The old broken car of material existence
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 04 June 2017, Radhadesh, Belgium, Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya 25.265 – 267)

So a question was asked about lamentation and if it is due to material identification. Well, lamentation exists even on the spiritual plane. But in this world, it is natural to hanker and lament when we have a preconceived idea of what we want from the world. You know, “I have my dream and this is what I want and it is just not working! I am trying so hard but my dream is just not coming true. Oh, poor me! Why is my dream not happening!?” So this is when we have a material dream.

When we do not have material dreams, we let go and we say, “The material world is an old broken car. It will never be fixed.” You know, you fix one side and the other side breaks down. That is just the way it is. We should not start dreaming, “It is going to be wonderful!” because it is not going to be. We focus on spiritual life and then there will be no material lamentation.

Spiritual lamentation is of a different nature. Sometimes a great devotee laments, “I could not attain Krsna!” But that lamentation itself increases his eagerness to be with Krsna. So spiritual lamentation increases our ecstasy, increases our attachment. Spiritual lamentation is a healthy thing which uplifts us whereas material lamentation… you know, if you keep on doing it, you go into the black hole of depression and everything gets more and more miserable and you will need a ‘pill’ eventually.

Being right and being true
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Being right and being true.
Twenty years ago, I lived in a small and simple ashram with fellow bhakti-yoga practitioners. I used to talk for hours with a friend, a deep and soft person, about philosophy, life, spiritual practice, and the fine tuning of our thoughts, words, and actions. I recall a discussion about the difference between being right and being true. To be right is like ringing the victory bell while being true is a call to the higher self, a calling to the Divine. Krishna explains that we lose when we act on our whims, which are based on ego. While being right indulges the ego, being true cuts it. Therefore, it is more difficult to be true. Trueness comes from God. He is the Absolute Truth, and the discovery of this Absolute Truth is the way to enlightenment.


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Panihati Cida-dahi Festival. Wed. 2017-06-07. Raghunatha dasa…
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Panihati Cida-dahi Festival. Wed. 2017-06-07.
Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, who later became famous for his renunciation, was previously a householder and wanted to join the personal association and service of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu at Jagannatha Puri. However, his father prevented Raghunatha dasa from doing so. After several failed attempts, Raghunatha dasa heard that Nityananda Prabhu had arrived at Panihati. In order to receive the Lord’s causeless mercy, Raghunatha dasa went to see Him.
When Nityananda Prabhu saw Raghunatha dasa, He ordered him to prepare and serve all His associates chida-dahi, flat rice mixed with yogurt. In order to please the Lord, Raghunatha dasa immediately carried out His order by preparing and distributing large quantities of chida-dahi to the Vaishnavas, as well as hundreds of others who had arrived on the spot upon hearing that a festival was on at Panihati. Finally, Lord Nityananda blessed, and ordered His associates to bless, Raghunatha dasa, that he would be successful in attaining the personal association and service of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

Panihati is located near Kolkata. Many devotees from Mayapur and Kolkata assemble and jointly conduct kirtanas and massive
prasada (sacred food) distribution to the thousands of pilgrims who arrive for the festival.

Srila Prabhupada: My Guru Maharaja used to say that this material world is not fit for living for any gentlemen
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Srila Prabhupada: My Guru Maharaja used to say that this material world is not fit for living for any gentlemen. He used to say, “no gentlemen can live here.” So these things are not understood by the non-devotees, how much pinching this material world is. Unless one becomes detestful of this material world, it is to be understood that he has not yet entered in the spiritual understanding.


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When a bad thing happens, does optimism mean seeing it as the best thing that could have happened?
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Answer Podcast

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Does positive thinking mean that we shouldn’t think about the past – then how will we learn from it?
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Answer Podcast

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How can Chrisitan conversions in India be countered – can Hindus be united for this purpose?
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Answer Podcast

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Some Christians say that Kalki will be Jesus come again, not Krishna come again – how to respond?
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Answer Podcast

The post Some Christians say that Kalki will be Jesus come again, not Krishna come again – how to respond? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

If Islam considers idolatry the greatest sin, how can it co-exist with Hinduism?
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Answer Podcast

The post If Islam considers idolatry the greatest sin, how can it co-exist with Hinduism? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Why do post-modern Leftist scholars in India separate Islam from terrorism, but not Hinduism from the caste system?
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Answer Podcast

The post Why do post-modern Leftist scholars in India separate Islam from terrorism, but not Hinduism from the caste system? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

As different paths conceive God differently, do they all lead to the same goal?
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Answer Podcast

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Ask not how could he have done that – ask what is to be done next Gita 03.39
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Podcast

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Monday, June 5, 2017
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Burns, Wyoming

The Cattle and Me

The cattle and I were separated by fence and ditch, but they were following me, nevertheless. As I made my last three miles in this ranch country, on Rd. 213, the two dozen or so black-breed bovines got attached to me and I to them.

Coming down the dusty road was a white pickup with a local farmer behind the wheel. This farmer put the brakes on and observed the cattle tagging along next to me. The farmer made the turn and proceeded to meet me on the road.

It was a woman—a country girl. “But I’ve spent my time in the city. I prefer the rural life,” she said, after introductions.

I told her of my walking mission with its spiritual edge. And we both agreed that commonality amongst faith groups needs to be emphasized; in other words, the agreed upon universal truths need to be honoured. It was terrific to meet a farmer with an open mind. It is not always like that. Cattle are open. Why can’t humans be?

Gary was another person who came onto my track with me today. Gary is from The Pine Bluffs Post. He spent forever looking for me. Wrong road. Directions given to him were misinformed. Finally, he caught up with me and the boys in the village of Burns. He asked all the normal questions and I answered them, informing him that it is a great ‘spirit’ walk, one that I hope will inspire others.

“Simple living. Less cars. 1.25 million people die each year from auto accidents. We could do better. Walk and chant!”  The cattle walked.

May the Source be with you!

21 miles

Exciting Plans Afoot for Spain’s New Vrajamandala. Yadunandana…
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Exciting Plans Afoot for Spain’s New Vrajamandala.
Yadunandana Swami’s first move is to invite capable devotees to build up the New Vrajamandala team. (“Without a good team, you can’t be successful,” he says.) Already, Sabda Brahma Das, who previously worked at a bank, has been named the new treasurer; while retired post office manager Rafael Vasco is the accountant and temple commander.
The team’s top priority is to improve Deity worship. For this, they have calculated the minimum cost to maintain a good standard of worship, including pujari maintenance, which will bring steadiness. They’ve already secured sponsors, funding, and some new pujaris, and are looking for a head pujari to oversee the department.
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/5peLJR

Hare Krishna! The Film Wins Grand Jury Prize Award
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Hare Krishna! The Mantra, the Movement and the Swami Who Started It All has won the Grand Jury Prize for Best Picture at Illuminate Film Festival in Sedona, Arizona, USA, the top prize of the festival. Lead Juror Michael Kiehnert said that they awarded it to the film, which the jury felt had the potential "to reach their widest possible audience and have the greatest impact." 

Hare Krishna Iskcon Roma 2017
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Hare KrishnaEcstatic Rathayatra in Rome, Italy. Srila Prabhupada: The Hare Krishna mantra is specifically mentioned in many Upanisads, such as the Kali-santarana Upanishad, where it is said: “After searching through al the Vedic literature, one cannot find a method of religion more sublime for this age than the chanting of Hare Krishna.” (Sri-Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 3.40 Purport)

Sunday, June 4, 2017
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Nebraska/Wyoming

A New State

“Dudes” is a popular steak-house restaurant in Sidney. I didn’t know of the busy clientele, until I conveniently sat on one of the provided benches in front of the diner. The workers there were extra nice. Two waitresses came out and asked me to sign the newspaper which featured Hayagriva and myself  on the front page.

“Can we make you a hamburger? It’s on the House.”

“Thank you, but I’m a vegetarian.”

They came back a minute later saying they could serve me a veggie burger which was made out of black beans. I really appreciated them going out of their way to be friendly, but I just had to decline. I was full of the delicious wraps the boys had put together.

Kindness is truly prevalent on some days. Experience shows that people I meet are anywhere from indifferent to positive in their response to our walk.

The above interaction with the “Dudes” staff was on Friday night. Today, however, Sunday, showed more of an aloof reaction from motorists. Fortunately, we did reach some milestones. I stepped into the state of Wyoming. We also took a drive to the vibrant Denver community for the world popular ISKCON Sunday feast. Lastly, Aaron, whom I met on Tuesday, decided to join our team.

Aaron is a young man at an interesting juncture in his life. He’s giving the spiritual approach to life a chance. The three of us, Hayagriva, Marshall and myself, have accepted him Ike a younger brother (for me a son).

https://www.navbug.com/article257598772/walking_monk_travels_highway_30_a_hare_krishna_monk_known_as.htm

May the Source be with you.


20 miles


Srila Prabhupada Memorial Festival 2017 & 72nd Vyasa Puja of Bhakti Charu Swami
Bhakti Charu Swami

We are delighted to invite you to the ‘Srila Prabhupada Memorial Festival2017 and 72nd Vyasa Puja of His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja’ at ISKCON Ujjain from 12th to 18th September 2017. 17th September is the day when Srila Prabhupada arrived in America to spread...

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Social media – what it does for us and what it does to us
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[Phone class to everydaychant.com sanga]

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Devotion, renunciation and aversion are differentiated by the direction of emotion
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[Bhagavatam class on 11.2.48 at ISKCON, Chowpatty, Mumbai, India]

Podcast

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Dumbness is not inability to understand gibberish – it is inability to see gibberish for what it is Gita 18.63
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Podcast

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Hare Krishna Film Review
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Hare KrishnaBy Sam Slovick

If Hare Krishna! film director John Griesser’s goal was to reintroduce the world to the magic of Prabhupada, he hit his mark. Hare Krishna! is the second coming of Prabhupada. Griesser (Yadubara Das) draws the viewer into to the magic of the Hare Krishna movement through an artfully crafted, seamless, multimedia medley, drawing from a wealth of existing archival elements including photographs, film, and video interviews combined with recreations, reenactments, and graphics to achieve a cinematic flow that takes you out of the theatre and into the moment. Continue reading "Hare Krishna Film Review
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