Mental weight can’t be wished away, but it can be worked away Gita 06.35
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Podcast

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Yoga of the Tongue
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Hare KrishnaBy Vaisesika Dasa

The most important and uncontrollable sense is the tongue. If one can control the tongue, then there is every possibility of controlling the other senses. The function of the tongue is to taste and to vibrate. Therefore, by systematic regulation, the tongue should always be engaged in tasting the remnants of foodstuffs offered to Kṛṣṇa and chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa. Although one may conquer all of the other senses, as long as the tongue is not conquered it cannot be said that one has controlled his senses. However, if one is able to control the tongue, then one is understood to be in full control of all the senses. Continue reading "Yoga of the Tongue
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Wednesday, June 28th, 2017
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Summit Hwy 181, Utah

Getting to the Top

It was a bit of a climb by roadway.  Some sweat and strain took me to  the top of the 9,110 foot elevation.  Truckers know the power needed to reach that part of the passageway.  It’s a crawl for them.

I wish I had the agility of the bouncing deer I see here; the speed of the antelope, the strength of the beef cattle and the friskiness of the chipmunks around.

Chipmunks!  Despite the use of leg muscles not used as often for going up and now coming down, I prefer to remain the chipper monk.

I met Curtis, a Mormon.  He was the only person who stopped to talk.  He offered water and also The Book of Mormon to tuck under my arm.  I suggested he meet my two monk assistants two miles down, or so.  I also suggested he could receive from them one of our Krishna conscious books.

“The Mormons and the Krishnas have got a good relationship.  We have two vibrant centres in both Salt Lake City and Spanish Fork.”

He mentioned he would try to connect.

It was Jennifer of Radio Channel X94, a pop music station, who interviewed me today.  I was introduced as a Hare Krishna monk.  I was happy to hear she has a copy of the Bhagavad-gita at home.  She’s also likely to have the book of the Latter Day Saints which Curtis has, and now I do, as well.

I believe it’s good to share.  “Why the big walls between the groups?  Really!”

May the Source be with you!

18 miles

Transcendental Pastimes Of Lord Jagannath
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Hare KrishnaBy Jagannath Das

After giving up the company of the Vraja-gopis, Vrajendranandana performed His pastimes in Dvaraka. When Sri Kṛṣṇa visited Kurukshetra during a solar eclipse, He was accompanied by Baladeva, Subhadra, and other Dvarakavasis. At Kurukshetra, Kṛṣṇa again met the Vrajavasis, especially Srimati Rādhikā and His beloved sakhis. Bhakti Charu Swami recently visited Dubai and on 26th June 2017, Maharaj gave a very nectarian class on the sweet pastimes of Lord Jagannath. Continue reading "Transcendental Pastimes Of Lord Jagannath
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The Real Adventure (video)PS Alumni presents: “Krishna…
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The Real Adventure (video)
PS Alumni presents: “Krishna Consciousness - The Real Adventure” by HH Kadamba Kanana Swami - An insightful evening into the life of a present day Swami who has dedicated his life to spirituality and sharing with others.
“It is in the compelling zest of high adventure and of victory, and in creative action, that man finds his supreme joys.” - Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Along the path of Kadamba Kanana Swami’s spiritual journey, he has encountered many adventures which will enthrall you all throughout this unmissable evening where he will share his insights and inspirations.

About the Speaker….
Kadamba Kanana Swami started his spiritual life in Vrndavana, the Holy land of Krishna and immediately felt he found his home. He became a disciple of HH Jayadvaita Swami.
He joined ISKCON in 1978 shortly after Srila Prabhupada’s departure from this world and served in Vrndavana from ’78 to ’84 in various types of management.
After a one year break from India in Australia he returned to India this time to take charge of the construction of Srila Prabhupada’s Samadhi in Mayapura and remained there from ’85 to ’90.
He liked the pioneering spirit of working in India and above all he liked to stay in the Holy Dhama.
In 1990 he became the Temple President of the Krsna Balarama temple in Vrndavana and remained in that position untill ’95.
After that he began to travel and preach around the world and in 1997 he received sannyasa.
These days besides preaching in Europe, South Africa, India and Australia, he still has some involvement in supervision of the Vrndavana temple.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/F6jCGL
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOzR4maVU8E

Tuesday, June 27th, 2017
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Duchesne, Utah

Near Strawberry River

I just have to re-cap what happened last night.  I was trying to catch up on some miles.  To do so, Marshall dropped me off at the “River Road,” as some locals call it.  This is where I’d left off earlier on.

It was 9:45 p.m.  The sun was tucking itself away.  Vision was dull.  I saw a pedestrian coming toward me on this quiet road.  You don’t see someone walking at such times.  I admit I was a little fearful because of the rarity of the situation.

I shouted, “Hello!”

Suddenly the pedestrian became startled and turned to reveal its profile.  It had four legs.  It was a cow who had gotten away and was trying to re-connect with its herd.

This morning I observed more cattle, but they were, as usual, protected behind a fence and out to pasture.  I was then driven back to Vernal for a radio chat with Amy Richards from KLCY 105.5 Eagle Country Radio, on their morning show.  Johnny Cash was singing “Walk the Line” in between the two segments of our interview which, of course, was a promotion for introspective walking—pilgrimage.



The interview attracted some interest.  Roberta, an Apache woman, heard the talk while working at a drive-thru eating place.  She came out and called for me, even charged after me to offer me her fresh-made bread.  Highway Patrol officer, Kellie Oaks, pulled over.  We talked about the permanent nature of the soul, of God, time, energy.  They never change.

“The only thing that can change is our attitude and, hence, our karma or action should adjust from negative to positive.”  The officer seemed to relish the message.

May the Source be with you!

18 mi


Srila Prabhupada and His Palace
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

By Madhava Smullen  for ISKCON New Vrindaban Communications

Archival Research by Chaitanya Mangala Das

Prabhupada’s Palace View from His Lotus Pond

It’s a crisp, frosty November day in the Appalachian foothills of West Virginia, bare trees silhouetted against a clear blue sky. On one hilltop, an unusually royal building stands out, sunlight glinting off its gold-filigreed domes and spires.

Participants of ISKCON New Vrindaban and ECO-Vrindaban’s winter 2016 Board Meetings, wrapped up warmly in coats and scarves, are being shown the latest renovations at Srila Prabhupada’s Palace by restoration manager Gopisa Das.

He points out the new drainage system, rose-colored steps, and weatherproof outer wall with ornate window arches, and describes plans to rebuild the Palace roof. “My concern in all of this is, ‘Am I pleasing Srila Prabhupada?’ he says. “And, am I taking care of his Palace?”

Soma Das works on Prabhupadas Palace mid 1970s

It’s the same loving service mood that devotees had when first planning to contruct a home for Srila Prabhupada back in 1972, during a similarly frigid New Vrindaban winter. And if we take a trip back there, we’ll see how Prabhupada reciprocated that love, and how he had such a close connection with his Palace that it still inspires such devotion today.

As early as 1968, Srila Prabhupada was already saying that he wanted to be less involved in the day-to-day management of ISKCON, and focus more on what he saw as his top priority and longest lasting contribution – translating Vaishnava scriptures and writing his purports.

Prabhupada inspects stained glass work in New Vrindaban 1976

New Vrindaban’s peaceful rural atmosphere, he felt, would be the perfect setting. “If this piece of land is turned into New Vrindaban then I shall forget to return to Indian Vrindaban,” he wrote. “I am getting older and older, so actually if I get a peaceful place as described by you, the rest of my life will be continued in translating Srimad Bhagavatam and other Goswami literature…”

Srila Prabhupada first visited New Vrindaban in 1969, and again in September 1972, to give his epic Bhagavat Dharma discourses to hundreds of devotees, guests and reporters. During this second visit, he stayed in an old farmhouse on the Madhuban property with no running water, indoor toilet or shower facilities.

Prabhupada was happy to adopt the simple mood of New Vrindaban, comparing it to his old home in the original sacred Indian town. “This Vrindaban, that Vrindavan, no difference,” he said.

But New Vrindaban residents wanted their spiritual master to be more comfortable. Some of them decided they should build a nice home for him to live in during future visits, and especially if he did move to New Vrindaban long term.

Before that, however, they planned to construct a Govindaji temple, the first of Prabhupada’s seven proposed replicas of Vrindavan’s main mandirs.

But one winter’s day in 1972, as they were discussing design plans for the temple, they came across a passage in the Nectar of Devotion, in which Lord Shiva tells Parvati, “The worship of the Supreme Person is considered to be the highest. But even higher than the worship of the Lord is the worship of the Lord’s devotees.”

The message was clear. The Brijabasis decided to first construct a home for Srila Prabhupada. It would be a simple little retreat where he could retire to finish his books while his disciples took over the management of preaching work. It might, they estimated, take a year to build.

But by the time the groundbreaking ceremony was held at the area dubbed “Guruban,” during a June 1973 festival, the plans had become so elaborate and ambitious that Prabhupada’s home was being referred to as his “palace.”

Devotees’ excitement escalated over the grand weekend festival, which saw five fire yajnas conducted. Srila Prabhupada was just as thrilled. “I shall go to New Vrindaban as soon as your palace is finished,” he wrote that July. “Jaya!”

The team of devotees that set about building the Palace worked with no pay and very little experience, training themselves in construction and artisanal skills. And they labored through extraordinary challenges: working in the hot sun during the summers and in freezing conditions during the winters, they had to lay drains and mix concrete by hand because there was no electricity.

“There was no running water either,” recalls Soma Das. “We would scoop the water out of mud puddles to mix the cement with. And when those dried up, we’d load plastic barrels into a wheelbarrow, walk half a mile to the Madhuban farm, draw water from the well there, and wheel it all the way back to the construction site.”

Despite all these hardships, the devotees felt fortunate and grateful to be able to render service to Srila Prabhupada in New Vrindaban. And Prabhupada boosted everyone with his loving encouragement when he came to see his Palace for the first time in July 1974.

An entourage followed him as he took a tour of the construction site, tapping the walls with his cane to make sure they were solid, and beaming as he was shown where his bedroom, bathroom, temple room and study would be.

“Srila Prabhupada,” Bali Mardan Das commented, “It says in the Krishna book that the palaces of Dwarka didn’t even need any light, because they had so many jewels on the wall.”

Prabhupada stopped walking and guestured at the devotees working on his Palace. “These devotees,” he said, “Are my jewels.”

When Kirtanananda Swami told Prabhupada the Palace would be ready soon and asked him to be patient with them, Prabhupada said, “I already am.” He added, “If you want, I am already living here.”

As he left, he personally thanked the workers, lifting their hearts.

Srila Prabhupada continued to exhibit a lot of enthusiasm for the project and for moving to New Vrindaban. In letters later in 1974, he wrote that he had “enjoyed the atmosphere of New Vrindaban” during his visit, and that “When my palace will be ready I shall go there and stay. I like very much that place, very calm and quiet.”

In September 1974, Kuladri Das visited Prabhupada in Vrindavan, India. During his stay, Prabhupada told him several times that he would like to live in New Vrindaban as soon as his Palace was ready. Later, Prabhupada’s servant Srutakirti mentioned that he would ask for updates once a month.

When New Vrindaban devotees traveled to Hawaii in January 1975 to visit Prabhupada, they showed him designs for the Palace’s windows, doors, and floors, and asked if he liked them. Laughing, he replied, “One would have to be a great fool not to like them.”

Meanwhile, the team back in New Vrindaban was working hard on the Palace, and the first signs of its future opulence began to emerge. A marble workshop was established, and marble floors were laid in Prabhupada’s bedroom and study, which devotees spent months polishing.

Thirty lotus arches were made to frame the stained glass windows. The marble floor of the temple room, with its double lotus center, was laid. Ornate capitals to top the columns were carved out of clay from New Vrindaban’s own Kesi Ghat. Devotees began construction on the roof.

The winter of 1975 was very austere. The concrete block stove in the marble shop only warmed the area three feet in front of it. Exotic marble slabs arrived frozen together. But still, devotees worked on, heartened by Srila Prabhupada’s continued encouragement.

By the time Prabhupada visited his Palace for the second and final time in June 1976, most of the concrete work was done, and finishing work was underway. Prabhupada first visited the marble shop, admiring the saw and polisher. The construction team showed him around excitedly, while other devotees tried to peer in through the windows.

Prabhupada then toured the Palace itself, visiting the central hall, study, and his bedroom. He admired the beautiful marble inlay work, decorative arches and ornate furniture. He particularly liked his hand-carved desk topped with a solid slab of onyx, commenting, “Nowhere else in the world do I have such a desk.”

He was very appreciative and impressed that the devotees had done all the work themselves, and remarked that they were working with the special inspiration of the Lord.

When the devotees asked him if he would really come to stay in the Palace when it was finished, Prabhupada replied that yes, he would. He then repeated what he had said during his 1974 visit, “Actually, I am already living here,” and further assured them, “Because you are all desiring it.”

Prabhupada continued asking about his Palace even up to the last time New Vrindaban devotees visited him in Vrindavan, India in late 1977, as his health was failing. In a particularly heartfelt conversation on October 6th, they showed him pictures of his beautiful prospective home. Prabhupada deeply appreciated the devotees’ handiwork, saying, “You have got so many artists. How they have learned so much?”

Commenting on New Vrindaban in general, Prabhupada said, “You are fulfilling my dream, New Vrindaban. I dreamt all these things.” He lovingly added, “And if I survive, I have a strong desire to go and live there. It will be a great pleasure.”

The devotees responded that they already felt he was living at the Palace, as they were doing Puja to him twice a day there, and Prabhupada agreed, “That is the way.”

“Would you please pray to Krishna to stay with us?” Kuladri asked, as the mood became more emotional. “Because you’re His pure devotee, Krishna will certainly grant what you pray for. So on our behalf… I think He must want you to come to the palace, Srila Prabhupada.”

“I wish,” Prabhupada replied, commenting with a wry chuckle, “Let us see which palace I am going.”

A month later, on November 14th, 1977, Srila Prabhupada physically departed this world.

When the news reached the New Vrindaban devotees, it was like a gut punch. Shellshocked, they all gathered in the only place that made sense: his Palace.

“Devotees were bereft,” recalls Varsana Swami. “It was the darkest night of our lives. We had to hold each other up – how could we go on? But we cried, and chanted together in a mood of separation, and gradually began to feel closer to Prabhupada than we ever had. Then we began to dance jubilantly. We realized that Prabhupada’s ultimate gift is service in separation.”

That mood of service in separation inspired Srila Prabhupada’s ‘jewels’ to work harder than ever to finish his Palace as an offering of love and devotion to their spiritual master. Now it was transforming from a residence into a memorial for the pure devotee.

In 1978, the Palace became recognizable as the beautiful monument we know today. The three domes were completed, and chandeliers and furniture from India installed. Landscaping work began. The marble shop ran 24 hours a day, and devotees layed blocks from dawn till dusk to complete the outer wall.

The next year, the Palace was finished. With fifty kinds of the finest imported marbles, arched doorways, brass balustrades, hand-carved doors, gorgeous stained glass windows, and finely detailed black and gold domes, it was a sight to behold.

At last, during an exultant four-day festival over Labor Day in August 1979, Srila Prabhupada came home to his Palace. He might not have been physically present during the Palace opening event, but as thousands of devotees from all over the world gathered to chant in a tumultuous kirtan, carry his murti on a palanquin, and install him on his vyasasana in his Palace, there was no difference.

Prabhupada’s Palace was the first Samadhi to be completed for Srila Prabhupada in the world. To this day, it remains the only one of its kind in the West, a renowned Smriti Samadhi, or memorial shrine to ISKCON’s Founder-Acharya, and a monument to the love between Prabhupada and his disciples.

Today, as the crown jewel of New Vrindaban, Srila Prabhupada continues to reside in his Palace, embodied through both his murti form and his instructions. There, his sincere followers can still associate with him. And that connection cannot be underestimated.

As Srila Prabhupada himself reminded the devotees during his 1976 visit, “I am already living here… because you are all desiring it.”

 

 

Kurma Rupa’s Disappearance Day 2nd Anniversary (2 min…
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Kurma Rupa’s Disappearance Day 2nd Anniversary (2 min video)
Kurma Rupa prabhu was initiated by ISKCON Founder Srila Prabhupada and for some time, he served at ISKCON New York by training new devotees in the practice of Krishna consciousness. But after Prabhupada passed away, he felt less inspired to continue that service and followed his heart’s desire to serve in Vrindavana, India. In the early 1980s, he moved to Vrindavana, started Care for Cows in 1997, and never left.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/aK2ZFm

I like one girl in the Temple, can I approach her? (3 min…
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I like one girl in the Temple, can I approach her? (3 min video)
By bhaktin Mrinal Ghiya.
Srila Prabhupada: Formerly marriage, at least in India, at least up to our time, the marriage was taking place not on the liking of the boy and the girl. No. It was decided by the parents. So… Just like I was also married man. I was married when I was a student, and I did not know what will be the… But the parents arranged.
[Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.15.46, Lecture, Los Angeles, December 24, 1973]
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/CRhoYc

Simple Living — High Thinking
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Hare KrishnaBy Iskcon Sweden

“Simple Living — High Thinking” is a Strategic Partnership project involving youth workers and youth from 5 partner organizations from Sweden, Belgium, Hungary, Slovenia, and Czech. All the organizations are active in youth work, connected with areas of self-sustainability, healthy lifestyles, and youth employment. The partners expressed their mutual interest in creating a network based on strong partnerships aimed to connect more and exchange the good practices in relevant areas of their work. Continue reading "Simple Living — High Thinking
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Sri Jagannath Rath Yatra – ISKCON of Central NJ, Plainfield, NJ
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Hare KrishnaBy Hema Jagannatha Dasa

Plainfield, NJ. Radha Krishna Temple and Cultural Center (ISKCON of Central NJ), Plainfield, NJ celebrated Sri-Jagannath Rath Yatra with sincere devotion and active participation by more than One thousand devotees - on the actual day of Jagannath-Puri Rath Yatra. Devotees started coming to the temple and brought bhoga to be offered to the supreme siblings - Lord Jagannath (Sri-Krishna), His elder brother Lord Balabhadra and younger sister Subhadra Maharani. The Rath Yatra festival is a key component of Krishna Conscious movement, instilled by the Founding Acarya His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada - who initiated first documented Festival of Chariots in western world in San Francisco on July 9, 1967. Today Rath Yatra is celebrated in hundreds of cities around the world. Continue reading "Sri Jagannath Rath Yatra – ISKCON of Central NJ, Plainfield, NJ
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Spiritualizing our relationships 1 – The more despiritualized we are, the more desensitized we become
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[Phone talk to everdaychant.com online sanga]

Podcast

Podcast Summary

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Don’t let perfectionism come in the way of progress towards perfection Gita 02.14
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How to understand that we can’t understand Krishna – then why do we study scripture?
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Answer Podcast

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What is the monistic conception of pure consciousness in terms of subject, object and stream of consciousness?
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Answer Podcast

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If someone justifies an illicit relationship by saying that their spouse is unloving, how do we respond?
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Answer Podcast

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If our loved one is addicted to tobacco and still wears kanthi mala, how can we help them?
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Answer Podcast

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7th Ratha Yatra in Netrakona, Bangladesh
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Hare KrishnaBy Nila Kamal das

On the day of the festival, three fire sacrifices were performed in order to invoke auspiciousness. Once the fire sacrifices had finished, there were a series of speeches by various VIPs. The chief guest of the event was the Netrakona District Commissioner; Prasanta Kumar Ray. Other distinguished guests were Head Police Officer; Jayadev Chowdary and the District Chairman; Sitangushu Vikas Acarya. All the VIPs glorified the efforts of ISKCON Netrakona in trying to spread the glories of Lord Jagannath. Continue reading "7th Ratha Yatra in Netrakona, Bangladesh
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46th Kolkata Rathyatra (2017) (Album with photos) Srila…
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46th Kolkata Rathyatra (2017) (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The secret of surrendering to Krishna is that such surrendered devotee sees that everything is part of Krishna’s plan. Whatever is meant to be I am doing. Let me do it with my full attention to every detail. Let me become absorbed in such service, never mind what it is. Let all other considerations be forgotten and only my desire to do the thing best for Krishna’s alone pleasure is my motive. Letter to Jayapataka, December 19, 1972
Find them here: https://goo.gl/t2m6cj

ISKCON London 2017 Mentorship Retreat at Plas Glansevin in Wales…
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ISKCON London 2017 Mentorship Retreat at Plas Glansevin in Wales (2 min video)
This year we had the great fortune to have HH Kadamba Kanana Swami as our guest speaker.
Maharaja took us through the theme of - “The Essence of Bhakti”, the nine processes of devotional service.
The retreat lasted 5 days, giving the mentees the unique opportunity to dive deeper into their Krishna conscious life. The retreat provided to all the opportunity for vaisnava sanga, kirtan, seva, and delicious prasadam… all focused to help uplift and rejuvenate body, mind and soul.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/5RJtx6

Local Rathayatras
→ Ramai Swami

All the temples in Bali celebrate Rathayatra on the scheduled day of the year. Some take out Their Lordships, Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra Devi on a big cart around the area and others simply take Them on a palanquin around the temple.

Their Lordships enjoy a nice promenade and, of course, the devotees enjoy every festival, especially Rathayatra. Everyone will come together for the big Rathayatra festival in downtown Denpasar.

Demystifying Reincarnation 11 – Consciousness – Intuitions that point beyond the brain
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Answer Podcast

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Monday, June 26th, 2017
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Bridgeland, Utah

Letting People Know

Follow-up is so important for establishing and keeping relationships.  When I met Stephen the other day in Vernal, I felt it was the right thing to do to call him once I arrived back in town.  His lifestyle sounds good.  He’s a reader.  He has no computer and for communication he has a landline telephone.

We agreed to meet at the Pizza Hut, with the boys and I going for a salad.  Steve, 75, brought his friend, Rod, with him, an accountant, and a special book he ordered, “The Nature of Devotion,” by author Srila Prabhupada, our guru.

Our conversation was light but encouraging.  At mealtime, one should never bring up topics that are too disturbing or too deep.  After our conversation, Steve mentioned he wanted to keep in touch.  He will do that by way of letter, through the mail (snail mail).

In Roosevelt, Utah, I met Brenda Fisher of  the Uintah Basin Standard, for an interview.  I mentioned to her how valuable reporting is to those of the public who have come to appreciate a broader world than their own. http://www.ubmedia.biz/community/article_9b5ad91c-578d-11e7-b737-b35374b14015.html

“Letting people know about our walk is sending a message about physical and spiritual wellness,” I said to Brenda.

Lisa invited us to her mountain home.  Rock formations in Utah are stunning and her house is in the midst of those vistas.  She cooked up a stir fry along with quinoa.  Thereafter, a talk and kirtan in Ashley Valley Park drew the new age community.  It was really sweet.

Jackie Gleason used to say, “How sweet it is!”

May the source be with you!

20 miles

One must always be connected to the Spiritual Master
→ Servant of the Servant

In ISKCON, there are all varieties of devotees from neophytes to madhyama to uttama. It is important to associate with highly elevated souls at the same time careful in not finding fault with not so sincere souls who may be in a position of authority as well. 

Because in our heart, there is a tendency to find fault, that tendency is flared up when we see a factual discrepancy in the behavior of devotees. We will use it as a justification to criticize ISKCON and its authority. This does not mean we just have a blind eye to misdeeds. We have to report it to the concerned authorities and take shelter of Guru and Gauranga. In other words, good or bad we should practice the art of taking shelter unto Krishna amongst the dualities of this world even if it is in a devotional environment such as a temple because after-all ISKCON is also within this material world of duality and hence anytime anyone can fall victim to maya. 

We should not leave the institution just because we have a sour experience with local congregation or temple authorities. Humility,patience and shastric insights can alleviate some of the pain but by taking shelter of Krishna we can try to resolve unresolved conflicts within our self. 

Srila Prabhupada in one of his purports writes even if we find not so pure devotees, still we must stick to the Krishna Conscious Society.

Even if one thinks that there are many pseudo devotees or nondevotees in the Kṛṣṇa Consciousness Society, still one should stick to the Society; if one thinks the Society’s members are not pure devotees, one can keep direct company with the spiritual master, and if there is any doubt, one should consult the spiritual master. However, unless one follows the spiritual master’s instructions concerning the regulative principles and chanting and hearing the holy name of the Lord, one cannot become a pure devotee. 

- Purport by Srila Prabhupada CC Madhya Lila 19.157

Hare Krishna

When Airavata existed earlier, how did he appear during the churning of the milk ocean?
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