward towards the markets of Govardhana, we go to Manasi Ganga. As gaudiya vaishnavas, we offer our obeisances at Sanatana Goswami’s bhajan kutir before briefly settling at the stairs of the Haridev temple.
The gates are locked. In the hallway of the Haridev temple, Lord Caitanya had danced in ecstasy. In Vrndavana, Lord Caitanya’s display of love for Krsna exceeded all boundaries. He embraces Govardhana in tears, jumps in the Yamuna and finds no reason to get out. As if on cue, the gates to the temple open. We are unable to see the deities but we do get to bow down in that sacred hallway. “Collect the dust, collect the dust,” Maharaja urges. “Maybe we will get a little taste in our spiritual life. And what will one drop of taste not do for us?”
It has been a pleasant change of plans with stolen glances of Sri Govardhana.
The article " Vrndavana Braj Parikrama – Day 3 " was published on KKSBlog.
Answer Podcast
Transcription :
Transcribed by: Raji Nachiappan
Question: How to forgive ourselves if we have made a serious mistake?
Answer: Firstly, we are the only resource we have. All our other resources are dependent on the foundation of this resource. Even Krishna cannot help us, if we do not help ourselves. For example, you have a car that has a history of break-downs on a regular basis. However, if that is the only car you have and there is no way you can buy a new car, you can kick or punch the car in frustration, but you will not take a big bolder and break the car completely, out of anger.
Similarly, we are the only resource we have. There is no other resource for us. Uddhared atmanatmanam (BG 6.5)– Lord Krishna says elevate yourself with the mind, and do not degrade yourself with the mind. Now, who is going to do the elevation? We have to do it. Krishna is there to help if we want to do it, but it is we who have to do it.
For example, if we had an assistant or an employee who makes a mistake, then we may be angry, we may chastise and berate them. In the past, masters even beat the employee, but if we beat up the employee to an extent that the employee cannot even walk, then there is no use. The master has to do all the work himself. Similarly, if we become so upset with ourselves, that we become disheartened and start feeling hopeless, then there is no use because we are our only resource. Therefore, if there are changes that are to happen, then we need to begin it. Once we begin, Krishna can help.
Secondly, Krishna is such an expert that he can work even through our mistakes. Our mistakes are not Krishna’s plan but our mistakes can be included in his plan. Lord Krishna does not plan that we make mistakes and neither does he want us to make mistakes, but if we make mistakes, Lord Krishna’s plan can include them. For example, in the famous Akshaya-patra pastime, wherein Durvasa muni arrives for a meal at the Pandavas’ residence after Draupadi has eaten. Usually in houses, after food utensils are cleaned. For special utensils, e.g. silver or golden utensils, they are cleaned very carefully. For an extraordinary utensil like Akshaya-patra, how is that Draupadi could not have cleaned it properly? In a way it is a mistake, but Lord Krishna acted through that mistake. Therefore, we do not have to think of our mistakes as permanently condemning. Mistakes happen and Lord Krishna’s plan can act through our mistakes.
The other example is that of a GPS. If the GPS tells us to turn right and if we instead turn left, the GPS does not stop guiding us because we did not follow its direction. The GPS then re-routes and tells us the right path again. Similarly, even if we commit mistakes, Lord Krishna can still work through our mistakes and guide us. That way we can still have positivity and hope that Lord Krishna’s plan can work even now.
By these two reflections, that we are our only resource and Krishna can still work through our mistakes, we can move forward.
End of transcription.
Transcription in Hindi
Transcription by: Keshavgopal das
प्रश्न – यदि हमसे कोई गंभीर गलती हो जाए तो स्वयं को क्षमा कैसे करें?
उत्तर: सर्वप्रथम, हम ये समझें कि हम स्वयं हमारे एकमात्र साधन हैं। हमारे अन्य सभी साधन इस एक साधन पर निर्भर हैं। श्रीकृष्ण भी हमारी सहायता नहीं कर सकते, यदि हम स्वयं अपनी सहायता न करें। मान लीजिए यदि आपके पास एक कार है जो प्रायः खराब हो जाती हो। यदि आपके पास यही एकमात्र कार हो और आप नई कार नहीं खरीद सकते हों तो आप हताशा में इस कार को कोसेंगे, बुरा-भला कहेंगे, लेकिन आप इस कार को क्रोध में पूर्ण रूप से मटियामेट कभी नहीं करेंगे। ऐसा करना निरी मूर्खता होगी।
इसी प्रकार, हमारा एकमात्र साधन स्वयं हम हैं। कोई अन्य साधन नहीं है। भगवान श्रीकृष्ण गीता (6.5) में कहते हैं – उद्धरेदात्मनात्मानम् – अपने मन की सहायता से अपना उद्धार करें, पतन नहीं करें। तो यह उद्धार हमें ही करना होगा। श्रीकृष्ण सहायता के लिए सदैव रहेंगे, किन्तु पहल हमें ही करनी होगी।
यदि हमारा कोई सहायक या कर्मचारी बार-बार गलती करता हो, तो हम क्रोधित हो सकते हैं, उसे फटकार सकते हैं। किन्तु यदि हम कर्मचारी को पीटना आरम्भ कर दें और इतना पीटें कि वो चल भी न सके तो इससे क्या लाभ होगा। स्वामी को सारे कार्य स्वयं करने पड़ेंगे। इसी तरह, यदि हम स्वयं से इतने निराश हो जाऐं कि हम सारी आशा ही छोड़ दें, तो इससे कोई लाभ नहीं होगा, क्योंकि हम स्वयं ही अपने लिए एकमात्र साधन हैं। हमें स्वयं ही अपने भीतर परिवर्तन के लिए पहल करनी होगी। एक बार आरम्भ करने पर श्रीकृष्ण सहायता अवश्य करेंगे।
दूसरी बात यह कि श्रीकृष्ण इतने दक्ष हैं कि हमारे भीतर अनेक दोष होने के बावजूद वे हमारे लिए मार्ग निकाल लेते हैं। श्रीकृष्ण हमारे दोषों के लिए उत्तरदायी नहीं हैं किन्तु श्रीकृष्ण के पास हमारे दोषों के बावजूद भी हमारी समस्याओं के उत्तर उपलब्ध हैं। यह भगवान की योजना में नहीं है कि हम गलतियाँ करें और न ही वे ऐसा चाहते हैं, किन्तु यदि हम गलतियाँ कर बैठते हैं तो श्रीकृष्ण कोई अन्य मार्ग द्वारा उनका समाधान हमारे लिए निकाल सकते हैं। श्रीमद्भागवत में अक्षय-पात्र की कथा आती है जिसमें दुर्वासा मुनि पाण्डवों के निवास पर भोजन के लिए पहुँचते हैं। साधारणतया घरों में, भोजन के बाद बर्तन साफ किए जाते हैं। किन्तु कुछ विशेष बर्तन जैसे चांदी या सोने के बर्तनों को बहुत सावधानी से साफ किया जाता है। तो फिर अक्षय-पात्र जैसे असाधारण बर्तन को द्रौपदी क्यों ठीक से साफ नहीं कर पाई? एक प्रकार से यह द्रौपदी की गलती है, किन्तु श्रीकृष्ण ने उस गलती का ही प्रयोग कर पाण्डवों की सहायता की। अतः हमें अपनी गलतियों के बारे में इतनी भी गंभीरता से नहीं सोचना चाहिए कि हम कुछ करने के लायक ही न रहें। गलतियाँ होती हैं किन्तु हमें यह विश्वास नहीं खोना चाहिए कि श्रीकृष्ण हमारी सहायता नहीं करेंगे। भगवान की योजना हमारी गलतियों के माध्यम से भी कार्य कर सकती है।
एक अन्य उदाहरण जीपीएस का दिया जा सकता है। यदि जीपीएस हमें दाऐं ओर मुड़ने के लिए कहे किन्तु हम बाँई ओर मुड़ जाऐं, तो जीपीएस हमारा मार्गदर्शन करना बंद नहीं कर देता। जीपीएस फिर से आंकलन कर हमें एक नया मार्ग सुझाता है। इसी प्रकार भगवान भी हमारी गलतियों के बावजूद सदैव हमारा मार्गदर्शन करने के लिए तैयार रहते हैं । हमें अपना भाव सकारात्मक रखना चाहिए और आशावान बने रहना चाहिए कि श्रीकृष्ण की योजना अब भी काम कर सकती है।
अतः इन दो विचारों से – कि हम स्वयं ही अपना साधन हैं और श्रीकृष्ण अब भी हमारी गलतियों के माध्यम से हमारी सहायता कर सकते हैं – हम जीवन में गलतियों के बावजूद आगे बढ़ सकते हैं।
End of transcription.
Bhagavad-gita verse-by-verse podcast
The post Gita 01.40 Dharma prevents human society from being ruled by the law of the jungle appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
[Talk at Institute for Applied Spiritual Technology, Washington DC, USA]
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The post The living bhakti tradition – a museum or a garden? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
[Congregation program at Ashburn, Washington DC, USA]
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The post When spiritual life seems impractical – because of body, family, society and job appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
About HG Kratu Prabhu
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On this sacred ground of Santipur (Album of photos)
Indradyumna Swami: The other day we visited the residence of Advaita Acar...
Guy’s and St Thomas’s NHS Hospitals Trust Award, UK.
Praghosa dasa: The Hindu-Vaisnava chaplaincy team, headed by Haridham dasa has won the chief executive and chairman’s award for exceptional services to the Guy’s and St Thomas’s NHS Hospitals Trust. When receiving their award they were granted a standing ovation from the audience!
Haridham has been the chaplain to this Trust for 15 years now since he joined in 2003.
Haridham administers the spiritual cafe to the dying Hindu patients and bereavement counseling to family and friends.
As an aspiring devotee of Krishna, I face a moral problem: I am pro-dairy but anti-cruelty and anti-slaughter, and I know that the dairy industry and the slaughter industry are partners in cruelty and killing. If I buy milk from the store, I can be sure it comes from cows that have been exploited and abused and at last are heartlessly slaughtered.
How then can my ethics allow me to purchase such milk, offer it to Krishna, the well-wisher of cows, or even drink it?
Yet the entire culture of Krishna consciousness gives importance to milk and milk products: ghee, yogurt, butter,milk sweets, and so on. We offer such items to Krishna, we use them to bathe our Deities, we consume these items ourselves, and we use them for the food we serve at our festivals and feasts, at home programs, at our restaurants, and wherever we distribute prasadam.
What can we do?
I’ve lately thought of another alternative, which I call “ahimsa balancing.”
Suppose we can’t get ahimsa milk but for one reason or another we’re unready or unwilling to swear off milk. We can still take action against the slaughter industry and vote with our purses and wallets — by giving a proportionate contribution for cow protection.
When I buy a dollar’s worth of milk at the store, I can set aside a dollar for protecting cows. (If a dollar is too much, I can set aside fifty cents—or whatever I can.) And every month or every year, I can take the money set aside and send it to a reliable ahimsa dairy. (For me the nearest to my home base in New York City is the Gita Nagari farm in Pennsylvania.)
As a financial tactic, this is arguably more effective than merely boycotting the slaughter industry’s products. If I refuse to buy slaughter-industry milk, the multi-billion-dollar dairy companies like Nestlé, Arla, Danone, Fonterra, and Kraft Heinz will hardly miss my pennies. All the vegans in the world, times ten, would make hardly a dent in their cash flow. But modest contributions made to a small ahimsa farm can make a big difference for the farm, helping it keep going and sustain its mission of providing milk from protected cows.
Individuals can contribute, or families, or temples, or any program that uses milk.
If you’re vegan, fine—apart from saying no to the milk industry, you can still make a positive contribution to cow protection by donating to help sustain ahimsa farms.
As for me, I’ve done a rough calculation. I’m going to say that every day I drink a big glass of milk and use a tablespoon of ghee. (I think those numbers are on the high side—but good enough. And the high numbers can cover for extras like yogurt and milk sweets.) For a year, that would come to 33 gallons of milk and 183 ounces of ghee. In New York City, milk costs about $4.40 a gallon, and 32 ounces of ghee goes for $14. Do the math, and the dairy money I want to offset come to $226. So, adding a little extra, before the year ends I’m going to donate $300 to Gita Nagari.
By refusing to drink milk or use milk products, I’d deprive the dairy industry of a lot less. For every dollar spent on milk, a portion goes to the supermarket, a portion to the company that made the carton, a portion to trucking companies, a portion to the banks and finance companies involved, a portion to taxes all along the supply line.
So, yes, I could inflict on the dairy industry a tiny little slap, but by ahimsa balancing I can help provide grass and care and shelter for cows loved and protected by Krishna’s devotees – and give the dairy industry a bigger slap by helping provide, in contrast to their products extracted with cruelty, milk that truly stands for love, devotion, and dharma.
The post Introducing “Ahimsa Balancing” appeared first on Jayadvaita Swami.
When spiritual life seems impractical - because of body, family, society and job (video)
[Congregation program at Ashburn, Was...
Kartika In Sridham Mayapur (14 min video)
Indradyumna Swami: Today we began our Kartika parikrama in Mayapur by visiting Nrsimha Palli and HariHara ksetra, two special holy places in the Dhama. There we discussed the glories of both Lord Nrsimha and Lord Siva. The spiritual atmosphere of these places was overwhelming and more so due to the ecstatic Kirtan’s we had! So much mercy is available in the places of the Lord’s pastimes.
Bhaktivedanta Academy Receives Grant for Science Education.
Bhaktivedanta Academy, a combined Montessori – International Baccalaureate school at ISKCON of Alachua, Florida, has been awarded a $3,000 grant for science education.
Deepa Mukhtyar (Deva Sarita Dasi), the science teacher for Krishna Sharanam, the school’s Middle Years program, applied for the grant from the Toshiba America Foundation, and received approval on October 23rd.
To read the entire article please click here: https://goo.gl/BTjT2k
ISKCON Members Participate in Parliament of the World’s Religions.
Nearly 10,000 delegates from 80 countries attended the 2018 Parliament of the World’s Religions from November 1stto 7thin Toronto, Canada. They represented nearly 200 religious, spiritual and indigenous traditions, comprising the single largest interfaith gathering in the world.
The spider effort.
Sacinandana Swami: Today I sat at the banks of Radha Kund and had a wonderful realization I must tell you about. I had already arrived before sunrise and watched the different morning scenes. Tulasi leaves drifted by from the offering to Giriraj at the Sangam. Devotees from Delhi whom I recognized sang beautiful glorifications. Later a group of villagers from the Gujar community arrived, all dressed in the most colorful outfits you can imagine. However, what caught my special attention was a group of devotees circulating Radha Kund in a particular way. Their left hands were holding onto the lower step and they splashed water into the kund with their right hands. In this way, they moved around, clockwise, until they came to me. They were really blissful, chanting the Holy names and splashing water into the kund. Finally, I couldn‘t contain my curiosity. I know one of these devotees for many years and asked him: “Why are you splashing water into the kund?” Gravely he answered: “see, I have heard from many People, including scientists, that the kunds in Vraja are not being circulated enough. That’s why algae grow and it smells because too many people take their bath. I asked what would help these kunds and they said There is only one solution: oxygen. The best would be a fountain, like fountains and pools with many bathers in the west have them. But a fountain will never work at Radha kund. Pilgrims will not like it and the people who live here will not allow it. So all I can do is to take my own hand, inspire a few other people and splash water in order to give the kund oxygen.”
I replied: “that’s wonderful. That reminds me of the little spider who helped Lord Rama build the bridge from the mainland to Sri Lanka.”
And he said: “yes, Maharaja. That’s what we are, little spiders trying to satisfy Srimati Radharani and Krishna.“ “But,” he paused: “when you give your best, when you make your little spider effort, those you try to please, will take note. And they will decide: I must help This person.”
What a good formula! Make your effort, even if it is small, and Krishna and Srimati Radharani will notice, Especially in this month. And they will decide: “I must help this person.”
Answer Podcast
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Bhagavad-gita verse-by-verse podcast
The post Gita 01.39 Our sense of honor coming from our lineage can raise us but can also stop us from rising to the highest appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
[Discussion at Bhakti Lounge, Washington DC, USA]
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The post Avoiding verbal violence in bhakti appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
A film about the huge organization and endeavor invested by Iskcon for the preparation of first class prasadam meals for thousands and thousands of devotees every day.
Damodara Masa in Iskcon Nepal (Album of photos)
Only 7 days remaining to end Dāmodara Masa.
Don’t miss this opportunity.
Anyone can offer a Ghee lamp to Lord Damodara in this auspicious month.
Offering from a child to the old age with happiness, joy, prayers feelings..
We like to thank everyone who helped in sponsoring ghee lamps and Prasad everyday till today.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/xtb34r
A video by ISKCON Desire Tree.
The new grant will provide high quality anatomical models of different bodily systems for the students to study, which are normally too expensive for the school to buy.
Official Opening of Avanti House Secondary school by the Secretary of State for Education (3 min video)
Avanti House Secondary School’s Official opening with the Rt. Hon Damian Hinds. Avanti House Secondary School is the first Hindu State-funded secondary school in the country. Avanti was honored to have the Secretary of State open the school along with MP Bob Blackman and the Mayor of Harrow Kareema Marikar.
To watch it please click here: https://goo.gl/c35JEj
Govardhan Puja in Simhachalam 2018, Germany (Album of photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Kirtana means both lecturing and chanting wit...
Happy Gopastami celebration in Vrindavan (Album of photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The general mass of people, although sudras and ...
The work continues on the outside of the temple domes with blue tiles, stars and gold ribs being placed in beautiful designs that are appealing and beautiful to look at from all locations throughout Mayapur and the surrounding area.
Nearly 10,000 delegates from 80 countries attended the 2018 Parliament of the World’s Religions from November 1stto 7thin Toronto, Canada. They represented nearly 200 religious, spiritual and indigenous traditions, comprising the single largest interfaith gathering in the world.
The Ego-death.
Sacinandana Swami: Part of my kartik-vrata is to read Krishna’s instructions to Uddhava before He left this world from the 11th canto of the Srimad Bhagavatam. The Lord makes an important point there – that the knot in the heart, the ahankara, the false ego, is destroyed by bhakti. He says: “When one engages constantly in worshiping Me through loving devotional service, his heart becomes firmly situated in Me. Thus all material desires within the heart are destroyed and the knot in the heart is pierced, the ego knot.” (11.20.29) This is the power of bhakti. It so to say digests the ego. what happens when something is digested? After the stomach burns the food the good portions go into the bloodstream and the unnecessary ones are eliminated and leave the body in the bathroom. This happens automatically, you don’t have to analyze what happens, you don’t have to think about it to make it happen. It works by the power of digestion. So, the Bhagavatam states that bhakti, devotional service, dissolves the subtle body including the ego, without any separate effort, just as the fire of digestion digests everything we eat. if you have ego problems, this means your spiritual digestion is not so strong. In such moments, ask yourself: ‘how can I step up my practices of bhakti? How can I chant? What can I do today that is just for Krishna’s pleasure, without having my own selfish desires in my mind?’ Then offer service with feelings and you will see how your spiritual digestion will become ablaze.
I sitting here in Vrindavan, I chant and do it only for the pleasure of my lord. I can see so many good insights, realizations and clarity of mind coming from this. I wish that you also use the month of kartik in whatever way possible to increase your spiritual fire of digestion, your bhakti.
“Greeter” Service at Temple.
Greeting Guests at the Sunday Feast.
In an effort to make our temple more ‘user-friendly’ for guests that come on Sunday, we would like to have an assigned Greeter set up along the walkway leading up to the Temple. Many people come for their first time and just don’t know where to go or even what our program is for the day. Think how nice it would be for you if you were to go somewhere for the first time and were met by a friendly face who could tell you the lay of the land.
While this is a service that is commonly covered in most churches, it isn’t something we have done successfully for quite a while. It’s a great way to help newcomers feel comfortable and welcomed. You’d only have to say hello and point the way. If this is something you would like to do even once every two months, please let me know so I can fill a schedule.
Read more: https://goo.gl/ke5RZb
By Mukhya devi dasi The third community development conference took place at New Raman Reti beginning November. You can learn about our Community Development Initiative and how it developed at www.nrrcommunity.com This event presented an organized approach to serving and sharing with friends by launching Action Teams for the 10 focus areas that emerged from the CDI Survey and Conferences 1 and 2 where we “Explored” and “Analyzed” the different facets of our growing community. During this third and final conference, entitled “Implement”, we started with icebreaker exercises, followed by special presentations on team building. Audience participation was encouraged , and our teams started on the road to developing our priority issue. Through this conference I could see the tremendous potential to develop and enhance our community on many levels (such as relationship building, practical service, helping those in need, supporting our next generations) while furthering Srila Prabhupada’s movement. Continue reading "Working Together to Please Srila Prabhupada
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Adult Education At The Temple
