Planet ISKCON



The post Daily Darshan: February 16,2018 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Srila Prabhupada once said that when devotees give up practicing Krishna consciousness it is ‘fifty percent their fault, and fifty percent ISKCON’s”. In this article I would like to explore what I perceive as a systemic problem contributing to our society’s fifty percent of the blame.

It is surely surprising that someone should get as far as seriously following the process of Krishna consciousness, only to give it up again. Most of us experienced an immediate relief of suffering when we joined, and we have all heard many times how pure devotional service to Krishna is the highest platform of happiness. Throughout Srila Prabhupada’s books it is made clear that the root cause of misery is turning away from Krishna, and still devotees turn away from the process and plunge themselves back into the material whirlpool.

And it is by no means an unusual phenomenon, as those of us who have been around a while will testify. I don’t believe any actual figures have been kept, but I would suggest that probably the greater number who commence the process, chanting sixteen rounds and following the principles, will slacken or stop their practises at a later date. They may not argue that the process does not work, but the fact they have ceased practising speaks for itself. Perhaps they are now absorbed in a material career, or have taken up some other spiritual path, or ‘new age’ doctrine, or whatever. All of these are sought because they are seen as a means to happiness, to solving the problem of suffering. And if they are pursued to the exclusion of sadhana then obviously they are viewed as a better solution, at least for the time being. It seems then that the point of Krishna consciousness, that it destroys all misery and bestows the highest happiness, is somehow being missed.

IMMEDIATE SOLUTIONS

Srila Prabhupada certainly saw Krishna consciousness as the solution to all problems, personal and social, immediate and long term. In 1974 he even asked devotees to write a book called “How Krishna Consciousness Can Solve All The Problems of Life.” At this time he asked his disciples to present a new problem to him each day and he would explain how Krishna consciousness is the answer. This eventually led to the “Spiritual Solutions to Material Problems” section of the Science of Self Realisation.

Scripture makes it clear that Krishna consciousness is the sure remedy to suffering. In its very beginning Srimad Bhagavatam states that it “uproots the threefold miseries” and Srila Prabhupada comments, “…by service (to the Lord) one is immediately freed from material encumbrances.” (1) As is often the case with such instructions, Prabhupada uses the word “immediately”.

The Bhagavatam goes on to analyse why we suffer. “Due to the external energy, the living entity, although transcendental to the three modes of material nature, thinks of himself as a material product and thus undergoes the reactions of material miseries.”(2)

Again Prabhupada comments, “…due to this unholy contact (with the material energy), the pure spiritual entity suffers material miseries under the modes of material nature” (3)

In other words our problems begin when we identify with matter. Thinking ourselves to be the body, we experience the miseries that afflict it, such as old age, disease and death. This misidentification is the fundamental anartha, or unwanted contamination of the heart. It leads to the subsidiary anarthas of lust, greed, anger etc, as we try fervently to achieve bodily or mental satisfaction. These various impetuses drive us to all kinds of foolishness, along with their resultant painful reactions.

Hence uprooting our suffering means destroying the basic misidentification with matter. This is made clear in the Bhagavatam. “The material miseries of the living entity, which are superfluous to him, can be directly mitigated by the linking process of devotional service.”(4) “Linking process” means connecting with Krishna, seeing our true identity as his eternal loving servants.

The Bhagavatam presents itself as the specific means of achieving this. “Simply by giving aural reception to this Vedic literature, the feeling for loving devotional service to Lord Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, sprouts up at once to extinguish the fire of lamentation, illusion and fearfulness. ”(5)

Prabhupada explains that there is no difference between Krishna and the subject matter about him. Just by hearing about Krishna we immediately contact him, “And the transcendental sound is so effective that it acts at once by removing all material affections.”(6)

Again we should note in such references that terms like “at once” are used. The relief from suffering is immediate. So how can we get that immediate relief? Many devotees, as mentioned above, have had some taste of it, but still went away. It seems they were not experiencing sufficient alleviation of their pain to maintain diligent spiritual practises. They thus turned to other solutions that they felt were more immediate, putting aside the actual means of eradicating their suffering condition.

What I would like to consider here is the possibility that they did not fully experience the benefits of Krishna consciousness because they did not fully practise the process as given by Prabhupada. I feel that a key element may have been missing, that of effective hearing and chanting of Krishna katha, specifically Prabhupada’s books.

THE PRIMARY PRACTISE

Hearing is the first of the nine angas, or limbs, of bhakti, and it is the primary limb upon which all the others depend.

“Unless one hears about the holy name, form and qualities of the Lord, one cannot clearly understand the other processes of devotional service.”(7)

It is often said that chanting is the most important limb, but Prabhupada interestingly makes the following comment,

“When we speak of hearing and chanting, it means that not only should one chant and hear of the holy name of the Lord as Rama, Krishna (or systematically the sixteen names Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare), but one should also read and hear the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam in the association of devotees.”(8)

In the purport quoted above Prabhupada describes this as a “primary practise” of bhakti that will cause the creeper of love of God to grow all the way to Krishna’s lotus feet. It is my belief that in general we have failed to appreciate the critical importance of hearing and discussing Krishna katha together. As a result we may not have deeply assimilated the messages of Krishna consciousness and thereby felt the benefit. We may have been attending the morning programme, including class and chanting our rounds, but still felt that something was missing, and thus even after some years of practice we are still not feeling the full effect.

Another problem associated with a failure to deeply analyse our books is that we may fail to understand our duty. The result of not properly following sastra is explained by Krishna in the Gita. “He who discards scriptural injunctions and acts according to his own whims attains neither perfection, nor happiness, nor the supreme destination. ”(9). Even though we may not deliberately “discard” scriptural instruction, by not properly understanding and practising the philosophy we effectively do this, and thus experience the above unwanted outcomes.

SADHU SANGA

A recurrent message in Prabhupada’s books, as stated in the quote above, is that hearing and chanting should be performed in the association of other devotees. This is called sadhu-sanga. Anyone coming to Krishna consciousness will be quickly apprised of the importance of sadhu-sanga. There is the famous verse that says how even by a moment’s association with a sadhu one can achieve “all perfection”.(10) Then there is Lord Chaitanya’s statement that the “root cause of bhakti is sadhu-sanga” (11), which Srila Prabhupada translates as the association of advanced devotees. Lord Chaitanya said that the main quality of a Vaishnava is that he gives up non-devotee association and associates with other Vaishnavas. Srila Prabhupada explains, “When Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu was requested to explain the duty of a Vaishnava, a Krishna conscious person, He immediately said, asat-sanga-tyaga-ei vaisnava-acara [Cc. Madhya 22.87].” (12)

Sadhu-sanga, or sat-sanga as it is also called, is the second element of devotional practise after sraddha or faith, as defined by Rupa Goswami. We could go through Srila Prabhupada’s books and extract any number of quotes emphasising the importance of associating with devotees. So what exactly constitutes sat-sanga, and who is the ‘sat’ or sadhu referred to in sastra?

In one place Srila Prabhupada directly equates sadhu sanga with hearing. “Lord Chaitanya therefore recommended five main principles for attaining perfection in the devotional service of the Lord. The first is association with devotees (hearing).”(13)

For the most part, though, he defines it as discussing Krishna-katha. “Those who are devotees, they assemble together. Bodhayantah parasparam. In the Bhagavad-gita it is said, “They discuss about the glories of the Lord.” Bodhayantah parasparam. That is sadhu-sanga” (14) Here Srila Prabhupada quotes a seed verse of the Bhagavad-Gita , where Krishna describes the symptoms of a pure devotee, how they “derive great satisfaction and bliss from always enlightening one another and conversing about me.”(15)

Prabhupada could be strong about the need for hearing and chanting together, or discussing Krishna katha. “Sat-sanga means assembly, discussion. Bodhayantah parasparam, tusyanti ca ramanti ca. If you are not interested in association, discussion, then you are finished. So… karmis, they are fools and rascals. When you have got this center, it is not that you should be engaged from morning till you go to bed for sense gratification. That is not life. That is karmi’s life. You have no time for sat-sanga, for association. You cannot make any progress by this sort of karmi’s life. We have to work for organization, but not that whole day and night engaged and no sat-sanga. That is a misguided policy, and it will spoil the whole structure.” (16)

Krishna conscious discussion is also known as istha-gosthi, instituted by Srila Prabhupada. This has largely come to mean meetings where temple business is discussed. We require management meetings, of course, but here is Prabhupada’s definition of istha-gosthi: “For a devotee, there is no point in making friendships with ordinary persons; he should make friendship with other devotees so that by discussing among themselves, they may elevate one another on the path of spiritual understanding. This is called ista-gosthi. In Bhagavad-gita there is reference to bodhayantah parasparam, “discussing among themselves.” Generally pure devotees utilize their valuable time in chanting and discussing various activities of Lord Krishna or Lord Caitanya amongst themselves.”(17)

THE EFFECT OF SADHU SANGA

Prabhupada would often cite a key Bhagavatam verse that describes how by sat-sanga, by discussing Krishna consciousness in the association of devotees, the whole process of bhakti unfolds.

“In the association of pure devotees, discussion of the pastimes and activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is very pleasing and satisfying to the ear and the heart. By cultivating such knowledge one gradually becomes advanced on the path of liberation, and thereafter he is freed, and his attraction becomes fixed. Then real devotion and devotional service begin.”(18)

This verse appears three times in the Chaitanya Charitamrita, twice cited by Lord Chaitanya himself in his instructions to Sanatana Goswami.

Discussion about Krishna is both sravanam and kirtanam, hearing and chanting about the Lord. This is the “watering process” for the seed of bhakti, as described by Lord Chaitanya. The result is that one achieves the highest perfection of life. In Srimad Bhagavatam, Prabhupada states, “The highest perfectional gain of humanity is to engage in discussions of the activities and glories of the Pious Actor.”(19)

Prabhupada indicates how by this process we will achieve success in all our endeavours. “This process of hearing about and glorifying the Lord is applicable for everyone, whoever he may be, and it will lead one to the ultimate success in everything in which one may be engaged by providence.”(20)

Discussion about Krishna is the means by which we develop detachment and come to the Lord. “Therefore one must learn detachment by discussion of spiritual science based on authoritative scriptures, and one must hear from persons who are actually in knowledge. As a result of such discussion in the association of devotees, one comes to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.”(21)

In 1972 Prabhupada issued an instruction to a prominent GBC member that his “first job” should be to ensure that the devotees in his care were regularly reading and discussing his books. “Your first job should be to make sure that every one of the devotees in your zone of management is reading regularly our literatures and discussing the subject matter seriously from different angles of seeing, and that they are somehow or other absorbing the knowledge of Krishna Consciousness philosophy. If they are fully educated in our philosophy and if they can get all of the knowledge and study it from every viewpoint, then very easily they will perform tapasya or renunciation and that will be their advancement in Krishna Consciousness.” (22)

Prabhupada wanted us to thoroughly analyse his writings from various perspectives, with a view to clearing all doubts. “Try to always study our books and see our philosophy from different lights of directions, become convinced yourself of this knowledge and without a doubt all of your difficulties of mind will disappear forever and you will see Krishna face-to-face.”(23)

He did not expect us to just blindly accept what he had written, and explained how by the process of discussion we would gradually become attached to the subject matter. “Suppose you hear something of the Bhagavad-Gita, and it appeals to you, or even does not appeal to you. Just try to think over: ‘What Bhagavad-Gita says? How Swamiji has discussed this matter?’ Apply your arguments. Apply your logic. Don’t take it as a sentiment or as a blind faith. You have got reason; you have got arguments; you have got sense. Apply it and try to understand it… You will gradually develop your attachment for hearing it, and devotional service will be invoked in your heart, and then gradually, you will make progress.”(24)

Discussions in which we try to see from different angles please Krishna. “Such pure devotees, always merged in knowledge of Krishna and absorbed in Krishna consciousness, exchange thoughts and realizations as great scientists exchange their views and discuss the results of their research in scientific academies. Such exchanges of thoughts in regard to Krishna give pleasure to the Lord, who therefore favours such devotees with all enlightenment.” (25)

We become oblivious to misery. “My dear King, in the place where pure devotees live, following the rules and regulations and thus purely conscious and engaged with great eagerness in hearing and chanting the glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in that place if one gets a chance to hear their constant flow of nectar, which is exactly like the waves of a river, one will forget the necessities of life — namely hunger and thirst — and become immune to all kinds of fear, lamentation and illusion.”(26)

Prabhupada comments, “If one gets the chance to hear from pure devotees in such a place, allowing the constant flow of the river of nectar to come from the mouths of pure devotees, then the cultivation of Krishna consciousness becomes very easy.” (27)

WHO IS SADHU?

Generally Prabhupada says that we must hear and chant in the association of pure devotees. Indeed, as quoted above, such association is the ‘root cause’ of bhakti. In one place Srila Prabhupada defined sadhu sanga as “associating with the bona-fide spiritual master and abiding by his order.”(28) In the Bhagavatam verse about sat-sanga, cited above (3.25.25), Prabhupada translates the word ‘satam’ as “pure devotees”, and this is usually how he translates the word ‘sadhu’.

It is a frequently repeated point. Lord Chaitanya says, “Unless one is favoured by a pure devotee, one cannot attain the platform of devotional service. To say nothing of Krishna-bhakti, one cannot even be relieved from the bondage of material existence.” (29)

Commenting on this verse, Prabhupada says, “If one is serious about escaping maya’s influence and returning home, back to Godhead, one must associate with a sadhu (devotee). That is the verdict of all scriptures. By the slight association of a devotee, one can be freed from the clutches of maya. Without the mercy of the pure devotee, one cannot get freedom by any means. Certainly a pure devotee’s association is necessary in order to obtain the loving service of the Lord. One cannot be freed from maya’s clutches without sadhu-sanga.” (30)

In one lecture Prabhupada describes the sadhu as a perfect devotee. “Sadhu means a devotee, perfect devotee of Krishna. That is a sadhu. Therefore it is recommended, sadhu-sanga. We have to associate with sadhu, means who have completely dedicated life for Krishna’s service.” (31)

Everything depends upon such association. “The secret of success in the cultivation of Krishna consciousness is hearing from the right person.” (32) And the proper way to associate with such persons is to hear from them. “…one has to associate with liberated persons not directly, physically, but by understanding, through philosophy and logic, the problems of life.” (33)

There is no shortage of such statements throughout Prabhupada’s instructions. We need the pure devotee’s association. The question then, is what does ‘pure devotee’ mean? There are many statements by Prabhupada describing their symptoms, but this can be a somewhat subjective area. One man’s pure devotee may well be another’s rascal. Where one person sees all the qualities of a pure devotee as given in sastra, another may have quite a different view.

However, although there may well be other pure devotees, there cannot be any argument that Prabhupada is the “right person” as described here. He has made his association freely available in his instructions, which are intended for everyone in our society. Those of us who are not his initiated disciples need to find someone from whom we can receive instruction and initiation, but we can also derive immense benefit by hearing directly from Srila Prabhupada through his books, especially in the association of devotees. Perhaps that association will be primarily our own spiritual master, as Prabhupada suggests above, but even if this is not possible we can still come together to discuss Krishna consciousness on the basis of Prabhupada’s teachings. In that way we will get the association of a topmost sadhu, the maha-bhagavata devotee, Srila Prabhupada.

Prabhupada writes, “Here is the remedy for eliminating all inauspicious things within the heart which are considered to be obstacles in the path of self-realization. The remedy is the association of the Bhagavatas. There are two types of Bhagavatas, namely the book Bhagavata and the devotee Bhagavata. Both the Bhagavatas are competent remedies, and both of them or either of them can be good enough to eliminate the obstacles.” (34)

It is my belief that by deeply and carefully studying and discussing Prabhupada’s books we effectively get the association of both Bhagavatas , the book and the person.

As well as this, it is service to Prabhupada, as he explains, “To serve the topmost devotee means to hear from him about the glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.” (35)

As Prabhupada so painstakingly produced his books, it surely behoves us to also try painstakingly to understand what he wrote. And by so doing all the benefits listed above will be ours.

MAKING OUR CLASSES SAT SANGA

Surely the best opportunity for us to regularly hear from Srila Prabhupada in the association of other devotees is during our daily classes, but is that happening? Prabhupada plainly expected the class to be a powerful transformational experience. Thus he translated the ‘nasta prayesu’ verse as follows: “By regular attendance in classes on the Bhāgavatam and by rendering of service to the pure devotee, all that is troublesome to the heart is almost completely destroyed, and loving service unto the Personality of Godhead, who is praised with transcendental songs, is established as an irrevocable fact.” (36)

As I have shown above, this destruction of anarthas or unwanted things in the heart is the effect of proper sat-sanga. If we are actually associating with Prabhupada, through his instructions, this should be happening. However, in my experience so many of our classes fail to offer Prabhupada’s association. Often the speaker will read the verse and purport, and then deliver his or her own thoughts on the subject with scant reference to Prabhupada’s actual words. Stories, jokes, anecdotes, pep talks, favourite cause espousals, outright speculation and even mundane discussion of politics or whatever, are all too common in classes I have heard (and I have recently made a fairly wide study of them). Even where the speaker sticks to the philosophy, it is still rare to hear a class that adheres closely to Prabhupada’s words, seeking to deeply unpack and understand his meaning, and then discussing that together. We are thus mostly getting the speaker’s association, rather than that of Srila Prabhupada, the undoubted sadhu. Some of us may be pure devotees, but speaking for myself I am still a conditioned soul, and I would venture to suggest that many of us called to give class are in the same floundering boat. We are aspiring pure devotees, on the path of sadhana bhakti, which means still becoming freed of anarthas.

Prabhupada says: “Because conditioned soul cannot give you the truth. I am conditioned soul. I cannot say something which is absolute… Because we cannot take any instruction from a conditioned soul. So the spiritual master, even if you take that he is conditioned soul, but he does not speak anything from his own side. He speaks from Kṛṣṇa’s side. So unless… The Vedic principle is that unless one is not liberated from the material conditions, he cannot give us any perfect knowledge. The conditioned soul, however he may be academically advanced, educated, he cannot give us any perfect knowledge.” (37)

As conditioned souls we must therefore stick very closely to Prabhupada’s words in order to not speak ‘anything from our own side’, as he puts it.

I do not want to denigrate the value of any devotee’s association, and I know that many give good talks, but I would suggest that our temple classes, morning and evening, be reserved as sacred time during which we all associate deeply with our Founder-Acharya. Recently the GBC published a pamphlet entitled Srila Prabhupada: The Founder Acharya of ISKCON. In its preamble they stated, “Srila Prabhupada’s presence is to be felt in the life of every ISKCON devotee today, and in the lives of devotees many centuries into the future.” The aim of the pamphlet was declared as, “understanding how Śrīla Prabhupāda is in the center of our lives and our society, and knowing how to keep him in that essential role.” (38) Prabhupada’s role was stated in the pamphlet to be: “The single prominent śikṣā guru immanent in the life of each and every ISKCON devotee—a perpetual, indwelling active guiding and directing presence.”(39)

Siksa means instruction, and thus to ensure that Srila Prabhupada is the “prominent siksa guru” in our lives must mean prominently hearing from him, and that surely begins with class.

And Prabhupada wanted class to be a learning experience. “We should have regular classes, just like school and colleges, eight hour, six hour. Be engaged always in reading Srimad-Bhagavatam, discussing amongst yourself. Then you’ll make progress. Otherwise, if you take it as an official routine work… You should take as routine work, but with consciousness that “We have to learn something,” not simply attending the class, but to learn something. In this way make your life successful.” (40).

Note how he even suggests that there be six or eight hours of classes a day, although mostly he would instruct that there be one hour of class in both the morning and evening. Even this is often minimised, with morning class as short as thirty minutes (after all the preliminaries), and evening class non-existent for most. Many devotees do not even attend the morning class. Of course, where temple attendance is not possible we can conduct our classes at home, but the main principle I would stress, wherever we hold class, is the need to hear the words of Srila Prabhupada.

HOW TO HEAR EFFECTIVELY

As far as the methodology of effective hearing is concerned, there is much more to say, but this article is already too long. My wife Cintamani-dhama and I have compiled a set of principles drawn from Srila Prabhupada’s instructions which can be found on our website: www.improvingsanga.wordpress.com

Fundamentally, though, there should be a complete focus on Prabhupada’s words. Put the purport up on Powerpoint for everyone to see, or have them bring their own books. Then go through systematically, picking up on his points, diving deeply into the nectar of his words. Take time, if necessary. Some purports are long and packed with valuable instructions. Why not spend more than just one day on a verse? So much is missed when we rush through his purports. They deserve more than that, and surely this is what Prabhupada expected. Take a look at the link below:

http://www.vanipedia.org/wiki/How_to_Read_Srila_Prabhupada’s_Books

To conclude then, I believe that if we institute more direct hearing from Srila Prabhupada, especially in classes, we will see a fall in our attrition rate. Devotees will better experience the benefits described above and be less inclined to seek other, paltry solutions. Krishna consciousness will be seen as the all-encompassing remedy for every problem, and we will quickly feel the wonderful effects of Prabhupada’s powerful association.

There is no difference between the spiritual master’s instructions and the spiritual master himself. In his absence, therefore, his words of direction should be the pride of the disciple.(41)

BIBLIOGRAPHY
1•SB 1.1.2
2•SB.1.7.5
3•Ibid
4•SB 1.7.6
5•SB 1.7.7
6•Ibid
7•SB 7.24-25
8•SB.2.2.30
9. Bg.16.23
10•CC.Mad.22.54
11•CC.Mad.22.83
12•SB.5.18.10
13•SB.2.9.31
14•SP Lecture Bombay, December 4, 1974
15•Bg.10.9
16•SPC.New Delhi, Nov 3, 1973
17•SB.3.29.3
18•SB.3.25.25
19•SB.3.36.37
20•SB.2.1.5
21•Bg.15.3-4
22•SP Letter Los Angeles June 16, 1972
23•SP Letter New York; July 8, 1972
24•SP Lecture July 28, 1966
25•CC Adi 1.49
26• SB 4.29.39-40
27• Ibid.
28• SP Lecture August 19, 1968
29• CC. Mad 22.51
30• SB.5.3.14
31• SP Lecture, Sydney, February 16, 1973
32•SB 4.29.39-40
33•SB 3.31.48
34•SB 1.2.18
35•SB.4.22.22
36. SB. 1.2.17
37. SPL 27 Nov 1968
38. Srila Prabhupada: The Founder Acharya of ISKCON, p.9
39. Ibid, p.22
40. SPL January 16th, 1975
41. Caitanya Caritamrita Adi Lila 1.35

“Chanting, Dancing, Harinam & Feasting” (Album of photos)
Dharmatma Das ACBSP: A wonderful gathering of over 450 Nepali devotees at Hrishikesh Mandir, Rurukshetra Dham at Ridi Bazar, situated on the banks of Kali Gandaki River, Nepal. Three days of wonderful programs, Krishna katha, huge Harinam in Ridi Bazar, Kirtans and otherworldly Prasadam. All glories to the sweet devotees who expertly organized everything and cared for us so nicely.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/6Cnwya

Summary of the ILS 2018 Presentations.
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ISKCON50 Academic Conference at Harvard (15 min video)
A video by Karuna Productions.
Top Academic Scholars Appreciate ISKCON in New Short Film.

Today is Srila Jagannatha Dasa Babaji Maharaja’s disapperance day and also HH Tamal Krishna Goswami Maharaja’s disappearance day. Disciples and godbrothers and well wishers of HH Tamal Krishna Goswami celebrated Tirobhava Mahotsava with glorification and pushpanjali at Maharaja’s samadhi mandir. His Holiness Jayapataka Swami Maharaja – 10th March 2016, Sri Mayapur Dham.- “I just wanted to say […]

The post Srila Tamal Krishna Goswami Disappearance day appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Sadhu Feast (Album of photos) For 15th Anniversary of Vrinda Kunda, We gave a feast for all Nandgaon Sadhus!

The 16th Disappearance-Day of our beloved Tamal Krishna Goswami.
H.H. Niranjana Swami was saying that during the kirtans in Mayapur in 2002 Tamal Krishna Maharaja was so affectionate towards him, that it was very very moving for him. Tamal Krishna Maharaja always wanted him to come to his room for the kirtans, he would always ask him to lead kirtan, he would always ask him to chant particular melodies. Niranjana Swami said it was that particular year that Maharaja was showing uncanny affection towards a particular group of his godbrothers and that he felt somehow that he was on the mercy end, that he was getting some special mercy of a senior godbrother. They became very close during those days in 2002 at the Mayapur Festival.
H.G. Rati Manjari Devi Dasi asked His Holiness Niranjana Swami if he remembered anything in particular that Tamal Krishna Goswami said to him in these final weeks when he was still physically present? In this video we see H.H. Niranjana Swami’s reply about the very last time he saw Maharaja:
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/2HgAtH

A lot of Bengali devotees lament that even though A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada instructed a number of his senior disciples to preach in Bangladesh, he personally never visited Bangladesh. However, devotees would be happy to know that Prabhupada’s Guru, Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur visited Bangladesh/East Bengal several times. His preaching pastimes in Bangladesh will be described herein. Born on February 6, 1874, in the holy Jagannath Puri as the son of Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur, Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur was a brilliant personality since his childhood. He took Sannyasa in 1918 and revived a lot of forgotten holy Tirthas in Bangladesh thus reinvigorating the Bhakti movement there. Continue reading "Saraswati Thakur’s Preaching Mission in Bangladesh
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It was through the youth that Srila Prabhupada established this International Society and it was the youth that he engaged in fulfilling the desire of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu! In order to help build and further develop youth groups across the globe, we have put together a group of resources, which we hope can give anyone, anywhere the tools they need. Continue reading "The Future Hope – Srila Prabhupada’s Younger Generation
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From Carey Island to Krishna Caring Island

 Japa Sessions at a home in the Island

Hare Krishna. Carey Island to the south of Port Klang was developed about a hundred years ago by an Englishman planter who cultivated Rubber trees. Now the island is full with Oil Palm estates. It is a tourist attraction for it has a Golf Course resort, five Mah Meri aboriginal tribe villages, etc.

 Dr Shanti Rupa Mataji giving a class on introduction to spiritual life

Many of the residents there, mostly Indians and foreigners work in the estates with income enough to keep them going. There are some very nice temples there but spiritual teachings are lacking especially lack of personal attention towards their spiritual needs? Since 2015 Krishna Chandra prabhu inspired many devotees from the Sri Jagannatha Mandir, ISKCON Kuala Lumpur to join him on monthly visits to the island, meet the resident’s person to person, talk to them about the science of the Bhagavad-gita and introduce them to Bhakti Yoga. During these visits sanctified vegetarian prasadam meals are distributed to all and practical aspects of devotional service such as chanting, Tulasi puja, etc are taught. At other visits Harinam sankirtan parties and Palanquin festival parties parade the estate divisions which culminates with big programs of arati, kirtan, class and prasadam distribution at the local temples. Through our Sastra Dana programe we also make gifts of Bhagavad-gita books and other smaller literatures.

The smaller the number the more effective it can be to assimilate spiritual lessons

...and bigger programs are also equally effective in creating festival moods

Palanquin processions from home to home for residents to get the mercy of Lord Caitanya

Person to person cultivation and practical training on Japa

Lord Caitanya's maha garland as beginners mercy

Harinam during palanquin processions are sweet and so relishable in such a peacful environment. Nice for devotees to sometimes take a break from the city and join village harinam chanting.

The island has become a Krishna Caring Island. Thanks to the devotees and their commitment many of the residents are gradually transforming their lives, chanting Hare Krishna Maha Mantra and by the mercy of the devotees and Lord Caitanya will be blessed to continue progressing in their spiritual lives.

The island is definitely a nice place to practise Krishna consciousness, out of the city and in a peaceful and natural atmosphere.

Prasadam served on banana leaves. Thanks to our food for life team for providing free meals.

Children get to select branded clothing. Thanks to Karen Khoo for the thoughts and to Japonika for the gift of clothings.

This kid looks happy with her new gift of clothes!

Apart from the regular house to house visits, temple program, giving of free vegetarian meals the visit last week was also with giving away of gifts of first class new branded clothing’s. Our sincere thanks to both Ms. Karen Khoo, (a selfless welfare worker for making arrangements) and Japonika store to give away hundreds of children and adult garments to ISKCON for distributing to the needy.

15 February, Chinese New Year Eve

Hare Krishna.

All glories to the Sri Krishna Balarama temple in Melaka for organising for the first time in Malaysia, 4 chariots with Lord Jagannatha, Lord Baladeva and Subadra Devi and another chariot with Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda leading the procession. Procession begat at 5.30pm from Jalan Sri Rama, Sri Krishna Balarama temple. HH Bhakti Mukunda Swami, the Vice President of ISKCON Malaysia graced and officiated the festival.

Four mini chariots were especially dedicated to children who offered worship, chanted and danced all through the route. I am not sure if children can do any bigger festival or event that a Ratha Yatra. So, it is not true children cannot do big. They can and Lord Jagannatha reciprocates.

It was a double celebration for many Chinese residents on New Year Eve reunion who also came out of their houses to greet the chariots, offer oranges and flowers to Lord Jagannatha. Many devotees from mainland China also joined the festival and were actively engages especially distributing Jagannatha prasadam.

This festival is in remembrance of Srila Prabhupada who organised his own chariot festival In his birthplace at Calcutta whe he was just a few years old. We are expecting more of ISKCON Malaysia centres to also engage their children from young to organise and manage such a big event as Lord Jagannatha Ratha Yatra, of course with a little help from their parents!

Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 7 Chapter 6 Text 1

śrī-prahrāda uvāca

kaumāra ācaret prājño

dharmān bhāgavatān iha

durlabhaṁ mānuṣaṁ janma

tad apy adhruvam arthadam

SYNONYMS

śrī-prahrādaḥ uvāca—Prahlāda Mahārāja said; kaumāraḥ—in the tender age of childhood; ācaret—should practice; prājñaḥ—one who is intelligent; dharmān—occupational duties; bhāgavatān—which are devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead; iha—in this life; durlabham—very rarely obtained; mānuṣam—human; janma—birth; tat—that; api—even; adhruvam—impermanent, temporary; artha-dam—full of meaning.

TRANSLATION

Prahlāda Mahārāja said: One who is sufficiently intelligent should use the human form of body from the very beginning of life—in other words, from the tender age of childhood—to practice the activities of devotional service, giving up all other engagements. The human body is most rarely achieved, and although temporary like other bodies, it is meaningful because in human life one can perform devotional service. Even a slight amount of sincere devotional service can give one complete perfection.

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As always, the Mayapur Kirtan Mela is immensely popular and devotees come for all over to attend the 5 day festival.

There are a variety of leading devotees who inspire everyone to follow their ecstatic kirtans, which are interspersed with shouts of Gauranga and Haribol.

The evenings were so packed that I had great difficulty getting through the crowds to be nearer the lead chanters.

Did you already have a chance to visit our (not so new anymore) KKSBlog page on Facebook? Well here is your chance… Click here! No Facebook? Join our newsletter and stay updated or keep on visiting KKSBlog.

We thought it would never happen but modern times are pushing forward even for the good’ol KKSwami CD’s. Who needs shiny, plastic discs when you can stream your tunes to your fancy new smart speaker?! Move over antiquated cd player and welcome iTunes, Spotify or one of many other services out in the wild. So KKSBlog is taking a bold step into the future by publishing audio albums from Kadamba Kanana Swami on those very modern platforms for your pleasure and convenience.

Enough with the words. Let’s get those tunes!!!

Metamorphosis (2016)

Still available on CD. Click here…

Pure Enjoyment (2015)

Also still available on CD. Click here…

Heart & Soul (2014)

And again still available on CD (spotting a trend?). Click here…

Vaisnava Seva (2000)

Aaah. not available on CD anymore…

The Land Of Kirtan (Album of photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Yesterday we took a large harinam party of international devotees thro...

ISKCON Dwarka New Delhi: Examination stress buster session in Happy Model School today from class 7th to class 11th by HG Amogh Lila...

Speaker: HG Radha Krishna Das Srimad Bhagavatam  8.7 44 Tapyante loka-tāpena sādhavaḥ prāyaśo janāḥ paramārādhanaṁ tad dhi puruṣasyākhilātmanaḥ TRANSLATION: It is said that great personalities almost always accept voluntary suffering because of the suffering of people in general. This is considered the highest method of worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is present in […]

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The Baked Potato Lila by Govinda Dasi.
At New Jersey, my chores consisted of various household duties aside from my artwork for “Back to Godhead”. I cleaned the kitchen, washed Swamiji’s clothes - he was still called Swamiji at that time -, made the beds, mopped the floors, and cleaned everything. I enjoyed serving him any way I could and of course, I picked him roses every day. It was with great joy that I did everything. Kirtanananda however, did the cooking, as I was not trained in cooking. I had been a college student, just prior to meeting Srila Prabhupada and had always eaten out and had never cooked at all.

Speaker Bhakti Vinode Swami Verse gurur na sa syāt sva-jano na sa syāt pitā na sa syāj jananī na sā syāt daivaṁ na tat syān na patiś ca sa syān na mocayed yaḥ samupeta-mṛtyum Translation:  One who cannot deliver his dependents from the path of repeated birth and death should never become a spiritual master, a […]

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Hare Krishna Temple’s Food Festival A Massive Success!
ISKCON Auckland (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) celebrated its annual food festival on Saturday, January 27 at Sri Sri Radha Giridhari Temple in Kumeu.
The festival started around about 4 p.m. with over 2000 people participating in the event. This event witnessed the crowd not just from the Indian community but from people all other ethnic backgrounds who came forward and supported the annual celebration at ISKCON temple.
“The people not only enjoyed the Hare Krishna style food with many other varieties but also enjoyed the positive vibes of the temple atmosphere which was accompanied by soul soothing music and dance,” the spokesperson of ISKCON temple Krishnacandra Das told The Indian Weekender.

Volunteers at the temple, called ‘Hare Krishnas’, welcomed their guests by distributing free bliss balls (sweet) on their entry and temple tours were also part of the festival organized for the visitors.

Bouncing castles, face painting, and rides were arranged for the children to participate and enjoy at the food festival.
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/vGGfYJ

Kirtan Mela Mayapur 2018 (Album of photos)
Srila Prabhupada: If we simply place ourselves at the lotus feet of Krishna by taki...

Major renovation of the very place that Srila Prabhupada stayed in Delhi (Album with photos)
Krishna Kshetra Swami: My last day in India, after 3.5 months, Delhi devotees kindly brought me to visit ISKCON Chippiwada. At the end of a tiny back alley in Old Delhi, near Jama Masjid and Red Fort–this is the very place that Srila Prabhupada stayed, 1959-1965, when in Delhi, between times he stayed in Vrindavan. Here, living alone in a room with no windows, in perhaps one of the most densely populated areas in the world, he worked on his Bhagavatam and BTG, and from here he would meet the printer and sell BTGs around the city. In recent years ISKCON devotees spent seven years finding the trustees of this property, negotiating with them, buying the property, and coaxing the pujari and his brother to move out with a handsome sum of money. A group of 7-8 devotees is now enthusiastically doing a major renovation from top to bottom (4 floors, including basement, main floor with temple [Sri Sri Radha-Vallabha, said to have been installed in the late 19th c.], the next floor up with the side room where Prabhupada stayed and a nice space that is becoming an SP museum; prasadam and kitchen floor, and top floor brahmacari ashram…and a rooftop that will be a nice place for programs). This center is one of the nine-becoming-fifteen temples in the greater Delhi area. Two huge projects presently under construction, one in the Rohini district and one in the Dwarka district, are massive projects. ISKCON Delhi distributed 5 lakh (500,000) Bhagavad-gitas during this last book marathon….
Find them here: https://goo.gl/tgw1UV

Seize the Rarest of the Rare Opportunity - Bhagavad-Gita CHAD Inspiration from HG. Vaisesika Prabhu (3 min video)
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What are the good results of preserving semen?



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It is often said that chanting is the most important limb, but Prabhupada interestingly makes the following comment, “When we speak of hearing and chanting, it means that not only should one chant and hear of the holy name of the Lord as Rama, Krishna (or systematically the sixteen names Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare), but one should also read and hear the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam in the association of devotees.” Continue reading "Improving Classes
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As leaders we get to do so many different things but we should be knowing that we are under the radar of Maya and Kali. "You are the leader who is going to take people out of the world and send them to Godhead, you are working for Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada’s organisation! You are a dangerous guy for me. I am going to attack you!" And definitely iskcon leaders who are proponents of pure bhakti are going to be attacked more and more in their leadership positions. Continue reading "Srimad Bhagavatam class from Mayapur, 11 February 2018
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Who remembers the motto of the Strategic Planning team? “More devotees, happier devotees.” Why is it we are focusing on more devotees and happier devotees? Because Krishna will be pleased. If they are not happier there won’t be more. More devotees means external growth. Happier devotees means internal growth. Which one is more important? It’s just so interesting we are focussing really a lot on spreading Krsna consciousness. And that’s a really good goal and we should focus on that, but at the same time we should really focus on developing ourselves. Growth starts with you first. Continue reading "Srimad Bhagavatam class from Mayapur, 8 February 2018
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Srimad-Bhagavatam, Canto 8, Chapter 7 (texts 36-42) describes the benevolent activities of Lord Siva when the living entities were threatened by the deadliest poison (halahala).

“Srila Sukadeva Gosvami said: ‘Lord Siva is always benevolent toward all living entities. When he saw that the living entities were very much disturbed by the poison, which was spreading everywhere, he was very compassionate. Thus he spoke to his eternal consort, Sati, as follows.“ ‘Lord Siva said: “My dear Bhavani, just see how all these living entities have been placed in danger because of the poison produced from the churning of the ocean of milk. It is my duty to give protection and safety to all living entities struggling for existence. Certainly it is the duty of the master to protect his suffering dependents. People in general, being bewildered by the illusory energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, are always engaged in animosity toward one another. But devotees, even at the risk of their own temporary lives, try to save them. My dear gentle wife Bhavani, when one performs benevolent activities for others, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, is very pleased. And when the Lord is pleased, I am also pleased, along with all other living creatures. Therefore, let me drink this poison, for all the living entities may thus become happy because of me.” ’

“Srila Sukadeva Gosvami continued: ‘After informing Bhavani in this way, Lord Siva began to drink the poison, and Bhavani, who knew perfectly well the capabilities of Lord Siva, gave him her permission to do so. Thereafter, Lord Siva, who is dedicated to auspicious, benevolent work for humanity, compassionately took the whole quantity of poison in his palm and drank it.’  ”

At the chapter’s end, Srila Sukadeva Gosvami concluded,

tapyante loka-tapena
sadhavah prayaso janah
paramaradhanam tad dhi
purusasyakhilatmanah

“It is said that great personalities almost always accept voluntary suffering because of the suffering of people in general. This is considered the highest method of worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is present in everyone’s heart.” (SB 8.7.44)

And Srila Prabhupada elaborates, “Here is an explanation of how those engaged in activities for the welfare of others are very quickly recognized by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Lord says in Bhagavad-gita (18.68-69), ya idam paramam guhyam mad-bhaktesv abhidhasyati . . . na ca tasman manusyesu kascin me priya-krttamah: ‘One who preaches the message of Bhagavad-gita to My devotees is most dear to Me. No one can excel him in satisfying Me by worship.’ There are different kinds of welfare activities in this material world, but the supreme welfare activity is the spreading of Krsna consciousness. Other welfare activities cannot be effective, for the laws of nature and the results of karma cannot be checked. . . .

“If one tries to spread Krsna consciousness all over the world, he should be understood to be performing the best welfare activity. The Lord is automatically very pleased with him. If the Lord is pleased with him, what is left for him to achieve? If one has been recognized by the Lord, even if he does not ask the Lord for anything, the Lord, who is within everyone, supplies him whatever he wants. This is also confirmed in Bhagavad-gita (tesam nityabhiyuktanam yoga-ksemam vahamy aham [Bg 9.22]). Again, as stated here, tapyante loka-tapena sadhavah prayaso janah. The best welfare activity is raising people to the platform of Krsna consciousness, since the conditioned souls are suffering only for want of Krsna consciousness. The Lord Himself also comes to mitigate the suffering of humanity.

yada yada hi dharmasya
glanir bhavati bharata
abhyutthanam adharmasya
tadatmanam srjamy aham

paritranaya sadhunam
vinasaya ca duskrtam
dharma-samsthapanarthaya
sambhavami yuge yuge

‘Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion—at that time I descend Myself. To deliver the pious and to annihilate the miscreants, as well as to reestablish the principles of religion, I advent Myself millennium after millennium.’ (Bg 4.7-8) All the sastras conclude, therefore, that spreading the Krsna consciousness movement is the best welfare activity in the world. Because of the ultimate benefit this bestows upon people in general, the Lord very quickly recognizes such service performed by a devotee.”

Reflecting on this last verse and purport, I considered how Srila Prabhupada exemplified the statement that “great personalities almost always accept voluntary suffering because of the suffering of people in general.” He certainly did that to establish Hare Krishna Land in Juhu, Bombay—and to establish so many other vehicles for Krishna consciousness in so many other places throughout the world.

I pray that we can continue in the same spirit.

Hare Krishna.

Yours in service,
Giriraj Swami

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