Chances, Changes, Choices – Making Life’s Big Decisions
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[Talk at Krishna Temple, Salt Lake City, USA]

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The cause of fanaticism is not excessive devotion, but inadequate devotion
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[Phone class to everydaychant.com online sanga]

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Matters that matter more than matter
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[Saturday feast program at Salt Lake City, USA]

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Your Name Will Be There
→ Dandavats

By Indradyumna Swami

My dear godbrother Sridhar Maharaja, numerous godbrothers, disciples, friends and well-wishers have gathered around the world and are enjoying sweet memories of your glorious activities in spreading the samkirtan mission of Lord Caitanya. I miss you a lot. I miss the times we spent traveling together in the early days of the movement. It was fun and enlivening to be in your association. No matter how difficult the situation, you always said something humorous to make us laugh. And the next moment you could speak so candidly about the illusory nature of material life that it would make me cringe. Maharaja, no one can replace you. Like so many of Srila Prabhupada's disciples you were unique in your own Krsna conscious way. I remember towards the end when you were lying on your deathbed in Mayapura, one devotee turned to me and said, "How is this happening? What will the movement be like without Sridhar Swami?" I had no answer. I have learned the answer in time as I watch the world become a little dimmer each time an enlightened devotee like you departs. Continue reading "Your Name Will Be There
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Until We Meet Again
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Hare KrishnaBy Indradyumna Swami

I'll never forget the wonderful reception the devotees gave you in Mayapura. They knew you were coming to the holy dhama to leave your body, and they rushed to greet you and express their appreciation for your years of service. Our car slowed to a snail's pace as everyone surged forward in a show of love. How proud I was of you! How grateful I was to Krsna for arranging such an acknowledgment of your service! Now you are gone, and the days of your association are no more. Your humor, which could light up the darkest day, is a distant memory. Your example as a dedicated disciple of our Guru Maharaja is no longer present for those of us less inclined in service. It's harder without you here to inspire us. It's difficult for your disciples, it's difficult for your Godbrothers, and it's difficult for the souls who would have benefited from your association had you stayed longer in this world. Your last words to me were, "Happy trails, until we meet again." Because you've gone ahead of me on the trail of serving our spiritual master, you'll once more be in a position to guide me. Ultimately, one goes where his heart takes him. Thus my heart goes out to you with the hope and expectation of seeing you again. I look forward to that day with great anticipation. Continue reading "Until We Meet Again
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Is “Preaching” Kīrtan
→ The Enquirer

Yes it can be.

But also it can be a big lie.

You can say that all your fundraising is for spreading kīrtan – and that’s nice, but at the end of the day how much kīrtan did you have? A half-hour? Two hours? Four hours? So, is that really a “return on investment”? You worked for 12 to have kīrtan for 4 hours, when actually kīrtan is something anyone can do, anytime, anywhere. Just sit down and do it, and save 12 hours.

OK, so yo are busy “spreading kīrtan.”

But, how do you spread fire without fire? People are using water to spread fire and then wondering why nothing burns. For example, they get completely wrapped up building and managing big temples. While building the thing, they have little time and peace of mind for genuine kīrtan. And after it’s done they run off to build a new one, or run around trying to figure out how to pay the bills.

How much kīrtan do they have?

Still just about as much as they would have had anyway, without the big temple, etc. This is because kīrtan isn’t dependent on anything except love. It’s not dependent on venues, performers, instruments, skills, etc.

If you really are a “pure devotee” whose one and only interest is to spread Krishna kīrtan, your best bet is to just sit under a tree and have kīrtan. Take all the time and energy you would put into “preaching” and “planning” and “managing” and spend it under the tree with Krishna. That’s what pure devotees do, satataṁ kīrtanyanto mām yatantaś ca dṛddhā vratā. 

If you are not really a “pure devotee,” that is fine so long as you don’t lie about it and mislead innocent people. Just say, “I can’t give up building things, running things, bossing people around, organizing things, etc.” That’s honest. Meanwhile do as much kīrtan as you can. Saṁkīrtan includes music, discussion and study of Krishna from śāstra.

Vraja Kishor das

www.vrajakishor.com


Tagged: Kirtan, Preaching

Travel Journal#13.5: North Florida
→ Travel Adventures of a Krishna Monk

Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 13, No. 5
By Krishna-kripa das
(March 2017, part one)
North Florida
(Sent from Gainesville, Florida, on March 19, 2017)

Where I Went and What I Did

March got off to a great start with two harinamas the first day, one at Krishna Lunch in Gainesville during the day and the other at the Jacksonville Art Walk in the evening. The next day I chanted at Krishna Lunch, and the following day I went to Tallahassee to chant at First Friday. I stayed there, chanting at Lake Ella on the weekends and Florida State University during the week until Gaura Purnima, when I went to our festival in Alachua. That evening I went to Jacksonville to chant at University of North Florida through the middle of the March.

I share notes on classes by Mother Nanda, Sesa Prabhu, Madhava Prabhu, and Hanan Prabhu. I share notes on a group reading of Radhanath Swami’s The Journey Within, along with comments by the other listeners. I include wisdom from a conversation with Nama Kirtan Prabhu, from an introduction to a kirtana by Tulasirani Devi Dasi, and from a sign in front of a Tallahassee church.

I would like to thank Navina Shyam Prabhu for his kind donation. Thanks to Britt and all the other people who kindly gave donations on harinama in Tallahassee. Thanks to Race Smith of Florida State University for the photo of himself and me on Landis Green.

Itinerary

March 12–April 8: North and Central Florida campuses
April 8: St. Augustine Ratha-yatra
April 9–11: Washington, D.C., harinama
April 11: Philadelphia Bhakti Garden Tuesday program
April 12: Albany
April 13: New York City
April 14–19: Ireland
April 20–24: Newcastle
April 26: Radhadesh
April 27: King’s Day
April 28: Rotterdam
April 29–30: Birmingham 24-Hour Kirtana
May 1–5: Newcastle
May 6: York
May 7–August 7: Europe
August 8­–16: Ottawa Sanga Retreat and Janmastami and Vyasa-puja
August 17–September 5: Europe
September 5–November ?: New York City
November ?– December 1: Florida
December: New York City

Chanting Hare Krishna at Krishna Lunch

We were fortunate that our Gainesville Krishna House temple president, Kalakantha Prabhu, led the Hare Krishna chant at Krishna Lunch one day. Hari Priya played the drum for him (https://youtu.be/i3qsvnuMWJw):


Then Hari Priya led the Hare Krishna chant at Krishna Lunch, and Kalakantha Prabhu played the drum for her (https://youtu.be/dC8z9BOUtPw):


When it rains, Krishna Lunch moves to a walkway in front of University of Florida’s Library West, which is protected from the precipitation. When our chanting party is too loud there, we get in trouble with the library staff, thus we used the tambourine instead of the karatalas, which can easily become too loud.

Krishna Nama Prabhu leads the Hare Krishna chant at Krishna Lunch at our rainy day venue, and Abhimanyu Prabhu plays the drum for him (https://youtu.be/YG4cVOLDpqA):


Kishor Prabhu leads the Hare Krishna chant at Krishna Lunch, and Dhameshvar Mahaprabhu das Prabhu plays the drum for him (https://youtu.be/OdRx6FtZr0Y):


Tulasirani Devi Dasi leads the chanting of Hare Krishna, Ekayani Devi Dasi plays drum for her, and Bhakta Jorge dances with alacrity (https://youtu.be/JG9HWlvPHUI):


Chanting Hare Krishna at the Jacksonville Art Walk

After getting kicked out of the Jacksonville Art Walk several times in previous months, we become proactive and asked for a place where we could perform our group chanting of Hare Krishna. The staff granted us a place in the park, not on the street, but still a place getting significant pedestrian traffic.

Here Hare Krishna devotees from Gainesville’s Krishna House chanted for 2½ hours at the monthly Jacksonville Art Walk and different passersby,including some dressed as animals, interacted with the party (https://youtu.be/wlASiVKPi5Y):


Savanah, who happened to see me and Dorian chanting at the Art Walk back in January, was happy to sing and dance with us again. Turns out she will be moving to Gainesville for massage school in a couple of months, so she can meet the Krishna House devotees again there.

Bay talked to some really sweet people and got their contact information.

Chanting Hare Krishna at Florida State University

This Florida State University student wanted to play my harmonium as he is an accordion player. After he did that we talked and then chanted a few Hare Krishna mantras responsively as I played harmonium. He concluded he and his girlfriend have not been meditating enough lately and he is going to read her Bhagavad-gita over spring break.

One girl from Tampa named Christina, who got books from Adikarta Prabhu the last week in February, came by and talked to me for an hour. Adikarta told her about the Hare Krishna mantra and gave her some beads. She said she was chanting the mantra every day. I invited her to a mantra meditation class I was doing the next day, and she and a friend of hers came and chanted ten minutes of kirtana and ten minutes of japa with me. Nama Kirtan talked to Christina at Krishna Lunch and invited her to the Gaura Purnima festival in Alachua. I told her I had friends from our club at University of South Florida coming from Tampa for Gaura Purnima in Alachua, and I could find her a ride to Tampa with them after the festival for the upcoming spring break. She decided to go to Gaura Purnima with us and had a great time. Alex, who rents the room behind the temple, also came to Gaura Purnima, as did Melanie’s son, John, and his girlfriend. It was great seeing all these people getting Lord Caitanya’s mercy on His appearance day. Another fortunate soul was the roommate of a regular attender of our University of South Florida program, who had come to our Sacred Sounds event in February and liked it so much she decide to come to Gaura Purnima. Thus by Lord Caitanya’s mercy we see His mission is continuing to expand in America and in the West in general.

Chanting Hare Krishna at Lake Ella in Tallahassee

On the weekends I am in Tallahassee, I chant at Lake Ella. One black girl, perhaps age 9, asked if she could play an instrument. I showed her some karatalas and demonstrated the standard one-two-three beat, and she got it right the first time. Two of her sisters came, and I showed them the beat. For a while, all three would play the karatalas in perfect time, and then someone would go off, and I would stop singing, and we would start again, and then they would all be in time for a while once again. I wished I brought my video camera to film it, but as I had too few people to sing with me that day I did not bring it. Because of that incident, I decided to always bring my camera, even when I go chanting alone. The next time I went out to Lake Ella I met a little girl who was also willing to learn the standard karatala beat (https://youtu.be/e9_vio38UgI):


I also met a guy who liked playing on the drum (https://youtu.be/7GpanoBKON8):


On the Saturday which was the day before Gaura Purnima, I spent almost eight hours at Lake Ella. Half the time I chanted japa and read Srila Prabhupada’s books on my blanket with the books, invitations, and vegan cookies on display. The other four hours I did the congregational chanting of Hare Krishna with Brahma Haridas Prabhu joining me for a little over an hour and a half and Melanie joining me for a little over an hour. At least four people gave donations just because they liked the chanting or liked what we were doing.

One young lady, who was in Tallahassee briefly to visit relatives, chanted the entire Hare Krishna mantra perfectly as she passed by me. Turns out she lives in Oakland and attends our Berkeley temple. Her father, she herself, and also her brothers and sisters are devotees. I encouraged her to sing with us, and she did (https://youtu.be/zjljDUMBCxs):


We also encouraged her relatives to take part, and while we sang a little girl, hearing the music, danced in the background (https://youtu.be/EAA0xwM9dPU):


I reminded the young devotee lady that tomorrow was Gaura Purnima, and I recommended she attend the temple when she returns to the San Francisco area the next day.

One young man whose father was a Prabhupada disciple came by. He had lived in New Vrindaban for a couple years, and he had lived in Tallahassee when Rupa Vilasa Prabhu was around, and he befriended Rupa Vilasa Prabhu’s son. He got an Isopanisad and a Higher Taste, and he wanted to get some japa beads for the girl who was with him. I invited them to the temple on Gaura Purnima.

One middle-aged lady named Britt, with a jolly mood, was very happy to encounter me chanting there. She asked, “Is it true that the master appears when the disciple is ready?” I said yes, because Srila Prabhupada indicated that to be the case. She said she actually wanted to get a Bhagavad-gita and was worried she’d have to go to India to find one. I taught her the Hare Krishna mantra, and she chanted it along with me several times as I played the harmonium. She was very grateful that she was healing from cancer with chemotherapy and said she had not expected to be alive. I told her about our temple in Tallahassee, and I explained briefly who Lord Caitanya was and that many of us were going to Alachua for a big festival in honor of His appearance day the next day, and she expressed some interest in going. Wanting the Bhagavad-gita, she placed a folded bill in my hand as a donation. I looked at it, and it was a $100 bill. I gave her one copy of each of the books I had on display, a hardbound Bhagavad-gita, a Science of Self-Realization, and The Nectar of Instruction. I gave her my card, and told her to write if she had questions about the books. That is only the third time in thirty years someone donated $100 on harinama. I hope she reads the books and visits the temple and finds the joy of the soul she is seeking.


Gaura Purnima at New Raman Reti

On Gaura Purnima in Alachua, there was fire sacrifice involving the small Gaura Nitai deities outside the temple and a kirtana by Godruma Prabhu of Jacksonville going on in the temple when we arrived from Tallahassee.

Bhadra Prabhu led Hare Krishna chanting on Gaura Purnima in Alachua for almost two hours and devotees chanted, danced, and played musical instruments in a festive spirit (https://youtu.be/wEYQlD8BJM4):


Having the spinach paneer at the feast on Gaura Purnima is a favorite part of the festival for me. So is going to the Gaura Arati, the evening service, with an amazing kirtana of chanting the holy names after which the feast is usually served. I decided to cut out of Bhadra Prabhu’s ecstatic kirtanaafter an hour to get the feast, and I was amazed to find that except for the chutney, a little sauce from the Gauranga potatoes that was stuck to the container, and a couple of trays of scraps from the laddus, the entire feast was finished. I had lived in Alachua since 1994 and attended all the Gaura Purnimas except a handful of years when I was in India, and I would always get the feast after the final kirtana, but I do not ever recall ever missing out like this. I subsisted on a couple of cups of tomato chutney and a plate each of Gauranga sauce and laddu scraps. My friend, Nama Kirtan Prabhu, had intellligently brought some khichri from Tallahassee in case there was not enough prasadam. Next time I will have a friend save me a plate, so I can participate in the kirtana without disappointment.

In addition to the local Alachua Hare Krishnas, devotees from Gainesville, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, and Tampa stayed for the Hare Krishna bhajans after the feast on Gaura Purnima at New Raman Reti (https://youtu.be/8vZ4s4efXuk):


Regarding the bhajans,Feren of our Bhakti Yoga Club at the University of South Florida remarked, “Such bliss, it was unreal.”

Chanting at the Jacksonville Bhakti House

The day after Gaura Purnima, we had a record number of devotees at the Jacksonville Bhakti House morning program. In addition to Amrita Keli, Lovelesh, Youssef, Richie, Kira, and myself, there were two Lauras, both regulars at the University of North Florida Krishna Club. Laura, our first Krishna Club president, on spring break from teaching high school science, plays guitar and leads the chanting, while Laura, in the blue sari, who was celebrating her birthday, dances (https://youtu.be/MFfFr0y21rY):


At the end of Monday’s evening program at the Jacksonville Bhakti House, after everyone in the room got a chance to sing each of the three parts of a lively Village of Peace Hare Krishna tune, they all got up and danced ecstatically (https://youtu.be/ZME69idb5Z8):


Here Richie leads another morning kirtana at Krishna House and the devotees dance (https://youtu.be/PONJZ7eEoMc):


Chanting at University of North Florida

Dorian has a catchy Hare Krishna tune he likes to sing, and he took a break from his studies to chant with Hare Krishna chaplain, Amrita Keli Devi Dasi, myself and four other students from the University of North Florida Krishna Club in front of the UNF Bookstore on a rainy Monday (https://youtu.be/v_T0kHw_xw4):


I was very happy that three new students came to the University of North Florida Krishna Club weekly meeting from seeing us chanting on the campus during the week. One, a nice chap with an Irish background named Patrick who had seen me chanting on campus twice, also invited a friend. Another, a girl named McKayla, began dancing as soon as the kirtana started. It was a very joyful evening.

Here you can see Tulasirani Devi Dasi leading the Hare Krishna chanting at the Krishna Club meeting (https://youtu.be/W9P1i9JpQNg):


Chanting Hare Krishna at the Jacksonville Beach Art Walk

On a very chilly evening Laura, who is singing, and Richie, who is playing the harmonium, joined me in chanting Hare Krishna at the Jacksonville Beach Art Walk (https://youtu.be/l2yyAWPxjvg):


During the hour we chanted Hare Krishna, two people took “On Chanting Hare Krishna” pamphlets, one man gave a dollar, and his daughter took a cookie. A few people took photos and videos, and a girl danced, as her friends took pictures of her.

Insights

Radhanath Swami:

From a group recitation of his book, The Journey Within:

Just prior to a temple opening festival in the Gaudiya Math, temple leaders banished one monk, who had become attached to a woman. Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura was so upset by their action, he refused to conduct the festival until that monk had been found and reinstated. After great difficulty, the devotees found the monk working in a watch maker’s shop. When he heard of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarsvati Thakura’s compassion upon him, he returned, and he later became an important preacher in the Gaudiya Math.

When each member of the family is seen as a beloved child of God, taking care of them becomes a joy.

One should have good spiritually minded friends and invite them to one’s home and accept their invitations.

Focus on our higher purpose.

Even the most degraded person can become a world spiritual teacher by the power of the chanting of the holy name.

Chanting the holy names transcends all sectarian boundaries.

Everything in the material world is made of sound.

Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura would have monks that fought sit down facing each other and enumerate the good qualities of each other so they would realize that their good qualities outnumber their supposed faults.

Comments by Amrita Keli Devi Dasi:

I saw a sign that said, “We tend to judge ourselves by our ideals and others by their acts.”

Just being a soul in a material body is very disorienting. We are all in a hospital or in a clinic.

In a spiritual community, we are focusing on the good aspirations of the other people.

Resentment is disempowering. Radhanath Swami says it is like holding a burning coal and waiting to throw it at the person you hate, while in the meantime it is burning you.

I had ideals to benefit others, but I knew that I did not have the potency myself to become the ideal person I wanted to be. I see by the power of the holy name it is possible.

Comment by Misti:

I was interacting with someone, and it was unusually tense. I decided to be grateful and thank the person for all the things I liked about her. The interaction changed dramatically for the positive, and the tension never reappeared.

We have to really practice honesty as this society conditions us in so many ways to present a false image of ourselves.

Comment by Youssef:

I like to share even little things I have issues with. Just to be able to laugh at insignificant things I have difficulties with helps to get past them.

Comment by Laura:

I can trace dissatisfication to my lack of attention to my spiritual practice. But is miraculous just coming to the morning program once so many dissatisfactions are eliminated.

If the relationship is more important, it may be worth it to give up having your way in particular instance. 

Comment by Lovelesh:

The mind needs to be heard. If you can keep a journal where you note down the mind’s voice so it is heard, it will stop annoying you.

There are four kinds of people:
1.    Those who only see the good in others.
2.    Those who only see the bad in others.
3.    Those who see both good and bad in others but who magnify the good. 
4.    Those who see both good and bad in others but who magnify the bad. 

Mother Nanda:

Bhaktivinoda Thakura says that Dhenukasura is the example of material intelligence rooted in the bodily concept of life. Balarama, as the original guru, can shake us up out of the bodily concept of life.

Mother Narayani explains that Bhaktivinoda Thakura indicates that by repeatedly hearing a particular pastime one overcomes the anartha exemplified by the demon in that pastime.

Radhanath Swami explains the fruits from the tal trees symbolize the fruits that we are unable to offer to Krishna because of our bodily concept of life.

Dhenukasura’s plan to was send the tal fruits to Kamsa because he was an associate of Kamsa. 

People in the bodily concept of life carry the burden of their karmic reactions life after life.

Comment by Kalakantha Prabhu:

The Dhenukasura pastime has three special features:
1.    Dhenukasura is killed by Lord Balarama not Lord Krishna.
2.    Dhenukasura is killed outside Vrindavan.
3.    Dhenukasura did not first approach Krishna and Balarama to attack Them.

Comment by me:

Your point that materialists are never satisfied no matter what they attain reminds me of one Bhagavad-gita purport where Srila Prabhupada writes, “In the mode of passion, people become greedy, and their hankering for sense enjoyment has no limit. One can see that even if one has enough money and adequate arrangements for sense gratification, there is neither happiness nor peace of mind. That is not possible, because one is situated in the mode of passion. If one wants happiness at all, his money will not help him; he has to elevate himself to the mode of goodness by practicing Krishna consciousness.” (Bhagavad-gita 14.17, purport)

Sesa Prabhu:

That the Supreme Personality of Godhead is all-lovable is the real glory of Krishna not His majesty.

Krishna is not God because He can kill you but because He loves you.

Krishna uses His supreme power to deliver Kaliya and not to kill him.

The different sportive activities which Krishna’s friends performed with Him are called anubhava in The Nectar of Devotion. Dancing is an important one of these.

Kaliya, rather than being a disturbance, actually increased the ecstasy of Krishna’s friends, who observed His sportive activities in play with the serpent.

Krishna was held by Kaliya in his coils for two hours. The fear for Krishna’s safety experienced by the residents of Vrindavana increased their attachment for Him.

Anugraha or compassion is the mood of the devotees in the parental rasa or relationship. The natural reaction of Mother Yashoda was to enter the water to protect Krishna.

By doing the same activities, the one person Krishna was nourishing a variety a different relationships with His different devotees.

If you only want shanti, shanti, shanti [peace, peace, peace], do not come to Krishna consciousness. Krishna likes to churn our emotions.

Krishna’s dancing on the hoods of serpent was also meant to please the young damsels of Vrindavan, who were beginning to develop love for Him, purva-raga. 

Madhava Prabhu:

The Brahma-vimohana-lilapastime not only has some sweet descriptions of Krishna and His devotees, but there are many very important philosophical points, especially in Brahma’s prayers.

In a lecture Srila Prabhupada praises the poetic genius in Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.14.58:

samasrita ye pada-pallava-plavam
 mahat-padam punya-yaso murareh
bhavambudhir vatsa-padam param padam
 padam padam yad vipadam na tesam

So much beautiful alliteration is there!

You can say that vipadam meaning ‘miseries’ literally means ‘misstep.’

Our real danger is forgetfulness of Krishna.

Nama Kirtan Prabhu:

From a conversation:

In Los Angeles, a book distributor friend would tell me, “Every day is a good day in Krishna consciousness, even it seems like a bad day.”

Tulasirani Devi Dasi:

From an introduction to a kirtana at the University of North Florida Krishna Club:

Mantra meditation is easy and has great potency. It makes your heart lighter and more full. Even if you do not know what the words mean, it will have a powerful effect. Very easily the mind can be be controlled by listening to a sound vibration.

Hanan:

From a class on Sri Caitanya-caritamrita at the Gainesville Krishna House:

Although Raghunath das Goswami was the most renounced of the Goswamis, eating practically nothing, he took on the enormous task of renovating Radha Kund.

I went to Radha Kund with a group of devotees who were cleaning Radha Kund. I felt very satisfied just doing the cleaning work. When we finished, the time had come when no one bathes in Radha Kund, so we could not take bath, but I was so happy from cleaning Radha Kund I did not mind not bathing there.

Jayadvaita Swami said that doing service is the visa for entering a holy place.

People, especially at holy places, will tell us so many things about Krishna, but we can ask them, “Where is that described in the revealed literature?”

Maya is working with Krishna, not against Krishna. She wants to make sure we are making spiritual progress.

The reason we are here in the material world is not Maya and is not Krishna, but fully our use of our free will.

Comments by Tulasirani Devi Dasi:

We can’t blame mayafor us being in maya. We are choosing not to be so Krishna conscousness at that time.

Much, much worse than being in maya and thinking you are in mayais being in maya and thinking you are really Krishna conscious.

On harinama at a football game, even though surrounded by drunken fans, when I am seeing all the Jagais and Madhais chanting and dancing in the kirtana of Lord Caitanya’s devotees, I feel as if I am in the holy dhama.

Comment by Ekayani Devi Dasi: When I was in school, I had one teacher who made us pray before class. That prayer changed the whole atmosphere.

Lakeview Baptist Church pastor:

The lesson you teach is the life you live.

-----

With the recent holidays of Nityananda Tryodasi and Gaura Purnima, seeing the special mercy newcomers to Krishna bhakti have received on these auspicious appearance days of Lord Nityananda and Lord Caitanya, when I see Their deity forms I think of this first stanza of Locan das Thakura’s song “Sri Sri Gaura Nityanander Daya” and I feel gratitude to Them for Their mercy and Their joyful process of self-realization:

parama koruna, pahu dui jana
nitai gauracandra
saba avatara-sara siromani
kevala ananda-kanda


“Lord Nitai and Lord Gauracandra are very merciful. They are the essence of all incarnations. The specific significance of these incarnations is that They introduced a process of chanting and dancing that is simply joyful.”

The world is oversexed
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 07 March 2017, London, United Kingdom, King’s College Programme Lecture, Sex Drugs and Rock ‘n Roll)

When I was a teenager, I moved to Amsterdam which is 25km from where I grew up. At that time, there was no internet but just near to where I stayed was the Dutch Society for Sexual Reform and they had all these posters which said, “If you’re a guy and like guys, call this number… If you like kids, call this number… If you like dogs, try this number!” So all this was there on the window and you could call at anytime. I walked past there every day and I started to think about it and it looked a bit sick to me to be honest and the one thing that struck me was that THE WORLD IS OVERSEXED!

I mean sex is okay but it is not always what you think it would be, at least that was my first experience. I haven’t always been a celibate monk as I am now and there was a time when I had experimented and one day while walking in the street an old, old song started playing in my head, “Is that all there is… Is that all there is?” Is this it? Is this what the big hype is all about? The whole world is making such a big deal to it and is this it! Gosh, is this what I am supposed to get excited about? I was a bit… a bit disappointed. Anyway as time went by, I grew up and got used to it. It got the better of me, what can I say!?

But I did realise that the world is oversexed and we give it more importance that it has in life. Sex has a place and certainly that is fine but SEX IS NOT THE GOAL OF LIFE and if it does become the goal of life, then you get weird people – like the strange men looking at all the prostitutes, people who sell it, people who buy it – the weird people who just see sex as the goal of life; excessive behaviour.

Well, there is nothing wrong with sex but when that is all there is to a relationship when it is only about the flesh then it has no meaning. But, I wanted more out of life, I wanted more depth, I wanted more out of relationships, more real exchanges – not just external affection but something real, some real appreciation – call it love, call me romantic, call me whatever you want but I wanted more depth.

With a topic like this, I am not speaking from the platform of a monk. So far from what I was speaking was the pre-monk days; so far these were just my human observations and my reflections as an individual.

Steps to Initiation
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Hare KrishnaBy Kripamoya Das

On the day of initiation you will be promising to follow the regulative principles and to chant sixteen rounds every day. You may also be promising to read Srila Prabhupada’s books and to remain faithful to his society. Your guru will give a talk either on the significance of initiation or on the ten offences to the Holy Name. Three strands of tulasi beads will be placed on your neck. You will be asked to perform acaman – a purifying ritual involving sipping water and saying a mantra. You will then be called forward to make your obeisances to Srila Prabhupada and to your guru. Then you will be asked to recite the vows. You’ll be handed your chanting beads, and then given a name ending in dasa or dasi, indicating that you are now initiated. A fire sacrifice follows during which you’ll join in the chanting of prayers to the members of the Vaishnava parampara and the Deities. During the fire sacrifice you will be directed to offer grains into the flames. It is traditional for the new disciple to beg for some alms to give to the spiritual master immediately after the fire sacrifice. Continue reading "Steps to Initiation
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Theology Students of Nairobi “drink” the Vedic…
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Theology Students of Nairobi “drink” the Vedic Scriptures (Album with photos)
We were invited to one of the famous university in Nairobi to speak about the Vedic culture. All the students were impressed with the knowledge.we distributed over 100 books in 20 minutes.
One professor commented “if you had gone on for another half an hour I would have converted to being a Hare Krishna”
A Muslim scholar commented, “in all my study I haven’t experienced such deep knowledge”.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/U4AFkv

New Bhaktivedanta Swami sign installed on a public road. Srila…
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New Bhaktivedanta Swami sign installed on a public road.
Srila Prabhupada: …a hellish civilization artificially increases the conditions of life, and existence becomes intolerable for everyone. The foolish leaders of a godless civilization try to devise various plans to bring about peace and prosperity in the godless world under a patent trademark of materialism, and because such attempts are illusory only, the people elect incompetent, blind leaders, one after another, who are incapable of offering solutions. If we want at all to end this anomaly of a godless civilization, we must follow the principles of revealed scriptures like the Srimad-Bhagavatam and follow the instruction of a person like Sri Sukadeva Gosvami who has no attraction for material gain. >>> Ref. VedaBase => SB 2.2.6

New Iskcon Temple Project for Mauritius launched (Album with…
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New Iskcon Temple Project for Mauritius launched (Album with photos)
Bhakti Caitanya Swami: Photos from our programme last night in Mauritius. We launched the new temple project there, along with Bhakti Caru Maharaja and Bhakti Brnga Govinda Maharaja. Chief guest was the Minister of Public Infrastructure for the government of Mauritius, Mr Nandkumar Bodha, a very nice man who has helped Srila Prabhupada’s movement greatly there.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/fheiDK

ISKCON-London’s Gaura Purnima 2017 celebrations (Album…
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ISKCON-London’s Gaura Purnima 2017 celebrations (Album with photos)
Please find below photos from Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s Appearance Day at ISKCON-London.
The Radha-Krishna Temple was joined by devotees from Bhaktivedanta Manor for maha harinama sankirtan along London’s famous Oxford Street.
Slideshow (please turn on sound):
http://davidc.zenfolio.com/gaura_purnima_2017/slideshow
Gallery:
http://davidc.zenfolio.com/gaura_purnima_2017
With best wishes,
Hare Krishna,
David

Denpasar Home Programs
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Home programs are ever popular in Denpasar and every visiting guru, sannyasi and senior devotee is invited every time they come.

I was fortunate enough to be invited to the home of Brajarasa das and his family for an evening of kirtan, lecture and prasadam.

Brajarasa first met the devotees in England some twenty years ago while doing some post graduate study. When he came back to Bali he soon became a devotee.

Maha Harinama in Tel Aviv, Israel (Album with photos) Srila…
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Maha Harinama in Tel Aviv, Israel (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: If one does not know what is honesty, how can he be honest? But if you know what is honesty, then you can be honest. You must know the order of God. And if you follow that, then that is honesty. If I know that everything belongs to Krsna, I will not use anything without His permission. That is honesty. Even if you drink a glass of water without knowing to whom it belongs, you are a thief. So you may think, “I am honest,” but actually you are a thief. You must remember Krsna, “Oh Krsna, it is Your creation, so kindly allow me to drink.” Therefore a devotee always thinks of Krsna. In all activities he thinks, “Oh, it is Krsna’s.” This is honesty. So without Krsna consciousness everyone is a rascal, a thief, a rogue and a robber. From: Perfect Questions Perfect Answers
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Yamuna Boat Festival 2017 by Iskcon Vrindavan (Album with…
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Yamuna Boat Festival 2017 by Iskcon Vrindavan (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: In my books the philosophy of Krishna Consciousness is explained fully so if there is anything which you do not understand, then you simply have to read again and again. By reading daily the knowledge will be revealed to you and by this process your spiritual life will develop. >>> Ref. VedaBase => Letter to: Bahurupa – Bombay 22 November, 1974
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ISKCON Food Relief Foundation receives IMC Ramakrishna Bajaj National Quality Award
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Hare KrishnaBy Radha Krishna Das

The Awards ceremony which was held at Y B Chavan Auditorium Mumbai on 16th March, 2017 saw a gathering of eminent individuals from various sectors like FMCS, Transport, Finance, Healthcare and Social Work. The event was presided over by the esteemed panel consisting of Mr Deepak Premnarayan – President IMC Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr Niraj Bajaj – Chairman, IMC RBNQ Award Trust, Mr Suresh Lulla- Chairman IMC RBNQA as well as members of the Managing Committee of the IMC. The Chief Guest for the evening was Dr R. A. Mashelkar, FRS – National Research Professor & President, Global Research Alliance. Dr Anil Kakodkar – Chairma, Rajiv Gandhi Science & Technology Commission was honored with the IMC Juran Quality Medal 2016. Continue reading "ISKCON Food Relief Foundation receives IMC Ramakrishna Bajaj National Quality Award
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Skill Development. Personal development expert, Brian Tracy,…
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Skill Development.
Personal development expert, Brian Tracy, writes: “Here is one of the greatest questions you will ever ask and answer: ‘What one skill, if I developed and did it in an excellent fashion, would have the greatest positive impact on my career?’”
One should ask the same question about one’s bhakti practice.
Asking this question is vital because, unlike regular career skills that become obsolete, bhakti skills are eternally relevant and potent. By seriously dedicating oneself to any one of the processes of bhakti, one will attain perfection.
Rupa Goswami writes:
“Pariksit Maharaja attained salvation simply by hearing, and Sukadeva Gosvami attained salvation simply by chanting. Prahlada Maharaja attained salvation by remembering the Lord. The goddess of fortune, Laksmidevi, attained perfection by worshiping the Lord’s lotus feet. Prthu Maharaja attained salvation by worshiping the Deity of the Lord. Akrura attained salvation by offering prayers, Hanuman by rendering service, Arjuna by establishing friendship with the Lord, and Bali Maharaja by offering everything to the service of the Lord.”

Caitanya Mahaprabhu narrowed this field when Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya asked Him which of the practices is the most essential in the execution of devotional service. Mahaprabhu replied that nama sankirtana, the chanting of the holy names of Krishna, is the most important. (Cc Madhya 6.241)

Similarly, in East Bengal there was a brahmana named Tapana Misra, who could not ascertain the objective of life or how to attain it. After being directed in a dream to approach Caitanya Mahaprabhu to ask Him about the proper path in life, Mahaprabhu instructed him that the basic principle of success is to chant the holy name of the Lord, the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. (Cc Adi 16.15)

Humans are especially equipped to cultivate and develop skills of all description. But, those who want to quickly overcome all miseries of life and attain complete success by developing love for God should dedicate themselves to the chanting of Krishna’s divine names.

Sukadeva Goswami confirms this in this very famous statement to Maharaja Pariksit: “O King, constant chanting of the holy name of the Lord after the ways of the great authorities is the doubtless and fearless way of success for all, including those who are free from all material desires, those who are desirous of all material enjoyment, and also those who are self-satisfied by dint of transcendental knowledge.” (SB 2.1.11)

Develop your skill for chanting Hare Krishna with full enthusiasm and attention each day, as this will have the greatest positive impact on every aspect of your life.
Vaisesika Das

Guilt. Question: Is guilt for past deeds a good thing? I feel…
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Guilt.
Question: Is guilt for past deeds a good thing? I feel guilty of past mistakes done when there was no knowledge of Krishna Consciousness; however, that guilt makes me sad and dejected. How to counteract feeling low out of guilt and rather use that realization to become more determined and enthusiastic for Krishna Consciousness.
Romapada Swami: Since Bhaktivinoda Thakur uses the term ‘regret’ instead of guilt, I am going to respond to your question using the term 'regret’ instead.
The connotation of 'regret’ for some wrong we may have committed more readily lends itself to serving as an impetus for forward progress; 'guilt’ often conveys a mood of lamentation and despondency, which weaken determination to move forward to a better place.
Regret for past deeds is a good thing as long as it does not impede one’s current spiritual progress. Rather regret can serve as an impetus to further develop/nurture our feelings of gratitude towards the most merciful Lord and His devotees. The Lord as a loving father, who is ever merciful forgives the devotee who sincerely repents for his past mistakes and at the same time seeks the Lord’s shelter.
In the purport of SB 1.19.2 Srila Prabhupada writes in connection to Parikshit Maharaj’s feeling of repentance of putting a dead snake around Samik Muni: “The pious king regretted the accidental improper action done by him on the gravely powerful Brahmin who was faultless.
Such repentance is natural for a good man like the king and such repentance only delivers a devotee from all kinds of sins accidentally committed by the devotee. The devotees are naturally faultless.
Accidental fault committed by a devotee is sincerely regretted and by the Grace of the Lord, all sins unwillingly committed by a devotee, are burnt into ashes in the fire of repentance.“
Instead of feeling low and dejected we can take the same feelings to submit ourselves to the Lord through sincere prayers of forgiveness and committing ourselves with determination to His service. Having such reflections will help us transform our consciousness and to make a
resolution: "I am going to dedicate this moment, this day, this year, and this life for a single purpose, namely is to serve the Lord and His devotees.”
Also the ability to come out of feeling sad and dejected and to come to the platform of being enthusiastic and determined in the process of Krsna Consciousness depends on our cultivation of inner faith in the Lord through the association of devotees.
We can begin to nurture our faith through reading of the scriptures (especially reading the pastimes from Srimad Bhagavatam where great devotees like Parikshit Maharaj are expressing their feelings of regret for their actions), hearing and chanting in association with devotees.

Ratha Yatra in Vrindavan, 17.03.2017 (Album with photos) Srila…
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Ratha Yatra in Vrindavan, 17.03.2017 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The preacher must love the people. Otherwise why he is taking? He can do it for himself at home. Why he is taking so much trouble? Why in eighty years old I have come here if I do not love? So who can love better than a preacher? Srila Prabhupada, Morning Walk–May 17, 1975, Perth
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‘Do Religions Cause Peace or War?’ An interreligious dialog,…
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‘Do Religions Cause Peace or War?’
An interreligious dialog, held in ISKCON Germany/Austria’s headquarters near Frankfurt from April 21st to 23rd, will discuss the very topical question, ‘Religion: Peacemaker or Cause of War?”
This will be the third annual such event organized by ISKCON and Religions for Peace, the largest international coalition of world religion representatives dedicated to promoting peace.
About 100 people will attend this April’s event. Devotee speakers will include Dina Sharana Dasi, who is the GBC for Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Lichenstein, and a representative for ISKCON and Vaishnava-Hindus in interreligious dialog.
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/t3NRQ5

Fatalism or Pragmatism?
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Hare KrishnaBy Chaitanya Charana Dasa

The Ramayana features an emotionally and intellectually riveting conversation about the interplay of destiny and human initiative. This conversation occurred at one of the epic's defining moments: the moment when Rama, about to be crowned prince regent, was instead sentenced to forest exile for fourteen years. While Rama gracefully accepted the exile as the will of destiny, His faithful younger brother Lakshmana was outraged by the injustice and called for rebellion. Rama calmly responded that He considered His exile the will of destiny and so intended to accept it. He said that nothing else could explain how His stepmother Kaikeyi, who had loved Him like her own son and whom He had served like His own mother, had suddenly become so malevolent towards Him. Rama hadn't done anything to offend Kaikeyi and certainly didn't deserve to be exiled. Yet His exile was the boon that Kaikeyi had extorted from her husband, the monarch Dasharatha. Rama deemed obedience to His father His duty, one He intended to follow unflinchingly. Continue reading "Fatalism or Pragmatism?
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Kulimela: The Next Generation
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Hare KrishnaBy Madhava Smullen

On the tenth anniversary of the first Kulimela, Kulis explore how to create a new and better world for future generations. There’s a consensus that focusing on healthy marriages and happy families will make for a stronger ISKCON. Kulis are encouraged to invest in the future by teaming together on projects that positively affect children in their local communities. They also discuss making lots of small specialized groups in their communities to encourage members’ interests and make them feel like they belong. The conversation is always empowering. “We are the community, we are the temple, we are ISKCON,” says audience member Syamasundari Dasi from Alachua. “So if something needs to be done, we must step up and do it ourselves.” Continue reading "Kulimela: The Next Generation
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