National Seminar on the Bhagavad Gita in Bali
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Hare KrishnaBy Gita Jayanti National Committee

As part of the Gita Jayanti Festival 2018, devotees in Bali, Indonesia organised a wonderful seminar about the importance and significance of the Bhagavad Gita on the 19th November 2018. The seminar was conducted by the ISKCON Gita Jayanti Committee in collaboration with the students of Udayana University. The overall program was lead by HG Nitya Lila das. Continue reading "National Seminar on the Bhagavad Gita in Bali
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Gita 01.44 When our emotion rules our reason, we rationalize a one-sided view of reality
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Bhagavad-gita verse-by-verse podcast

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SV-23- 40 Habits of a Thinking Coach with Akrura Prabhu
→ Successful Vaisnavas – Personal Development for Hare Krishnas

In this second part of our interview with Akrura Prabhu, we talk about the 40 Habits of a Thinking Coach. What a coach or thinking partner should stay focused on… How the 40 habits will be beneficial for devotees… How to react when a devotee comes to you and asks for help… How to create […]

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Dhruva Maharaja Leaves Home, November 18, San Diego
Giriraj Swami

Maitreya and Vidura

Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.8.3-5.

“Piety refers to the process of cleansing the heart. As recommended by Lord Caitanya, one has to cleanse the dust from the mirror of the mind, and then advancement on the path of liberation begins. Here also the same process is recommended. Malam means “contamination.” We should learn to despise all the causes of devastation, beginning from irreligion and cheating, and then we shall be able to make advancement in a life of piety. The possibility of our attaining Krishna consciousness will be easier, and we shall not be subjected to repeated devastation. The present life is repeated birth and death, but if we seek the path of liberation, we may be saved from repeated suffering.” — SB 4.8.5 purport

Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.8.3-5

Kartika Month
→ Ramai Swami

I was staying at our Adelaide temple for the last few days of the auspicious Kartika month. Many were coming morning and night to sing Damodarastakam prayers and offer lamps to the deities.

Some devotees were following the extra vows of Bhisma Pancaka like fasting and rising earlier than usual. Bhismadeva, lying on a bed of arrows for two months at Kurukshetra, fasted for the last five days and left this world in front of his beloved Lord Krsna.

The heart of yoga is yoga of the heart
→ The Spiritual Scientist

[Talk at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA]

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Hungarian Lakeside Towns Resound With Holy Names
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Hare KrishnaPadayatra began with thirty full-time participants: ten book distributors as well as ten devotees dedicated to preaching, while the remainder were bhaktas. Later the party was joined by ten grhasta devotees including two small children from ISKCON’s Hungarian self-sufficient ecological farming community, Nava Vraja-dhama, two families from Eger in northern Hungary including four children, and one couple from London and one couple from Slovakia. With congregational members joining intermittently, the size of the party often doubled.

Radha’s Journey
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Radha’s Journey
By Sacinandana Swami
It is my great pleasure to share something with you today that is characteristic for Vrindavan: talk about Radha and Krishna. The topic is the journey of Radharani to meet Her beloved Krishna. It is very nectarean and dear to the vaisnava’s heart because in some ways it represents our own journey of eagerness to Krishna.

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Udupi 2019 Yatra
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Hare KrishnaCome and celebrate the joyful journey to one of the Southern most beautiful Holy place known as: Mathura of the south – ”UDUPI” where the Supreme Lord Krishna performed many childhood pastimes for the pleasure of His mother Devaki.

ISKCON Prison Ministry news
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Hare KrishnaTo write about the devotee who corresponds with me is an honor and a humbling effort as I do not believe myself worthy to write and discuss Reverend Rambhoru. She is gracious, patient and has a heart of pure gold. Our very first connection by mail was of a familial tone and nature.

Gita 01.43 Hearing is important, but from whom we are hearing is even more important
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Bhagavad-gita verse-by-verse podcast

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Damodar Lila Lecture by HH Bhakti Purusottama Swami
→ Mayapur.com

Just few days left for  Kartik festival to come to a close. Last five days of Kartika, devotees observe Bhisma Panchaka Vrata, especially devotees gather at holy dhams like Mayapur , Vrindavan, Puri to celebrate this Vrata. Today HH Bhakti Purusottama Swami spoke on the sweet pastime of Damodar lila- which will continue for next […]

The post Damodar Lila Lecture by HH Bhakti Purusottama Swami appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Thursday, November 15th, 2018
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Buenos Aires, Argentina

Service is Safest

I’m staying in a small house that’s plopped onto a flat rooftop of the temple building. I have been chanting on my beads while pacing on that rooftop.  This is how I’m getting some mileage in, all except for the occasional sit-down on a bench where the temple cat, Ruki, comes to join me.  I think she likes hearing my chanting.  She wants some affection so I give her a stroke with my left hand, every so often, while my right hand is fingering the beads.

One of the reasons for walking or pacing on the rooftop is that the traffic is a bit crazy outside at street level.  There are many one-ways, and street lights cater only to the motorists.  There isn’t always a light to caution the pedestrian. Just see how most things are geared up for the automobile and not the person?

Another reason for avoiding the street, to some extent, is for another level of safety. Since a friend of mine was attacked in the rather safe city of Vancouver, then drugged, stripped and hung, suspended head down from a tree for twenty-four hours, I’ve been less inclined to trust.  This was last September at the edge of Stanley Park.  He managed to get loose, crawl through a forest trail moaning for help, where a female runner found him and then called the police.  My friend is a bhakti-yoga practitioner and is in his early sixties.  He spent days in the hospital with torn ligaments.  On the phone he sounded quite confident and strong, fortunately. Anyway, the world we live in is running less safe.  The greatest safety is in service.  I'm glad to be engaged with a group of loving dramatists during my stay in Argentina.

May the Source be with you!
5 km


Wednesday, November 14th, 2018
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Buenos Aires, Argentina

Time in the Basement

“How are you doing?” asked Seva Kunj in the midst of our play practice.  He could have asked me that in Spanish.  That’s the least I know.  My Spanish is poor.

“So far, so good!” I replied.

“I wish we had a saying like that in Spanish.”

“You don’t have?” I asked with curiosity.

“No!”

And so the whole day rolled out with trying to direct the drama through a Spanish/English medium.  We have scripts for “Many Mothers, Many Fathers” in both languages, but it becomes very time consuming utilizing both languages, though necessary.  Already the hours are long—10:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. with a half-hour break for lunch.  No complaints. It’s all done in His service.  After all, it’s a drama with a spiritual message.  I wouldn’t have it any other way.

In fact it was before 10:00 a.m. while having breakfast with Godbrother Virabahu that we both reflected on our good fortune in having a spiritual life.  I asked him, “Where would you be if you didn’t live consciously?”

“I don’t know where I’d be.  I can’t imagine.”

I added, “I probably would have jumped off a bridge.”

He raised his eyebrows when I said that, as if to personally concur.  Yes, we are grateful for our work, even though it’s hard at times.  He expressed some of his administrative challenges “where you often detect the dark side of spiritual life,” he said.

Admiringly I replied, “You sacrifice a lot.”

For myself I put no time into walking today…. Just too dead by the end of the day.

May the Source be with you!
0 km


Tuesday, November 13th, 2018
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Buenos Aires, Argentina

We’re Here

In the line-up at customs, which seemed to last forever, the tall, athletic man behind us was a flying trapeze artist.  He was curious about Balaram and I, especially since noticing my robes. Whenever there is a shared complaint, in this case, a slow, crawling queue, conversations strike up.

“What are you guys up to?” asked Greg.

Balarama was quick to respond. “We’re here for a festival.  Maharaja, here,” referring to me, “is a director of plays. We are performing at a downtown park on Sunday, at an event called Ratha Yatra.”

“Cool!”

Balarama continued. “It’s a story from the Vedas, from India.  How about you?”

“I’m here for a few months—used to work with the circus—flying trapeze.  I’ll be doing some swimming.  Races.” said Greg.

“In the river?”

“No, an Olympic pool!”

Our conversations went on and we felt like we had met a friend, or rather, reunited with a member of the troupe.  Upon arriving at ISKCON’s property in Buenos Aires, we met Parama Karuna, professional dancer, an actor from Peru, who is definitely one of our guys.  There’s artist Camila, and sound expert, Seva Kunj, her husband.  They are poised for a play that will have ample time for rehearsal, hopefully.

Also at the entrance to greet us was Vira Bahu, from Los Angelas, leader of the centre, friend and well-wisher.  We practiced for hours—didn’t skip a beat and had fun pulling a reality—a play—together.

May the Source be with you!
3 km


Monday, November 12th, 2018
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Toronto, Ontario

Connecting With Natives

Just before departing for the airport, two native fellows from the Cree Tribe came to visit.  Whether it was a true story or not, about them being survivors of the ill-fated residential schools, I agreed to their favour.  They are from James Bay, way up north.  They needed something for air fare to get back home.  Both were quite coherent and respectful.  I was happy to meet them.

Balaram and I then left for the flight to Argentina, which is just under eleven hours long.  I took to my rounds of chanting, did some reading and then watched a documentary on trekking some of the great trails of the world, which climaxed at Nepal and Mount Everest.  God knows I have a tough time sleeping on a plane.

I also took the opportunity to view “Woman Walks Ahead” a feature film based on American history, about the artist Caroline Weldon, and Chief Sitting Bull.  https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caroline_Weldon  https://www.history.com/news/caroline-weldon-sitting-bull-portrait-painter-native-american-activist   https://truewestmagazine.com/sitting-bulls-gal/
It was nice and I came to some reflection on the native folks again.  It also brought memories of walking Lower Michigan in 2016.  I came to a town where the museum has as their treasure on display, some original drawings by Sitting Bull.  He was a good artist.  The pieces on display were renderings of horses, which were his way of getting around.

The story in the film leaves a sad ending with the death of the chief.  That European invasion of the Americas was tragic as are many events in the world.  The recent shooting in a Pittsburgh synagogue, the deadly fires in California, and many more challenges of natural or unnatural causes demonstrates the insecure state of affairs.  We must strive to do better with what is in our power. 

May the Source be with you!

1 km





Sunday, November 11th, 2018
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Ottawa, Ontario

Contemplate On Those Who Gave

Jagajivan and I hit the trail at a silent hour.  Perhaps a contemplative tranquility pervaded, because on a double level, on this Remembrance Day morning, we were reflecting on sacrifices made by men and women in times of war, and today also marked, by our lunar calendar, the passing of our guru, Prabhupada.  We are indebted.

I read my poem on the images of Prabhupada to two groups of audiences.

Images of You

There are many moods projected about you
Reflected in pics, so many, not few.
They are diverse colours of a true saint
That are captured by camera or brush with paint.

Moods of gravity, solidity and weight,
The serious look that defines the great.
Moods of lightness, moments of humour,
Of laughter, jokes and human candour.

My favourite photos are of your smile.
They inspire and push for the extra mile.
They lure and lock-in an eager soul
Who’s on a search for the ultimate goal.

You say, “The face is the index of the mind.”
The exterior can determine the kind.
Dare I judge the face, Your Divine Grace?
Yet I presume purity rests at that place.

You profile as a master, scholar, or king,
A general, a warrior, the spirit of Narasingh.
Paradoxically, you’ve shown your ability
To portray a servant in all humility.

There are images of you, in reverent prayer.
Those are the stills not really so rare—
Images of concern for us as we go
On a hobble or a crawl and move so slow.

I like the pics when you enjoyed the play.
It was in New York at the end of one day.
Krishna eloped with the grand princess,
Rukmini, being the damsel in distress.

It was drama that brought you some delight
As actor princes put up a good fight.
Your viewing the play is precious indeed,
An impression that waters the bhaktiseed.

There are action shots of your teaching and talking.
Action shots of reading and walking.
They are signatures, brands, trademarks—
Images that pull us out of the dark.

Grateful are we for those generous poses
That strike the heart like petals of roses.
One frozen moment of your deep contemplation
Leaves us with a piece for worthy conversation.

May the Source be with you!
5 km

Saturday, November 10th, 2018
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Russell, Ontario

Tis the Life

Jagajivan, Samuel and I took to the trail on this day of utter shanti, peace.  Oh, how fortuitous it was—like heaven.  Fresh air.  The snow ran through it, leaving a freshness which is so conducive for walking with the mantraon your lips.

We veered off to penetrate through a conservation haven comprised of cedars and hardwoods.  Below our feet were newly-fallen leaves in a sprinkled-snow-and-slush combination. The three of us had no doubt in our minds that this is where we wanted to be.  We were one.

The inevitable reality is that the trail does come to an end.  We had to surrender to the look and the culture of timeline-ing. By 8:00 a.m., we had to be in the Registry Building, now a cultural hall were devotions to Krishna and judo martial arts take place.

The rest of a perfect day then rolled out—a day of sanga and hearing from others on the devotional path from different parts of Canada.  What a congenial group we are!  Of course I can say so of others.  For myself, I can surely attest to spurts of rotten consciousness.

We began with Guruvastakam, a song in honour of guru.  That’s how every day actually begins, with men and women swaying and praying.  A mrdungadrum, a harmonium, and a pair of kartalsare the instruments that make the sound of the song complete.

Our meetings began, meaningful, relevant, reassuring and continued into the night, with breaks in between.

Tis the life!

May the Source be with you!
6 km

Friday, November 9th, 2018
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Russell, Ontario

His Foot

The season’s first serious snowfall came down, white, wet and slushy.  Our footwear wasn’t quite adequate for the sidewalk.  Jagajivan, Anuttama from Calgary, and I stepped into the Russell music academy and into the ‘Waiting Room’ for shelter.  That’s actually a Friday night veggie hangout.  Locals were doing a live rendition of the Beach Boys’ “California Girls.”  That was quite neat.  It was a brief stopover for us.

In reality, I was looking for an opportunity to find a great image to shoot, something that would say tons.  Nothing was coming up that I could share.  It had been a full day of presentations.  They were informative and fulfilling, nevertheless it made us sedentary. Only once did we ask Jagajivan to get us up off our laurels for some stretching.  He is our chosen boy as a trainer.  That was the best and only stretch for the day.

When we retreated with the Montreal monks to our evening station for sleeping, at Krishna Dulal’s home, I saw a possibility for a pic.  It was the pose of his home deity which captured me.  The deity goes by the name Natabara, dance master, a name reserved for Krishna. One of the monks, Marshall, held up a light.  Click! There it was—Krishna’s leg on a lotus pedestal while the other foot is suspended in the air in dance formation. Beautiful!

May the Source be with you!
1 km

Gita 01.42 Disruption of dharma leads to overpopulation of disruptive souls, causing total breakdown of dharma
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Bhagavad-gita verse-by-verse podcast

The post Gita 01.42 Disruption of dharma leads to overpopulation of disruptive souls, causing total breakdown of dharma appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

ACE your life with gratitude
→ The Spiritual Scientist

[Sunday feast class at ISKCON, Baltimore, USA]

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Podcast Summary


 

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4 principles to get past our past – PAST – Positivity, Association, Spirituality and Time
→ The Spiritual Scientist

[Sunday feast class at ISKCON, Washington DC, USA]

Podcast


 

Podcast Summary


 

Video:

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Vrndavana Braj Parikrama – Day 4
→ KKSBlog

Written by Rukmini dd

On the banks of Sri Radha-kund we gather.

“Let us sit down and hear about what we are really seeing. There is another reality here that is available to those who are absorbed. Since we do not have spiritual vision, Krsna Das Kaviraj Goswami opens our darkened eyes in the Govinda-lilamrta and shows us…”

“Krsna arrived at Radha-kund. The jewelled staircases lead to pavilions encrusted with precious stones.”

We sit on the hard stone steps, looking out at the dark waters glistening in the sun, punctuated by withered marigolds.

“There are four pavilions on the corners, each with swings of a specific grove of campak, kadamba or mango. In the yellow campak grove is a golden swing and when Srimati Radharani sits there with her golden hue, it appears as if Krsna is alone.”

All I see are odd-shaped walls of odd colours and a Facebook advertisement for “Love Radha.” An aged pilgrim offers the holy water out of a spouted jug back into the kund.

“A golden bridge leads to a golden jewelled palace in the centre of the kund where the maid servants of Vrinda devi prepare for the divine couple. A gopi sweeps the floor with her hair.”

Nothing but flies buzz persistently around our hair and skin.

“The waters of these kunds are the liquid love of Radha and Krsna. Who are we to go deep into it?” Maharaja questions. Indeed our vision stays shallow but we see through hearing.

“Among the gopis, Srimati Radharani is the most dear to Krsna. Her kund is as profoundly dear to Lord Krsna as this most beloved of the gopis. Who then will not reside in Radha-kund and, in a spiritual body surcharged with ecstatic devotional feelings, render loving service to the divine couple? Such persons are the most fortunate in the universe.”

Tempted to dip in?

“I am not going to say jump in today. I am not sure if my seniors will smile upon me if I did. But think of how spiritual this place is and the depth of the conjugal pastimes of Radha and Krsna that occur here. Then think of yourself. Are we pure? Are we following everything all the time? Even if we are, what garbage are we bringing from within the cemeteries of our minds into the waters? I will not tell you not to bathe but think if you are qualified.”

Maharaja quotes Satsvarupa Das Goswami that actually the most sacred places in Vrndavana are Srila Prabhupada’s samadhi and his rooms in Krsna Balarama mandir. “Sick or not, I will be at the samadhi mangal arati. That is my connection. That is where I plug in. This morning I went there to refresh my connection with Srila Prabhupada and then I can come here to see a golden bridge with a palace in the centre.”

I did not see a golden palace. Poor connection? We search for the mercy of the vaisnavas.

We circumambulate the sitting place of Jahnava mata who was given a prominent position at Radha-kund as she led the vaisnava society after Lord Nityananda. Maharaja is cajoled into a puja for Radha-kund by a persistent panda who knows him well. We bow down at the samadhis of Raghunatha Das Goswami and Krsna Das Kaviraja Goswami. The bhajan kutir of Krsna Das Kaviraj Goswami is where the Caitanya Caritamrta was written. Maharaja prayed that he may also write a book on the Caitanya Caritamrta. The book is a lifetime’s endeavour. We visit the sitting places of Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda and float back to the bus on the beautiful kirtan led by Advaita Simha Prabhu.

Maharaja stops for a quiet moment at Mukarai, the home of Srimati Radharani’s  grandmother-in-law. The parikrama has been busy, noisy and intense and he seeks a moment of reflection and escape from the external covering.

“In Krsna’s pastimes, Radha-kund is a private place and going there is meant to be an internal situation. Not to just discuss Radha-Krsna pastimes but to meditate on how far away we are (from that reality) and how the sankirtan movement is actually able to take us there, just as it has brought us here now.”

The article " Vrndavana Braj Parikrama – Day 4 " was published on KKSBlog.