New Bhakti Rasamrta Sindhu Study Group
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I am beginning a new Bhakti Rasāmṛta Sindhu group-study course. The schedule will be Sundays and Thursdays at 5:30pm, starting from January 7th, (Pacific time, which is 8:30pm Eastern time).

There will be 17 online class sessions:
17 Class Sessions:
(1) Definition of love (uttama-bhakti)
(2) Six qualities & three stages of bhakti
(3) Definition of practicing love (sādhana-bhakti)
(4) Preliminary do’s and don’ts
(5) Practices
(6) Most important practices. Clarifications.
(7) Rāgānugā sādhana – Definition & Qualification
(8) Rāgānugā sādhana – Practices
(9) Realized love (bhāva-bhakti)
(10) Perfect love (prema-bhakti)
(11) Ingredients of rasa
(12) Fundamental affections (sthayi-bhava)
(13) Stimulants of affection (vibhava)
(14) Expressions of affection (anubhava)
(15) Reflexive expressions (sāttvika-bhava)
(16) Feelings (sañcārī-bhava)
(17) The five rasas and their mixutres

This is ideal for people who want to explore and understand bhakti-yoga in detail, especially those who want to apply themselves to the practices.
The tuition is $214.
If you would like to participate, please send me an email (or comment below) ASAP to reserve a spot or ask any questions about the course.

Sunday, October 29th, 2017

St John’s, Newfoundland
More in St. John’s
Our U.S. walking party, comprised of three Canadian Krishna monks, hit the trail, the “Great Trail” at its start.  The longest constructed trail is this one with a distance of 24,000 kilometres connecting the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic Oceans by way of a foot path.  Hayagriva, Marshall and I really just scratched the surface, covering a mere 3 km, and that was just the 3 km to get to the starting point, formerly called the “Trans Canada Trail. Mile Zero Km.”  It would take me just under two years to make that distance non-stop if I were to tackle it.  Mind you, I’m not unfamiliar with it.  I’ve taken to segments of it.
Today we made our second visit to the local Hindu temple to worship and to talk on the topic “The Rope of God,”  Highlighting the pastime of God as a child.  Krishna, as a baby, stands there shaking in fear and kajal, mascara, mixed with tears runs down His cheeks.  His mother is unhappy at His behavior and so she proceeds to give him a licking.  She gathers some rope nearby and after some struggle manages to tie Krishna to a wooden grinding mortar.  Her prescription toward correcting her son is driven by love, of course.
The above story is meant to invoke a parental feeling toward Krishna and to be charmed by Him.  It seems to me that the telling of the tale impacted the group.  By evening we held to a more yogic crowd at Meranda’s Lotus Centre.  It has been fifteen years since Meranda and I began the Sunday night chanting sessions.  It has been going strong ever since, thanks to her steady determination in maintaining such a worthwhile program. http://thelotuscentre.ca
Tonight’s session was a strong feel-good.
May the Source be with you!

6 km


Saturday, October 28th, 2017
→ The Walking Monk

St. John’s, Newfoundland

Messages and Mantras

Hayagriva, Marshall and I took an additional but short walk to Signal Hill, the famous location where the first-ever telegraph was received.  It was in 1901, on December 12th, that Marconi heard on his headset the wireless Morse codes sent from England on top of this hill some 2000 miles away.

We were fascinated by this piece of information, especially the boys who came here for the first time.  At the base of the hill is a Sea Centre which has interesting exhibits, one of which includes the event of the Titanic’s sinking.  In fact, the mighty ship that set sail in April of 1912 hit the ocean’s bottom at a depth of  2.4 miles, a mere 500 or more kilometres from the sight where we were walking.

A section of the exhibit showcases quotes from people like George Bernard Shaw, who in his own eloquent words, was highly critical of flaws made in the search attempt, or lack of it, for passengers aboard the vessel.  And there’s a quote also from Phillips who was receiving telegraph messages, warning of the dangerous ice and who responded to them with a “Shut up! Shut up! I’m busy…”

Newfoundlanders, though,  are indeed friendly.  You’ll be walking along, and someone who sees you will just break out into a conversation.  The sweetness of the islanders was also felt when we spoke at the Hindu Temple off Penny Lane in St. John’s.  People of Asian and Western stock turned up to hear from Chapter Six of the Gita on the theme, “The Mind—Best Friend or Worst Enemy.”

What truly came across as ‘friendly’ exercise was our chanting aerobics where all who attended got up on their feet, not to walk, but to dance to the beat of the drum and the cry of the mantra.

May the Source be with you!

6 km

Go-Puja

Kaliya Krsna das, of New Gokula temple, organised a go-puja festival in the Durga Devi Mandir at Regents Park in Sydney. Some of our devotees are friendly with the management there and many were invited to attend the event.

One of the cows, along with her calf, was brought from the farm to accept the worship of those who came on the Saturday afternoon.

I was fortunate to attend as one of the guest speakers and spoke about how Krsna is very fond of the cows. There was also nice kirtan, drama and prasadam provided by our devotees.

Care For Cows (Album with photos) Indradyumna Swami: Yesterday…
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Care For Cows (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Yesterday our parikrama party visited ‘Care For Cows,’ a cow protection program started and maintained for many years in Vrindavan by my late godbrother, Kurma Rupa dasa. We walked on village roads for over an hour until we reached the large gosala. The first to greet us were the cows themselves!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/b8esdg

Damodarashtakam Kirtan

On 19th October in Vrindavan His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja melodiously sang Damodarashtakam. Please find the video below to hear the melodious damodarashtakam :-

The post Damodarashtakam Kirtan appeared first on Bhakti Charu Swami.

Prabhupada Katha By – HH Bhakti Charu Swami, HH Lokanath Swami & Gunarnava Prabhu
Bhakti Charu Swami

On 22nd October in Vrindavan HH Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja, HH Lokanath Swami Maharaja and HG Gunarnava Pr Shared their memories of Srila Prabhupada on the occasion of “Srila Prabhupada Disappearance Day Festival”. Please find the video below to hear the lecture :-

The post Prabhupada Katha By – HH Bhakti Charu Swami, HH Lokanath Swami & Gunarnava Prabhu appeared first on Bhakti Charu Swami.

Seminar By Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja – “Brihad Bhagavatamritam” In Vrindavan
Bhakti Charu Swami

His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja  gave an enlightening seminar on “Brihad Bhagavatamritam” from 19th October till 21st October in Vrindavan Dham. Please find the videos below to hear the lectures :-

The post Seminar By Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja – “Brihad Bhagavatamritam” In Vrindavan appeared first on Bhakti Charu Swami.

Govardhana Puja celebration in Iskcon New Govardhana, Australia…

Govardhana Puja celebration in Iskcon New Govardhana, Australia (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Oh, how glorious are they…

Bhisma Pancaka Vrata begins today!
→ Mayapur.com

The last five days of the most auspicious Kartik month are traditionally known as Bhisma Pancaka. Being very pleased with Bhismadeva, Lord Krishna granted these five days in honour of His dear devotee. Lord Krishna Himself agreed to give pure love to those who seriously follow austerities, worship the Lord and engage in devotional service […]

The post Bhisma Pancaka Vrata begins today! appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Meet Ranadhira Dasa And Madhumati Devi Dasi. Clarissa Pollack:…

Meet Ranadhira Dasa And Madhumati Devi Dasi.
Clarissa Pollack: Avid Gardeners On The New Govardhana Property, Madhumati Devi Dasi And Ranadhira Dasa Have Been Sharing Their Love Of Gardening With The Local Community At Regional Markets.
“Our Produce Is Grown Using Traditional Natural Methods,” Says Ranadhira.
Ranadhira’s association with New Govardhana devotees began in 1988 when he helped to train bullocks for ploughing fields. He lived on the property for a couple of years and returned in 2007 to live here permanently.
Since 2009, Ranadhira and Madhumati have gardened together. Their methods are shared in a gardening pamphlet that they produced to describe their methods for gardening in the local climate and soil conditions. Copies of this pamphlet will be available to the temple soon. In the future, they also plan on producing one on traditional building using bamboo and earth.
The couple give informational lectures to others about the joys of healthy eating and food production.
Madhumati and Ranadhira are inspiring, long-term servants here at New Govardhana. Madhumati began her devotional life in Manilla, Philipines, in 1984. Her services included book distribution, serving with Food for Life, and finally as personal chef for her guru maharaja. After some years she moved to Australia in 2006.
Once in Australia Madhumati devoted her life to full-time temple service for the next nine years, which she describes “brought great joy”.

BHAKTI CENTRE SURFERS PARADISE, Queensland, Australia: FULL OF…
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BHAKTI CENTRE SURFERS PARADISE, Queensland, Australia: FULL OF VERVE
Subhangi devi dasi: If you go to Surfers Paradise, especially on a Friday night, it is usual to see crowds of tourists gathered around a hari-nama party dancing and chanting.
The Bhakti Centre Gold Coast is a satellite centre for Radha Govardhanadhari that my husband, Jamal Arjuna dasa (ACBSP), established. I have tried to assist him in his preaching endeavours over the years.
The Centre facilitates those busy professionals working in the area who want to associate with other Vaishnavas to chant and learn about bhakti-yoga. They cannot always drive to New Govardhana, so the Bhakti Centre is the ideal point of contact for them. They take darshana of Jagannatha, Baladeva, Lady Subhadra, and Gaura Nitai along with Srila Prabhupada and engage in various services.
The Bhakti Centre was started approximately nine years ago. Jamal Arjuna had established a Govinda’s restaurant in the heart of Surfers Paradise and it became apparent that there was a need to further expand Srila Prabhupada’s preaching mission.
Many devotees who started their path to bhakti at the Bhakti Centre have taken initiation from various ISKCON gurus. There are families and many children attending our programs on Wednesday and Saturday nights. It’s not unusual to see all the little gopis and gopas who have grown up while attending the Bhakti Centre dancing enthusiastically in the kirtanas. This year alone more than 500 people attended the Centre’s Janmastami festival and there are ever-expanding preaching initiatives by our members.
Over the years we have had many home programs and even established worship of Gaura Nitai Deities in many homes. We also do hari-namas and have distributed a lot of Srila Prabhupada’s books in the streets and market stalls.
Several years ago, ISKCON’s ‘Vishvakarma’ Janmejaya dasa built a Ratha-yatra cart for parades Australia wide. We have even won awards for our cart and hundreds of thousands of people have seen the Lord, courtesy of the chariot.
We also sponsor various kirtaneers and arrange programs to help spread the holy name. Now we have a monthly kirtana and picnic in the Southport Broadwater Parklands. We also distribute prasadam at various vegan festivals.
Of course none of it would be possible without the ongoing support of our members and well-wishers.

CATERING MAKEOVER. Govindas Catering’s new traveling prasadam…
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CATERING MAKEOVER. Govindas Catering’s new traveling prasadam pavilion. We travel all over Eastern and Southern Australia!
Krsna Gana dasa: The concept of having an image of the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium (TOVP) as the stall frontage for Govindas Catering was something I had desired to do for a long time. I had first wanted to try and do this when we built the original white catering kitchen, but it just wouldn’t have had the impact I wanted.
When we purchased the big marquee (now down by the farm lake), we also acquired two smaller 5m x 5m tents. We decided that we would use the smaller tents for ‘Splendour in the Grass’ festival this year. So I thought, “This is my chance! I can do it with these tents.” So the race began to design the new facade, to decide how to fix it to the tent – and then build a frame to hold all the panels together to give us the finished product.
Literally, the day before we had to set up we completed the new frontage. We are very happy with the final result. The picture speaks for itself.
—
Krsna Gana das, who formerly lived near Cairns in North Queensland, became a devotee several years ago and joined the asrama at New Govardhana. After a while, he began traveling with Braja Gauranga das all over Australia doing prasadam catering at different festivals.

ISKCON Pakistan Diwali Gala Festival
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Hare KrishnaBy ISKCON Pakistan Team

By the mercy of Lord Sri Sri Radha Krishna, Sita Ram Lachman Hanuman and Srila Prabhupada the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) Pakistan and Managing Committee, celebrated "ISKCON Diwali Gala Festival". Below topics were covered during 2 Days Program in Karachi - Scientific understanding of Bhagavad Gita by our guest speakers HG Shyamanada Krishna Prabhu from Australia and HG Shyama Chandra Prabhu from Dubai. - Sankirtan and Hawan Yagya for Peace in Pakistan - Documentrary on life of ISKCON Founder Acharya His Divine Grace A.C. BhaktiVedanata Swami Srila Prabhupada. - Deep Dhan offering on occasion of auspicious Month of Karthik. - Tablo on pastimes of Lord Krishna presented by children. - Performance of Sheema Kermani on Saint Meera Bhai’s Bhajan - Distribution of Bhagavad Gita and Chanting Beads (Maala) among 2,000 people. - Delicious full feast of Krishna Maha-Prasadham distributed among 2,000 People for 2 days. Continue reading "ISKCON Pakistan Diwali Gala Festival
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Lessons learned from my service with Iskcon Prison Ministry
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Hare KrishnaBy Govindanandini Dasi

In 2012, I was casually looking at Dandavats.com when, for the first time in my life, I came across the words “ISKCON Prison Ministry”. I felt curious to know what it was all about. I began to read their article, appealing the readers to become volunteers to correspond with prison inmates and send them Srila Prabhupada’s books! I was instantly attracted to the concept of Prison Ministry and to their appeal. I was attracted because I could see in it a great opportunity for a genuine service, a selfless service, and also a humbling one. Continue reading "Lessons learned from my service with Iskcon Prison Ministry
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Rath Yatra By ISKCON Delhi 2017
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Hare KrishnaBy Vrajendranandan Das

On 28th of October, ISKCON Delhi celebrated the 37th Jagannatha Ratha Yatra with unprecedented pomp and gaiety. History states that the Gopis of Vrindavan drew a chariot with Krishna from Kurukshetra to Vrindavan. As per Vedic scriptures, Lord Jagannatha or Krishna who is the Lord of the Universe, comes out with this brother Baladeva and sister Subhadra on three magnificent chariots or Rathas. On the lines of the Internationally famous Ratha Yatra at Puri, ISKCON with over 650 global branches, organizes Ratha Yatras in several parts of the world, right through the year. There are cities in the West which declare an official holiday for the Ratha Yatra! Continue reading "Rath Yatra By ISKCON Delhi 2017
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When a parent won’t give a child a pile of chocolates, why does Krishna create a world filled with sense objects?
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Answer Podcast

The post When a parent won’t give a child a pile of chocolates, why does Krishna create a world filled with sense objects? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

When intelligence is the sitting place of lust, how can it point us to our long-term interest?
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Answer Podcast

The post When intelligence is the sitting place of lust, how can it point us to our long-term interest? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Ramayana series 4 – SEES acronym – 4 explanations why Rama abandoned Sita
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[Sunday feast at ISKCON, Phoenix, USA]

Podcast

Podcast Summary

Video:

The post Ramayana series 4 – SEES acronym – 4 explanations why Rama abandoned Sita appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Om tat sat – According to Bhagavad Gita
→ The Enquirer

Chapter 17, Text 23:

oṁ tat sad iti nirdeśo brahmaṇas tri-vidhaḥ smṛtaḥ

“Oṁ tat sat” is advised by the three vedas.

Three vedas here should mean three divisions: karma, jñāna, and upāsana (bhakti). This mantra “Oṁ tat sat” is advised to be used in all three contexts.

Another meaning in these words is:

The three smṛti state that “Oṁ tat sat” indicates the Supreme.

This is because “Oṁ” is a name for the Supreme Being, because “Oṁ” is the seed of all vowels, and thus the seed of all sound – just as the Supreme is the seed of all existence.

 

brāhmaṇās tena vedāś ca yajñāś ca vihitāḥ purā

Brāhmaṇas have always used this mantra to comprehend the Vedas and perform Yajña.

This shows that the mantra is to be used for jñāna-yoga (“to comprehend the Vedas”) and for karma-yoga (“to perform Yajña”). It is equally applicable to both because it is upāsana / bhakti. It is an aṅga of bhakti because it is brahman nirdeśa, a name for the Supreme.

Text 24

tasmād oṁ ity udāhṛtya yajña-dāna-tapaḥ-kriyāḥ
pravartante vidhānoktāḥ satataṁ brahma-vādinām

This is why those who know the Veda always, as a rule, begin every ceremony, charity, austerity, or deed by invoking the word, “Oṁ.”

Text 25

tad ity anabhisandhāya phalaṁ yajña-tapaḥ-kriyāḥ
dāna-kriyāś ca vividhāḥ kriyante mokṣa-kāṅkṣibhiḥ

The word “tat” indicates that all ceremonies, charities, austerities, and deeds should be done without attachment to conventional results, but with the desire for mokṣa [enlightenment].

“Tat” is simply a pronoun, meaning “that.” But it has this meaning because it follows “Oṁ.” The “that” pronoun points to things. When it follows “Oṁ” it points us to god, to spiritual union with god, mokṣa.

Text 26

sad-bhāve sādhu-bhāve ca sad ity etat prayujyate

“Sat” is used in the sense of something that is real, and something that is good.

praśaste karmaṇi tathā sac-chabdaḥ pārtha yujyate

[So] use the word “Sat” to incline yourself to good deeds.

Text 27

yajñe tapasi dāne ca sthitiḥ sad iti cocyate

Become fixed in ceremony, austerity, and charity by pronouncing “Sat.” 

karma caiva tad-arthīyaṁ sad ity evābhidhīyate

And, “Sat” indicates that your deeds should be dedicated only to real results.

Text 28

aśraddhayā hutaṁ dattaṁ tapas taptaṁ kṛtaṁ ca yat
asad ity ucyate pārtha na ca tat pretya no iha

Faithless ceremonies, charity, austerity, and deeds are described as “asat”. Do not aim for them, for they are good neither in this life nor in the afterlife.

“Om tat sat” is a mantra which will significantly help ensure that our approach to the components of religion is not tāmasikī (for ill purpose) or rājasikī (for temporary selfishness).

It means, “Do good deeds (sat = sādhu), and do them for real, eternal goals (sat = real). That is, do them for enlightenment (tat), so that you can come towards the Supreme (oṁ).”

Everyone in every stage of evolution and concept can and should avail of this mantra, by remembering and/or verbally invoking it at the beginning and end of all significant endeavors.


Near Death Experiences
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Author: 
Karnamrita Das

[I originally wrote this in 10-08-2007 and included it in a chapter on death and dying in my book, "Give to Live." Such topics can help us be a better person, by informing or reminding us, that whatever we do to others, we do to ourselves. During the life review, as explained in what follows, we see our life from both our perspective, and that of others we have impacted, either positively or negatively. This goes along with what I am currently teaching in my talk, "Facing Death, to Live More Fully Today," which I created in response to my cancer diagnosis, which continues, though it hasn't worsened.

To me, the life review, which is taught not only in the near-death experience literature, but also in Vedic and Buddhist texts, is one reason we need to "Die Before Dying," or review our life to now, before we are dying, to make amends, forgive, or seek forgiveness from others--basically cutting karmic cords, and praying to improve our character and actions. Truly, "what goes around, comes around," which is one explanation of karma. We receive what we give, or what we do to others, we do to ourselves. Please reflect on this fact as you review your life, and as you interact with others ask yourself, "what am I giving to to them?" I lament that more of us don't practice loving kindness and less negative harsh judgement with other devotees and people in general!]

"Whatever state of being one remembers when he quits his body, O son of Kunti, that state he will attain without fail." [Bhagavad Gita 8.6]

I have thought about exploring the topic of near-death experiences for some time. One of my Krishna.com friends has requested me to do so, as she recently also had one.

I have not kept current on my near-death readings, but there are a number of books I have read in the last fifteen years that I found fascinating, and good for sharing with people who may not accept the Vedas, or any scripture, as authority.

Some people accept the personal testimony of fellow human beings living at this time as meaningful. The fact that most NDE’ers have similar experiences is compelling to them, whereas they think religious people can be dogmatic.

I am not suggesting that you should buy every book on the subject. Knowing about these experiences is useful, for they share some viewpoints also expressed in Vedic texts. And some people like me, read many books outside our tradition which they feel have benefited them. Not everyone has to, or should necessarily.

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Bhisma Pancaka
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This kind of 5 day fast is also prescribed for the last 5 days of Kartika (Damodara) Month and it is known as “Bhisma Pancaka”. During that vrata puja offerings to the Lord are also prescribed. I am listing them below. There are also mantras that go with these offerings. However, I didn’t find any specific mention about this for Purusottama month. In the Padma Purana it only stated that in addition to ekadasee one can observe a “pancaratrika” fast until amavasya.


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Remember the importance of the personal invite

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There is a lasting memory of my early days with the beautiful devotees who introduced me to the joys of bhakti and that was the very personal nature of the dealings with each person who came to the centre
One thing was that I never missed the visit by the individual who became my own Guru Maharaja simply because they would immediately let everyone know in their address books and everyone had an invite.
I was in many ways very much privileged to have come into contact with great personal devotees who were always inspirational and even to today who’s company I miss. But I’m growing concerned about the growing impersonalism that has gripped the movement and has led to my successively missing my own guru maharaja’s ‘s visit.
What is most upsetting is that devotees can happily get in touch with me for so many different reasons but not for this one important event, when I questioned one individual they simply replied “we don’t do that we just put it on our webpage”
Yes when I came into the movement social media was as far advanced as a simple text, website’s were basic as we still had dial up connections and so a very personal connection and invite. Now everything is web based or social media and it has made us lazy.
Invités out? Yes prabhu I’ve posted it on our media outlets it took me ages prabhu but it’s done.
Crazy
As more and more individuals are starting to get disconnected by social media and many are longing at the return of the personal touch. Indeed a personal call or message can make the difference it tells the person you thought of them and indeed you want them their.
In those early days I knew the devotees wanted me their indeed they would impress upon me the importance of being there, now one gets the impression that turn up or not really we don’t care.
It hurt most as I get many personal invites from other religious groups and samprabhia’s and it occurred to me the rush to become modern and a religious movement rather than a movement or as Srila Prabhupada put it a cult for Krishna Consciousness has made it more impersonal than personal.
Courses, forms, committees and no personal invites because well Prabhu it takes to long and I don’t have the time Prabhu has become more important than the individual.
And so as I felt the need to send a quick reply, if you’re not willing to do me the courtesy of inviting me to even see my own Guru Maharaja then please don’t contact me for any other reason.
This is simply a personal thing and I’m sure many would agree if you cannot personally invite but can contact for all other reasons then please I humbly request don’t contact me
But I make this humble request please Yes post on social media but please remember that what is better is the simple personal invite, You will never know how much it would make someone’s day and prove that actually you do care for the individual
It’s a thought I hope you will all ponder and consider

Harinama in Medellin, Colombia 2017 (Album with photos)…
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Harinama in Medellin, Colombia 2017 (Album with photos)
Dharmatma Das: We’re greeted by Jambavan prabhu who rented a nice Villa near the City Center. Many devotees and friends from near and far joined us in Programs and Harinama’s. The owner of the Villa, Gustav and his friend Valentine served us nicely and got a wonderful dose of Krishna Consciousness.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/2VA4MQ

Our only hope is Srila Prabhupada and his parampara! Giriraj…
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Our only hope is Srila Prabhupada and his parampara! Giriraj Swami: Every evening, after reciting the Damodarastaka, we read from Srimad-Bhagavatam about the Damodara lila, and one of tonight’s verses and purports, related to Krishna’s deliverance of the two demigods cursed to stand as twin Arjuna trees, struck me as especially relevant. Lord Krishna said, “Although these two young men are the sons of the very rich Kuvera and I have nothing to do with them, Devarsi Narada is My very dear and affectionate devotee, and therefore because he wanted Me to come face to face with them, I must do so for their deliverance.” (SB 10.10.25) Srila Prabhupada explains in his purport, “Nalakuvara and Manigriva actually had nothing to do with devotional service or seeing the Supreme Personality of Godhead face to face, for this is not an ordinary opportunity. It is not that because one is very rich or learned or was born in an aristocratic family one will be able to see the Supreme Personality of Godhead face to face. This is impossible. But in this case, because Narada Muni desired that Nalakuvara and Manigriva see Vasudeva face to face, the Supreme Personality of Godhead wanted to fulfill the words of His very dear devotee Narada Muni. If one seeks the favor of a devotee instead of directly asking favors from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one is very easily successful. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has therefore recommended: vaisnava thakura tomara kukkura bhuliya janaha more, krsna se tomara krsna dite para. One should desire to become like a dog in strictly following a devotee. Krsna is in the hand of a devotee. Adurlabham atma-bhaktau. Thus without the favor of a devotee, one cannot directly approach Krsna, what to speak of engaging in His service. Narottama dasa Thakura therefore sings, chadiya vaisnava-seva nistara payeche keba: unless one becomes a servant of a pure devotee, one cannot be delivered from the material condition of life. In our Gaudiya Vaisnava society, following in the footsteps of Rupa Gosvami, our first business is to seek shelter of a bona fide spiritual master (adau gurv-asrayah).” Our only hope is Srila Prabhupada and his parampara, disciplic succession.